Lok Sabha Question No. 2041 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Pension/Shelter to Widow
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Chunni Lal Sahu

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2041

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2019

## PENSION/SHELTER TO WIDOW

## 2041. SHRI CHUNNI LAL SAHU:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  any  provision  for  pension/shelter  to  widow,  deserted  and abandoned women in the country, if so, details thereof, State-wise including Chhattisgarh and the reasons behind not including Chhattisgarh in the same till date;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  considering/has  already  considered  formulating any scheme in this regard;
- (c) whether the compulsory eligibility  norm  of  nomination  in  the  BPL  survey  list 2002  and  2011  for  award  of  pension  to  the  young  destitute  widows  in  the country has been done away with, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) if not, the reasons for not awarding the pension to the young destitute widows?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) and (d):There are a number of schemes being implemented by various Ministries of  the  Government  of  India  for  providing  assistance  to  widows,  deserted  and abandoned women. This Ministry  implements  2  schemes  for  widow,  deserted  and abandoned women in the country which are centrally sponsored schemes. Details of the schemes are as under:

- i. Swadhar  Greh  Scheme: The  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development implements  Swadhar  Greh  Scheme  which  envisions  a  supportive  institutional framework for women victims of difficult circumstances so that they could lead their life with dignity and conviction.  It envisages that shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security are assured for such women. It also envisions that  the  special  needs  of  these  women  are  properly  taken  care  of  and  under  no circumstances they should be left unattended or abandoned which could lead to their exploitation and desolation.
- ii. Ujjawala: It  is  a  comprehensive  scheme  implemented  by  the  Ministry  of Women and Child Development which includes five components viz., prevention of trafficking  of  women  and  children  for  commercial  sexual  exploitation  to  facilitate rescue, rehabilitate and re-integrate victims in family and society as well as repatriate them across border, if needed. In the protective and rehabilitative homes under the scheme    basic  amenities  such  food,  clothing  and  other  items  of  personal  use, medical care, legal aid etc. are provided to the victims.

Along  with  the  above  the  Ministry,  as  a  special  case,  has  set  up  a  Home  for Widows at Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh with a capacity of 1,000 widows to provide a safe and secure place of stay, health services, nutritious food, legal and counseling services.

The schemes of other Ministries include:

- iii. Indira  Gandhi  National  Widow  Pension  Scheme  (IGNWPS): Widow pension  is  provided  under  this  scheme  to  the  widows  belonging  to  Below  Poverty Line  (BPL)  only  and  is  the  component  of  National  Social  Assistance  Programme (NSAP).  A monthly central assistance of Rs. 300 is provided to the BPL widows of age-group 40-79 years and Rs. 500 is provided to the widows of age of 80 or higher.
- iv. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY-G) aims to provide  ''Housing for All' through provision of pucca house with basic amenities to all houseless households and households living in kutcha and dilapidated house in rural areas by 2022. This will also benefit women.
- v. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana (PMAY-U) addresses the housing requirement of the urban poor through four programme verticals viz. 'In-situ'' Slum Redevelopment, Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, Affordable Housing in Partnership with public or private sector and Beneficiary-led individual house construction/enhancements. This will also benefit women.
- vi. Atal  Pension  Yojana  (APY) has  an  objective  of  creating  a  universal  social security system for all Indians, especiallythe poor, the under privileged and workers in the unorganised sector. The scheme is open to all citizens of India between 18-40 years of age having a saving bank account in a bank or post office.
5. (c) and (d): As per the information provided by the Ministry of Rural Development, the guidelines of NSAP state that cap/ceiling of the beneficiaries communicated to the States/UTs are on the basis of BPL ratios of respective States/UTs and identification of  beneficiaries,  sanction  and  disbursement  of  benefit  under  the  schemes  is entrusted to States/UTs.  No instance, where eligible widows are not covered under ICNWPS, after fulfilling the criteria of the scheme, as prescribed in the guidelines of NSAP, has come to the notice.

********