Senior citizens deprived of IGNOAPS in Ukhrul, Kamjong
Source: Chronicle News Service
Ukhrul, May 24 2023:
Blame it on the so- called vacancy crunch or the usual pro-cedural rigmarole or a laggard pace of implementation, but more than 1500 senior citizens from Ukhrul and Kamjong dis-tricts are being deprived of the benefits of various schemes under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).
It is learnt that many of these senior citizens had applied for the scheme some years back but their registration is pending till date.
The welfare scheme, initiated and administered by the Union Ministry of Labour & Employ-ment as part of its National Social Assistance Programme (NSAF'), envisions basic support for senior citizens to help face old age inse-curities by providing a monthly pension.
A reliable source in the Social Welfare Department, Ukhrul informed TPC that the depart-ment has received a large number of applications for the old age scheme and the current num-ber of pending applications has accumulated to a total of 1558 over the past few years.
These pending applications also included those received by the department during the 'Meeyamgi Numit' events held in Ukhruland Kamjong districts, the source said, adding that the department isyet to be segregat-ed for Kamjong district.
Responding to a query, the source expressed helplessness over the continued pending of the applications and cited in-sufficient vacancies as the main reason for the delay in settling the applications.
"The government notifies our department for inviting applica-tions for thescheme from time to time depending on the available vacancies.
During this period, we issue application forms to the public," the source stated, adding that the last notification was issued for the state scheme in September 2022 and February this year for the central scheme.
However, all the applications could not be covered due to low number of vacancies, it said.
"As a result, priority was giv-en to applicants of 75 years and above, even though the eligibility is 60 years for all applicants and since then, no notification is out yet," the source explained.
According to official data made available to TPC, the cur-rent number of beneficiaries under the scheme in the twin districts stands at 4,443 for the state scheme and 3,899 for the central scheme respectively.
Under the state scheme, the department is currently provid-ing benefits of monthly pension of Rs 200 under Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme (MOAPS) and Rs 500 per month under Chief Minister Widow Pension Scheme (CMWPS).
Under the central scheme, the department is providing benefits in four different components under NSAP, namely IGNOAPS at Rs 200 per month for 60-79 years and Rs 500 for 80 years and above; Indira Gandhi Na-tional Window Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) at Rs 500 per month; Indira Gandhi National Disabili-ty Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) at Rs 500 per month and National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) with one time assistance of Rs 20,000 .