NSAP - Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme

The scheme "Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)" is one of the five sub-schemes of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). Under IGNDPS, BPL persons aged between 18 to 59 years with severe and multiple disabilities, are eligible to apply. A monthly pension of ₹ 200 is provided to the beneficiary.

The Government of India, on 15th August 1995, introduced the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme targeting the destitute, defined as any person who has little or no regular means of subsistence from his / her own source of income or through financial support from family members or other sources, to be identified by the States and UTs, with the objective of providing a basic level of financial aid. NSAP is being administered by the Ministry of Rural Development. This program is being implemented in rural areas as well as urban areas.

NSAP represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution of India which enjoin upon the State to undertake within its means a number of welfare measures. These are intended to secure for the citizen's adequate means of livelihood, raise the standard of living, improve public health, provide free and compulsory education for children, etc.

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

Objectives of NSAP -

1. Provides social assistance benefits to poor households in the case of death, maternity, or old age of the breadwinner.

2. Ensure minimum national standards, in addition to the benefits, the States are currently providing or might provide in the future.

3. Ensure uniform social protection to the beneficiaries across the country without interruption.

Expansion to cover all eligible BPL persons -

In 2007, the scheme was expanded to cover all eligible persons Below Poverty Line (BPL).

Benefits

A monthly pension of ₹ 200 is provided to the beneficiary.

Eligibility

1. The applicant should be a citizen of India.
2. The applicant should be living Below Poverty Line.
3. The applicant should be a Person with Disability (PwD).
4. The age of applicant should be between 18 to 59 years.



Application Process

Offline

1. In the rural areas, the NSAP scheme beneficiaries will be identified from the BPL list prepared by the States/UTs according to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Rural Development (MORD) for the BPL Census 2002.
2. In the urban areas, the identification of eligible beneficiaries for the NSAP schemes will be carried out according to the BPL list required to be prepared in connection with the poverty alleviation program of the Ministry of Urban Housing and Poverty Alleviation.
3. Apart from the disbursal of benefits through the accounts of the beneficiaries in Banks or in Post Office Savings Banks or through Postal Money Order the assistance under NOAPS, may also be disbursed in public meetings such as Gram Sabha meetings in rural areas and by neighborhood/mohalla committees in urban areas.

Documents Required

1. Duly filled and self-attested Application Form (proforma given the annexures of the scheme guidelines).
2. Domicile Certificate
3. Disability Certificate
4. Residential Proof (Voter card/ Electricity Bill/Aadhar Card)
5. Age Proof (Birth Certificate issued by the School last attended or Municipal authority or SHO or through Medical Board)
6. Aadhar Number
7. Bank Passbook
8. Ration Card
9. Affidavit duly attested by Judicial Magistrate/Executive Magistrate that she/he is not in receipt of any pension/ financial assistance from any other source
10. 3 Passport size photographs of the applicant