(a) the allocation and utilization of funds under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
(b) the details of the SC,ST, Minority community beneficiaries for the above scheme in the current year;
(c) whether measures have been introduced by the Government to strengthen the NSAP for achieving parity with social security programmes in various developed countries, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of measures adopted to integrate the NSAP with the financial inclusion initiatives of the Government including the total number of beneficiaries who now directly receive pension in their bank accounts; and
(e) whether the Government is likely to introduce the use of Information Technology for applications, payments, monitoring, reporting grievances etc. for better implementation of the NSAP and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? |
| ANSWER |
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT)
(a). The allocation and utilization of funds under the National Social Assistance Programme(NSAP) during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise is at Annexure I.
(b) Schemes under NSAP are for the households living Below Poverty Line (BPL) and assistance/pension is provided to the persons who fulfil the eligibility criteria irrespective of their caste or category as such there is no separate provision for SC, ST, Minority Community under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
(c) Government is taking all possible measures to strengthen the NSAP as per the resources available in the Country.
(d) W.e.f 01st July 2013, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme had been launched for direct transfer of benefit to the bank/post office accounts of beneficiaries under three pension schemes of NSAP viz. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Schemes. At present, 140 lakh beneficiaries of NSAP schemes are having Bank/Post Office Accounts.
(e) In order to increase the transparency and accountability in the implementation, it had been decided to computerize the data base of the beneficiaries under various schemes of NSAP. Accordingly the Software namely NSAP-MIS had been developed by NIC. The software captures all the essential processes and includes modules on identification, disbursement of pension, release of funds, verification, sanction of pension, ground for refusal etc. Data of 251 lakh beneficiaries has been digitized as on 16.03.2015. |
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