Context

Parliamentary standing committee on rural development has slammed government laxity in raising amounts for providing pensions to senior citizens, widows and disabled people of BPL households under National Social Assistance Programme.

About

Key-highlights of the Report

• The Committee observed the meagre amount of assistance ranging from ?200 to ?500 per month under the different components of this Scheme.
• The Committee slammed the government’s laxity in raising the amount, pointing out that recommendations to increase the sums have been made for the last two years.
• The Committee recommended the DoRD to look into this issue with utmost sincerity and hasten their processes for bringing an increase in the assistance amount under NSAP.
• The panel also pulled up the DoRD for delays and disparities in the payment of wages and unemployment allowances under the flagship MGNREGA scheme.
• Inordinate delay in the release of (the 40% component of) funds for skilled/semi-skilled workers under MGNREGA.
• The callous approach of the State Governments in the proper implementation of the provision of unemployment allowance under MGNREGA.
• The provision is not implemented in letter and spirit at the grass root level.

About  NSAP (National Social Assistant Programme) National Social Assistance Programme is a Centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India that provides financial benefit to elderly people, widow and person with disability in the form of social pension. NSAP was launched on 15 August 1995. The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a welfare programme being administered by the Ministry of Rural Development. This programme is being implemented in rural areas as well as urban areas. NSAP represents a significant step towards the fulfilment of the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution of India which enjoin upon the State to undertake within its means a number of welfare measures. 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