nsap.nic.in National Social Assistance Programme : Department of Rural Development

Name of the Organization : Department of Rural Development
Name of the Scheme : National Social Assistance Programme NSAP
Location: India

Official Website : http://nsap.nic.in/

National Social Assistance Programme(NSAP) :
The National Social Assistance Programme(NSAP) which came into effect from 15th August,1995 represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the Directive Principles in Article 41 of the Constitution. The programme introduced a National Policy for Social Assistance for the poor and aims at ensuring minimum national standard for social assistance in addition to the benefits that states are currently providing or might provide in future. NSAP at present, comprises of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna.

Components of NSAP:
The NSAP at present includes five sub-schemes as its components :-
a) Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
b) Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
c) Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
d) National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
e) Annapurna Scheme

Eligibility Criteria and Scale of Assistance:
The assistance under the sub-schemes of NSAP are applicable for persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. The other eligibility criteria and the scale of assistance under the sub-schemes of NSAP are as follows:-

Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS):
The eligible age for IGNOAPS is 60 years. The pension is Rs.200 p.m. for persons between 60 years and 79 years. For persons who are 80 years and above the pension is Rs.500/- per month.

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS):
The eligible age is 40 years and the pension is Rs.300 per month. After attaining the age of 80 years, the beneficiary will get Rs.500/- per month.

Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS):
The eligible age for the pensioner is 18 years and above and the disability level has to be 80%. The amount is Rs.300 per month and after attaining the age of 80 years, the beneficiary will get Rs.500/- per month. Dwarfs will also be an eligible category for this pension.

National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS):
Rs. 20000/- will be given as a lumpsum assistance to the bereaved household in the event of death of the bread-winner. It is clarified that any event of death (natural or otherwise) would make the family eligible for assistance. A woman in the family, who is a home maker, is also considered as a ‘bread-winner’ for this purpose. The family benefit will be paid to such surviving member of the household of the deceased poor, who after local inquiry, is found to be the head of the household. For the purpose of the scheme, the term “household’ would include spouse, minor children, unmarried daughters and dependent parents. In case of death of an unmarried adult, the term household would include minor brothers/ sisters and dependent parents. The death of such a breadwinner should have occurred whilst he/she is more than 18 years of age and less than 60 years of age. The assistance would be given to every case of death of breadwinner in a family.

Annapurna Scheme:
10 kgs of food grains (wheat or rice) is given per month per beneficiary. The scheme aims at providing food security to meet the requirements of those eligible old aged persons who have remained uncovered under the IGNOAPS.

Selection of Beneficiaries
Awareness generation:
One of the main tasks for attaining the objective of the schemes of NSAP is awareness generation among the people about eligibility, scale of assistance and the procedure to be followed for obtaining benefits. District, Block/Intermediate and Village level panchayats and urban local government institutions should play a vital role in creating awareness among the people. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of the poor also have a critical role to play. States should ensure wide and continuous publicity about the entitlements under the schemes of NSAP and the procedure for claiming them through posters, brochures,media and other means.

Confirmation of the existing beneficiaries :
There is a need for annual verification of the existing beneficiaries under NSAP. The States may constitute Special Verification Teams for the purpose under an authorized officer. The teams should include representatives of Non-Government Organisations of repute which are active in the locality. Details of members of the team and the process may be given wide publicity.

After the verification, lists of persons proposed to be confirmed or deleted should be published separately. The list proposed for deletion should also give the reasons for deletion. It may be indicated that any interested person may file claims and objections within 15 days to the head of the special Verification Team whose details would be clearly indicated.

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