Q. Describe common aspects of National Social Assistance Programmes.
Common Aspects of National Social Assistance
Programmes
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is
a key social welfare initiative of the Government of India aimed at providing
financial assistance and social security to the most vulnerable sections of
society. Launched on August 15, 1995, NSAP reflects
the commitment of the Indian state towards ensuring a minimum standard of
living and promoting social inclusion for the elderly, widows, persons with
disabilities, and other marginalized groups. The programme serves as an
essential component of India’s broader social safety net, addressing issues of
poverty, destitution, and vulnerability by providing direct financial support
to individuals and families who lack a stable source of income or face economic
hardships due to age, disability, or loss of the primary breadwinner. The NSAP
embodies the principles outlined in the Directive Principles of State Policy under Article 41 of the Indian
Constitution, which directs the state to provide public assistance in cases of
unemployment, old age, sickness, disablement, and other cases of undeserved
want. Over the years, the programme has been expanded and refined to address
emerging social challenges and to improve the delivery of benefits to the
targeted beneficiaries. The common aspects of the National Social Assistance
Programme encompass its historical background, objectives, coverage,
eligibility criteria, types of benefits, implementation framework, funding
mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation processes, challenges, and future
directions.
1. Historical Background and Evolution of
NSAP
The roots of the National Social Assistance Programme can be
traced to the early post-independence period when the Government of India
recognized the need for social security measures to protect vulnerable groups
from poverty and destitution. Various state governments initiated old-age
pension schemes and other forms of financial assistance to support elderly and
destitute populations. However, these schemes were fragmented, inconsistent,
and lacked a unified policy framework at the national level. In the early
1990s, rising poverty levels, increasing life expectancy, and the growing
burden of social and economic inequalities highlighted the need for a
structured national social assistance programme. The idea of a centrally
sponsored scheme providing direct cash assistance to vulnerable groups gained
momentum during the tenure of Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. In 1995,
the Government of India formally launched the National Social Assistance
Programme as a centrally sponsored scheme under the Ministry of Rural
Development. The programme initially included three components: the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS),
the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS),
and the National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS).
Over time, the scope and coverage of NSAP were expanded to include the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme
(IGNWPS) and the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension
Scheme (IGNDPS). The National Maternity Benefit Scheme was
later transferred to the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) under
the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The NSAP has evolved into a
comprehensive social security framework aimed at addressing multiple dimensions
of poverty and vulnerability.
2. Objectives of the National Social
Assistance Programme
The primary objective of NSAP is to provide social protection to
poor and vulnerable individuals and families by ensuring a minimum level of
financial security and improving their quality of life. The key objectives of
NSAP include:
·
Ensuring
minimum income support – NSAP aims to provide a basic
level of financial support to elderly individuals, widows, and persons with
disabilities who are unable to engage in productive employment due to age,
physical limitations, or social circumstances.
·
Reducing
poverty and vulnerability – The programme seeks
to reduce the risk of poverty and economic deprivation among marginalized
groups by providing direct cash transfers that enable them to meet their basic
needs such as food, shelter, healthcare, and clothing.
·
Promoting
social inclusion and dignity – NSAP recognizes the
right to a dignified life for all citizens and seeks to empower beneficiaries
by ensuring their social and economic inclusion.
·
Supporting
families in times of crisis – The scheme provides
financial assistance to families who experience the death of the primary
breadwinner, helping them cope with the immediate financial shock and enabling
them to rebuild their lives.
·
Enhancing
access to social welfare services – NSAP aims to improve
the delivery and accessibility of social assistance benefits by strengthening
administrative capacity, simplifying application procedures, and using
technology to enhance efficiency and transparency.
3. Components and Coverage of NSAP
NSAP currently includes five major components, each targeting a
specific vulnerable group and providing direct financial assistance:
a) Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme
(IGNOAPS) –
·
Launched in 1995 as the National Old
Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) and renamed after former Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi.
·
Provides monthly pension to elderly individuals aged 60 years and above who
belong to households classified as Below Poverty Line (BPL).
·
The central government provides a pension of ₹200 per month for
individuals aged 60–79 years and ₹500 per month for
individuals aged 80 years and above.
·
State governments have the flexibility to supplement the central
pension amount through additional contributions from state funds.
b) Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) –
·
Introduced in 2009 to provide financial
support to destitute widows.
·
Provides a monthly pension of ₹300 to widows aged 40 years and above who
belong to BPL households.
·
The pension amount increases to ₹500 per month for widows
aged 80 years and above under
the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).
c) Indira Gandhi National Disability
Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) –
·
Introduced in 2009 to provide financial
support to persons with severe disabilities.
·
Provides a monthly pension of ₹300 to individuals aged 18 years and above with a
disability level of 80% or more who belong to
BPL households.
·
The pension amount increases to ₹500 per month for
beneficiaries aged 80 years and above.
d) National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) –
·
Provides a one-time financial assistance of ₹20,000 to BPL households
in the event of the death of the primary breadwinner.
·
The primary breadwinner should be aged between 18 and 60 years at the
time of death.
·
The assistance is intended to help the family cope with the
immediate financial impact of the loss and support household stability.
e) Annapurna Scheme –
·
Provides 10 kilograms of free food grains (wheat
or rice) per month to eligible senior citizens who are not covered under
IGNOAPS.
·
Ensures food security for elderly individuals who lack access to
stable sources of income or food.
4. Implementation Framework
NSAP is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development in
coordination with state governments and Union Territories. The central
government provides financial assistance to states based on the number of
eligible beneficiaries and the approved scheme budget. State governments are responsible
for identifying beneficiaries, processing applications, disbursing benefits,
and monitoring implementation at the local level. Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) play a key role in beneficiary
identification, data verification, and grievance redressal. The Direct Benefit
Transfer (DBT) mechanism is used for pension disbursement, ensuring that funds
are transferred directly to the beneficiaries' bank accounts or post office
accounts, reducing leakage and ensuring timely payments.
5. Challenges and Criticisms
Despite its successes, NSAP faces several challenges:
·
Inadequate
pension amounts – The central pension amount is low and often insufficient
to meet the rising cost of living.
·
Identification
errors – Exclusion and inclusion errors in beneficiary
identification affect the equitable distribution of benefits.
·
Delays
in payment – Administrative bottlenecks and technical issues
sometimes delay pension disbursement.
·
Lack
of awareness – Limited awareness among eligible beneficiaries leads to
low participation rates in some regions.
6. Conclusion and Way Forward
NSAP has
played a critical role in strengthening India’s social security framework and
reducing poverty among vulnerable groups. However, there is a need to increase
pension amounts, improve targeting mechanisms, strengthen monitoring systems,
and enhance outreach and awareness campaigns. Expanding NSAP to cover more
vulnerable groups and integrating it with other social welfare programs will
ensure that India’s most disadvantaged citizens receive the support they need
to live a dignified life.
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