Q. 3.

The Scheme aims universal coverage through proactive identification; however, the
Committee have found that NSAP is being implemented in demand-driven mode as the benefits
were provided to only those beneficiaries who applied for it. Due to non-verification of existing
beneficiaries as well as due to lack of data cleaning, verification and authentication cases of
ineligible beneficiaries drawing benefits were noticed in many States/ UTs. Further in many
States/ UTs pension was not been paid on monthly basis. The committee have found that the
Scheme is not fully Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) compliant as pension is being paid in Cash in
some States. There were cases of over- payment, Short – payment and multiple pension
payments noticed in many States / UTs.

Ans: In West Bengal the beneficiaries are selected proactively from SECC 2011 database
considering the highest deprivation level. There are 7 deprivation levels. Currently the persons
fulfilling at least 3 or more deprivations in the SECC 2011 database are primarily enlisted for
consideration creating a ‘Provisional Waitlist’. This ‘Provisional Waitlist’ is subjected to physical
verification to determine the actual deprivation of the enlisted person at the current level.
Beneficiaries are selected on the basis of actual deprivations as is determined by verification &
authentication. However, new beneficiaries can be added within the limit of the State Cap as is
approved by MoRD. On the other hand, if an existing pensioner dies or is declared as ineligible
on permanent migration, a newly eligible beneficiary is included from the wait list to fill up the
gap. In such case the new beneficiary is selected from the permanent waitlist. The permanent
waitlist of eligible and deserving beneficiaries which is prepared from ‘Provisional Waitlist’ after
physical verification is published in Gram Sansad for authentication. The process of physical
verification is supervised by Block and District level officials. Thus the objective of universal
coverage of economically distressed persons under NSAP is ensured through proactive
identification, not in demand driven manner only. The guideline of NSAP for annual physical
verification is also taken care of to ensure that no ineligible beneficiary is drawing benefit.
Simultaneously, the on-demand applications submitted through SAMBAL / UMANG portal are
verified physically by the Block Level physical verification team. If the applicant is found
included in SECC 2011 listing and eligible on deprivation parameter as per NSAP guideline then
details of that applicant are entered in the NSAP-PPS portal for getting sanctioned under NSAP
from MoRD.

In West Bengal pension is disbursed every month through DBT mode. No cash mode of
payment is encouraged here.

Q. 5. . When the Committee wanted to apprised about any plans to update the criteria used for
allocating funds and determining the State Cap in the light of the population increase and
potential changes in poverty ratios since the last census in 200l, and any schemes to remain
responsive to the changing demographic and economic landscape, the Ministry stated as under:
"As stated above, allocation of funds under NSAP schemes to States/ UTs is done on the basis of
ceiling of beneficiaries (State Cap) or the number of beneficiaries digitized on the NSAP portal,
whichever is lower. At present, there is no proposal of increasing coverage of beneficiaries
(State Cap). However, as per NSAP Guidelines, if there are more deserving beneficiaries in a
State, the State has the option to give them pension from its own resources. As per latest
information collected from States/UTs, around 5.86 crore additional beneficiaries are covered
by States/UTs through their pension schemes."

Ans: In the state of West Bengal, the total number of digitized beneficiaries is
presently below the State-Cap. The digitization is under process. However, if all the
deserving beneficiaries, so far identified, are digitized it will exceed the State cap.
The position is indicated in the table below:
Data as on 13th June, 2024
Actual Number of Deserving Beneficiaries up to deprivation level 2 (in terms
of SECC 2011 parameters)
Yet to be digitized in
State Cap Already Digitized in Total
portal
portal deserving
IGNOAPS 1281159 1230010 158638 1388648
IGNWPS 726172 727612 39771 767383
IGNDPS 59941 54590 0 54590
TOTAL 2067272 2012212 198408 2210621
The State has also proposed to enhance the State-Cap by another 6-7 lakh vide Number 18-
PRD/NSAP/GEN-P7RD/O/NSAP-O5/2019 dated 20/01/24-so as to be able to cover universally all
the deserving beneficiaries up-to deprivation level-1 under SECC 2011 listing.

