INDIA: States to identify eligible beneficiaries for old age pension scheme

. NEW DELHI / Press Information Bureau / July 4, 2009 The Government of India has asked States to identify eligible beneficiaries for grant of pension to old age persons, widows and disabled in rural and urban areas. The beneficiaries would be identified from the BPL (below poverty line) list in rural areas and from the corresponding lists in urban areas. Universal coverage of all the eligible beneficiaries is envisaged under the various pension schemes. In order to check irregularities in payment of pension, States have been asked to disburse the pension under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) through bank/ post office account, where feasible. In case of Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) disbursement through bank/ post office account has been made mandatory. To enhance transparency and accountability a software for NSAP-MIS has been developed and States have been asked to place the data of beneficiaries in the public domain. The Central Government provides financial assistance for States/UTs for the old age persons, widows and disabled under IGNOAPS, IGNWPS and IGNDPS which are components of the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP). NSAP was introduced in 1995 as a ‘Centrally Sponsored Scheme’. Later it was transferred to States in 2002-03 and since then it is implemented by the State Governments. IGNOAPS is applicable to persons who are 65 years or higher. IGNWPS is applicable to widows in the age group of 40-64 years IGNDPS is applicable to persons with severe or multiple disabilities in the age group of 18-64 years. All the three pension schemes are meant for persons belonging to a household living below the poverty line. Central assistance of Rs. 200/- per month per beneficiary is provided in all the pension schemes and States are urged to contribute an equal amount. These pension schemes are applicable in rural as well as urban areas. The government has also clarified that there is no proposal to increase the central assistance or to expand the old age pension scheme for farmers above the age of 60 years. [rc] Source: Press Information Bureau