Governor N.N. Vohra, has addressed Choudhary Birender Singh, Union Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation, regarding a number of pending pension cases for old age, widows and the disabled in the State. These pensions are an integral constituent of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Union Ministry of Rural Development. The State Government also contributes towards such pensions @ Rs.200 per month per beneficiary.
The Governor has requested the Union Minister to allow inclusion of pending cases numbering 20,510 (80 yrs and above) and 50,924 (60 to 79 years) under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS); 2,366 cases under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) and 3,923 cases under the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) with annual financial implication of Rs. 2679.19 lakh for these 77,723 pending cases. Besides, nearly 11,123 cases are awaiting sanction under the National Family Benefit Scheme under which one time assistance @ Rs. 20,000 is offered to BPL families who lose their bread winners.The Governor has sought Singh’s personal intervention for the urgent settlement of this long pending matter. (KNS)