Brief Introduction

 The prime objectives of Panchayati Raj Institutions as defined in the Article 40 of the Constitution of India are to promote economic development and social justice.  These are intended to secure for the citizens adequate means of livelihood, raise the standard of living, improve public health, provide free and compulsory education for children etc.   In particular, Article 41 of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want within the limit of its economic capacity and development. It is in accordance with these noble principles that the Government of India on 15th August 1995 included the National Social Assistance Programme in the Central Budget for 1995-96 .The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) then comprised of National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS).  These programmes were meant for providing social assistance benefit to the aged, the BPL households in the case of death of the primary breadwinner and for maternity.  Subsequently, the National Maternity Benefit Scheme was renamed as Janani Surakshya Yojona and the implementation of the scheme was transferred to the Health and Family Welfare department with effect from 1st April,2001 .

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to the selected beneficiaries as per the following criteria :

• Age of the applicant (male or female) is 65 years of more,
• The applicant is a destitute in the sense of having little or no regular means of subsistence from his / her own sources of income or through financial support from the family members or other sources.

The amount of Old Age Pension was increased four fold i.e. from Rs. 100/- per month to Rs. 400/- per month during the financial year, which is shared equally by the Central & State Governments.  Previously the Central Government contributed Rs 75/ per person and the balance Rs 25/ was contributed by the State Government.  In order to improve delivery of services the Gram Panchayats were conferred sanctioning authority, previously vested in the S.D.O.  During the year 2006-07, an amount of Rs.23
9.68 crores has been spent for payment to 4,74,106 beneficiaries. Year-wise number of beneficiaries and amount disbursed during the year is shown at Table below :

Table
Performance under National Old Age Pension Scheme

                                                                                               
From November, 2007, the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) has been renamed as Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS). The benefit of pension has been extended to all individuals who have attained the age of 65 years as on November,2007 and are enlisted in the list of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families . The list of additional beneficiaries covered under IGNOAPS is available in this web site.

 National Family Benefit Scheme

            This scheme provides a one time financial assistance to the families living below the poverty line, which have lost their primary bread-winner, while aged between 18 & 65 years.  During the year 2006-07, an amount of Rs.17.77 crores has been spent for assistance to such families.  A statement of performance under the scheme during the last five years is given at Table below :


Table  3.10.2
Performance under National Family Benefit Scheme

In the earlier years benefit of the schemes did not reach all the eligible families.  With closer monitoring and taking up special drives in increasing awareness about the scheme the coverage has improved in the last two years.  In order to reduce the time taken for sanctioning and disbursement of the due amount the responsibility of sanctioning the cases was devolved on the Panchayat Samitis, which was earlier entrusted with the SDOs. 


 Provident Fund For Landless Agricultural Labourers (PROFLAL)

            The Scheme was introduced from 1st April 1998. All landless agricultural labourers within the age group of 18 to 50 years who are recorded holders of up to 50 (fifty) decimal of land including homestead land and major source of earnings are derived from their work as agricultural labourers are eligible for the scheme. The eligible subscribers to the scheme have to deposit at the rate of Rs.10/- (ten) per month and the State Government contributes equal amount till such time the subscribers attain the age of 50 years. On attaining the age of 50 years, the accumulated amount along with usual interest is paid to the subscribers. If for some reason the subscriber does not find it possible to continue with the scheme, the amount saved by him along with the matching contribution of the State Government against the amount saved are refunded to the subscriber concerned. The scheme is administered by the Gram Panchayats at the village level. The Block Development Officer and the District Magistrate concerned have supervisory role in implementing the scheme.
As on 31.03.2007 a total of 9,13,901 subscribers have deposited Rs.20.52 crores  on which interest accrued to date is Rs.4.29 crores

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