Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme:

IGNOAPS, formerly known as the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), was renamed and launched in November 2007. It is one of the five components of India’s Ministry of Rural Development’s (MORD) National Social Assistance Program (NSAP). Beneficiaries of this scheme account for 73% of all beneficiaries listed under the NSAP. The establishment of IGNOAPS is a significant step toward achieving the Directive Principles enshrined in Articles 41 and 42 of the Indian Constitution. Article 41 directs the state to assist citizens in the event of old age or disability, within the limits of its economic capacity and development. The goal of IGNOAPS is to provide social benefits to poor households with elderly members and to raise minimum national standards. More than 2 crore Indian citizens are currently listed and receive IGNOAPS benefits. Beneficiaries are identified from the BPL list prepared by the states/UTs in accordance with MORD guidelines. Under the terms of the National Social Assistance Program, the States/UTs receive 100 percent funding to provide a pension. It is primarily carried out in accordance with the guidelines and policies established by the central government....

The Primary Characteristics of the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme Under NSAP:

Local authorities such as Gram Panchayats and Municipalities are expected to identify beneficiaries in a significant way. The benefits of IGNOAPS can be distributed at public meetings such as neighborhood committees in cities and Gram Sabha meetings in rural areas. This is in addition to the traditional methods of benefit disbursement via accounts and money orders. Although the States/UTs have the option of implementing IGNOAPS by appointing a Nodal Secretary at the State level. Its main purpose is to report on the scheme’s progress by coordinating with the relevant departments. Every quarter, progress is reported....

Challenges of the Scheme:

Inadequate Cash Transfer: The old-age pension scheme’s payouts continue to be low. The contribution by state governments has either remained small or nonexistent, and the entitlement amount under the central government system has essentially stayed unchanged since 2007. Both at the center and in the states, there are a number of shortcomings in the delivery of old-age benefits. Use of Old Data: The government still uses the 2001 census and poverty rates from 2004–2005 to select recipients despite having access to more recent data.Nearly 80 million people are reportedly eligible for the old-age pension. However,  only about 25 million people receive a pension. Gender-Based Exclusions: According to the Longitudinal Age Survey of India 2017–18, more males than women are receiving the IGNOAPS in numerous states. This is despite the fact that in several of these states, the proportion of elderly women living alone is substantially larger than that of males....

Related Frequently Asked Questions and Solutions:

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