Lok Sabha Question No. 66 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-25
Subject: Centrally Sponsored Pension Schemes
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Haji Fazlur Rehman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 66 ANSWERED ON 25/07/2023

## CENTRALLY SPONSORED PENSION SCHEMES

## *66.  SHRI HAJI FAZLUR REHMAN:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the current centrally sponsored pension schemes for the old aged, widows and disabled persons in the rural areas of the country along with the structure thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to increase the pension amount being provided to such beneficiaries thereunder and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to identify the beneficiaries and prevent the irregularities during payment of pension to persons under these schemes?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)

- (a) to (c):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *66 for 25.07.2023 raised by Shri Haji Fazlur Rehman

- (a) National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a 100% centrally funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the most vulnerable sections  of  our  society  living  below  poverty  line  (BPL),  both  in  rural and urban areas. It comprises of three pension schemes namely, Indira Gandhi  National  Old  Age  Pension  Scheme  (IGNOAPS),  Indira  Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) for old aged, widows and disabled persons, respectively. The structure of these pension  schemes covering  details  of  eligibility  criteria  and  financial  assistance  under each scheme is as under:
- i. Indira  Gandhi  National  Old  Age  Pension  Scheme  (IGNOAPS): Under IGNOAPS, the old age persons of age group 60-79 years belonging  to  BPL  households  are  provided  old  age  pension  of Rs.200  per  month.  The  pension  amount  is  increased  to  Rs.500 per month on attaining the age of 80 years.
- ii. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS): Under IGNWPS, widows in age group of 40-79 years belonging to BPL households are provided widow pension of Rs.300 per month. The pension  amount  is  increased  to  Rs.500  per  month  on  attaining the age of 80 years.
- iii. Indira  Gandhi  National  Disability  Pension  Scheme  (IGNDPS): Under  IGNDPS,  disabled  persons  in  age  group  of  18-79  years belonging  to  BPL  households  are  provided  disability  pension  of Rs.300  per  month.  The  pension  amount  is  increased  to  Rs.500 per month on attaining the age of 80 years.
- (b) There is no proposal to increase the pension amount under NSAP at present.
- (c) Under NSAP, identification of beneficiaries, sanction and disbursement of benefits to them is done by the respective State/ UT. States/  UTs  have  been  requested  to  ensure  wide  and  continuous publicity  about  the  entitlements  under  the  schemes  of  NSAP  and procedure  for  claiming  them.  In  order  to  foster  transparency  and swiftness, NSAP pension schemes were included under Direct Benefit Transfer  (DBT)  schemes  in  December  2014.  States/  UTs  have  also been  advised  to  adopt  Aadhaar  Payment  Bridge  (APB)  system  to ensure prompt disbursement of benefits to eligible beneficiaries.

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