Payment of old-age and widow pensions

Payment of old-age and widow pensions

714. ADV. DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

(a) the details of contribution made by the Union Government towards the payment of old-age and widow pensions during each of the last six years, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has the data regarding the number of old-age persons and widows who are eligible and receive pensions;

(c) if so, the details of those who were eligible and received the pensions during the said period, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government has the details of amount, if any, pending to be disbursed as pension to those eligible for old age and widow pensions; and

(e) if so, the details thereof during the said period, State-wise?

(a): State/UT-wise details of funds released by Central Government under the old age and widow pension schemes of NSAP during the last six years are given at Annexure-I.

(b) & (c): Under NSAP, identification of beneficiaries and sanction and disbursement of benefits to them is done by the respective State/UT. Allocation of funds under NSAP schemes to States/ UTs is done on the basis of ceiling of beneficiaries (State Cap) or the number of beneficiaries digitized on the NSAP portal by the State/UT, whichever is lower. State/UT-wise details of beneficiary ceiling of old-age and widow beneficiaries under pension schemes of NSAP are given at Annexure-II. Further, State/UT-wise details of number of old-age and widow beneficiaries under pension schemes of NSAP during the last six years are at Annexure-III. States/UTs have option to provide financial assistance from their own sources in case there are more eligible beneficiaries. As per information received from States/UTs, about 2.56 crore old-age and 1.2 crore widows are additionally assisted through State/UT pension schemes.

(d) & (e): Funds under NSAP schemes are released to the State on the basis of (i) submission of proposal, complete in all respects as per NSAP Guidelines; (ii) compliance of revised procedure for release of funds issued by Ministry of Finance, from time to time; and (iii) submission of requisite undertakings signed by the Competent Authority. No such proposal of any State/UT is pending in this Department for release of funds under old age pension scheme and widow pension scheme for the last six years.

Annexure-I Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q.No. 714 due for answer on 25.07.2023

State/UT-wise details of funds released under old age and widow pension schemes of NSAP during last six years…………………………. Read More.

*****