(a) whether the Government is aware about the delay being made in payment of social security pension to Pension holders who have been receiving their payments through post offices;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether payment is being made to the pension holders without issuing `Pass Book` in Khargone and Badwani districts of Madhya Pradesh; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor alongwith the remedial steps taken by the Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI D. NAPOLEON)
(a) to (d) The Ministry of Rural Development is administering a welfare programme called, `National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)` which, inter alia, includes three pension Schemes namely Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS). Pension is provided only to the BPL persons satisfying eligibility criteria under the schemes of NSAP.
NSAP is under the State plan since 2002-03. Identification of beneficiaries and sanction of benefit under the schemes of NSAP is done by the State Governments/UT Administrations which have been given requisite flexibility in the implementation of the schemes of NSAP. The Ministry of Rural Development has informed that they have not received any report regarding delay in disbursement of pension, through post offices under the schemes of NSAP and they also do not maintain the district-wise information.