New Delhi/Jammu, October 30 (Scoop News) -Pleading for increasing quota of Jammu and Kashmir State under various pension schemes, the Minister for Social Welfare, Ms Sakina Itoo has urged for relaxing eligibility criteria under Indra Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNDOPS) to 40% at par with the State Sponsored Schemes in order to cover 65,000 more applications pending for approval.
She was addressing at State Ministers’ Conference, held in
The Minister said that State of Jammu and Kashmir is passing through a difficult stage, adding that Government is determined to ensure all round development of the State and the social security of its citizens, especially senior citizens, weaker section, people in distress and physically challenged persons.
Ms Sakina said that Government is implementing National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) with assistance from Centre, whereunder pension is being paid to persons with 40, 55 and 65 years of age and living below poverty line besides onetime lump-sum assistance of Rs. 10,000 to the families in event of death of primary bread earner. She said that Rs. 60 crore have been disbursed during last financial year under the scheme, adding backlog payment to 1.29 lac beneficiaries was also cleared.
The Minister said that 5955 families have been covered under National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Rs. 595.50 lac have been spent on this account. She said 8628 persons have been brought under two new schemes IGNWPS and IGNDPS launched in the State in January 2010 against target of 8778.
Under Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS), a state sponsored scheme, 3.54 lac beneficiaries, which include widows, divorcees, physically challenged persons, have been covered during current fiscal and Rs. 1.10 crore stands disbursed among the beneficiaries so far.
The Minister said several initiative have been taken by the State Government to streamline the implementation of NSAP and state share of pension under the scheme has been increased from Rs.125 to Rs. 200 per month.
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