The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Gearing up for ‘Abhaya Hastam’

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Friday, Jul 03, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Gearing up for ‘Abhaya Hastam’

taff Reporter

15,000 members expected to get pension in the first month of its launch

Government to launch the ‘Co-contributory Social Security Scheme’ on November 1
Persons who touched 59 years by March 2008 to receive pension of Rs. 500 from November

SANGAREDDY: Ground is being prepared in Medak district for the launch of ‘Abhaya Hastam’ programme. The programme was entrusted to the DRDA.

Around 15,000 persons who touched 59 years by March 2008 are expected to receive the pension of Rs. 500 from November. The government has proposed to launch the ‘Co-contributory Social Security Scheme’ on November 1, the State formation day. So far this type of scheme was not launched anywhere in the country.

Under this scheme each of the Self-Help Group (SHG) members has to contribute Rs. 365 per year and the same amount would be contributed by the State government in the account of the SHG member.

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) would be the guardian of such fund generated under this programme.

Those who had already crossed 60 years will not be covered under this scheme. Similarly, it is mandatory that who want pension should be having at least one-year membership in the SHGs.

There are about 35,000 SHGs in the district with a membership of 4.2 lakh. According to rough estimates, around 15,000 members are expected to get the pension in the first month of its launching.

The enrolment of beneficiaries had already commenced in the villages. A team consisting of two members, one member from the SHG and the book keeper of the village organisation, would conducted the basic survey and collect the information which would be checked by a third party. The beneficiaries have to submit either voter identity card or ration card for age proof.

Enrolment was expected to get completed by July 15. Data entry and third party verification would be completed by September 10.

“We are preparing ground for the launch of the programme. We will have clear picture of the actual beneficiaries once the survey was completed,” DRDA project director Srinivas Baba said.

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