Pension scheme: HC notice to Centre on plea to process applications

Madurai: Madras high court on Friday ordered notice to the Centre on a plea seeking a direction to authorities to process the pending applications of eligible beneficiaries under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), which provides a monthly pension to persons with disabilities.A division bench of justice G R Swaminathan and justice R Kalaimathi was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Swamimalai Sundara Vimal Nathan.The petitioner stated that IGNDPS was launched in 2009 by the Centre under the National Social Assistance Programme to provide a monthly pension of 300 to persons with disabilities. Disabled people aged above 18 years, with a disability of 80% or more, and living below the poverty line can apply for the scheme.The petitioner stated that in the past two years, nearly 5.29 lakh persons with disabilities from Tamil Nadu submitted applications to avail the pension. However, authorities did not yet process the applications and sanction the pension.He also submitted several representations to the authorities seeking to process the applications of the eligible beneficiaries from Tamil Nadu and seeking to enhance the monthly pension amount. However, the same was not considered. He stated that such a prolonged delay would affect the eligible people. Section 24 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, provides social security to safeguard and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.Hence, the petitioner moved court.