West Bengal Widow Pension Scheme 2024: Widows with ₹1,000 Monthly PensionScheme StatusScheme Status

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.

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.

Sources & References

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top