Video By: Sajad Shah | Article By: Nusrat Ali
Under Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) which is a National Social Assistance Programme, every old person (aged 60+) living Below Poverty Line is to be paid Rs 1000 per month which means Rs 33 a day. The size of elderly population in Jammu and Kashmir is 923 thousand among them a vast number is eligible for this scheme and a meager amount of Rs 33 a day do not make any difference in their life.
Zaiba Begum, 65 year old woman from Batengoo Anantnag, an old age pensioner has lost her husband and son in 2010, both died of Cancer. Zaiba, lives in utter poverty with her only daughter who also is permanently disabled due to an accident. Zaiba, like other pensioners, receives a meager amount as old age pension and is unable to meet her daily needs. Government should come up with better scheme for Zaiba and other old age people so that they can live a life worth living.
