Goverment Schemes for BPL and Poor

1. National Social Assistance Programme

• National Social Assistance Programme(NSAP) which came into effect from 15th August,1995 represents a significant step towards the fulfillment of the Directive Principles in Article 41 of the Constitution.
• The programme introduced a National Policy for Social Assistance for the poor and aims at ensuring minimum national standard for social assistance in addition to the benefits that states are currently providing or might provide in future.
• The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. It is fully funded by the Central Government, unlike some other welfare programs where the Union government shares costs with the State Governments.
• National Assistance Program consists of five sub-schemes:
1. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
2. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
3. Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
4. National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
5. Annapurna Scheme

2. Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)

• Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) was launched in May 1985 as a sub-scheme of Jawahar Rozgar Yojana. It is being implemented as an independent scheme since 1 January 1996.
• Indira Awaas Yojana aims at helping rural people below the poverty-line (BPL) belonging to SCs/STs, freed bonded labourers and non-SC/ST categories in construction of dwelling units and upgradation of existing unserviceable kutcha houses by providing assistance in the form of full grant. From 1995-96, the IAY benefits have been extended to widows or next-of-kin of defence personnel killed in action. Benefits have also been extended to ex-servicemen and retired members of the paramilitary forces as long as they fulfil the normal eligibility conditions of Indira Awaas Yojana.
• It is one of the major flagship programs of the Rural Development Ministry to construct houses for BPL population in the villages. Under the scheme, financial assistance worth Rs.70,000/- in plain areas and Rs.75,000/- [1] in difficult areas (high land area) is provided for construction of houses.
• A MIS software called AWAAS Soft was launched in July 2010 to assist in improved administration of this scheme
• Eligibility Criteria: Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, freed bonded labourers, minorities and non-SC/ST rural households in the BPL category, widows and next-of-kin to defence personnel/paramilitary forces killed in action (irrespective of their income criteria), ex-servicemen and retired members of paramilitary forces residing in rural areas[3] form the primary target group of eligible candidates for the IAY Scheme.
• Implementation: IAY is an allocation based, centrally sponsored scheme funded on a cost sharing basis between the Central Government and the State Government in the 75%:25% ratio, except in case of North-eastern states and Union Territories (UTs). For NE states the central government funds 90% and 100% for the UTs.

3. Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna

• Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) / Aajeevika Scheme was launched in April, 1999. This is a holistic programme covering all aspects of self employment such as organisation of the poor into self help groups, training, credit, technology, infrastructure and marketing.
• Objective: The objective of SGSY is to provide sustainable income to the rural poor. The programme aims at establishing a large number of micro-enterprises in the rural areas, based upon the potential of the rural poor. It is envisaged that every family assisted under SGSY will be brought above the poverty-line with in a period of three years.
• Scope: This programme covers families below poverty line in rural areas of the country. Within this target group, special safeguards have been provided by reserving 50% of benefits for SCs/STs, 40% for women and 3% for physically handicapped persons. Subject to the availability of the funds, it is proposed to cover 30% of the rural poor in each block in the next 5 years.
• Funding: SGSY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and funding is shared by the Central and State Governments in the ratio of 75:25 respectively.
• Strategy: SGSY is a Credit-cum-Subsidy programme. It covers all aspects of self-employment, such as organisation of the poor into self-help groups, training, credit technology, infrastructure and marketing. Efforts would be made to involve women members in each self-help group. SGSY lays emphasis on activity clusters. The Gram sabha will authenticate the list of families below the poverty line identified in BPL census.

4. Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojna (JGSY)

• Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojna (JGSY) is the restructured, streamlined and comprehensive version of the erstwhile Jawahar Rozagar Yojana. Designed to improve the quality of life of the poor, JGSY has been launched on 1st April, 1999.
• The primary objective of the JGSY is the creation of demand driven community village infrastructure including durable assets at the village level and assets to enable the rural poor to increase the opportunities for sustained employment.
• The secondary objective is the generation of supplementary employment for the unemployed poor in the rural areas. The wage employment under the programme shall be given to Below Poverty Line(BPL) families.
• The programme is to be implemented by the Village Panchayats with the approval of Gram sabha. No other administrative or technical approval will be required.
• For works/schemes costing more than 50,000/-, after taking the approval of the Gram Sabah, the Village Panchayat shall seek the technical/administrative approval of appropriate authorities.
• Panchayats may spend upto 15% of allocation on maintenance of assets created under the programme within its geographical boundary. 22.5% of JGSY funds have been enmarked for individual beneficiary schemes for SC/STs. 3% of annual allocation would be utilised for creation of barrier free infrastructure for the disabled. The funds to the Village Panchayats will be allocated on the basis of the population. The upper ceiling of 10,000 population has been removed.
• Scope: JGSY is implemented entirely at the village Panchayat level. Village Panchayat is the sole authority for preparation of the Annual Plan and its implementation.
• Funding: The programme will be implemented as Centrally Sponsored Scheme on cost sharing basis between the Centre and the State in the ratio of 75:25 respectively.

