Reforming Social Protection: A Critical Analysis of the Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana
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The Union Cabinet has restructured the National Social Assistance Programme into the new 'Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana', extending its mandate through 2031 with significant liberalizations in eligibility criteria for disability pensions.
The Union Cabinet has taken a definitive step toward strengthening India’s social safety net by transitioning the long-standing National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) into the newly conceptualized 'Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata Yojana'. This strategic restructuring, approved for continuation through 2031, represents a paradigm shift in how the state addresses the needs of its most vulnerable citizens.
At the heart of this reform is the modernization of eligibility benchmarks. By lowering the disability threshold to 40%, the government has aligned its welfare architecture with modern clinical standards for physical and developmental disabilities, thereby bringing a larger section of the PwD (Persons with Disabilities) population into the ambit of direct benefit transfers. Perhaps the most significant administrative policy change is the removal of strict age restrictions for disability pension eligibility. This move dismantles historical barriers that often prevented younger individuals with disabilities from accessing essential financial support, acknowledging that the socio-economic burdens of disability are independent of age.
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