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Social Security Cell

The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which came into effect from 15th August, 1995, represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the Directive Principles of State Policy as envisaged in Article 41 of the Constitution of India. The programme introduced a National Policy for Social Assistance for the poor and aims at ensuring minimum national standard for social assistance, in addition to the benefits that States are currently providing or might provide in future. NSAP was initially started with National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS).Under the scheme, destitute aged 65 years or above were entitled to a monthly pension of Rs.75/-. The amount of pension under NOAPS was raised to Rs. 200/- per month per beneficiary and State Governments were urged to contribute equally towards the pension amount.

A) Of late, the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) was renamed as Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) and brought into effect from 19.11.2007. Eligibility criteria were revised to include all citizens aged 65 years or above who belong to BPL category.

B) Two more schemes namely Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) were introduced in February, 2009. While BPL widows aged 40-64 years were eligible for pension under IGNWPS, BPL persons aged 18-64 years with severe and multiple disabilities were eligible for pension under IGNDPS. In both the cases the amount of central assistance for pensioner was Rs. 200/- per month.

At present, the Scheme under NSAP comprises Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) and National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS), with following eligibility criteria and conditions:-

Scheme and their eligibility criteria and conditions
Scheme Name About This Scheme
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) BPL persons or persons having annual income of less than Rs.7,995 (in Rural area) & Rs, 9,974 (in Urban area) and aged 60 years or above are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 600/-. In case of persons aged 80 years or above, the monthly pension is Rs. 700/-.
Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) BPL widows or widows having annual income of less than Rs.7,995 (in Rural area) & Rs, 9,974 (in Urban area) and aged 40-79 years are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 600/
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) BPL persons or persons having annual income of less than Rs.7,995 (in Rural area) & Rs, 9,974 (in Urban area) and aged 18-79 years with severe and multiple disabilities are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 600/
National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) In case of death of primary breadwinner of the BPL family, aged between 18-59 years, a lump sum assistance of Rs. 20,000/- is provided to the surviving member of the household of the deceased, under the scheme.

The State of Jharkhand is equally committed to provide social assistance to the poor and aims at ensuring minimum standard, in addition to the benefits being provided under NSAP Scheme. The State Government on one hand provides the matching grant for the above three NSAP Schemes (NFBS) excluded and on the other hand, it has launched four Pension Schemes to cover the beneficiaries who are otherwise not eligible under the NSAP Scheme. Out of these four Schemes, three have been launched and implemented within a year.

The Details of State Pension Schemes are as under
Scheme Name About This Scheme
State Social Security Old Age Pension Scheme (SSSOAPS) Old age persons aged 60 years or above, widow aged 18 years or above, persons with 40% disability and released bonded labourer,having annual income of less than Rs.10,500/- (in Rural area) & Rs, 12,500/- (in Urban area) are entitled to a monthly pension of Rs. 600/
Adim Jan Jati Pension Yojana(AJJPY) Primitive Tribes, whose family members are not employed in Government, Private or Public Sector, married women of such family will be provided benefits under the scheme. If any family has no married woman, in that case, the pension will be sanctioned in the name of chief of the family. There shall be waiver of BPL and annual income limit for the beneficiaries of this scheme. Monthly pension payable under the scheme is Rs. 600/-
Rajya Vidhwa Samman Pension Yojana(RVSPY) Pension under the scheme is payable to all widows aged 18 years or above.There shall be waiver of BPL and annual income limit for the beneficiaries of this scheme. Monthly pension payable under the scheme is Rs. 600/-
State Security Pension Scheme for AIDS/HIV infected people Under the scheme, AIDS/HIV infected persons, who are being treated at State Aids Control Society or District Aids Control Centre and are getting regular medication, a monthly pension of Rs. 600/- is payable.There shall be waiver of BPL and annual income limit for the beneficiaries of this scheme.