Lok Sabha Question No. 911 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-28
Subject: Pension to Widows
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: B. SREERAMULU, SHASHI THAROOR

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 911 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.04 .2016

## PENSION TO WIDOWS

## 911. SHRI B. SRIRAMULU: DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  about  the  dismal  living  conditions  of  Vrindav widows, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the implementation of the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Sche (IGNWPS) including the total number of beneficiaries who have received pension in t last three years, State/UTwise;
- (c) whether the Government is likely to implement the recomm ndations of the Task Force and  increase  the  quantum  of  pension  from  the  current  INR  200  per  month,  if  so, details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to extend the scheme to cover widows below the age of 40 years and 'half - widows or women whose husbands are missing or have disappeared but are not confirmed dead, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons there

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

(a): The  Government  is  aware  about  the  dismal  living  conditions  of  Vrindavan  widows Ministry of Women & Child Development has informed that a Scheme 'Swadhar' was launched by the Ministry of Women & Child Development during the year 2001 - 02  for  th e benefit of women in difficult circumstances. Another scheme, namely ' Short Stay Home' which is similar in nature as Swadhar scheme is being implemented through Central Social Welfare Board si 1969. The Swadhar and Short Stay Homes Schemes have now be en  merged  and  revised  as  ' Swadhar Greh' w.e.f. 1 -1- 2016.  From 1 - 1- 2016  funds  are  to  be  channelized to  Implementing agencies  through  State  Governments.  Swadhar  Greh  Scheme  targets  the  women  victims  of unfortunate circumstances who are in need on institutio nal support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity. The scheme envisages providing shelter, food, cloth health as well as economic and social security for the women victims of difficult circum It is pertinent to mention that this scheme caters to all women who are in difficult circumsta including widows.

There are presently 5 Swadhar Homes at Vrindavan with 515 inmates.Apart from thes Swadhar homes, a Home, for the widows, at Sunrakh Bangar, Vrindavan, with capacity of 1000 inmates, is now being constructed by Central Government through NBCC.  The State of Utt Pradesh  has  informed  that  the  Uttar  Pradesh  Mahila  Kalyan  Nigam  is  operating  the  Mah Ashrams in Vrindavan (Mathura) for destitute widows. Identif icatio  of beneficiaries, sanction and disbursement of benefit under the schemes of NSAP is done by the State/UTs.

(b): Under  Indira  Gandhi  National  Widow  Pension  Scheme  (IGNWPS),  pension  /  Central assistance o f R s. 300/ - per month is provided to widows in the age -group of 40 - 79  years and belonging  to  the  below  poverty  line(BPL)  household  as  per  the  criteria  prescribe Government of India. After attaining the age of 80 years, the beneficiary would be shi Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) for getting pension of Rs. 500/ -per  month.  States/UTs  have  been  requested  to  contribute  at  least  an  equal  amount  u IGNWPS.  The  State  /UT  wise  details  of  widows  covered  during  last  three  years  are at Annexure.

(c) & (d): The Central assistance under IGNWPS was increased from Rs.200/ -toRs. 300/ -per month on 08 th November 2012.At, present the Government is not likely to implement the recommendations of the Task Force and extend the scheme to cov er widows below the age of 40 years and 'half widows' or women whose husbands are missing or have disappeared but are not confirmed dead.

Keeping in view the scarce Government resources and present budgetary allocation financial assistance under the schemes of NSAP is provided  only to the most vulnerable i.e. persons belonging to Below Poverty Line(BPL) household

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## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Uns Q.  No. 911   for reply on 28-04-2016 Details of No. of beneficiaries reported under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme by States/UTs during the last three years

| Sl. No.   | States/UTs        | Number of beneficiaries reproted   | Number of beneficiaries reproted   | Number of beneficiaries reproted   |
|-----------|-------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.   | States/UTs        | 2013-2014                          | 2014-2015                          | 2015-2016                          |
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh    |                                    | 245607                             | 245485                             |
| 2         | Bihar             | 631706 506563 138285               | 568755                             | 601590                             |
| 3         | Chhattisgarh      |                                    | 138285                             | 145588                             |
| 4         | Goa               | NR                                 | NR                                 | NR                                 |
| 5         | Gujarat           |                                    | 6997                               | 7201                               |
| 6         | Haryana           | 6730                               | 45108                              | 57149                              |
| 7         | Himachal Pradesh  | 45108 19593 NR                     | 20136                              | 20933                              |
| 8         | J & K             |                                    | NR                                 | 8334                               |
| 9         | Jharkhand         |                                    | 291649                             | 272108                             |
| 10        | Karnataka         | 240899                             | 558653                             | 558653                             |
| 11        | Kerala            | 465363                             | 918039                             | NR                                 |
| 12        | Madhya Pradesh    | 831376 432537                      | 485599                             | 891434                             |
| 13        | Maharashtra       | 31330                              | 43603                              | 46562                              |
| 14        | Orissa            | 528570 835                         | 528570                             | 524570                             |
| 15        | Punjab            |                                    | NR                                 | NR                                 |
| 16        | Rajasthan         |                                    | 118898                             | 145185                             |
| 17        | Tamilnadu         | 119997 649383                      | 585807                             | NR                                 |
| 18        | Telangana         |                                    | 175530                             | 103839                             |
| 19        | Uttar Pradesh     | 432287                             | 510110                             | 510110                             |
| 20        | Uttarakhand       |                                    | 15470                              | 16907                              |
| 21        | West Bengal       | 13037 951717                       | 829105                             | 828021                             |
| NE States | NE States         |                                    |                                    |                                    |
| 22        | Arunachal Pradesh |                                    | NR                                 | NR                                 |
| 23        | Assam             | 1849 111477                        | 111494                             | 111477                             |
| 24        | Manipur           |                                    | NR                                 | NR                                 |
| 25        | Meghalaya         | 4376 6837 1925                     | 7324                               | 7152                               |
| 26        | Mizoram           |                                    | 2310                               | 2310                               |
| 27        | Nagaland          | 3720                               | 4464                               | 1396                               |
| 28        | Sikkim            | NR                                 | 1123                               | 558                                |
| 29        | Tripura           |                                    | 19879                              | NR                                 |
|           | Sub Total         | 17927 6193427                      | 6232515                            | 5106562                            |
| UTs       |                   |                                    |                                    |                                    |

NR

| 30   | A&N Islands   |            | NR      | NR      |
|------|---------------|------------|---------|---------|
| 31   | Chandigarh    | 2610       | NR      | 2768    |
| 32   | D&N Haveli    |            | NR      | NR      |
| 33   | Daman & Diu   | NR 1025 NR | NR      | NR      |
| 34   | NCT Delhi     |            | 90734   | 106775  |
| 35   | Lakshadweep   | NR NR      | NR      | NR      |
| 36   | Pondicherry   |            | 9947    | 28222   |
|      | Sub Total     | 3635       | 100681  | 137765  |
|      | GRAND TOTAL   | 6197062    | 6333196 | 5244327 |

NR : Not Reported