AGARTALA: After a year in power, chief minister Biplab Deb on Saturday said the most impressionable encounter he had was with an old woman, eventually leading to one of the most important policy decisions he took."An old woman reached by official residence to meet me during a Janatar Darbar (people's court). When I met her, she charged me - why was her pension not raised to Rs 2,000? She said she had voted for BJP because of our promise that we would increase social pension," Deb said.BJP had promised to increase social pension from Rs 700 to Rs 2,000 for the 25,000-odd beneficiaries of the state if it came to power."I was embarrassed and confused. She had come all the way from Chandrapur village in Udaipur (about 75 km from here), had no money and nothing to eat. A kind-hearted bus driver had brought her to Agartala the previous day. She spent the night on the street. I had to make a commitment then and there," he added."There were some serious financial constraints, but this encounter was one of the most significant ones in the one year I have been chief minister," he further said.The government has been running with Rs 13,000 crore in liabilities and almost zero income, he said. "I spoke to the deputy chief minister, who also holds the finance portfolio. Both of us called the chief secretary to find a solution."After a long exercise, the council of ministers decided to increase the social pension to Rs 1,000 for over 16,000 beneficiaries and subsequently it is announced in the budget, he stated, adding that the biggest achievement of his government in last one year was reducing crime on women by 9% and increasing revenue to 26%.The BJP celebrated its first anniversary in power with colourful rallies and public meetings across the state. The central rally was held here with thousands of people where top leaders of the party addressed the gathering in the afternoon. The IPFT has also participated in the celebrations.

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