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
