Launched in 2010 by the West Bengal state government through the Women and Child Development and Social Welfare Department, the Widow Pension scheme is a compassionate initiative aimed at providing financial support to widows facing economic hardship within the state.
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Benefits
- Financial Assistance:
A monthly pension of ₹1,000/- is provided via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Eligibility Criteria
- The beneficiary must be a widow (girl/woman).
- The beneficiary should be 60 years of age or more.
- Must be an Indian citizen and a resident of West Bengal.
- The beneficiary’s family income must not exceed ₹1,000/- per month.
- The beneficiary must not be maintained by any of her relatives.
- Must have been a resident of West Bengal for at least ten years at the time of application.
Exclusions
- Applicants already receiving a pension under another scheme (e.g., Disability Pension, Old Age Pension, or Farmers’ Pension) are not eligible.
- Professional beggars and mendicants are excluded from the scheme.
Application Process (Offline)
Application Form (Form-P) for the Widow Pension may be obtained free of cost from the following offices based on the applicant’s area of residence:
- Rural Areas:
Obtain the form from the Office of the Block Development Officer or the Executive Officer of the concerned Panchayat Samity. - Municipal/Notified Areas Outside Kolkata Municipal Corporation:
Obtain the form from the Office of the Sub-Divisional Officer. - Within Kolkata Municipal Corporation Areas:
Obtain the form from the Office of the Controller of Vagrancy, West Bengal (situated at Purta Bhawan, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata-700091).
Required Information on the Application Form
- Personal Details
- Contact Details
- Type of Disability and Disability Percentage
- Bank Account Details
Documents Required
- Self-attested copy of Aadhaar Card
- Copy of Ration Card
- Copy of Voter ID
- Copy of Disability Certificate
- Copy of Income Certificate
- Copy of Husband’s Death Certificate
- Copy of Bank Passbook
- Nomination Form (in case of death)
- Passport Size Photograph
Submission Address
- Rural Areas:
Address the application to the District Magistrate of the concerned district and submit it to the Block Development Officer or the Executive Officer of the Panchayat Samity. - Municipal/Notified Areas (outside Kolkata Municipal Corporation):
Address the application to the District Magistrate and submit it to the Sub-Divisional Officer. - Within Kolkata Municipal Corporation Areas:
Address the application to the Controller of Vagrancy, West Bengal and submit it at the Controller’s office.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
-
What is the Widow Pension scheme?
A state initiative providing financial support to eligible widows in West Bengal. -
What are the benefits?
A monthly pension of ₹1,000/- via DBT. -
Who can get the benefits?
Widows aged 60 or more, with a family income not exceeding ₹1,000 per month, and meeting the residency and other criteria. -
What is the financial eligibility criteria?
The family income must not exceed ₹1,000/- per month. -
Can widows from other states avail this benefit?
No, the scheme is exclusively for residents of West Bengal. -
What is the minimum residency requirement?
The beneficiary must have been a resident of West Bengal for at least ten years. -
How to apply for the scheme?
Obtain and submit the application form (Form-P) offline from designated offices based on your area of residence. -
How can the application form be obtained?
It can be collected free of cost from the Block Development Officer/Executive Officer (rural), Sub-Divisional Officer (municipal areas outside Kolkata), or the Controller of Vagrancy (within Kolkata). -
Can the application form be downloaded online?
The provided information specifies an offline process for obtaining the form. -
What documents are required?
Refer to the list above which includes identity proofs, certificates, and a passport-size photograph.