Following the directive of Article 41 of the Indian Constitution, NSAP(National Social Assistance Programme) was launced in our country on the 15th day of August in 1995. Since then, the programme has been running successfully in every state of the country. At present, number of beneficiaries under this popular scheme in India is 29747907.
The programme has four major components – IGNOAPS (Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme), IGNWPS (Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme), IGNDPS (Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme) and NFBS (National Family Benefit Scheme).
- In our Block, number of NSAP pensioners at present is as follows :
| IGNOAPS (Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme) | 2008 |
| IGNWPS (Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme) | 1437 |
| IGNDPS (Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme) | 55 |
| TOTAL | 3500 |
- Each pensioner of all the three categories receive Rs. 1000 (Rupees one thousand) per month.
IGNOAPS (Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme) : Persons whose age is 60 years or more and who live below poverty line are eligible to apply for this pension. Economic status is determined by deprivation level of the applicant’s family as per Socio-Economic Caste Census-2011. Whose deprivation level is at least 3 is eligible to apply. Department of Panchayats & Rural Development, Government of West Bengal publishes list of prospective beneficiaries from time to time. Physical verification of such cases is conducted by Govt./Panchayat officials and eligible persons are considered for pension. Application may also be submitted through UMANG/SAMBAL App or website (nsap.nic.in).
IGNWPS (Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme): Widows between the age group of 40-59 and who live below poverty line are eligible to apply for this pension. Economic status is determined by deprivation level of the applicant’s family as per Socio-Economic Caste Census-2011. Whose deprivation level is at least 2 is eligible to apply. Department of Panchayats & Rural Development, Government of West Bengal publishes list of prospective beneficiaries from time to time. Physical verification of such cases is conducted by Govt./Panchayat officials and eligible persons are considered for pension. Application may also be submitted through UMANG/SAMBAL App or website (nsap.nic.in). When Beneficiaries under this scheme attain the age of 60, they are automatically converted to IGNOAPS.
IGNDPS (Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme): Disable persons having Disability Certificate whose age is 18 years or more and who live below poverty line are eligible to apply for this pension. Economic status is determined by deprivation level of the applicant’s family as per Socio-Economic Caste Census-2011. Whose deprivation level is at least 2 is eligible to apply. Application may be submitted through UMANG/SAMBAL App or website (nsap.nic.in).
NFBS (National Family Benefit Scheme): If the main bread winner of any family living below poverty line dies between the age of 18 to 59, the family gets a lump sum financial assistance amounting Rs. 40000 under this scheme. Application in desired format is to be submitted to the office of the Gram Panchayat within two months of death. Application forms are available with Gram Panchayat Office.