Financial stability after retirement should be a major consideration. It will help people live at peace and in the best of health. However, many categories of people in Indian society cannot afford to satisfy their financial needs during old age owing to their economically backward financial condition. The Government of West Bengal realised the importance of such financial assistance for the deserving people and launched the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme. Here is a detail to help you understand the scheme and its benefits.

 

 

What is the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme?

 

The West Bengal Government introduced the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme on April 1st 2020, to provide financial assistance to all the impoverished people in the state. It is launched as two schemes and is especially driven to support the people from the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups, such as the Scheduled Caste(SC) and the Scheduled Tribes(ST), by providing financial security. The scheme for the SC category is called the Taposali Bandu Pension Scheme, and the scheme for the ST category is called the Jai Johar Scheme.

The government decided to club the existing old-age, widow, and disability pension schemes and form the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme, 2020.

 

Features of the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme

 

The Joy Bangla Pension Scheme provides financial security to impoverished people based on the following features:

• The scheme will offer financial support to widows, older people, people with a disability, etc.,

• The scheme will provide ₹1000 for the beneficiaries under the Jai Johar scheme and ₹600 for the beneficiaries under the Topasali Bandhu Pension scheme.

• The amount will be credited to the beneficiary's bank account directly.

• In case of the beneficiary's unexpected demise, the nominee will receive the pension. First, however, the authorities will verify the details of the beneficiary's death and the relation of the nominee to the beneficiary and then start providing the pension.

 

Joy Bangla Pension Scheme Eligibility Criteria

 

The government has detailed the eligibility criteria for receiving the benefits as follows:

• The benefits are available for the ordinary residents of West Bengal.

• The scheme is exclusively initiated to benefit the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes group of people.

• The applicant should be above 60 years of age as of 01.01.2020.

• The applicant should have a bank account to process the transactions.

• The applicant should not have registered for any other scheme to receive the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme benefits.

 

Benefits of the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme

 

The Joy Bangla Pension Scheme helps the beneficiaries benefit for the following reasons.

• The applicant need not provide a monthly contribution to receive the pension amount after 60 years of age.

• Once the application is accepted, the beneficiary will receive the fixed pension.
  
  

How to Apply for the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme?

The Joy Bangla application process is relatively simple and easy to understand.

• Visit the official website - https://www.malda.gov.in/forms/160320, associated with registering for the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme and download the application form. 

• Print the application form from here or get it from the designated government office nearby.

• It is available in the Office of the Block Development Officer in rural areas, the Sub-Divisional Officer in Municipal or Notified areas outside the Municipal Corporation or The Commissioner, Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

• Fill out the necessary details such as personal details, income details, contact details and the choice of the pension scheme. 

• Check the necessary documents attached with the application form for the verification process.

• Once the application form is complete and the necessary documents collated, the applicant should submit the form to the relevant authorities.
  
  

  • In the case of rural areas, the applicant should submit the form to the Block Development Officer.

  • In the case of Municipal areas or other areas notified outside the region of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the applicant should submit the form to the Sub-divisional officer.

  • In the case of the residence within the Municipal Corporation of Kolkata, the applicant can submit the form to the Commissioner, Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
    
    

• The form and details will proceed through the verification process, and the relevant authorities will notify the beneficiary regarding the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme status of the application. Once registered, the beneficiaries can login using the link https://jaibangla.wb.gov.in/login for any further information and process.

 

Documents Required for the Application Process

 

Applicants looking forward to registering for the Joy Bangla Pension Scheme should have the following documents.

• Passport size photograph

• Photocopy of caste certificate

• Photocopy of digital ration card

• Photocopy of the digital certificate from the relevant authority.

• Photocopy of Aadhar Card.

• Photocopy of Voter ID

• Self-attested residential certificate

• Self-attested income certificate

• Proof of identity

• Photocopy of the bank passbook
  
  

Retirement planning is an important step in every individual's life. The government and other private sector financial institutions have introduced schemes and retirement products to benefit a large section of Indian society. Affordable products with flexible features to ensure retirement pension has been on the rising trend. Buy a retirement plan and secure your retirement life to meet uncertain scenarios in your life.

Our Tata AIA retirement plan provides varied options to utilise your income for securing it for your future. For instance, with the Tata AIA Smart Annuity Plan-A Single Premium Non-Linked, Non-Participating Individual Annuity Plan (UIN: 110N150V05), you can choose between the Immediate and Deferred Annuity options, and with the Tata AIA Guaranteed¹ Monthly Income Plan- Non Linked, Non Participating Individual Life Insurance Savings Plan(UIN: 110N147V02), you can choose to pay the premiums and receive the payouts as a regular income when the plan matures for a defined income period.

 

Conclusion

 

Retirement life should be one of the most peaceful phases in your life. The financial condition of every individual should be such that it can accommodate routine expenses and other medical expenses to lead a happy life. When people cannot afford it, the government will take the necessary initiatives to help the impoverished people with financial support. The Joy Bangla Scheme is one such initiative introduced by the Government of West Bengal to support the people above 60 years of age in the SC and ST most disadvantaged socio-economic groups.

L&C/Advt/2022/May/1018