National Social Assistance Programme: No change in NSAP pension scheme for old aged, widows, Divyang below BPL, says Govt

Assistance under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) pension schemes for old aged, widows, and disabled persons living below the poverty line (BPL) has achieved almost 100 per cent saturation in all states and Union Territories, Minister Of State for Ministry Of Rural Development - Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, informed the Parliament on Monday. Thus, if there are any more eligible beneficiaries in the states, then the state government needs to step in and provide pensions from their own sources, MoS stated during the Parliamentary session. 

Recently, a Parliamentary panel in its report highlighted that merely an amount of pension ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 500 for elderly, widows, and persons with a disability under the NSAP scheme is “not acceptable at all.” The Committee chaired by Kanimozhi Karunanidhi stressed on the fact that the assistance amount is abysmally low. “The Committee finds this abysmally low amount when the cost of living has increased substantially, not acceptable at all,” the report stated.

Despite the committee being vocal about the low pension amount, it was clarified in Parliament today that no changes will be made to the NSAP scheme.

“While considering the continuation of the NSAP for the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-26), the revision in the eligibility criteria, coverage, and rate of assistance under the scheme was considered by the Government. However, the Government has approved the continuation of the NSAP scheme in its present form. Therefore, no proposal in regard to making amendments in pension schemes is under consideration at present,” the Minister Of State added during his speech at the Lok Sabha today. 

NSAP is a fully centrally sponsored scheme that includes Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme. The pension amount for different pension schemes under NSAP ranges from a mere Rs 200 to Rs 500 per month for eligible beneficiaries. Besides this NSAP also includes the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) where Rs 20,000 is provided to the survivor head of BPL families on the death of the primary breadwinner aged 18-59 years. 

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