Increase in rate of pension from Rs. 200/- to Rs. 300/- per month under the
ongoing Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme as well as increase in grant from
Rs. 10,000/- to Rs.20,000/- under the National Family Benefit Scheme
The Union Cabinet today revised
the norms and enhanced rates of pension for widows and persons with
disabilities.
This is in fulfillment of the announcement made by
the Finance Minister while presenting the Union Budget 2012-13 in the
Parliament on 16th March 2012.
In view of the above decision, 76 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) widows and
11 lakh below poverty line persons with severe or multiple disability would get
enhanced amount of central assistance @ Rs. 300 p.m. This would be in addition
to the contribution by the States. Further, 3.56 lakh BPL families will receive
one time lump sum enhanced grant @ Rs. 20000/- in the
event of death of the primary breadwinner in the family.
The following are the details:-
(i) To increase the rate of pension under the
ongoing Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) from Rs. 200/- to
Rs.300/- per month per beneficiary and to revise the eligibility
criteria from 40-59 years to 40-79 years.
(ii) To increase the rate of pension under Indira
Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) from Rs. 200/- to Rs. 300/-
per month per beneficiary and to revise the eligibility criteria from 18-59
years to 18-79 years.
(iii) To increase the lump sum grant under National
Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) from Rs. 10000/- to Rs. 20000/-and also to revise
the eligibility criteria from 18-64 years to 18-59 years.
(iv) To make the requirement of “at least an equal
contribution under all the pension schemes as well as under NFBS by State
Governments/Union Territory Administrations” recommendatory.
(v) To implement the revised norms under IGNWPS and
IGNDPS with effect from 1st October, 2012.
(vi) To implement the revised norms under NFBS from the
date of approval of the Cabinet.
(vii) To continue implementation of the NSAP during the
12lh Five Year Plan and to provide 3 per cent administrative charges on
approved items.
The total requirement of funds tor the current proposal comes to Rs. 3861.09
crore per annum. However, after taking into account the existing rate of
assistance and number of beneficiaries, the net additional requirement for
implementing the announcement comes to Rs. 1325.10 crore per annum.
Source: Press Information Bureau
