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India Gazette
29-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Symptom of national crisis: Congress leader Manickam Tagore on Noida old-age home case
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): Congress leader Manickam Tagore on Sunday slammed the Uttar Pradesh government, citing the case of 42 elderly citizens being rescued from an 'illegal' old-age home in Noida. In a detailed 'X' post, Manickam Tagore termed it as a 'symptom' of a 'national' crisis and mentioned that it is not an 'isolated' case. 'Noida: 42 elderly citizens were rescued from an illegal old-age home. They were found tied up, half-naked, confined in basement-like rooms. This is not an isolated case. This is a symptom of a national crisis,' Manickam Tagore's 'X' post read. The Congress leaders asserted that the case came to light following the raid by the state Women's Commission, which held the Union Government accountable, questioning how many other 'elderly citizens' are locked behind the 'unregulated' walls. 'This horror was uncovered only because of a State Women's Commission raid. How many more elderly citizens are suffering in silence, locked away behind unregulated walls? Where is the Union Government?', Tagore's 'X' post said. Informing that India has only 1,000 registered old-age homes, out of which very few are regulated. Manickam Tagore termed it as a 'disaster in the making' in a country with a population of 153 million elderly people. He further criticised the Union Government for not conducting a thorough audit of the old-age homes and for failing to establish any accountability in the matter. 'India has only 1,000 registered old-age homes, mostly run by NGOs. Very few are regulated. In a country of 153 million elderly people, this is a disaster in the making. And yet, the Central Government stays silent. No national audit. No accountability. No policy response', the 'X' post added. The Congress leader revealed that by 2050, India's population will have surpassed 319 million people, with a significant proportion exceeding the age of 60 years. While India is adding 10 million elderly people every year, Manickam Tagore believes it is 'today's emergency'. 'India is ageing FAST. By 2050, 319 million Indians will be 60+ -- that's 1 in every 5 Indians. We're adding 10 million senior citizens every year. This is not tomorrow's crisis. It's today's emergency. Yet we spend less than 10,000 crore on all social pensions for elderly, widows, and the disabled. That's about 800/month per person under the Indira Gandhi National Old-Age Pension Scheme. Is that enough for medicine, food, rent, dignity?', Manickam Tagore said in his 'X' post. The Congress leader stated that the Union Government 'slashed' Rs 200 crore from the National Social Assistance Programme, but no elderly welfare schemes have been launched since then. He accused the Union Government of spending crores of money in 'PR campaigns', tax cuts of billionaires and foreign events. 'Noida is not an exception -- it's a warning. In 2021, the Centre slashed 200 crore from the National Social Assistance Programme. No new elderly welfare schemes have been launched since. But crores flow into PR campaigns, foreign events, and tax cuts for billionaires. There is only ONE govt-run old-age home in Gautam Buddha Nagar district (where Noida is located). How many more horror homes like Anand Niketan Vridh Ashram are we ignoring?', Tagore wrote in his 'X' post. Raising questions on the Union Government's Ayushman Bharat scheme, Manickam Tagore highlighted that it ignores the elderly citizens in the 'unorganised' sector. 'Even flagship schemes like Ayushman Bharat ignore the elderly in the unorganised sector. Where is universal healthcare for seniors? Where is old-age mental health care?' he said. The Congress leader demanded strict monitoring of old-age homes, a separate ministry wing for the elderly, a national elder-care registry, and a universal pension scheme for senior citizens. He informed that even Nepal offers a universal pension to senior citizens, whereas in India, the amount is only Rs 800 per month, which doesn't reach everyone. 'What we need now: Universal pension scheme, National elder-care registry, Strict monitoring of old-age homes, Dedicated Ministry wing for ageing and Inclusion in Budget 2025 with specific, protected funds. Even Nepal guarantees a universal pension to all citizens over 70 years old. In India, we offer 800 per month -- and not even that reaches everyone', the 'X' post said. (ANI)
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Verification in final phase; pension disbursal to begin from July first week
The Social Welfare Department is finalizing the verification process for Old Age and Disability Pension schemes in Delhi, with disbursal expected to begin in early July. Door-to-door surveys ensured authenticity, and assistance will be provided to new applicants. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The district-wise verification process to identify eligible and ineligible beneficiaries under the Old Age Pension and Persons with Disability Pension schemes has reached its final stage with disbursal of pensions expected to begin from the first week of July, said a senior official from the Social Welfare Department The verification, conducted through door-to-door surveys across various districts, involved thorough background checks and validation of the applicants' bank details to ensure authenticity, the official said."For the convenience of new applicants, who may not be familiar with online forms or lack formal education, an officer will be stationed at the pension window in every department office to assist them in filling out the application on the spot," he official said the eligible beneficiaries will start getting their pension on time after the complete verification in all the districts across the national capital, adding this will start from the first week of next further said the department is working as per clear instructions from the Delhi Social Welfare Ministry that no one who is not genuinely in need should receive these benefits, while those who truly require support must not be left behind."It is our duty to ensure that public money reaches the right hands. We found some individuals already living comfortably, with substantial bank balances, who do not require state assistance," he pension schemes for the senior citizens and persons with disabilities come under the Social Welfare Department and are part of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which was launched on August 15, schemes have over the years been expanded and Old Age Pension scheme was renamed the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme in 2007, while the Disability Pension scheme was broadened in 2009 to cover a wider section of eligible old age pension provides Rs 2,000 per month to elderly beneficiaries aged 60 years and above, and Rs 2,500 to those aged 70 and above, subject to eligibility criteria. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta had in the budget announcement earlier in March this year announced an increase of Rs 500 in the old age pension amount for both age the hike, the beneficiaries aged 60 and above now receive Rs 2,500 per month, while those aged 70 and above receive Rs 3,000 per the Financial Assistance to Persons with Special Needs scheme, an eligible individual receives a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's share higher than Union government's in funding for 6 Central schemes
