The Telangana Assara Pensions Scheme was implemented by the Government of Telangana. The scheme was launched by the Chief Minister of Telangana, K. Chandrashekar Rao, in June 2014, soon after the formation of the state. The scheme is implemented by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Telangana. The department is responsible for the overall implementation of the scheme, including the identification of beneficiaries, processing of applications, and disbursement of pensions. The Telangana government has been committed to ensuring the effective implementation of the scheme and has introduced various reforms and improvements to make it more accessible and efficient. The success of the scheme has been possible due to the support and cooperation of various stakeholders, including government officials, banks, post offices, and Business Correspondent agents.
Eligibility
The following categories of individuals are eligible to apply for the Assara Pensions Scheme:
- Old age persons (aged 65 years and above)
- Widows
- Persons with disabilities (40% and above)
- Weavers
- Toddy tappers
- Single women
- Beedi workers
- Transgender persons
- Traditional cobblers
- Persons suffering from leprosy
- HIV/AIDS patients
- People released from bonded labor
Pension amount
The beneficiaries under the scheme receive a monthly pension amount of Rs. 2016. However, for persons with disabilities, the pension amount is Rs. 3016 per month.
Application process:
The eligible beneficiaries can apply for the scheme online or offline. The online application can be made through the official website of the Telangana government, while the offline application can be made at the Mee Seva centers.
Verification process:
After the submission of the application, the relevant authorities verify the eligibility of the applicants based on the supporting documents submitted by them.
Once the eligibility is verified, the pension amount is directly transferred to the bank account of the beneficiary through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.
Document requirements:
To apply for the scheme, the following documents need to be submitted:
- Age proof (for old age pension)
- Death certificate of husband (for widows pension)
- Disability certificate (for persons with disabilities)
- Weaving certificate (for weavers pension)
- Toddy Tapping Society membership certificate (for toddy tappers pension)
- Ration card or other identity proof
- Bank account details
Renewal of pension
The pension under the scheme needs to be renewed annually. For this, the beneficiary needs to provide an updated declaration form along with the relevant documents.
Grievance redressal mechanism:
The scheme has a grievance redressal mechanism in place to address the grievances of the beneficiaries. The complaints can be made through the official website or by visiting the concerned authorities.
Coverage:
The scheme covers all districts and mandals of the state of Telangana.
Exclusion criteria:
The following categories of individuals are not eligible for the scheme:
- Government employees and their family members
- Persons who are income taxpayers or have income from other sources
- Persons who own four-wheelers or their family members
- Persons who own more than two hectares of agricultural land or their family members
- Persons who own a house or land in urban areas or their family members
Important Points
- Scheme revision: The Telangana government revised the pension amount under the Assara Pensions Scheme in June 2021. The pension amount was increased from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2016 per month for all eligible categories except for persons with disabilities, for whom the pension amount was increased from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3016 per month.
- Payment frequency: The pension amount under the scheme is paid on a monthly basis to the beneficiaries.
- Scheme integration: The Telangana government has integrated the Assara Pensions Scheme with the Aasara Social Security Pension Scheme, which is a pension scheme for the benefit of the vulnerable sections of the society. The integrated scheme is called the Aasara Pensions Scheme.
- Scheme outreach: The Telangana government has taken various measures to ensure that the scheme reaches out to the maximum number of eligible beneficiaries. This includes setting up of awareness camps, organizing mass enrollment drives, and improving the accessibility of the application process.
- Beneficiary database: The government maintains a comprehensive database of the beneficiaries of the scheme, which includes their personal details, bank account details, and pension details.
- Inter-state portability: The Telangana government has implemented the inter-state portability feature for the Assara Pensions Scheme, which allows beneficiaries to receive their pensions even if they move to another state.
- Pension disbursement through post offices: The Telangana government has collaborated with India Post to provide pension disbursement services to the beneficiaries of the Assara Pensions Scheme. The beneficiaries can choose to receive their pension through post offices in addition to banks.
- Pension card: The Telangana government has introduced a pension card for the beneficiaries of the Assara Pensions Scheme. The card contains details such as the name of the beneficiary, pension amount, and pension account number.
- Pensioners day: The Telangana government celebrates Pensioners Day on August 29 every year to recognize and honor the contributions of the beneficiaries of the Assara Pensions Scheme.
- Digitization: The Telangana government has digitized the application process for the Assara Pensions Scheme to make it more accessible and user-friendly. The beneficiaries can apply for the scheme online by visiting the official website and filling out the application form.
- Pensioner ID card: The Telangana government has introduced a pensioner ID card for the beneficiaries of the Assara Pensions Scheme. The ID card contains the personal details of the beneficiary, photograph, and pension account number.
- Pension enhancement: The Telangana government has enhanced the pension amount under the scheme for certain categories of beneficiaries, such as the disabled, widows, and weavers.
- Pension disbursement through BC agents: The Telangana government has also collaborated with Business Correspondent (BC) agents to provide pension disbursement services to the beneficiaries of the Assara Pensions Scheme. The beneficiaries can choose to receive their pension through BC agents in addition to banks and post offices.
- Pension sanction orders: The Telangana government issues pension sanction orders to the beneficiaries of the scheme to ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement process.
FAQ’S
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Telangana Assara Pensions Scheme:
Q: Who is eligible for the Assara Pensions Scheme? A: The scheme is open to individuals who are aged 65 years or above, widows, unmarried or abandoned women over the age of 18, persons with disabilities, weavers, beedi workers, toddy tappers, and other vulnerable sections of the society.
Q: How much pension amount is provided under the scheme? A: The pension amount under the scheme was revised in June 2021 and is now Rs. 2016 per month for all eligible categories except for persons with disabilities, for whom the pension amount is Rs. 3016 per month.
Q: How can one apply for the Assara Pensions Scheme? A: The application process for the scheme has been digitized and can be done online through the official website. The beneficiaries can also apply offline by visiting the nearest MeeSeva center.
Q: How is the pension amount disbursed to the beneficiaries? A: The pension amount is disbursed through banks, post offices, and Business Correspondent (BC) agents.
Q: Is inter-state portability available under the scheme? A: Yes, the scheme has implemented inter-state portability, which allows beneficiaries to receive their pensions even if they move to another state.
Q: Are there any additional features of the Assara Pensions Scheme? A: Yes, the Telangana government has introduced various additional features to the scheme to make it more effective and accessible, such as pension enhancement, pension disbursement through BC agents, and digitization of the application process.
Q: How is transparency ensured in the disbursement process? A: The government issues pension sanction orders to ensure transparency and accountability in the disbursement process.
Q: What is the role of the Department of Rural Development in the implementation of the scheme? A: The Department of Rural Development, Government of Telangana, is responsible for the overall implementation of the scheme, including the identification of beneficiaries, processing of applications, and disbursement of pensions.
Q: Has the scheme been successful in achieving its objectives? A: Yes, the Telangana Assara Pensions Scheme has been successful in achieving its objectives and has made a positive impact on the lives of many vulnerable individuals in the state. The scheme has been widely appreciated for its effectiveness and has received national recognition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Telangana Assara Pensions Scheme is an important initiative of the Telangana government aimed at providing financial assistance and social security to the vulnerable sections of the society. The scheme has undergone various revisions and improvements to ensure maximum outreach and effectiveness. The government has introduced additional features to the scheme to make it more accessible and effective. The Telangana Assara Pensions Scheme has been successful in achieving its objectives and has made a positive impact on the lives of many vulnerable individuals in the state.Top of Form
