The “Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh-Samman Nidhi Yojana” is a scheme launched by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Himachal Pradesh. The scheme is designed to recognize and reward the invaluable contributions of women in household work, cultural preservation, and the family economy. It provides a monthly financial assistance to eligible women, thereby promoting their economic empowerment and self-reliance.
Objective
- Cultural & Social Recognition:
To honor and appreciate the role of women in the development and preservation of the cultural heritage of Himachal Pradesh. - Economic Empowerment:
To ensure that women achieve greater financial independence and self-reliance through regular monetary support.
Benefits
- Monthly Financial Assistance:
Eligible women receive a pension of ₹1,500 per month.
Eligibility
- Gender & Age:
The scheme is exclusively for women, including adolescent girls and adult women, who are eligible under the Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Yojana. - Residency:
The applicant must be a permanent resident of Himachal Pradesh. - Exclusions:
Applicants must not belong to the following categories:- Central/State Government employees or pensioners, contract/outsourced/daily wage earners, part-time workers, and similar categories.
- Serving or ex-servicemen and military widows.
- Honorarium receiving Anganwadi workers, helpers, Asha Workers, Mid-Day Meal Workers, Multi-Task Workers.
- Social Security Pension Beneficiaries.
- Employees of Panchayat Raj Institutions/Urban Local Bodies.
- Pensioners or those working in various public undertakings/boards/councils/agencies under the Central/State Government.
- Registered income tax payers.
- Buddhist nuns (Chomo) living permanently in Buddhist monasteries.
- General:
All necessary documents must be furnished at the time of application.
Application Process
Offline
- Obtain the Application Form:
- Visit the District Welfare Officer or Tehsil Welfare Officer during office hours and request the hard copy of the prescribed application form.
- Complete the Form:
- Fill in all the mandatory fields.
- Attach self-attested copies of required documents (e.g., passport-size photograph if needed).
- Submit the Form:
- Submit the completed and signed form along with the supporting documents to the Tehsil Welfare Office.
- Receipt:
- Request an acknowledgment or receipt from the office that includes the date, time of submission, and a unique identification number (if applicable).
Documents Required
- Valid Age Certificate.
- Himachali Bonafide/Native Certificate.
- Photocopy of Bank Passbook or Post Office Account details.
- Photocopy of Aadhaar Card.
- Photocopy of Ration Card.
- Buddhist Nuns Certificate (if applicable, issued by the Panchayat or the Chief Nun of the Buddhist Monastery).
- Disability Certificate (if required).
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the monthly amount provided under the scheme?
Eligible beneficiaries receive ₹1,500 per month. - What are the key objectives of the scheme?
The scheme aims to honor women’s contributions in cultural preservation, social development, and family economy, while promoting their economic empowerment and self-reliance. - Are Buddhist nuns (Chomo) eligible for the scheme?
No, Buddhist nuns living permanently in Buddhist monasteries are excluded. - Who are considered ‘family’ under the scheme?
The scheme primarily benefits the individual woman; in some cases, provisions may extend support to her immediate dependents as per specific guidelines. - Who is the authorized officer for the scheme?
The application is processed by the District Welfare Officer or Tehsil Welfare Officer. - How are applications processed?
Applications submitted offline are reviewed by the respective welfare office, and beneficiaries receive an acknowledgment with a unique identification number. - What happens to incomplete or ineligible applications?
Incomplete or ineligible applications are rejected, and the applicant is informed of the reasons as per the prescribed format. - Who approves the Sukh-Samman Fund?
The fund is administered and approved by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Himachal Pradesh. - How is the Sukh-Samman Fund distributed?
Payments are made on a monthly basis directly to the beneficiary’s bank account. - How often are beneficiaries inspected?
The scheme may include periodic reviews to ensure continued eligibility. - What is the process for closing the fund for ineligible beneficiaries?
If a beneficiary no longer meets the eligibility criteria, the fund may be discontinued as per the scheme guidelines. - What happens in case of beneficiary death?
In the event of the beneficiary’s death, the scheme may have provisions for transferring benefits to eligible family members, subject to specific rules. - What is the procedure for handling complaints of ineligibility?
Grievances should be addressed to the designated local welfare office, which will handle complaints as per the official guidelines. - Who is the head of account for scheme expenditure?
This is managed by the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment. - Who maintains the records related to the scheme?
Records are maintained by the concerned welfare office in the district or tehsil. - Who audits the expenditure under the scheme?
Expenditure is audited by the state government’s auditing department or an external auditor as per statutory requirements.