Lok Sabha Question No. 44 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-13
Subject: Pension Schemes
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: AJAY NISHAD

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 44

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2018

## PENSION SCHEMES

## *44. SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  existing  provision  and  the  ratio  of  financial  contribution  between  the Union Government and the State Governments for widow pension, old age pension and Nirashrit Pension schemes being implemented by the Union Government;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of targeted beneficiaries of the said schemes and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said pension amount being provided to the beneficiaries is inadequate in the present scenario and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the amount of the said pension schemes; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (e):

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *44 for reply on 13 th December, 2018 raised by  Shri Ajay Nishad

Drawing strength from Article 41 of the Constitution, Social Welfare scheme of National Social Assistance  Programme  (NSAP)  was  launched  in  1995,  under  which,  widow  pension,  old  age pension  and  pension  for  differently  abled  below  poverty  line(BPL)  beneficiaries  are  being administered.  The  NSAP  was  declared  as  'Core  of  Core'  scheme  in  August  2016,  and  is  100% funded by the Government of India. For the scheme, Rs. 9975.00 crore has been budgeted by the Central Government for the year 2018-19. Though, States/UTs do not provide direct contributions to the scheme, however, recognizing the fact that social security is a concurrent subject as per item 23 and 24 of the seventh schedule, States/UTs also have role to play in designing and implementing a  comprehensive  social  security  programme  in  the  Country.  Keeping  this  in  view,  para  2.4  and 2.4.1 of the NSAP guidelines include provisions  by for top-ups by States/UTs and wider coverage of  beneficiaries.  In  compliance  with  these  provisions,  as  per  information  received  from  the States/UTs, many States/UTs, as per table annexed have declared top-ups to NSAP beneficiaries.

During the budget speech for the current financial year, intentions of the Government have been pronounced  for  moving  towards  identification  and  prioritization  of  beneficiaries  under  various parameters  using  Socio  Economic  Census  (SECC  2011)  Data.  With  a  shift  from  BPL  based identification to SECC data, the number of beneficiaries is likely to increase substantially.

Ministry  of  Rural  Development  has  set  up  National  Social  Assistance  Advisory  Committee  to address  the  policy  issues.  On  directions  of  the  Committee,  for  taking  informed  decision  for revamping the NSAP scheme by way of changes in admissible rates and the criteria, Ministry of Rural  Development  has  already  initiated  steps  for  comprehensive  third  party  evaluation  of  the scheme and further steps for revamping of the scheme is contingent upon considered decision on recommendations in consultation with the respective States.

## Annexure for Lok Sabha Starred Question no *44 to be answered on 13/12/2018 raised by Shri Ajay Nishad regarding ' Pension Schemes'

|   Sl no | Top-up in Rs per person per month   | States/UTs                                                                |
|---------|-------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | 50/-                                | Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram                                              |
|       2 | 100/-                               | Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh                                  |
|       3 | 150/-                               | Chhattisgarh                                                              |
|       4 | 200/-                               | Bihar and Jammu &Kashmir                                                  |
|       5 | 250/-                               | Karnataka                                                                 |
|       6 | 300/-                               | Gujarat, Rajasthan and Karnataka                                          |
|       7 | 400/-                               | Maharashtra                                                               |
|       8 | 500/-                               | Himachal Pradesh and Tripura                                              |
|       9 | 500/-                               | Punjab and West Bengal                                                    |
|      10 | 600/-                               | Uttarakhand                                                               |
|      11 | 700/-                               | Tamil Nadu                                                                |
|      12 | 800/-                               | Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Chandigarh and Daman &Diu |
|      13 | 900/-                               | Kerala                                                                    |
|      14 | 1000/-                              | Delhi, Lakshadweep and Telangana                                          |
|      15 | 1200/-                              | Haryana                                                                   |
|      16 | 1800/-                              | Puducherry and Goa                                                        |
|      17 | 2000/-                              | A&N Islands                                                               |