IAY is in operation since 1985-86 with the basic aim to provide assistance for construction/upgradation of dwelling units to the below poverty line (BPL) rural households of SCs, STs and freed bonded labour categories. Since 1993-94, the scope of the scheme was extended to cover the rural BPL from the non-SC/ST category subject to the condition that the benefits to the non – SC/ST poor would not be more than 40ft of the total IAY allocation.
The assistance under IAY for new construction is ` 45,000 per unit in the plain areas and ` 48,500 in hilly/difficult areas including six Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected districts. In addition to the unit assistance available under IAY, a beneficiary can also borrow a top-up loan up to ` 20,000 from any nationalized bank at 4ft interest per annum under Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) Scheme. IAY funds can also be used for upgradation of kutcha houses for which ` 15,000 per unit can be availed. Further, ` 3200 for plain areas and ` 3700 for hilly/difficult areas can be dovetailed from Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC) scheme for construction of toilets with the IAY houses’
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
The National Social Assistance Program was launched in 1995. Presently, NSAP which was transferred to State Plan with effect from 2002-03 comprises three pension schemes apart from National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna:
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) for BPL persons of 65 years or above.
Recently the Government of India has decided to reduce the age from 65 years to 60 years under IGNOAPS and also decided to increase the rate of assistance from ` 200 to 500 for pensioners of 80 years and above. The number of beneficiaries covered are 171 lakh and likely to increase to 260 lakh with the decision to reduce age limit from 65 year to 60 years.
Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWOS) for BPL widows in the age groups of 40-64 years.
The estimated number of beneficiaries to be covered is 30 lakh.
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) for BPL disabled in the age group of 18-64 years with 80ft disability.
The estimated number of beneficiaries to be covered is 14 lakh. At present NSAP comprise the following schemes:
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS):
Under the scheme, BPL, pensions in the age group of 60-79 years are entitled to a monthly pension of ` 200/- and BPL persons of age of 80 years and above are entitled to a monthly pension of ` 500/-
(ii) Indira Gandhi National Widows Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) :
BPL widows aged 40-50 years are entitled to a monthly pension of ` 200/-.
(iii) Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) :
BPL pensioners aged 18-59 years with severe and multiple disabilities are entitled to a monthly pension of ` 200/-.
(iv) National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) :
Under the scheme a BPL household is entitled to lump sum amount of money on the death of the primary breadwinner aged between 18 and 64 years. The amount of assistance is ` 10000/-.
(v) Annapurna:
Under the Scheme, 10 kg of food grains per month are provided free of cost to those senior citizens who, though eligible, are not receiving old age pension.
