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Old age, widow pensioners failed to get assistance due to financial implications

Subodh Bhasin. Dated: 1/22/2018 11:44:24 AM

Subodh Bhasin
Jammu, Jan 21
It is essential that old age persons/widows most of times have to suffer a lot because of their age and certain health related issues besides several other socio-economic cause and time to time Union government as well as State Government across the Nation have launched various schemes under which assistance in the form of money is given to them so that to an extent the assistance can help them.
But unfortunately pendency of more than two lac cases in the state have deprived them for meager amount of Rs 1000/ per month
There are more than two lac Old age /pension cases pending in the state by the District Social welfare Offices. In a reply to the question raised by Saif-Ud-Din Bhat, the Minister I/C Social Welfare said that over 2.50 lakh pension cases, with respect to old age, specially-able persons and widows, are pending under the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) and Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS).
A per the details about the pendency of the cases there are 85670 Old age pension (OAP) cases, 35276 Women In Distress (WID) cases. 32753 Physically Challenged Person (PCP) cases. As such number of cases under Integrated Social Security Scheme are 153699.
As far as cases under National Social Assistance Program pendency of cases is 113991, out of which 924121are Indira Gandhi National ?Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), 4420 Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), 3456 Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), 13704 National Family Benefit Scheme (FBS).
It is worthwhile to mention here that the State Government is providing old age pension to the eligible beneficiaries under two major schemes viz ISSS and NSAP. The Integrated Social Security Scheme ISSS is 100 & State Sponsored Scheme under which Rs 1000 PM is given to the men above 60 years and women above 55Years. Widow/divorcee with meager or no income Rs 1000 per month is given. Similarly physically challenged with 40% and above disability Rs 1000 per month is given.
With regard to NSAP scheme which is blend of State/ Central share, those falling in IGNWPS criteria BPL widows between 40-79 years financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month is given. Under IGNDPS BPL persons with severe or multiple disabilities Rs 1000 per month is given and under IGNOAPS BPL persons between 60-79 years or above excluding BPL widows and physically disabled Rs 1000 per month is given
More than two lac pending application has deprived old age persons to suffer a lot and as such the concerned minister said that the pendency is due to want of sanction in various District Social Welfare Offices of the state. With the paucity of funds the department has approached Union government for releasing additional funds under the centrally/State sponsored Schemes to clear the pendency of the cases across the state.
“State receives a fixed amount from the centre for pensions, which is not sufficient for the registered pensioners,” he said and added other than centre’s assistance, “we don’t have any other resource to pay pensioners.”