Launched in 2006-07 by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh, the INDIRAMMA Old Age Pension (Urban) scheme aims to provide financial assistance to destitute elderly persons aged 65 years or above. This initiative is targeted at supporting senior citizens from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families who reside in urban areas. Eligible individuals are identified by their respective Ward Sabhas, and the pension is disbursed monthly by the Bill Collector.
Benefits
- Pension Amount: The scale of the pension benefit is notified by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
- Mode of Disbursement: Pensions are disbursed by the Bill Collector in the presence of Ward members and DWCUA office bearers.
- Time of Disbursement: The pension is disbursed on the first date of every month, ensuring timely financial support for eligible senior citizens.
Eligibility
To qualify for the INDIRAMMA Old Age Pension (Urban) scheme, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- BPL Status: The applicant must belong to a Below Poverty Line (BPL) family.
- Urban Residency: The applicant must be a local resident of an urban area in any district of Andhra Pradesh.
- Exclusivity: The applicant should not be covered under any other pension scheme.
- Age Requirement: The applicant must be 65 years of age or above.
- Destitution: The applicant should be destitute, meaning they have little or no means of subsistence and lack a family or relative to depend upon.
- Identification: Eligible citizens are identified by their respective Ward Sabhas. The register maintained by the Bill Collector is shared with the Municipal Commissioner.
Application Process
Step 1: Identification of Eligible Persons
- Ward Sabha Role: The Ward Sabha identifies eligible individuals based on the eligibility criteria.
- Register Maintenance: A ward-wise register is maintained by the Bill Collector, categorizing existing pensioners (Part A) and new eligible persons (Part B).
Step 2: Recommendation and Sanction
- Recommendation: The Bill Collector sends a Ward Sabha resolution recommending the identified eligible persons to the Municipal Commissioner.
- Scrutiny and Sanction: The Municipal Commissioner scrutinizes the eligibility of the applicants and sanctions pensions based on municipality-wise allocation.
Step 3: Disbursement of Pensions
- Fund Transfer: The Project Director (DRDA) sends the pension acquittance list and funds to Municipal Commissioners.
- Cheque Issuance: Municipal Commissioners issue cheques to the Bill Collectors.
- Pension Disbursement: The Bill Collector disburses the pension to the eligible individuals in the presence of Ward members and DWCUA office bearers.
Documents Required
- Domicile Certificate
- Proof of Age
- Proof of Residence
- Below Poverty Line (BPL) Certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How is the INDIRAMMA Old Age Pension (Urban) scheme funded and disbursed to eligible applicants?
A1: The scheme is funded by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, and pensions are disbursed monthly by the Bill Collector in the presence of Ward members and DWCUA office bearers.
Q2: What are the eligibility criteria for the scheme?
A2: Applicants must be destitute senior citizens aged 65 or above from BPL families residing in urban areas of Andhra Pradesh, and they should not be covered under any other pension scheme.
Q3: Who is responsible for identifying eligible individuals?
A3: Eligible individuals are identified by their respective Ward Sabhas, with a register maintained by the Bill Collector.
Q4: What is the role of the Bill Collector in this scheme?
A4: The Bill Collector is responsible for maintaining the register of eligible persons, forwarding recommendations to the Municipal Commissioner, and disbursing the pension.
Q5: How does the Municipal Commissioner contribute to the scheme?
A5: The Municipal Commissioner scrutinizes the eligibility of applicants, sanctions the pensions based on municipality-wise allocation, and issues cheques to Bill Collectors.
Q6: How are existing pensioners and new applicants categorized?
A6: They are categorized into two parts in the ward-wise register: Part A for existing pensioners and Part B for new eligible persons.
Q7: What happens after the Municipal Commissioner sanctions the pension?
A7: The Project Director (DRDA) sends the pension acquittance list and funds to Municipal Commissioners, who then issue cheques to Bill Collectors for pension disbursement.
Q8: How often is the pension disbursed?
A8: The pension is disbursed on the first day of every month.
Q9: What is the role of DWCUA office bearers in the scheme?
A9: DWCUA office bearers are present during the disbursement of pensions to ensure transparency and proper execution of the scheme.
Q10: Can individuals covered under other pension schemes apply for this scheme?
A10: No, applicants must not be covered under any other pension scheme.
Q11: What is the age requirement for applicants?
A11: Applicants must be 65 years or above.
Q12: What does it mean to be “destitute” under this scheme?
A12: “Destitute” refers to individuals who have little or no means of subsistence and lack a family or relative to depend upon.