The Panchayati Raj department has a National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) which presently consists of three separate schemes: NOAPS (National Old age pension scheme), NFBS (National Family Benefeit Scheme) and NMBS (National Maternity Benefit Scheme). Following are some details about these programs from the NSAP web page.

  • National Old Age Pension Scheme(NOAPS):
    • Age of the applicant (male or female) should be 65 years or above.
    • The applicant must be a destitute in the sense of having little or no regular means of subsistence from his /her own sources of income or through financial support from family members or other sources.
    • The amount of pension is Rs.75/- Rs 200 per month per beneficiary. The State Government may add to this amount from their own sources.
    • Upper ceiling on the number of beneficiaries for a State/UT is prescribed by the Central Government.
  • National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
    • Central assistance for a lumpsum family benefit is available for the households below the poverty line on the death of the primary breadwinner in the bereaved family.
    • The amount of assistance is Rs. 10000/-.
    • The primary breadwinner is a member of the family whose earnings contribute substantially to the total household income.
    • The death of the primary breadwinner due to natural or accidental causes should have occurred while he or she is in the age group of 18 to 6″2″ i.e. more than 18 years of age but less than 65 years of age.
    • The maximum limit of the total number of beneficiaries of a State/UT is prescribed by the Central Government.
    • The family benefit is paid to such surviving members of the households of the deceased who, after local enquiry, is determined to be the head of the household.
  • National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
    • A lumpsum cash assistance of Rs. 500 to the pregnant woman of the household living below the poverty line is given provided she is 19 years of age or above.
    • The benefit is available upto the first two live births.
    • The benefit is disbursed several weeks prior to the delivery. In case of delay, the benefit may be given even after the birth of the child.

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