Annapurna to be merged with old age pension plan

The Annapurna Yojana, which provides foodgrain to below poverty line (BPL) families, will be merged with the new old age pension scheme.

"The old age pension scheme under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) will soon take into account the requirements of the Annapurna Yojna," said Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh.

The outlay for these schemes has also been hiked this year. "Earlier, we used to spend around Rs 2,500 crore for these schemes. This has been hiked to Rs 4,300 crore," Singh added.

The government will, however, have to seek the permission of the Supreme Court. "There is a direction from Supreme Court that the government has to inform it before it closes such schemes. We will file an appeal in the Supreme Court soon" said Singh.

The Cabinet, in its last meeting, had decided to extend the benefit of old age pension to all BPL people above the age of 65. Earlier, the scheme was only for the destitutes.

As the range of the pension, both monetary and the targeted population, had increased, the government thought it appropriate to close the earlier scheme, Singh said.

Under the Annapurna Yojna, BPL destitutes above 65 years of age are entitled to 10 kg foodgrain per month. The scheme was launched in eight blocks on October 2, 2000, and now covers more than 100 blocks in six states.

The NSAP comprises the National Old Age Pension Scheme, the National Family Benefit Scheme and the National Maternity Benefit Scheme.

The food-for-work programme (a pilot project) was also discontinued when the national rural job programme was launched.