Name of the Organization : West Bengal Backward Classes Welfare Department (anagrasarkalyan.gov.in)
Type of Facility : Old Age Pension For Rural Areas Scheduled Tribe Persons
Location : Kolkata
Website : http://www.anagrasarkalyan.gov.in/htm/home.html
Guidelines Of The Scheme Old Age Pension For ST In Rural Areas :
Old aged poor persons of rural areas particularly those who belong to Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities are the most disadvantaged group of people. They are vulnerable to different social and economic problems. Large section of these people lives in extreme poverty. They often face hunger, debt, isolation and destitution. Overcoming these difficulties, sometimes become a great challenge to them for their survival. Considering these difficulties faced by the old aged persons belonging to the ST communities of rural areas, the State Government has been implementing this scheme.
Objective :
Objective of the scheme is to ensure social protection of the elderly population by means of financial assistance. This will definitely reduce poverty, help to access health care and improve social standing of this disadvantaged section of population. Persons are belonging to Scheduled Tribe (ST) community and from Below Poverty Level (BPL) families having the age of 60 years or above of rural areas of the State of West Bengal are eligible to get the benefits of the scheme.
Implementing authority :
District Magistrates will implement the scheme through the POcum DWO/ DWO who will act as Nodal Officer.
Eligibility criteria of the beneficiary :
1. He / she shall be a resident of the State of West Bengal and living Below Poverty Level (BPL) in rural area or
2. He / she shall be a member of Scheduled Tribe (ST) community.
3. His / her age shall be 60 years or higher.
4. No beneficiaries under the National Old Age Pension scheme or Old Age Pension scheme of the Social Welfare Department of the State or similar Government Old Age Pension scheme, if any will be eligible for this scheme.
Procedure for selection of beneficiary :
1. Eligible persons will apply to Pradhans, Gram Panchayat in the prescribed proforma, as given in Annexure-A.
2. The Pradhan will check and verify the applications and certify about the eligibility of the candidates in the column provided in the application format.
3. Pradhans will then submit the duly filled-in& recommended applications to the BDO.
4. BDOs will verify all the applications and send the list of eligible candidates to the PO cum DWO/DWO in the prescribed pro-forma as provided in Annexure-B under joint signature of the B.D.O. and Sabhapati of the Panchayat Samity, after getting the list approved by the Block Welfare Committee.
5. PO cum DWO/DWO will further verify and place the list of eligible persons in the prescribed proforma (Annexure-B) before the Additional District Magistrate /District Magistrate for approval.
6. District Magistrate will be the authority for approval of the list of the eligible pensioners.
7. Sanction of cases will be done by the BCW Department/BCW Directorate.
Benefit of the scheme :
Monthly pension of Rs.1000/-(Rupees one thousand only) for each beneficiary.
Number of beneficiaries :
District wise number of cases to be sanctioned will be determined on the basis of the list approved by the respective Districts. The list so approved by the Districts should reach the BCW Directorate within April every year. Further, an approved list have to be made ready at District/ Block level to substitute/replace the vacancy arises out of death or otherwise of any beneficiary. BCW Department / BCW Directorate are the authority to increase or decrease the quota of beneficiaries of the scheme.
Payment of pension :
Each beneficiary shall have savings account with nationalized / commercial banks or post offices in his / her name along with name of nominee. Efforts should be made to get savings accounts opened at zero balance in case of new cases.
Joint account may be opened in respect of infirm beneficiaries. For the purpose a suitable family member of the beneficiary may be selected as per the discretion of the concerned BDO / PO cum DWO. PO cum DWO / DWO will sub-allot the fund received from the BCW Directorate to the concerned BDOs who will draw the grant-in-aid fund and disburse to the respective accounts of the beneficiaries. No cash payment is allowed.
In case of death of any beneficiary, the nominee as per savings account statement or the person who used to take care of the pensioner as certified by the concerned Pradhan will be entitled to get the amount due to the pensioner. In case of death of the pensioner, due amount will be provided for the period till the date of death of the pensioner, but only for the complete month before the death takes place.
Life Certificate :
Pradhans of the concerned Gram Panchayats will issue life- certificate in every six-months in respect of the beneficiaries under his jurisdiction and submit the same to the BDO. The BDO will verify the facts and send a list of deceased beneficiaries along with names of substitutes from the approved list for the Block to the PO cum DWO/DWO.
Monitoring of the scheme :
PO cum DWOs will furnish six-monthly report to the BCW Directorate on the deceased beneficiaries or the beneficiaries otherwise become not eligible for the scheme and also their substitutes. A detailed database of the beneficiaries under the scheme shall be maintained at the office of the BDO, PO cum DWO/DWO and BCW Directorate and this should be updated every six- months. Utilization certificate is to be furnished to the BCW Directorate immediately after disbursement is made. Allotment of fund is subject to receipt of utilization certificate in respect of the previous allotment made.
Redressal of Dispute :
Any dispute regarding implementation of the scheme within the District will be decided by the P.O.- cum-D.W.O./D.W.O.
Contact Us:
Backward Classes Welfare Department
Writers’ Buildings, Kolkata – 700 001
Government of West Bengal