Context:
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj presented the Report on ‘Impact of NSAP on the Poor and Destitute in the Villages’
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP):
- A welfare initiative by the Government of India aimed at providing financial assistance to vulnerable sections of society
- Launched in 1995 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS).
- Objective –
- Provides financial aid to old-aged individuals, widows, disabled persons, and bereaved households after the death of the breadwinner.
- Targets Below Poverty Line (BPL) families.
- Implementation – Administered by the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Covers both rural and urban areas
- Components –
- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): Pension for individuals aged 60 and above.
- Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS): Pension for widows aged 40 and above.
- Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS): Pension for disabled individuals aged 18 and above with 80% disability.
- National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): Lump sum assistance to bereaved households.
- Annapurna Scheme: Food security for eligible old-aged persons not covered by IGNOAPS.
- Eligibility –
- Based on age, disability level, and economic status (BPL families).
- Specific criteria for each scheme.
- Scale of Assistance –
- Monthly pensions ranging from ₹200 to ₹500 depending on age and scheme.
- Lump sum assistance of ₹20,000 under NFBS.
- 10 kg of food grains per month under Annapurna Scheme.
Source: HT
Previous Year Question
Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) bringing the small entrepreneurs into formal financial system
(b) providing loans to poor farmers for cultivating particular crops
(c) providing pensions to old and destitute persons
(d) funding the voluntary organizations involved in the promotion of skill development and employment generation
Answer: (a)