Lok Sabha Question No. 737 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-28
Subject: National Social Assistance Programme
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 737 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.04 .201 6

## NATIONAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME

## 737. SHRI ABHIJIT MUKHERJEE:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the objectives and salient features of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP);
- (b) whether the beneficiaries of the said programmes are selected from BPL families and if s details thereof, State/UT - wise;
- (c ) whether  the  Government  has  a  proposal  to  take  concrete  steps  to  implement  the  sa scheme/programme in an effective manner;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whetherthe Government considers to extend the benefit of the same to the needy people acr the Country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)

- (a) : The  objective  and  salient  feat ures  of  National  Social  Assistance  Programme(NSAP)  is  at Annexure - I.
- (b) : Yes, the beneficiaries of the said programmes are selected from BPL families. State/UT -wise number of beneficiaries covered during 2014 - 15 and  2015 - 16 is at Annexure - II.
- (c)& (d): The Government reviews the implementation of the schemes under National Social Assistan Programme(NSAP)  on  a  regular  basis  by  means  of  Performance  Review  Committee  Meetings(PRC), Area Officer visits, Nodal Officer meetings etc. Moreover, to increas e the transparency and accountability in the implementation, a Software namely NSAP - MIS hasbeen developed by NIC. The software captures all the essential processes and includes modules on identification, disbursement of pension, r funds, verifica tion, sanction of pension, ground for refusal etc .The issues raised in the meetings and highlighted  in  the  reports  of  the  Area  Officers  are  sent  to  the  State/UT  Governments  for appropriate actions and all possible efforts are taken to address the r emoval of shortcomings, if any, in the implementation of the Programme.
- (e) : The benefit under the schemes of NSAP is restricted only to the persons belonging to b poverty line (BPL) household. At present there is no proposal to extend the benefit of NSAP to any other category of people.

*****

## Salient Features of -National Social Assistance Programme(NSAP)

National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Ministry of Rural Development. NSAP is a social security/social welfare programme applicable to old aged, wid disabled persons and bereaved families on death of primary bread winner, belonging to below po line household. NSAP at present comprises of five sub - schemes namely Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS). Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme IGNDPS), National Family B enefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna Scheme.  The schemes of NSAP are implemented both in urban and rural areas.

The eligibility criteria, details of assistance provided under each of these schemes is as follows :

- I. Indira Gandhi  National  Old  Age  Pension  Scheme  (IGNOAPS): Under  the  scheme, assistance is provided to persons of 60 years and above and belonging to family living poverty line as per the criteria prescribed by Government of India. Central assistance 200/ -per month is provided to person in the age group of 60 - 79 years and Rs. 500/ -per month to persons of 80 years and above.
- II. Indira  Gandhi  National  Widow  Pension  Scheme  (IGNWPS): Under  the  scheme  Central assistance @ Rs.300/ - per month is provided to widows in the age - group of 40 - 79 years and belonging to family living below poverty line as per the criteria prescribed by Governme India.  After  attaining  the  age  of  80  years,  the  beneficiaries  are  shifted  to  IGNOAPS enhanced pension of Rs. 50 0/ -per month.
- III. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): Under the scheme Central assistance  @ Rs.300/ - per  month  is  provided  to  persons  aged  18 - 79  years  with  severe  or multiple  disabilities    and    belonging  to  family  living  below  povert y  line  as  per  the  criteria prescribed by Government of India. After attaining the age of 80 years, the beneficiar shifted to IGNOAPS to get enhanced pension of Rs. 500/ -per month.
- IV. National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): Under this scheme a BPL ho usehold is entitled to a one time lump sum amount of money on the death of primary breadwinner aged between 18 and 59 years.  The amount of assistance is Rs. 20,000/ - .
- V. Annapurna Scheme: Under the scheme, 10 kg of food grains per month are provided free o f cost to those senior citizens who, though eligible, are not receiving old age pension.

States/UTs have been requested to make at least an equal assistance from their own resources un three pension schemes.

## Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Un.Q.No. 737 for reply on 28-04-2016 Details of no. of beneficiaries reported under NSAP Scheme during 2014-2015 & 2015-2016

