Lok Sabha Question No. 1945 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Social Security Pension
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1945 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2025

## SOCIAL SECURITY PENSION

## 1945. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) total number of beneficiaries receiving social security pensions under various schemes for women, older persons and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in UT, Chandigarh;
- (b) the scheme-wise pension amount provided to each beneficiary among women, the older persons and PwDs in Chandigarh;
- (c) the details of pension amount given per beneficiary under various schemes for women, older persons and PwDs in the State of Punjab and Haryana separately;
- (d) the time by which the pension amount last revised for beneficiaries in UT-Chandigarh;
- (e) whether the Union Government has received any representation from the UT Administration for an increase in the pension amount, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government has any plans to increase the pension amount for beneficiaries in UT-Chandigarh, if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI B.L. VERMA)

- (a): Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India implements National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) which is a social security programme for the most vulnerable persons of our society living below poverty line, both in rural and urban areas irrespective of the category of the beneficiaries. Under the programme, the old aged, widows, and disabled persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and fulfilling eligibility criteria prescribed in the NSAP guidelines, are provided financial assistance, in form of pension, ranging from Rs.200/- to Rs.500/- per month and in the case of death of the breadwinner of such family, a lump sum assistance of Rs. 20,000/- is given to the bereaved family.

## Number of beneficiaries under NSAP scheme in Union Territory(UT) of Chandigarh are given below:

| Scheme    | Scheme                                    | No. of Beneficiaries   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------|------------------------|
|           | National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS)   | 2,378                  |
|           | National Widow Pension Scheme(NWPS)       | 2,486                  |
|           | National Disability Pension Scheme (NDPS) | 100                    |
|           | National Family Benefit Scheme(NPBS)      | 80                     |
| Annapurna | Annapurna                                 | 440                    |
| Total     | Total                                     | 5,484                  |

:

-

As per information given by UT of Chandigarh, the number of beneficiaries receiving social security pensions are as under:

## I. Department of Social Welfare Women and Child Development, Chandigarh Administration

| Scheme                      | Beneficiaries (upto January, 2025)   |
|-----------------------------|--------------------------------------|
| Old Age Pension             | 18,648                               |
| Widow Pension               | 11,836                               |
| Pension to Disabled Persons | 5,992                                |

## II. Chandigarh Building and Other Construction Worker Welfare Board under Labour Department, UT Chandigarh

| Scheme             |   Beneficiaries (upto February, 2025) |
|--------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Old Age Pension    |                                   251 |
| Widow Pension      |                                    92 |
| Disability Pension |                                     3 |

(b): NSAP is a 100% funded centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) covering persons belonging to families living below poverty line (BPL). It comprises of the following five schemes:

- National Old Age Pension Scheme - assistance of ? 200/- per month to persons in the age group of 60-79 years and ‹ 500/- per month to persons of 80 years and above. Currently, more than 221 lakh beneficiaries are covered.
- National Widow Pension Scheme - assistance of 7300/- per month to widows in the age-group of 40-79 years and $ 500/- per month to widows of 80 years and above. Currently, more than 67 lakh beneficiaries are covered.
- National Disability Pension Scheme - assistance of $300/- per month to persons aged 18-79 years with severe or multiple disabilities and $ 500/- per month to persons of 80 years and above. Currently, more than 8.8 lakh beneficiaries are covered.
- National Family Benefit Scheme -a one-time assistance of ‹ 20,000/- on the death of primary breadwinner aged between 18 and 59 years. It is a demandbased scheme. The upper limit of households is 3.58 lakh.
- Annapurna Scheme -10 kg of food grains per month free of cost to those senior citizens who, though eligible, are not receiving old age pension. It is a demand-based scheme. The upper limit of beneficiaries is 8.32 lakh.

1

4-

(in Rs.)

| S. No State   | NOAPS 80 years and above   | NOAPS 80 years and above   | NOAPS 80 years and above   | NOAPS 80 years and above              | NOAPS 80 years and above   | NOAPS 80 years and above   |                                            |          |                                              |       |
|---------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------|----------|----------------------------------------------|-------|
|               | 60-79 years                | 60-79 years                |                            |                                       |                            | NWPS                       | NWPS                                       | NDPS     | NDPS                                         | NDPS  |
|               |                            | tration                    | Govt.                      | Central State Govt./UT Administration | | Total               |                            | Central State Govt/UT Govt. Administration |          | Total Central Go State Gow/UT Administration | Total |
| 1 Haryana     | 200                        | 2800                       | 3000 500                   | 2500                                  | 3000                       | 300                        | 2700                                       | 3000 300 | 2700                                         | 3000  |
| 2 Punjab      | 200                        | 1500                       | 1700 500                   | 1500                                  | 2000                       | 300                        | 1500                                       | 1800 300 | 1500                                         | 1800  |

