Widow pension schemes aim to give various types of social and financial stability and security to the widows in West Bengal. There have been many applications for this pension scheme that have been submitted to the government.
The widow pension scheme in West Bengal is a step toward ensuring the best practices that will allow financial and social stability to the widows. The government has also arranged for a specific fund to be invested in the widow pension scheme each year. Applicants can apply through an official process, and no eligible beneficiaries will be devoid of a certain amount of money they are supposed to get.
Widow Pension Scheme in West Bengal: Facts Vs Figures
Do you know certain interesting facts about the allocation of the Widow pension scheme in West Bengal? The extension of total coverage for the pension scheme has been implemented recently. This is estimated to be ₹21 lakhs and has been put into effect from April, in the year 2022 onwards. It is interesting to note that social security pensions are currently being provided to the beneficiaries, and such schemes have been reinforced during the year 2022. As per updates from the news agencies, it has been made clear that more than 13 lakh widow pensions have been disbursed in West Bengal.
Thus, the annual expenditure instead of the same has been estimated to be ₹1560 crores, respectively. Are certain widow pension applications still pending? A majority of the legal counsels and sources from the media claim that around eight lacs of widow pension applications are yet to be processed. Such figures have been verified as on April 2022. Another interesting scheme about West Bengal’s people is Lakshmi Bhandar. Such a scheme related to the overall welfare of poor women has made a mark in the history of West Bengal.
What Are the Eligibility Criteria for Getting a Pension Under this Scheme?
Suppose one is interested to get a pension under this scheme. In that case, one needs to have the following eligibility criteria:
- To avail of this pension scheme, one should, of course, be a resident of West Bengal
- Along with that, the family income of the applicant should not be more than ₹1000 per month while applying for the pension scheme
- If there is any kind of financial or monetary support from any of the relatives, then the application will not be granted. By relation, it is implied that she is not entitled to any type of monetary benefit from her son/ daughter/ brother/ parents
- The applicant must be a citizen of West Bengal. The amount sanctioned monthly shall be given to her by the DBT method
- The application can be addressed to the District Magistrate with all the relevant documents to further the procedure.
However, prior to making an application, it is essential to be noted that eligibility criteria related to the same need to be met. In addition, to the same, please make sure that you have all the documents ready in hand so that the official application can be necessarily processed.
What Are the Major Documents Required to Apply?
Certain basic documents are required for the application process. these include:
- Any kind of address proof validated by the Panchayat
- Income proof from the Panchayat
- Death certificate of a husband who has expired
- BPL Ration card
- Aadhar card
- Account details of the widow
- Copy of the widow’s bank passbook
- Nomination form
The Block Development Officer must dispatch the application form if the applicant lives in a rural area. Also, suppose the widow’s zone is outside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. In that case, it is under the purview of the sub-divisional officer from the Panchayat Samiti to give the application form. Also, if the widow applicant is part of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, then the Controller of West Bengal has the right to dispatch the application form. After filling out the form, the widow should attach all the necessary documents and then submit the form.
The form can also be addressed to the Controller of Vagrancy if the widow is a resident of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation. It is under the social welfare schemes by the West Bengal government to ensure more independence and financial stability for the widow. She can sustain her life after her husband’s death. The rate of economic dependence on immediate or distant relations reduces if the widow is given a particular pension. This is especially beneficial for even the BPL widows.
What Are the Benefits of the Widow Pension Scheme in West Bengal?
There are various benefits of the widow pension scheme in West Bengal, one of which is to give the necessary economic benefit to the widow. The government provides a difference between the widow and the old age pension scheme. It also gives the necessary social footing to the widow, primarily since it caters a lot to the backward classes.
Know More about the Bidhoba Bhata or the Widow Pension Scheme in West Bengal
It has also been seen that although all the widows are entitled to avail of this scheme, only around 10-15% of them help this scheme, hence there is a constant need to enhance the range of awareness them. According to current studies, it is expected that by 2041, there will be a time when around one-fifth of the population of West Bengal is expected to turn elderly, compared to a sixth in the whole of India. Over the years, and especially after the pandemic, there has also been a large-scale migration of widows from other states. Hence, the statistics keep on changing.
One more criterion needs to be looked after in this regard. The West Bengal government has mentioned that professional mendicants, which means those who have a steady home and see begging only as a lucrative source of earning money, will not fall under the purview of the widow pension scheme. The government has further added that it is a uniform pension scheme, and there will be no discrimination among the eligible candidates. The amount of money is decided by the Department of Women and Child Development in conjunction with the social welfare department under the state.
Conclusion
Given the above facts, we are clear that readers would get a clear understanding of the welfare schemes of the Government of West Bengal. However, we have created a particular focus on the government’s pension scheme, making it easier for the target audience to understand the implications of the valid application.
Even if things have been explained in intricate detail, some questions must be addressed. Readers are requested to get back to the Government portals. However, a one-stop solution can be achieved if readers can get in touch with the professionals working in Vakilsearch, a professional legal consortium located in Chennai.
