By IANS
New Delhi : Call it a social upliftment measure or a tactical political campaign, the central government Thursday decided to provide old age pension to all below poverty line (BPL) citizens above 65 years of age.
The union cabinet approved a proposal to modify the eligibility criteria under National Old Age pension Scheme (NOAPS) to accommodate all those above 65 of the said economic category.
As per the new provisions, one need not be a destitute to receive this allowance as mentioned earlier.
Once implemented, the scheme would benefit over 15 million people across the country. The government gives Rs.400 as old age pension per month.
The scheme will be implemented as per the announcement made by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his Independence Day speech.
“We will provide an old age pension to all citizens above the age of 65 years and living below the poverty line,” Manmohan Singh had said on Aug 15.
The scheme, to be launched on the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi (Nov 19) was estimated to cost the government Rs.43 billion in the current financial year.