In news: Recently, the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha mentioned Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme
About Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme:
- Ministry: This is a sub-scheme under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) of the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Objective: To provides social benefit to the poor household in the case of widow
- Under this scheme, widow pension is provided to the widows belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
- Eligibility Criteria: Widows who are within the age group of 40-79 years and belonging to a household Below Poverty Line are eligible to get the pension
Financial Assistance: Under the scheme, Central assistance @ Rs. 300/- per month is provided to widows in the age-group of 40-79 years and the pension amount is enhanced to Rs 500/- per month on attaining 80 years.
The National Social Assistance Program (NSAP)
NSAP which came into effect from 15th August, 1995 aims at ensuring a minimum national standard for social assistance to the poor in addition to the benefits that states are currently providing or might provide in future.
Objective of NSAP
In providing social assistance benefits to poor households in the case of old age, death of the breadwinner and maternity, the NSAP aims at ensuring minimum national standards, in addition to the benefits that the States are currently providing or might provide in future. It also aims at ensuring that social protection to the beneficiaries everywhere in the country is uniformly available without interruption.
Components of NSAP
- Presently NSAP comprises of five 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 Benefit Scheme NFBS) and
- Annapurna: It aims at providing food security to meet the requirement of those senior citizens who, though eligible, have remained uncovered under the NOAPS
Eligibility criterion under NSAP
For getting benefits under NSAP the applicant must belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family according to the criteria prescribed by the Govt. of India.
NSAP Management: The program is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development and is operational in rural as well as urban areas.
Funding: Under NSAP 100 per cent Central Assistance is extended to the States/UTs to provide the benefits in accordance with the norms, guidelines and conditions laid down by the Central Government
