INDIA: West Bengal Yet to Launch Pension Scheme for Tribals

HALDIA (The Statesman), February 1, 2005: The West Bengal Government's monthly pension scheme for the elderly belonging to the scheduled tribe community launched after the surfacing of Amlasol hunger deaths has not yet taken off fully for the non-identification of the beneficiaries in several districts. The scheme launched on November 1, 2004 by backward classes welfare department was meant for the ST people above 60 years of age. The beneficiaries will be chosen from the moujas where government-run Integrated Tribal Development Programme is in operation. Each beneficiary will get a monthly pension of Rs 500 from the government. However, such moujas exist in all districts except Kolkata, Howrah and Midnapore East districts. A majority of the beneficiaries live in Bankura, Purulia, Midnapore West and Darjeeling districts. However, once this state-sponsored scheme starts, benefits of National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) under Central National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) will be stopped to the senior tribal citizens. They would get a paltry sum of Rs 100 every month under NOAPS scheme. Mr Bikram Sen, special secretary of backward classes welfare department, said: “An estimated 11 lakh beneficiaries live in the 1,100 ITDP moujas. “The district magistrates, in consultation with the district welfare officers, will submit the beneficiary list and the money would be disbursed for the purpose of payment towards the pension dues.” Most of the districts have not yet been able to supply the department with the beneficiary list. In a recent meeting with the district magistrates, sabhadhipatis and social welfare officials of the Burdwan division, backward classes welfare minister Mr Upen Kisku urged the officials for speedy implementation of the scheme in the districts. The beneficiary list would be prepared on the basis of the age mentioned in voter identity card and local enquiry. The district authorities have been asked to finalise the list in the quickest possible time.