Facing flak from the Supreme Court for huge gaps in the Central sponsored programme, National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which deals with person for elderly, widows and other issues, the Centre has decided to conduct a study to evaluate its performance  and take steps to plug the loopholes.

Sources in the Union Rural Development Ministry said that expression  of  interest has been issued and we are in the process of finalising the agency to conduct the study of the scheme which was launched in 1995. All the schemes under the NSAP—Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS), National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) and Annapurna--will be evaluated.

The programme aims to ensure minimum national standard for social assistance, in addition to the benefits that states are currently providing or might provide in future, for old and poor citizens.

The Supreme Court hearing two PILs by advocates Ashwani Kumar, a former law minister, and Sanjeeb Panigrahi had noted that the NSAP  was "prima facie" a good scheme but there were "huge gaps" in its implementation which needed to be filled.

The bench of justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta asked additional solicitor general Pinky Anand to come out with details of the implementation mechanism that has been put in place by the Centre to ensure that the benefits reached the destitute senior citizens.

Advocates Kumar and Panigrahi had alleged that the NSAP schemes have failed to improve the pitiable living conditions of many senior citizens who are in need of help given the fact that 70% of the families in India have gone nuclear leaving the elderly high and dry.

The bench had asked additional solicitor general Pinky Anand to come out with details of the implementation mechanism that has been put in place by the Centre to ensure that the benefits reached the destitute senior citizens.

Anand said as per 2011 census, there were 10.38 crore people above the age group of 60 years and 28.9% of them were categorised as living below the poverty line. She said Rs 6,564 crore have been earmarked for the welfare schemes.

She said that NSAP has a budget of around Rs. 9,975 crore in 2018-19 and the government has allotted funds for pension covering around three crore elderly persons under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme.