Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 30: Governor NN Vohra, in a letter addressed to Union Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation Choudhary Birender Singh, today asked for the release of pension funds.The Governor addressed the Union Minister, regarding a number of pending pension cases for old age, widows and the disabled in the state. These pensions are an integral constituent of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Union Ministry of Rural Development while the State Government also contributes towards such pensions @ Rs 200 per month per beneficiary.The Governor has requested Singh to allow inclusion of pending cases numbering 20,510 (80 yrs and above) and 50,924 (60 to 79 years) under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS); 2,366 cases under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) and 3,923 cases under the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) with annual financial implication of Rs. 2679.19 lakh for these 77,723 pending cases. Besides, nearly 11,123 cases are awaiting sanction under the National Family Benefit Scheme under which one time assistance @ Rs. 20,000 is offered to BPL families who lose their bread winners.The Governor has also sought Singh's intervention for the urgent settlement of this long pending matter. |
