New Delhi, Oct 30: The Social Welfare Minister, Sakina Itoo today pleaded for increase in quota of J&K under various pension schemes.
 She urged for relaxing eligibility under Indra Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme to 40 per cent at par with the State Sponsored Schemes to cover 65,000 applications pending for approval.
 Addressing State Ministers’ Conference here she said J&K was passing through a difficult stage adding the was determined to ensure all round development and the social security of its citizens, especially seniors, weaker section, people in distress and physically challenged.
 Sakina said the Government was implementing National Social Assistance Programme where under pension was being paid to persons with 40, 55 and 65 years of age and living below poverty line besides onetime lump-sum assistance of Rs 10,000 to the families in the event of death of primary bread earner.
 She said Rs. 60 crore had been disbursed during last financial year under the scheme, adding backlog payment to 1.29 lakh beneficiaries was also cleared.
 She said 5955 families had been covered under National Family Benefit Scheme adding 8628 persons had been brought under two new schemes IGNWPS and IGNDPS launched in the State in January against the target of 8778.
 Under Integrated Social Security Scheme, 3.54 lakh beneficiaries, which include widows, divorcees, physically challenged persons, have been covered during current fiscal and Rs. 1.10 crore stands disbursed among the beneficiaries so far, she added. 

Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Oct 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:00 IST