Sajidah Yousuf
Srinagar, Nov 20: The government has failed to provide funds to 5600 families living Below Poverty Line (BPL) in Kashmir under the ambitious scheme–National Family Benefit Scheme. The scheme covers families who have lost their primary bread earners.
“In Kashmir division at least 5684 case of the scheme were pending for the people of 18-59 years whose primary bread earner dies due to accident or natural cause.”
The figures reveal that till March-2020, the department of social welfare Kashmir has covered 9175 cases and the net pendency was 5540.
According to the department, the rate of assistance was Rs. 20,000 with one-time benefit from centre share only.
The official of the department said that the financial assistance is being provided up to Rs 20,000 under centre share and an equal contribution is mandatory for the state government to contribute.
The objective of the scheme is to ensure social security of the households living below poverty line. The payment is to be made to the widow or the unmarried daughter of the family
Similarly, the social welfare department says that under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme (IGNOAPS), provides financial assistance to the old aged persons of 60 years and above living below poverty line (BPL).
The scheme is centrally sponsored and the equal funds are being shared by the central and state government for the person of over 60 years of age.
According to the official figures, a total of 70,839 beneficiaries were sanctioned with a Rs 1000 as a rate of pension per beneficiary per month.
