National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP):
The Centre must increase the “meagre” pensions provided for poor senior citizens, widows, and disabled people said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development in its report submitted to the Lok Sabha.
- The Committee observed that under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), meagre amount of assistance ranging from ₹200 to ₹500 per month is provided under the different components of this Scheme.
- The panel had previously urged the increase of these minuscule pensions in its reports on the Department of Rural Development’s (DoRD) demand for grants in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
- The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Government of India that provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions.
- The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
The National Assistance Program consists of five sub-schemes:
- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
- Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
- Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
- National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
- Annapurna Scheme
