Nagaland has 63,372 old-age pension beneficiaries
Dr. Neiphiu Rio, on Friday informed that there are more than 63 thousands registered old-age beneficiaries in addition to 16000 eligible beneficiaries not covered under the scheme.
- KOHIMA — Nagaland
Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio, on Friday informed that there are more than 63
thousands registered old-age beneficiaries in addition to 16000 eligible
beneficiaries not covered under the scheme.
- Dr. Rio, who is also the minister in-charge of Social
Welfare, informed that there are 63,372 old age pension scheme beneficiaries in
the state. It included 57,402 Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
(IGNOAPS) and 5,970 State Old Age Pension (SOAP) beneficiaries.
- Dr. Rio stated this while replying to a starred question on
the old age pension schemes raised by MLA Achumbemo Kikon.
- According to Dr. Rio, the amount paid to IGNOAPS (60-79 yrs)
was INR 200 per month, which comes to INR 2,400 per annum whereas IGNOAPS for
80 years and above was INR 500 per month (INR 6000 per annum).
- Meanwhile, the State Old Age Pension (SOAP) beneficiaries
get INR 200 per month, which comes to INR 2,400 per annum. The qualifying age
to be eligible for old-age pension scheme is 60 years and above.
- The budget for IGNOAPS was 100% central grant and state old
age pension beneficiaries are covered under State grant, he informed.
- The chief minister added that there are 16003 eligible
beneficiaries as per the record of various district welfare officers, who are
yet to be covered under the old age pension scheme. He stated that many
eligible could not be covered as the ministry has put a ceiling limit based on
the BPL population of 2001 census.
- He, however, asserted that once the state’s financial status
improves, it should do justice to the elderly people. He further added that the
right age to give the old age pension should be assessed.
- Advisor of Social Welfare, Wangpang Konyak, stated that the
welfare scheme aims to provide financial aid to the citizens living below
poverty lines (BPL) or old age persons belonging to the poorest of the poor
households.
- “This particular welfare schemes is for the BPL but the
wrongful inclusion of beneficiaries belonging to above poverty line or wrongful
inclusion of non-eligible population is filling the slot saturating the
ceiling,” Konyak said.
- He was of the opinion that some of the parents and family
members of the high officers and even parents of the MLA might be availing the
schemes.
- NPF legislator, Achumbemo Kikon, in supplementary question,
suggested the state to introduce its own policy. He suggested that a separate
budget should be kept for old age persons from 85 years and above specially
from the rural areas.
