Title: Need to allocate additional funds for the benefit of senior Citizens in Andhra Pradesh under Annapurna Scheme.
(SIDDIPET): There are a large number of destitute Senior Citizens above 65 years of age who have been left out under the Annapura Scheme as well as National Old Age Pension/State Government Old Age Pension Scheme. A total of 4.66 lakh beneficiaries under National Old Age Scheme with an annual outlay of Rs.41.94 crore and an additional 8.53 lakh beneficiaries under State Old Age Pension Scheme with an outlay of Rs.76.80 crore per annum being provided assistance.
I request the Government of India to consider, as a special case, allocating additional funds for one lakh beneficiaries under Annapurna Scheme for Andhra Pradesh and release the necessary amount for implementation of the same during the financial year 2002-03. We assure you Sir, that on getting the additional sanction, due care will be taken to implement the scheme and to cover a large number of eligible destitute people who have been identified and found eligible.