Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) 2023 Apply Online

The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) is a pioneering initiative by the Government of India aimed at providing financial support and security to widowed women across the country. Launched as a part of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), this scheme is a tribute to the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was known for her commitment to social welfare and empowerment.

The primary objective of the IGNWPS is to offer economic independence and stability to widows living below the poverty line. It recognizes the challenges faced by widows, who often find themselves in vulnerable socio-economic conditions due to the loss of their spouse.

• She should be a BPL (Below Poverty Line) cardholder.
• She must be between the ages of 40 to 64 years.
• She should not be receiving any other pension.

Under the IGNWPS, eligible widows receive a monthly pension from the government. The amount disbursed varies from state to state but typically ranges from Rs. 300 to Rs. 2000 per month. This financial assistance provides widows with a vital lifeline, helping them meet their basic needs and ensuring their dignity and well-being.

The IGNWPS goes beyond monetary aid; it is a step towards social inclusion and empowerment. By alleviating the financial burden, the scheme enables widows to take charge of their lives, make independent decisions, and contribute positively to their families and communities.

Economic Security: The monthly pension offers widows a stable source of income, reducing their dependence on others and allowing them to meet their basic needs.

Healthcare and Education: With the additional financial support, widows can ensure proper healthcare and education for themselves and their children, breaking the cycle of poverty.

Enhanced Dignity and Respect: The scheme helps restore the dignity of widows by recognizing their struggles and providing them with a means to lead a decent life.

Reduction in Social Stigma: By addressing the economic challenges faced by widows, the IGNWPS helps reduce the social stigma associated with widowhood, fostering a more inclusive society.

While the IGNWPS has been instrumental in uplifting the lives of many widows, there are challenges such as limited awareness and varying disbursement mechanisms in different states. To enhance its impact, there is a need for better outreach, streamlined processes, and periodic revisions of the pension amounts to account for inflation.

One of the five sub-schemes of the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) is the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS). Widows between the ages of 40 and 59 who are living below the poverty line are eligible to apply under the IGNWPS. The beneficiary receives a 200 rupees monthly pension. Its goal is to provide a basic level of financial aid. The Ministry of Rural Development is in charge of supervising NSAP. Both urban and rural areas are implementing this programme.

The NSAP is a crucial step in achieving the Directive Principles of State Policy, which are enjoined upon the State to carry out a number of welfare program within its means, as stated in the Indian Constitution. These aim to provide citizens with appropriate means of subsistence, boost living standards, enhance public health, give kids access to free and required education, etc.

• Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
• Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
• National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)

The general conditions that apply to all NSAP components as well as the specific conditions that apply to each component are followed when the NSAP is implemented in the States/UTs. The Social Welfare Departments of the States are primarily responsible for implementing the NSAP Schemes. However, the Rural Development Departments of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Meghalaya, and West Bengal, the Departments of Women & Child Development in Orissa and Puducherry, the Revenue Department in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and the Department of Labour Employment & Training in Jharkhand are responsible for implementing NSAP. The NSAP encompasses both urban and rural areas.

• The widows could use this programme to receive the advantages.
• The recipients’ accounts will get the pension right away.
• The Government of India will offer them financial support.
• A monthly pension of 500 rupees would be given to anyone above the age of 80.
• From the date of her husband’s death forward, the beneficiary will receive funding of Rs. 300 per month.

• The beneficiary must reside in Madhya Pradesh.
• The receiver should be between the ages of 40 and 79.
• The recipient must be a member of the community who falls below the poverty level.

• Applicant’s 3 Passport size photographs
• Duly filled and self-attested Application Form
• Aadhar Card
• Domicile Certificate
•  Age proof
• Husband’s Death Certificate
• Below Poverty Line ration card
• Residence proof like Voter card, Electricity Bill, Aadhar Card, etc
• Account details of the applicant

• First of all, go to the official website of Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension 
• The homepage of the website will open on the screen
• Click on the Download Form tab
• The application form will open on the screen
• Download the form and take out its printout
• Now, fill in the form with all the required details
• After that, attach all the required documents with the application form
• Finally, submit the application form to the Commissioner Municipal Corporation or Janpad Panchayat Officer

According to the rules established by the Ministry of Rural Development (MORD) for the BPL Census 2002, the NSAP scheme beneficiaries in rural areas will be determined from the BPL list created by the States/UTs. According to the BPL list that must be created in connection with the poverty alleviation programme of the Ministry of Urban Housing and Poverty Alleviation, eligible beneficiaries for the NSAP programmes in urban areas will be identified. The assistance under NOAPS may be distributed in public settings, such as Gramme Sabha meetings in rural areas and by neighborhood/mohalla committees in urban areas, in addition to the disbursement of benefits through the beneficiaries’ accounts in banks, Post Office Savings Banks, or through postal money orders.

The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) has a central government contribution of Rs. 200 per month per beneficiary, and the State Governments may pay at least an equivalent amount to guarantee that a beneficiary receives at least Rs. 400 per month.