MPs must help in monitoring implementation of IGNOAP: Raghuvansh

New Delhi, Dec 6 (UNI) Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh has urged MPs to help in successful implementation of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) so that the poorest of the poor person gets benefits of the scheme.

Addressing a meeting of the Members of the Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry, Dr Singh said the state governments have been asked to identify additional beneficiaries of the scheme launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month by using the BPL list of 2002 for rural areas and the corresponding list in urban areas.

He informed the Members that 15 states have responded so far indicating the number of additional beneficiaries at 33,23 lakh.

However, after receiving information from all the states, it is estimated that it will double the coverage from 87 lakh now to about 157 lakh.

Dr Singh also informed the Members that the states were requested to launch the programme at the state and district levels and a number of states have done so. The Minister requested the Members of the Consultative Committee to oversee the implementation in their respective districts.

The Members described the new scheme was a very significant improvement over the old National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS).

However, they raised the issue of increasing the BPL families and the need of revised criteria for identifying BPL families so that the benefit of the scheme goes to the poorest of the poor people.

The Minister informed the Members that the Planning Commission has set up a Group of Experts to re-examine the criteria of BPL families with a view to extend its coverage to more deserving people.

UNI