AGARTALA, August 9 (TIWN): Answering to the question of MLA Dibachandra Hrangkhawl, Minister for Social Welfare & Social Education Bijita Nath on Friday during the assembly session said that so far 23 social allowances are being run in the state and all together 3, 6,364 are benefited with this allowance.

She further added that, 16, 1959 people are benefited under the Indira Gandhi national old age pension (IGNOAPS).  The (IGNOAPS) is a non-contributory old age pension scheme that covers peoples 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.

3,212 people are benefited under the Indira Gandhi National disabled pension.

In order to empower young widows and equip them to stand on their own feet, Widows within the age of 40 years and above in the BPL category, a total of 19,879 widows are targeted under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension.

8,828 beneficiaries are benefited under the scheme of old age pension and 1952 people under the state widow allowance project. 

Apart from these, 56,182 people are benefited under widow scheme allowance and 4531 are benefited are the disabled pension scheme.

She further added that, people within the age bar of 60-79 are being provided an allowance of Rs500 every month, and people above 80 years of age are provided with an allowance of Rs700 on a monthly basis.

However, as per the information so far 8828 people are benefited under the state old age pension scheme. 1,45,596 people within the age bar of 60-71 and 16363 people above the age of 80 years are benefitted under the old age pension scheme.