Lok Sabha Question No. 4379 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-28
Subject: National Family Benefit Scheme
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Hibi Eden

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4379

ANSWERED ON 28/03/2023

## NATIONAL FAMILY BENEFIT SCHEME

## 4379.   SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has details when was the last time that financial assistance to widows through the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) was disbursed to the State of Kerala and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  ensured  that  it  has  been  properly  distributed  at  the  State level;
- (c) if not, whether any policy measures have been taken by the Government so far and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  any  dues  are  still  pending,  if  so,  whether  the  Government  has  the  figures available for the dues to be received by the eligibles; and
- (e) whether there are  any dues pending in NFBS to the Kerala Government and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a)  Yes, Sir. In FY 2020-21, financial assistance amounting to Rs.177.69 lakh was released to the State of Kerala under National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) the last time.

(b)&(c)    The  assistance  under  the  scheme  is  sanctioned  up  to  the  State/  UT-wise  cap  of beneficiaries. The identification of beneficiaries and sanction & disbursement of benefits to them is  done  by  the  respective  State/UT.  As per information received  from the State of Kerala, the financial assistance received during FY 2020-21 has been distributed to the beneficiaries.

(d)&(e)    NFBS  is  a  demand-driven  scheme. A  one-time  lump  sum  central  assistance  of Rs.20,000 is provided to the eligible bereaved family on death of primary  breadwinner of the family. Under  the  scheme,  funds  are  released  to  States/UTs  on  the  basis  of  (i)  expenditure reported by the State /UT based on assistance paid by them to beneficiaries subject to State Cap; (ii)  submission  of  proposal,  complete  in  all  respect,  as  per  NSAP  Guidelines;  and  (iii) compliance of revised procedure for release of funds and submission of requisite undertakings signed by the competent authority as per instructions of Ministry of Finance, issued from time to time.

In  the  case  of  Kerala  state,  the  State  Cap  under  NFBS  is  pegged  at  4,358  households. Accordingly, Central Government made following fund allocations for the State under NFBS for 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 (as per the State Cap):

| Financial Year   |   Fund allocated (Rs. in lakh) |
|------------------|--------------------------------|
| 2020-21          |                         897.75 |
| 2021-22          |                         897.75 |
| 2022-23          |                         897.75 |

Considering the COVID-19 pandemic crisis during 2020-21, the first trench of Rs.177.69 lakh was  released  to  Kerala  under  NFBS  without  submission  of  any  document  by  the  State.  The remaining funds are pending for release to the State due to non-compliance of the abovementioned requirements by the State.

*****