The Tamil Ndau government's contributes more monetarily compared to the Union government for the implementation of six Central schemes, according to a perusal of documents of the Central and State governments. There are three schemes under the umbrella of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) — Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), and the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS). The remaining three schemes are the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Rural, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). On Thursday, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, in his speech at a government event in Salem, referred to these schemes and said that with the contribution of the Union government, it was not possible to implement them, be it housing or water supply. 'Even in the case of the schemes named after the Prime Minister, the State government, by providing more than 50% [of the scheme cost], has been implementing them,' he observed. Fully funded by the Centre, the NSAP was launched in August 1995. However, the State government has been a pioneer in this area and started implementing an old age pension scheme since January 1962. It extended the scope of the welfare measure to four categories of destitute persons — persons with disabilities, widows, agricultural labourers, and destitute or deserted women following marriage — between 1974 and 1984, all of which were subsumed into the all-India programme after November 2007. In respect of the Old Age and Widow Pension schemes under the NSAP, the Union government's share is ₹200 or ₹300 for those up to 79 years and ₹500 for those aged 80 and above. It is the State government that provides the enhanced top-up — ₹1,000 or ₹900 or ₹ 700, as the case may be — so that the beneficiary eventually gets ₹1,200. As for the beneficiaries under the IGNDPS, they receive ₹1,500, of which ₹300 or ₹500 comes from the Centre, depending on the age group, while the rest is contributed by the State government. In addition, Tamil Nadu funds its own scheme for persons with disabilities, under which beneficiaries are paid ₹1,500. Regarding the PMAY (Rural), the unit cost of a house is shared between Central and State governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas. As pointed out by the Chief Minister, the State government's share is perceptibly higher than that of the Centre. In the State, the unit cost of a house under PMAY-R is ₹2,83,900, which is inclusive of the State support cost for reinforced cement concrete (RCC) roofing and the convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural) for the purpose of the construction of toilet. Of this amount, the Union government's share is ₹1,11,100 and the State government's ₹1,72,800. Effectively, the ratio of cost sharing is 39:61. As for PMMSY, which follows different funding patterns, 60% of the cost is to be borne by the Union government and the rest by the State. But, in practice, the Centre's share is 27% and the State's 73%. In the case of the JJM, the cost sharing is to be done equally between the two. But, when it comes to implementation, the State's contribution works out to 55%.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Time of India
Chatra DC provides job to murder victim's kin
1 2 Chatra: It was a big surprise for the family of Ankit Kumar (22), who was murdered when Chatra DC Ramesh Gholap reached their house late on Monday evening and gave a job letter to one of the victim's family. According to Gholap, this is the first such instance of help to any murder victim of such a crime in the district. In a bid to ease the pain of the family, Gholap gave the letter for a contractual job with an outsourcing firm in the circle office for one of the three sisters, Khushi Kumari, free enrolment to a well-known school for the second and assured help in the marriage of the third. Ankit's school-going sister was also given financial help of Rs 20,000 under the Kishori Samridhi Savitri Bai Phule Yojana and another Rs 20,000 under the National Social Assistance Programme. The DC encouraged Khushi to continue with her education despite getting the job. Ankit, the sole bread earner of the family, was murdered on March 20 by a group of youths when he was on the way home at Dibha Mohalla, and his mother, Tunni Devi, said she hoped that the soul of his son would get justice. She also expressed gratitude to Gholap for his assurance that the rule of law would prevail in Chatra with the murderers getting the harshest punishment. Talking to TOI, Gholap said, "When I came to know that Ankit's father, Santosh Gupta, a roadside vendor, is ill and not in a position to work and that Ankit had taken loans from the banks with the family lacking resources to repay them, I decided to help. The family even lacks food grans and they are struggling to survive. Khushi will get a salary of Rs 14,000 per month. I have also talked to bank officials so that the family can get relief. I have also asked the local police station and the SP to arrest the remaining criminals and ensure the security of the family as they feared backlash from the culprits." On March 25, police solved the case by arresting five involved in the case, including three brothers and two cousins in connection with Ankit's murder. Five others are still at large. The arrested included Sushant, the main conspirator of the murder. Ankit was killed allegedly because he stopped the culprits from molesting a girl earlier. The murder of Ankit sparked widespread anger in the city with traders shutting their establishments and the residents starting a series of agitation to mount pressure on police to arrest the accused.
