Members of the All India Democratic Women’s Association and All India Farmers’ Association staged a sit-in protest inside the District Collectorate on Sunday, demanding that the state government extend financial aid to the senior citizens, widows, and the differently-abled people.

The protesters said that the state government had been distributing Rs.1000 per month as welfare funds under the Social Safety Scheme to as many as 35 lakh senior citizens, differently-abled, and widowed beneficiaries. But the funds were reduced to only 17 lakh beneficiaries last year, citing that they were not qualified.

In addition to demanding that the government distribute funds to all the beneficiaries, the protesters also asked that the qualifying age for widow pension and senior citizen pensions be reduced from 45 years and 65 years, respectively.