5. Basic Minimum Services

• The Government of India launched this scheme in 1997 incorporating seven vital services of importance to common people. The State Government has opted to provide shelter to shelter-less below poverty line under this scheme.
• Objective: The objective of providing this scheme is to supplement the constitution of dwelling units for members of SC/ST, freed bonded labour and also non-SC/ST rural poor below the poverty line by providing them with grant.
• Funding: The Central Government provides additional funds for Basic Minimum Services subject to the condition that the State Government will provide 15% of the required funds.
• Additional Indira Awas are being constructed with the guidelines analogous to that for the Awas Yojana.
• The salient features are:
- Rs. 20,000/- is provided to the beneficiaries for construction of the houses in phases. Sanitary latrines and smokeless chulah are integral part of the houses.
- Houses are allotted in the name of female members of the family or in joint names of both spouses.
- Selection of construction technology, materials and design is left entirely to the choice of beneficiaries. Contractors, Middlemen or the Departmental Agencies have no role in the construction of houses.
- Cost effective and environment friendly housing technologies/design and materials are provided.

6. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme

• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is a non-contributory old age pension scheme that covers Indians who are 60 years and above and live below the poverty line. The pension scheme is part of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) that was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in August, 1995
• Annual verification and Social Audit has been introduced under NSAP. All the States are to complete the Annual verification by 30 June and the Social Audit by 30 September, each year.
• Eligibility: Individuals aged 60 years and above living below the poverty line
• Amount: Rs. 200 per month for beneficiaries aged 60–79 and Rs. 500 per month for those 80 years and above.

7. Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme

Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) scheme came into existence from February, 2009.
Sanction of pension to a beneficiary has to be made only after placing the database of beneficiary in the public domain/website of the Ministry or State.
Eligibility: Widows aged 40 years and above living below the poverty line.
Amount: Rs. 300 per month (Rs. 500 for those 80 years and above).

8. National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)

• National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) is a component of National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). Under National Family Benefit Scheme, In the event of death of a bread-winner in a household, the bereaved family will receive lumpsum assistance of Rs. 20,000.
• The bread-winner should have been between 18–60 years of age. The assistance would be provided in every case of death of a bread-winner in a household.
• Sponsored by: Central Government
• Funding Pattern: 100% funded by the Central Government
• The assistance is available on fulfilling the following conditions:-
1. The primary breadwinner shall be a member whose earnings contribute substantially to the household income.
2. The death of such primary breadwinner occurs while he or she is more than 18 years of age.
3. The bereaved family qualifies as one below the poverty line according to the criteria prescribed by the Govt. of India

9. Annapurna Scheme

• Annapurna Scheme had been announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech for the year 1999-2000 to provide food security to those indigent senior citizens who are not covered under the targeted Public Distribution System (PDS) and who have no income of their own.
• The Ministry of Rural Development has been chosen as the Nodal Ministry to implement the Scheme. The Scheme has been launched w.e.f. 1st April, 2000.
• National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), which was launched in 1995, provides pension at the rate of Rs.75/- per month to destitute aged 65 years and above. However, all indigent senior citizens are not covered under the scheme.
• The Annapurna Scheme aims at providing food security to such indigent senior citizens who though eligible for old age pensions remain uncovered under NOAPS, by providing 10 kgs. of foodgrains per month free of cost.
• Food Supply & Commerce Department has been trusted with the responsibility for execution of the scheme by the Govt. of India. District Magistrates have been nominated as Nodal Officer for its execution at the District Level and the Gram Panchayat have also been made responsible for monitoring and supervision of this scheme.

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Goverment Schemes for BPL and Poor