Are the weakest being ignored?

The pension currently being given to the elderly, widows and differently abled is not enough. It needs to be enhanced.

Yogesh Kumar Singh | May 31, 2016


#Pension   #elderly   #widows   #differently abled  

 Mahatma Gandhi once said, "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) of the ministry of rural development assists the weakest citizens of our country like the aged, widowed and differently abled persons living below poverty line (BPL) by providing assistance in form of pension.

NSAP which was launched in 1995, now covers the elderly, widows, and differently abled under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), and Indira Gandhi National Disabled Pension Scheme (IGNDPS). Assistance of Rs.200 is provided as a monthly pension to BPL persons aged 60 upto 79 years under IGNOAPS.  Rs. 300 is given as monthly pension for widows aged 40 upto 79 years under IGNWPS and disabled people aged 18 to 79 years under IGNDPS. If the persons receiving assistance under these three components are of 80 years, they start to get an assistance with Rs. 500 per month as pension.
 
There are also two other provisions under  NSAP-(i) National Family Benefit Scheme under which the BPL family is provided with Rs. 20,000 on the death of primary bread winner and (ii) Annapurna for those senior citizens who are not covered under IGNOAPS, 10 kg food grains (wheat or rice) is provided.
 
Does the monthly pension of Rs. 200 for the old persons and Rs. 300 for widows and differently abled seem a justifiable amount to sustain a dignified life? The answer is obviously ‘no’. So what should the government do?
 
The Tendulkar Committee Report on Poverty Estimates, which was castigated largely in the country, worked out the poverty line to monthly per capita consumption expenditure of Rs.972 in rural areas and Rs.1,407 in urban areas in 2011-12. If we consider the estimates of the report correct, then at least Rs.1,000 must be provided as assistance under IGNOAPS, IGNWPS and IGNWPS. For Annapurna, a few kgs of pulses may be added which may lead to a healthier life of the people of our country.
 
The government has dealt with the issue of One Rank One Pension very effectively and there is no doubt there was an extreme pressure on government due to protest of former and present army personnel. In case of assistance provided to the elderly, widowed and differently abled, it is the responsibility of the government to take an affirmative action on its own because the weakest also have right to lead a dignified life.
 

Comments

 

Other News

NGO hails Maharashtra move to amend Insecticide Act

Hailing the Maharashtra government for introducing a bill to amend the Insecticide Act, 1968, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India has called the amendments ‘very  focussed’ and urged the state to expand their scope to address other challenges. The bill, introduced in the a

‘Garba of Gujarat’, now a Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage

`Garba of Gujarat` has been inscribed in the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity by UNESCO, under the provisions of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of t

Cyber frauds helpline has helped save Rs 930 crore

Since its inception, Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System has witnessed more than 12.77 lakh complaints registered (till November 15, 2023), and has saved more than Rs. 930 crore in more than 3.80 lakh complaints. This was stated by minister of state for home affair

COP28 discusses climate resilient development in Himalayas

Impacts and implications of Climate Change Vulnerability in the Himalayan Region and ways of creating ‘Climate Resilient Development in Indian Himalayan Region by making mountain communities green and resilient were discussed the side event hosted at the India pavilion at the UN Climate Conference CO

Air Pollution: What needs to be done to tame the silent killer

Air pollution in Delhi has been in headlines, as every year in recent times. Mumbai too has suffered from air pollution, despite being a coastal city. Apart from many other metros such as Bangalore and Kolkata, tier-I and -II cities and rural areas also have high pollution levels. Every year reports and st

Free food grains for 81.35 cr beneficiaries for five years

The central government will provide free food grains to about 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for a period of five years with effect from January 1, 2024, the cabinet decided on Wednesday. Terming it as a “historic decision”, a

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter