G.O. (Ms.) No. 26, Change of Eligibility Criteria for Social Security Pension Schemes, 2015

What the government order does

G.O. (Ms.) No. 26 dated 17 April 2015, issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu, Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department, revises eligibility criteria for eight pension schemes. The schemes are implemented through the Revenue Department.

The revision followed reports from District Collectors and field officials that some earlier conditions were difficult to interpret or had become unrealistic. The source specifically notes an earlier condition under which house property could not be worth more than ₹5,000. It also states that separate orders amended Rule 5 of the Madras Old Age Pension Rules, 1962, concerning the definition of “destitute”.

Who is affected

G.O. (Ms.) No. 26 applies to people seeking pensions under these schemes:

• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme.
• Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme.
• Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme.
• Destitute Differently Abled Pension Scheme.
• Destitute Widow Pension Scheme.
• Chief Minister Uzhavar Paadhukaappu Thittam.
• Destitute or Deserted Wives Pension Scheme.
• Unmarried Poor Women aged 50 years and above.

Key revised criteria

G.O. (Ms.) No. 26 sets out the following principal requirements:

• Old age pension applicants must be at least 60, destitute and from a Below Poverty Line family.
• Widow pension applicants under the national scheme must be widows, at least 40, destitute and from a Below Poverty Line family.
• National disability pension applicants must be destitute, from a Below Poverty Line family, at least 18 and have a disability level of at least 80%.
• Destitute differently abled pension applicants must be destitute, at least 18 and have a disability level of at least 60%. The previous requirement of being incapable of working is not included in the revised criteria.
• Destitute widow pension applicants must be destitute, at least 18 and widowed. The earlier reference to having major legal heirs is not included.
• Chief Minister Uzhavar Paadhukaappu Thittam applicants must be destitute, at least 60 and landless agricultural labourers. Conditions concerning support from children and ability to perform manual work are not included in the revision.
• Deserted wives must be destitute, at least 30, and legally divorced, deserted for at least five years, or hold a legal separation certificate from a competent court.
• Unmarried women must be destitute, unmarried and at least 50.

Relevance to property owners and buyers

G.O. (Ms.) No. 26 does not change land title, ownership, registration or property transaction rules. Land status is relevant only to the Chief Minister Uzhavar Paadhukaappu Thittam, which requires the applicant to be a landless agricultural labourer.