The Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) is a social assistance scheme under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). It provides financial support to eligible people with severe or multiple disabilities who belong to families living below the poverty line (BPL).
Key Features
- Scheme: Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
- Under: National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
- Target Group: People with severe or multiple disabilities from eligible BPL families.
- Age Eligibility: 18 to 79 years.
- Central Assistance: ₹300 per month for eligible beneficiaries aged 18–79 years.
- After 80 Years: On reaching 80 years, beneficiaries are shifted to the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) and receive ₹500 per month in central assistance.
- State Support: States and Union Territories may provide additional assistance over and above the central contribution.
- Nature of Benefit: Regular monthly social assistance pension; it is not a contributory pension.
Objective of IGNDPS
The main purpose of IGNDPS is to provide basic financial support and social security to people with severe or multiple disabilities who belong to economically vulnerable households. The scheme is intended to help eligible beneficiaries meet their basic living needs.
Eligibility
Under the central scheme guidelines, the beneficiary must generally:
- Be 18 to 79 years old.
- Have a severe or multiple disability as specified under the applicable government criteria.
- Belong to a family living below the poverty line (BPL) according to the criteria prescribed by the Government of India.
State and Union Territory governments may have additional procedures or requirements for identifying beneficiaries and providing their share of assistance.
Pension Benefits
Eligible beneficiaries between 18 and 79 years receive central assistance of ₹300 per month under IGNDPS. After the beneficiary reaches 80 years of age, they are shifted to IGNOAPS and receive ₹500 per month in central assistance.
States and UTs can provide additional financial assistance, so the total amount received by a beneficiary may vary depending on the state or UT.
Importance of the Scheme
IGNDPS is part of the government’s wider social assistance framework for vulnerable sections of society. By providing regular financial assistance, the scheme aims to offer a basic level of income support to eligible people with severe or multiple disabilities.
In simple terms: IGNDPS provides monthly central pension assistance to eligible people with severe or multiple disabilities from BPL families, helping them meet essential financial needs.
