Context: According to the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) released by the Union Ministry of Family and Health Welfare, about 30 per cent of India’s senior citizens from below-poverty-line (BPL) households received benefits from the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).
Key highlights of the survey

• Only 55 per cent of those aged 60 and above were aware of the scheme.
• The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) provides Rs 300 to widowed women in the BPL category above the age of 40.
• Less than a quarter of them received the pension in the duration from April 2017 to December 2018.
• The Kendriya Annapurna Yojana (a scheme that distributes foodgrains to BPL citizens over the age of 65) was subscribed by just 2.5 per cent of the urban elderly population and 1.5 per cent of their rural counterparts.
• Less than 13 per cent of the senior citizens in the villages and cities of India are aware of the scheme.
• The level of awareness for the IGNOAPS, IGNWPS, and Annapurna scheme increases as the level of education increases.
• Benefits of an old-age pension went to 18 per cent male senior citizens from non-BPL households and widow pensions went to 16 per cent elderly women from non-BPL households.
• 30 per cent of the beneficiaries of the old-age pension scheme stated that there was a delay in receiving the money and 24 per cent experienced problems in producing documents.
• Concessions provided by the government to senior citizens such as train, bus and flight discounts, special interest rates for bank accounts and loans and income tax rebates are known by less than a third (28 per cent) of senior citizens.
• A higher proportion of the elderly from urban areas (37 per cent) compared to rural areas (25 per cent) have used the concessions at least once in their life.
• The utilisation was higher in men (33 per cent) than women (24 per cent).

About Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS):

• Objective: To provides social benefit to the poor household in the case of old age.
• Beneficiary: Old and destitute persons of 60 years of age and above.

Fund:

• This is a Govt. of India funded Scheme where the beneficiaries receive Rs.300/- per month under this scheme.
• Persons above 80 year of age are receiving Rs.500/- per month.

Eligibility Criteria: People in the BPL category with the age of 60 years and above are eligible to get the pension

About Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
Benefits

• Rate of pension is Rs. 300/- per month (age 40-79 year)
• Rate of pension is Rs. 500/- per month (age 80 and above year)

Eligibility

• Applicable for persons belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category
• Persons in Socio Economic Caste Census 2011(SECC).