The Hindu : National : Old age pension raised

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 29, 2006
ePaper

National

National

Old age pension raised

Special Correspondent

States urged to chip in to increase the quantum

NEW DELHI: The Centre has increased the old age pension under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) from Rs. 75 to Rs. 200 a month for 2006-2007. The Union Finance Minister had announced an increase in the pension in his budget speech.

Subsequently, the Centre has also sanctioned Rs. 69,797.51 lakh as additional Central assistance (ACA) under the National Old Age Pension Scheme and Annapurna to 28 State Governments for meeting expenses on account of the increased pension to old persons from August to October 2006.

The Union Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has urged the State Governments to make an equal contribution to increase the quantum to Rs. 400 a month. He has also asked all States to start pension distribution at the revised rate with immediate effect.

Since the inception of the programme in 1995, the pension amount remained unchanged at Rs. 75 a month. Under NOAPS, 84.82 lakh persons are covered. With the revised norm, the annual allocation will go up from the current level of Rs. 1,190 crore to Rs. 2,800 crore per annum.

The National Social Assistance Programme comprises two separate schemes, namely, the National Old Age Pension Scheme and the National Family Benefit Scheme.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National