Dr.YSR Abhaya Hastham Pension for 2.7 lakh women in 15 days
71.39 lakh women inducted, 37.52 lakh paid premium
Implement the scheme without giving scope for loopholes-CM

“Abhaya Hastham Pension should be in the hands of all eligible women by the 1st of every month from December (Next month onwards)”, the Chief Minister K Rosaiah today directed the officials of Rural Development and LIC. He said that it is the only one of kind in the country and should be implemented in right earnest and every women member should feel proud of the scheme. The Chief Minister has reviewed the progress of the scheme, “Dr.YSR Abhaya Hastham” telephonically with the Minister for Rural Development, Mr. Vatti Vasantha Kumar and senior officials of the Dept., Mr R. Subramaniam, T. Vijaya Kumar and Mr. Rajasekhar at his residence today. The Government of India is also now thinking of formulating a co-contributory pension-cum-insurance scheme for women on the lines of A. P, the Chief Minister said.

The revolutionary pension scheme for women in the State is now operational. It was a dream scheme of former Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. The unique pension-cum-insurance scheme for all the enrolled self help group women in Andhra Pradesh is a role model scheme. In 15 days from now, 2.70 lakhs of women in the State who have attained the age of 60 will start getting pension at the rate of Rs.500/- by bank cheque or in their post office accounts.

As on date, there are 1,00,76,000 SHG members under Indira Kranthi Patham Programme in Andhra Pradesh. Complete information about 96.89 lakh members has been collected and entire data about these members has been digitalized. In all 71.39 lakh eligible members were inducted into the scheme. Third party verification has been done for all these members and demand notice to 61.45 lakh members has been served. Demand notice from 51.60 lakh members has been received. Contribution towards premium from 37.52 lakh members was received. The State Government’s equal contribution is also in place. And process of reconciliation and subsequent transfer of funds are under process and would be completed by today (Sunday).

Special officers have been designated for each Mandal and currently, verification process is underway and the web-based draft sanction proceedings would be generated for all the eligible members. In this regard an Act was enacted named as “Andhra Pradesh Self Help Groups (SHG) Women Co-contributory Pension Act, 2009”. The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) is the Nodal Implementation Agency (NIA) for this scheme and is empowered to implement and administer the scheme.  

Under the scheme, each member would become eligible for a minimum monthly pension of Rs.500 or above, subject to fulfillment of conditions prescribed, on crossing 60 years of age, depending on the number of years of contribution and quantum of contribution made by the member. All women between the age group of 18 to 59 years would also be eligible for life insurance cover up to Rs.30,000 in case of natural death, Rs.75,000 in case of accidental death, Rs.75,000 for permanent disability, Rs.37,500 for partial disability. Scholarship of Rs.1,200 per annum for their children studying 9th, 10th classes, Intermediate and ITI will also be paid.

The pension scheme envisages providing income security to the SHG women who are 60 years and above. It envisages that a member would contribute at the rate of Re.1/- per day and the State Govt. would also contribute Re.1/- per day and the Government would ensure a minimum pension of Rs.500/- per month to every member above 60 years. The Chief Minister directed the officials to constantly monitor, verify and implement the scheme in a transparent way at all levels. He also suggested that at any cost no scope should be given for any loopholes in the implementation of the scheme. “One should always know that the scheme is exclusively meant for welfare of the women community”, the Chief Minister said.