| Sl. No .   | States/UT s      | Number of Beneficiaries reported   | Number of Beneficiaries reported   | Number of Beneficiaries reported   | Number of Beneficiaries reported   | Number of Beneficiaries reported   | Number of Beneficiaries reported   | Number of Beneficiaries reported   | Number of Beneficiaries reported   | Number of Beneficiaries reported   | Number of Beneficiaries reported   |
|------------|------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
|            |                  | 2014-2015                          | 2014-2015                          | 2014-2015                          | 2014-2015                          | 2014-2015                          | 2015-2016                          | 2015-2016                          | 2015-2016                          | 2015-2016                          | 2015-2016                          |
|            |                  | IGNOA PS                           | IGNW PS                            | IGNDP S                            | NFBS                               | Annapur na                         | IGNOA PS                           | IGNW PS                            | IGND PS                            | NFBS                               | Annapur na                         |
| 1          | Andhra Pradesh   | 857666                             | 24560 7                            | 37672                              | 1090 6                             | 54354                              | 662641                             | 24548 5                            | 2441 3                             |                                    | 54354                              |
| 2          | Bihar            | 460419 0                           | 56875 5                            | 50641                              | 2819 8                             | NR                                 | 475644 0                           | 60159 0                            | 5649 2                             | 3055 0                             | NR                                 |
| 3          | Chhattisga rh    | 675273                             | 13828 5                            | 36325                              | 5286                               | 9421                               | 353903                             | 14558 8                            | 3774 1                             | 8137                               | 9421                               |
| 4          | Goa              | 2136                               | NR                                 | NR                                 | 65                                 | NR                                 | 1648                               | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 |
| 5          | Gujarat          | 503231                             | 6997                               | 5574                               | 4569                               | NR                                 | 577199                             | 7201                               | 6315                               | 4178                               | NR                                 |
| 6          | Haryana          | 147191                             | 45108                              | 16804                              | 700                                | NI                                 | 198828                             | 57149                              | 1680 4                             | NR                                 | NI                                 |
| 7          | Himachal Pradesh | 86831                              | 20136                              | 599                                | 1981                               | 2257                               | 90000                              | 20933                              | 809                                | 1260                               | 1233                               |
| 8          | J& K             | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | 302                                | NR                                 | 139325                             | 8334                               | 2789                               | 392                                | NR                                 |
| 9          | Jharkhand        | 770953                             | 29164 9                            | 17535                              | 2560                               | NR                                 | 816521                             | 27210 8                            | 3128 6                             | 2752                               | NR                                 |
| 10         | Karnataka        | 895818                             | 55865 3                            | 43639                              | 9640                               | NI                                 | 895818                             | 55865 3                            | 4363 9                             | 8361                               | NI                                 |
| 11         | Kerala           | 555026                             | 91803 9                            | 28644 9                            | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 |
| 12         | Madhya Pradesh   | 144202 3                           | 48559 9                            | 94969                              | 2328 8                             | NR                                 | 138017 3                           | 89143 4                            | 1034 77                            | 3407 5                             | NR                                 |
| 13         | Maharash tra     | 118670 2                           | 43603                              | 6337                               | 3557 2                             | NR                                 | 119621 5                           | 46562                              | 6425                               | 1267 1                             | NR                                 |
| 14         | Odisha           | 141863 1                           | 52857 0                            | 90754                              | 2416 3                             | 64800                              | 141863 1                           | 52457 0                            | 9024 3                             | 1246 5                             | 64800                              |
| 15         | Punjab           | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | NI                                 | 134125                             | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | NI                                 |
| 16         | Rajasthan        | 720721                             | 11889 8                            | 22681                              | NR                                 | 579770                             | 664647                             | 14518 5                            | 3629 4                             | NR                                 | 105293                             |
| 17         | Tamilnadu        | 139208 3                           | 58580 7                            | 62561                              | 5243                               | 65113                              | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 | 65113                              |
| 18         | Telangana        | 612955                             | 17553 0                            | 26923                              | 4546                               | 38546                              | 473575                             | 10383 9                            | 1744 8                             | 4840                               | 38546                              |
| 19         | Uttar Pradesh    | 347495 8                           | 51011 0                            | 10768 2                            | 1001 88                            | NI                                 | 373712 8                           | 51011 0                            | 1376 82                            | 8079 2                             | NI                                 |
| 20         | Uttarakha nd     | 251312                             | 15470                              | 4249                               | 3320                               | NI                                 | 258934                             | 16907                              | 4427                               | 3730                               | NI                                 |
| 21         | West             | 188673                             | 82910                              | 86750                              | 2039                               | 65068                              | 154610                             | 82802                              | 7063                               | 1231                               | 12316                              |

|                   | Bengal            | 9                 | 5                 |                   | 8                 |                   | 7                 | 1                 | 6                 | 6                 |                   |
|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| NE States         | NE States         | NE States         | NE States         | NE States         | NE States         | NE States         | NE States         | NE States         | NE States         | NE States         | NE States         |
| 22                | Arunachal Pradesh | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | 4761              | 31209             | NR                | NR                | NR                | 4761              |
| 23                | Assam             | 785836            | 11149 4           | 42264             | 7458              | 26640             | 785836            | 11147 7           | 4226 4            | 7458              | 26640             |
| 24                | Manipur           | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | 71938             | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                |
| 25                | Meghalay a        | 49997             | 7324              | 1501              | 715               | 9263              | 48056             | 7152              | 1505              | 610               | 9263              |
| 26                | Mizoram           | 25469             | 2310              | 742               | NR                | NR                | 25469             | 2310              | 742               | 118               | 1000              |
| 27                | Nagaland          | 54898             | 4464              | 1276              | 642               | 2600              | 49702             | 1396              | 623               | 642               | 2600              |
| 28                | Sikkim            | 21821             | 1123              | 743               | NR                | NR                | 17997             | 558               | 934               |                   | NR                |
| 29                | Tripura           | 163151            | 19879             | 3209              | 1410              | 5740              | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | 5740              |
|                   | Total             | 225856 11         | 62325 15          | 10478 79          | 2911 50           | 928333            | 203320 65         | 51065 62          | 7329 88           | 2253 47           | 401080            |
| Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories |
| 30                | A&N Islands       | 813               | NR                | NR                | NR                | NI                | 2969              | 2768              | 102               | NR                | NI                |
| 31                | Chandigar h       | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NI                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NI                |
| 32                | D&N Haveli        | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NI                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NI                |
| 33                | Daman & Diu       | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NI                | 384545            | 10677 5           | 4838 2            | 1462              | NI                |
| 34                | NCT Delhi         | 376568            | 90734             | 39482             | 2827              | NI                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NI                |
| 35                | Lakshadw eep      | NR                | NR                | NR                | NR                | NI                | 47743             | 28222             | NR                | NR                | NI                |
| 36                | Puducherr y       | 18135             | 9947              | NR                | NR                | NI                | 435257            | 13776 5           | 4848 4            | 1462              | NI                |
|                   | Sub Total         | 395516            | 10068 1           | 39482             | 2827              | 0                 | 870514            | 27553 0           | 9696 8            | 2924              | 0                 |
|                   | GRAND TOTAL       | 229811 27         | 63331 96          | 10873 61          | 2939 77           | 928333            | 212025 79         | 53820 92          | 8299 56           | 2282 71           | 401080            |

NR : Not reported NI : Not Implementing