Q. 6. Considering the concerns raised about the fairness and inclusivity of the currentallocation
methodology, when the Committee enquired the Ministry about the step sbeing taken by them
to conduct a comprehensive review of the NSAP schemes toensure that a larger proportion of
the needy and poverty-stricken population is not left out, the Ministry replied as below:

"As staled above, allocation of funds under NSAP schemes to States/ UTs is done on the basis of
ceiling of beneficiaries (State Cap) or the number of beneficiaries digitized on the NSAP portal,
whichever is lower. Further, as per NSAP Guidelines, if there are more deserving beneficiaries in
a State, the State has the option to give them pension from its own resources. As per latest
information collected from States/UTs, around 5.86 crore additional beneficiaries are covered
by States/UTs through their pension schemes."
 At present NSAP schemes cater about 3 crore beneficiaries (2.97 crore pensioners).
The allocation of funds under NSAP schemes to States/ UTs is done on the basis of
ceiling of beneficiaries (State Cap) or the number of beneficiaries digitized on the
NSAP portal, whichever is lower. For calculating the State Cap for each State/UT, the
population figures as per the census of 2001 and the poverty ratio (2004-05)
determined by NITI Aayog (erstwhile Planning Commission) have been taken into
account. The ceiling/cap on the number of beneficiaries was intimated to all the
States/UTs vide this Department's letter dated 8th November 2012, which was
revised in Sept, 2022 in regard to three pension schemes. As per NSAP Guidelines, if
there are more deserving beneficiaries in a State, the State has the option to give
them pension from its own resources. As per latest information collected from
States/UTs, around 5.86 crore additional beneficiaries are covered by States/UTs
through their pension schemes.

As reported by state of West Bengal, it is estimated that there are around 7 lakh
more deserving beneficiaries under deprivation level 1 who may be covered once
the state cap is enhanced to the appropriate level.

Ans: As mentioned in above para State of West Bengal has requested for
enhancement of State Cap.
Q. 7. lt was informed to the Committee that there was a revision of the ceiling/cap in September
2022 for three pension schemes. ln the light of this, when the Committee asked the Ministry to
elaborate on the nature of these revisions and how they address the challenges raised
regarding the outdated population figures and poverty ratios, the Ministry answered as under:

"The scheme-wise assistance under NSAP is sanctioned up to the number of digitized

beneficiaries on NSAP portal or the State cap, whichever is lower.ver the years, with sustained
efforts digitization reached to 96-97% of the total State ceiling/cap. To achieve 100 % saturation
under the pension schemes of the NSAP, the Department took the following two important
policy decisions:
(i) ln November 202'1, States/UTs were given flexibility to re-allocate beneficiaries under the
three pension schemes within the overall ceiling/ cap of the respective States/UTs. ii) In
September, 2022, State Cap was revised up to the actual number of digitized beneficiaries in
respect of the States/UTs which had digitization equal to or less than their ceiling in all the
three pension schemes and the excess number of beneficiaries of these States/UTs consequent
to this revision was reallocated
to States/UTs that had digitization equal to or higher than their State Cap in all the three
pension schemes on a pro-rata basis. As a result, all the three pension schemes of under NSAP
have achieved 100% saturation in Sept, 2022.',
 Ans: Coverage of beneficiaries against State CAP in the state of West Bengal is as follows:

Scheme State Cap Current Coverage

IGNOAPS 1281159 1230010

IGNWPS 726172 727612
IGNDPS 59941 54590
NFBS 21553 25852

In the state of West Bengal, the total number of digitized beneficiaries is presently below the
State-Cap (except in case of IGNWPS and NFBS). The digitization is under process. However, if all
the deserving beneficiaries, so far identified, are digitized it will exceed the State cap. The
position is indicated in the table below:
Data as on 13th June, 2024

Actual Number of Deserving Beneficiaries up to deprivation level 2 (in terms

of SECC 2011 parameters)
Yet to be digitized in
State Cap Already Digitized in Total
portal
portal deserving
IGNOAPS 1281159 1230010 158638 1388648
IGNWPS 726172 727612 39771 767383
IGNDPS 59941 54590 0 54590
TOTAL 2067272 2012212 198408 2210621