This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2567, answered on August 5, 2025, regarding beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) in Tamil Nadu. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Kamlesh Paswan, stated that the identification, selection, verification, and disbursal of pensions to beneficiaries under NSAP are the sole responsibility of the States/UTs. The Central Government has provided a web portal (NSAP-Pension Payment System) linked with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) as a digital solution for implementation and monitoring, but the State Government of Tamil Nadu utilizes its own Management Information System (MIS) for NSAP implementation. Data provided by the State Government indicates the following number of beneficiaries in Thanjavur district under the NSAP pension schemes: Old Age Pension (26,164), Widow Pension (12,779), and Disability Pension (3,721), totaling 42,664 beneficiaries. NSAP also includes the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna scheme, which are demand-based.
Key Entities Referenced
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP): A social welfare program in India providing financial assistance to the elderly, widows, and disabled.
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where the NSAP scheme is being implemented.
Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu: A specific district within Tamil Nadu for which beneficiary data under NSAP is provided.
Ministry of Rural Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for rural development programs, including NSAP.
Public Financial Management System (PFMS): A platform linked with NSAP Pension Payment System for financial management and monitoring of NSAP schemes.
NSAP Pension Payment System (NSAPPPS): A web portal used for digital implementation and monitoring of NSAP schemes.
National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS): A demand-based scheme under NSAP providing financial assistance to families upon the death of the primary breadwinner.
Annapurna: A demand-based scheme under NSAP.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2567
ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025
BENEFICIARIES UNDER NSAP IN TAMIL NADU
2567. Shri Murasoli S:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has maintained list of beneficiaries
under component of the National Social Assistance Programme
(NSAP); and
(b) if so, the total list of beneficiaries under each component of
the NSAP in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a): As per the guidelines of National Social Assistance
Programme (NSAP), States/UTs are solely responsible for
identification/selection of beneficiaries, verification of applications,
sanctioning,maintenance of beneficiary data and last mile disbursal
of pension to the beneficiaries. A robust web portal i.e. NSAP-
Pension Payment System (NSAP-PPS) linked with Public Financial
Management System (PFMS) has been operationalized by the
Government and provided to States/UTs as an end to end digital
solution for the implementation and monitoring of NSAP schemes.
However, State Government of Tamil Nadu is using its own MIS for
implementation of NSAP Scheme.
(b): NSAP entails 3 Pension Schemes (Old Age, Widow & Disability)
and two demand based scheme i.e National Family Benefit Scheme
(NFBS) and Annapurna. Scheme-wise number of beneficiaries under
Pension Schemes of NSAP in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu
obtained from the State Government is given at below:-
Scheme Old Age Widow Disability Total
Pension Pension Pension
No. of 26164 12779 3721 42,664
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