Lok Sabha Question No. 4275 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-11
Subject: Pension for Social Security
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JAGDAMBIKA PAL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO .4275

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.0 8.201 6

## PENSION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY

## 4275. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  Government  proposes  to  provide  pension  to  the  aged  farmers,  workers widows who are left alone by their families under social welfare schemes so that they do not have to face mental harassment; and
- (b) if so, detail s n this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT ( SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV )

- (a) & (b) : Under  the  Schemes  of  National  Social  Assistance  Programme (NSAP),  financial assistance is provided to persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL), who are Old Aged, Wi Disabled and in the case of death of the breadwinner of a family to the survivor in the family. The aged farmers, workers and widows who a re left alone by the families also are in receipt of the pension the  schemes  of  NSAP  provided  the  eligibility  criteria  prescribed  as  per  the  guidelines  of fulfilled.  The eligibility criteria is at Annexure.

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Presently NSAP comprises of the following schemes for Below Poverty Line Households  (BPL).  The  eligibility  criteria  and  the  amount  of  pension  under  the schemes of NSAP are as under:

- I. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): Under the scheme, assistance is provided to person of age 60 years and above and belonging  to  family  living  below  poverty  line (BPL) as  per  the  criteria prescribed  by  Government  of  India.  Central  assistance  of  Rs.  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 (  BPL) as  per  the  criteria  prescribed  by  Government  of  India. After attaining the age of 80 years, the beneficiary would be shifted to IGNOAPS for getting pension of Rs. 500/- 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 and multiple disabilities  and  belonging to  family  living  below  poverty  line (BPL) as per  the  criteria  prescribed  by Government  of  India. After  attaining  the  age  of  80  years,  the  beneficiary would be shifted to IGNOAPS for getting pension of Rs. 500/- per month.
- IV. National  Family  Benefit  Scheme  (NFBS): Under  the  scheme  a  BPL household  is entitled  to a one    time  assistance,  in  the  event  of death  of primary breadwinner aged between 18 and 59 years. The amount of assistance is Rs. 20,000/-.
- V. Annapurna: Under the scheme, 10 kg of food grains per month are provided free of cost to those senior citizens who, though eligible remained uncovered under the erstwhile National Old Age Pension Scheme.