The details of pension amount under various scheme, as informed by the State of Punjab is given below :

|    | SI. No. Scheme                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             | No. of Beneficiaries   | Budget (In Rs Cr.)   | Expenditure (In Rs Cr.)   |
|----|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------|----------------------|---------------------------|
|  1 | Old Age Pension Males - 65 Years& above Females - 58 Years & above The Applicant having maximum 2.5 Acre Nehri/Chahl land or maximum 5 Acre Barani land ownership and 5 Acre land in waterlogged areal (Including husband & wife) is also eligible for pension as per report of revenue department (Patwarl). Annual Income should not be above Rs. 60000. | 22,64,518              | 4,000.00             | 3,708.57                  |
|  2 | Financial Assistance to Widow & Destitute Women Below 58 years for Widow & Destitute, Unmarried women above the age of 30 years. Annual Income should not be above Rs. 60000.                                                                                                                                                                              | 64,7748                | 1,086.00             | 1,042.63                  |
|  3 | Financial Assistance to Disabled Persons Blinds, handicapped, deaf and dumb and Mentally retarded persons who are unable to earn their livellhood & have at least 50% disability, Annual Income should not be above Rs. 60000.                                                                                                                             | 2,71,278               | 461.50               | 437.15                    |

•

•

The details of pension amount given per beneficiary under various schemes, as informed by the State of Haryana is given below :

| Sr. No.   | Scheme Name                                                      | Rs. Per Month                                                                                                                                                                  |
|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|           | Old Ago Samman Allowance                                         | 3,000                                                                                                                                                                          |
|           | Financial Assistance to persons suffering from rare diseases     | 3,000                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 3         | Gaurav Samman Scheme for Padma Awardees                          | 10,000                                                                                                                                                                         |
| 4         | Disability Pension                                               | 3,000                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 5         | Allowance to Dwarf                                               | 3,000                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 6         | Widow Pension                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 7         | Financial Assitance to Widower and Unmarried Persons             |                                                                                                                                                                                |
| 8         | Financial Assistance to Destitute Children                       | 2,100 One Child and 4,200 for two children                                                                                                                                     |
|           | Ladli Social Security Allowance                                  | 3,000                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 10        | Financial Assistance to Kashmiri Migrants                        | 1,500 per person max. Five person in a family amount 7,500                                                                                                                     |
| 11        | Financial Assistance to Non School Going Disabled Children       | 2,400                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 12        | Allowance to Eunuch                                              | 3,000                                                                                                                                                                          |
| 13        | Financial Assistance to Women and Girl Acid Attack Victims       | If disability percentage is : a) 40% - 50% - 2.5 times 01 disability pension. b) 51%-60% - 3.5 times of disability pension. c) 61% and more - 4.5 times of disability pension. |
|           | Financial Assistance to Male and Transgender Acid Attack Victims | If disability percentage is : a) 40% - 50% - 2.5 times 01 disability pension. b) 51%-60% - 3.5 times of disability pension. c) 61% and more - 4.5 times of disability pension. |
|           | Financial Assistance for stage Ill & TV cancer patients          | 3,000                                                                                                                                                                          |

- (d) to (e): Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India has informed that details of revision/ modifications in pension schemes are given below.

|   Year | Details of revision/modification                                                 |
|--------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|   2007 | Old age pension was increased from Rs.75 to Rs.200.                              |
|   2009 | Widow and Disability Pension schemes were introduced a Rs.200 pm.                |
|   2011 | Old age pension was increased to Rs.500 for beneficiaries of 80 years and above. |
|   2012 | Widow Pension and Disability Pension were increased to Rs.300 from Rs.200 pm.    |

:

-

As per the information give by UT of Chandigarh, the pension amount last revised for beneficiaries in UT Chandigarh are as per the detail given below :-

## I. Department of Social Welfare Women and Child Development, Chandigarh Administration

The rates of Social Security Pensions viz. Old Age Pension, Widow Pension and Pension to Disabled Persons in UT Chandigarh were revised in year 2016.

## II. Chandigarh Building and Other Construction Worker Welfare Board under Labour Department, UT Chandigarh

The rates of Old Age Pension, Widow Pension and Disability Pension were revised on 08.12.2017

(f): Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India has informed that there is no proposal under consideration to revise the coverage/rate of assistance under NSAP.

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