Manasvini, Maitri schemes come into effect

The State government has started Manasvini and Maitri schemes from August under which a monthly pension of Rs 500 is given to unmarried/divorcee poor women and transgenders.

The Revenue department, which handles the social security pension schemes, has come out with two government orders notifying the implementation of the schemes.

Though these two schemes were planned by B S Yeddyurappa when he was the chief minister, they were not implemented. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced budgetary support to these two schemes in July.

Women who are either unmarried or divorcee and fall under the below poverty line are eligible for the pension under Manasvini.

They must be in the age group of 40 and 64 years. While the annual income for a woman to avail herself the pension in rural area should not be more than Rs 12,000, it is Rs 17,000 in urban areas.

If the beneficiaries get married or get a job, then they become ineligible for the pension. Unmarried/divorced women above 65 years are eligible for financial support under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme.

Those women who would like to seek pension, will have to submit their applications at Atalji Janasnehi Kendras in their respective areas. A self declaration affidavit stating their marital status should be submitted. The applications will be attended to by deputy tahasildars within a month’s time.

Under the Maitri scheme, poor members of the sexual minorities would get the monthly pension. The rules for drawing pension are similar to those under the Manasvini scheme.

The GO says that a medical certificate establishing the transgender status or the certificate given by Sangama or Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum should be submitted along with the applications.