Court notice against irregularities in implementation NSAP in state
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 11 2011: Admitting a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) which alleged irregularities in the implementation of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) by the state Social Welfare Department, the Gauhati High Court Imphal Bench today issued a notice of motion to the authorities of the Manipur government which is returnable by June 27, 2011 .

The PIL was filed by Takhelchangbam Bohol Sharma against the Manipur government and authorities related with the implementation of the Central sponsored National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) through his counsel senior advocate N Kumarjit.

The Centre introduced the NSAP with effect from August 15, 1995 to take up social welfare measures as provided under Article 41 of the Constitution of India.

Indira Gandhi National Old Aged Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) and Indira Gandhi National Widow Benefit Schemes (IGNWPS) are the components of the programme which give ' 200 per month per beneficiary.

Other components of the programme are Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme which gives a pension amount of ' 200 per month to the beneficiaries and Annapurna Scheme which provides 10 Kg of food grain (rice in Manipur) per month per beneficiary and National Family Benefit which provides ' 10,000 to the bereaved household.

The PIL alleged that the state was not following the guidelines provided by the Centre.

Against the guidelines, the state provides no application forms, no call center is established, no volunteer is appointed or engaged, no information or announcement is made and the public has no information for the benefits under NSAP, the PIL petitioner alleged.

As such there has been no preparation of pension book/pass book and the poor people have no knowledge of the availability of the benefits under NSAP.

Local MLAs are distributing the Old Age Pension without disclosing the details of the benefits, that too for only two or three months in a year and not regularly, the petitioner asserted.

He further pointed out the poor beneficiaries are deprived of their rights and benefits under the scheme.

The petitioner further alleged that no action has been taken up by the authorities to streamline the social scheme.

No proper management of the NSAP is being done in the state.

As a result rights of many citizens to get benefits of the Central sponsored scheme have been violated.

No activities for giving information education and communication awareness generation, has been made in the village and rural areas.

With the admission of the PIL, Justice Mutum BK Singh issued the notice of motion "calling upon the respondents to show cause as to why rules as prayed for should not be issued or why such further or other orders should not be passed as to this court may seem fit and proper" .

Advocate General N Kotishwor was the counsel of the respondents which represented by the Manipur government and its authorities concerned with the implementations of the NSAP.

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