GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 44
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2018
PENSION SCHEMES
44. SHRI AJAY NISHAD:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
- (a) the details of existing provision and the ratio of financial contribution between the Union Government and the State Governments for widow pension, old age pension and Nirashrit Pension schemes being implemented by the Union Government;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to increase the number of targeted beneficiaries of the said schemes and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the said pension amount being provided to the beneficiaries is inadequate in the present scenario and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to increase the amount of the said pension schemes; and
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
Statement referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 44 for reply on 13th December, 2018 raised by Shri Ajay Nishad
Drawing strength from Article 41 of the Constitution, Social Welfare scheme of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) was launched in 1995, under which, widow pension, old age pension and pension for differently abled below poverty line(BPL) beneficiaries are being administered. The NSAP was declared as ‘Core of Core’ scheme in August 2016, and is 100% funded by the Government of India. For the scheme, Rs. 9975.00 crore has been budgeted by the Central Government for the year 2018-19. Though, States/UTs do not provide direct contributions to the scheme, however, recognizing the fact that social security is a concurrent subject as per item 23 and 24 of the seventh schedule, States/UTs also have role to play in designing and implementing a comprehensive social security programme in the Country. Keeping this in view, para 2.4 and 2.4.1 of the NSAP guidelines include provisions by for top-ups by States/UTs and wider coverage of beneficiaries. In compliance with these provisions, as per information received from the States/UTs, many States/UTs, as per table annexed have declared top-ups to NSAP beneficiaries.
During the budget speech for the current financial year, intentions of the Government have been pronounced for moving towards identification and prioritization of beneficiaries under various parameters using Socio Economic Census (SECC 2011) Data. With a shift from BPL based identification to SECC data, the number of beneficiaries is likely to increase substantially.
Ministry of Rural Development has set up National Social Assistance Advisory Committee to address the policy issues. On directions of the Committee, for taking informed decision for revamping the NSAP scheme by way of changes in admissible rates and the criteria, Ministry of Rural Development has already initiated steps for comprehensive third party evaluation of the scheme and further steps for revamping of the scheme is contingent upon considered decision on recommendations in consultation with the respective States.
Annexure for Lok Sabha Starred Question no 44 to be answered on 13/12/2018 raised by Shri Ajay Nishad regarding “ Pension Schemes”
| Sl no | Top-up in Rs per person per month |
States/UTs
|
|
1
|
50/-
|
Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram
|
|
2
|
100/-
|
Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
|
|
3
|
150/-
|
Chhattisgarh
|
|
4
|
200/-
|
Bihar and Jammu & Kashmir
|
|
5
|
250/-
|
Karnataka
|
|
6
|
300/-
|
Gujarat, Rajasthan and Karnataka
|
|
7
|
400/-
|
Maharashtra
|
|
8
|
500/-
|
Himachal Pradesh and Tripura
|
|
9
|
500/-
|
Punjab and West Bengal
|
|
10
|
600/-
|
Uttarakhand
|
|
11
|
700/-
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
12
|
800/-
|
Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Chandigarh
and Daman & Diu |
|
13
|
900/-
|
Kerala
|
|
14
|
1000/-
|
Delhi, Lakshadweep and Telangana
|
|
15
|
1200/-
|
Haryana
|
|
16
|
1800/-
|
Puducherry and Goa
|
|
17
|
2000/-
|
A&N Islands
|