Governor Reviews Old Age Care and Pensions with Social Welfare Officials
Aizawl, the 25th September, 2025: Mizoram Governor, General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM (Retd), today held a meeting with Pi Lalzarmawii, Commissioner & Secretary of the Social Welfare Department, alongside other senior officials at Raj Bhavan to discuss the department’s initiatives for old age care and pension schemes in the state.
Governor General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh praised the Mizo community for its profound respect and care for old age individuals, describing it as a commendable cultural trait. While observing that most old age individuals in the state are well supported by their families, he stressed the need for the establishment of well-structured Old Age Homes/Senior Citizens Homes to cater for those who may face neglect or lack adequate care. The Governor emphasised addressing feelings of worthlessness and isolation among old age individuals sensitively, advocating for counsellors to provide guidance and alleviate loneliness. He added that caring for parents and old age individuals without abandoning them is a societal responsibility. He urged the Social Welfare Department to continue addressing the challenges and needs of old age individuals with commitment and to strive for further enhancements in their welfare, assuring full support for the challenges and proposals presented by the Social Welfare Department.
During the meeting, Pi Caroline Hmingthanzuali, Joint Director, and Pi Zomuanpuii, Assistant Director from the Social Welfare Department, delivered a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation on old age care and pension schemes in the state. According to the presentation, 24,524 individuals in Mizoram currently benefit from the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme. Of these, 15,393 individuals aged 60-79 receive a monthly pension of Rs 1,200 (Rs 200 from the Central Government and Rs 1,000 from the State Government). Additionally, 9,131 individuals aged 80 and above receive a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 (Rs 500 from the Central Government and Rs 1,000 from the State Government).
Under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Mizoram has achieved 97.96% Aadhaar seeding and 90% mobile seeding, placing it among the top-performing states in Northeast India. The Mizoram Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules, 2013, has established Maintenance Tribunals at the Sub-Division level and Appellate Tribunals at the District level. However, no cases related to old age care disputes have been reported thus far. The State Senior Citizens Home in Aizawl, established in 1989 with a capacity for 10 residents, currently accommodates 9 individuals (6 men and 3 women) and is staffed by 10 employees. To date, the home has provided care to 79 individuals (53 men and 26 women), with the oldest admittee recorded being 96 years old.
In this meeting, officials from the Social Welfare Department highlighted that the number of eligible pension beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme has been capped by the Central Government, with over 7,500 applications currently pending. They noted challenges in selecting new beneficiaries, except in cases of death, and stressed the need for efforts to cover deserving individuals and accommodate more beneficiaries under this scheme from Mizoram. In addition to the Old Age Pension, other schemes under the NSAP, including the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, and National Family Benefit Scheme, have seen an increase in state contributions from Rs 100 to Rs 1,000 effective from 1 April 2024. The officials also appealed for an increase in Central Government contributions to these schemes.
The meeting also covered various aspects of old age care management, the welfare measures being implemented, and the need for enhanced efforts. Discussions included the provision of counselling services at Senior Citizens Homes to address mental health challenges, plans for establishing larger and more advanced old age care homes in the future, and the introduction of day care centres, palliative care training, and other necessary initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Pu Ajit Roy, Secretary to the Governor, along with Social Welfare Department officials, including Additional Secretary Pu Lalnunhlua and Joint Secretary Pi Zonunthari, among others.
Larsap-in Social Welfare Department hotute upate enkawlna leh pension chungchanga hmalaknate a sawipui (Mizo)
Aizawl, the 25th September, 2025: Vawiin khan Mizoram Larsap, General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh, PVSM, AVSM, YSM (Retd) chuan Social Welfare Department Commisioner & Secretary Pi Lalzarmawii leh hotu dangte chu Raj Bhavan-ah kawmin, department kaltlanga upate enkawlna kalpui dan leh pension pek dan chungchangte a sawipui a ni.
Larsap General (Dr) Vijay Kumar Singh chuan Mizo khawtlangin upate ngaihsaka a dah pawimawh thiam thin chu lawmawm a tih thu sawiin, kum upate chu a tlangpuiin chhungte nei leh enkawlna tha dawng ni mahse, baihvai an awm changa an tlukluh ngamna tur hmun changtlung tak neih a tul thu a sawi a. Mal ngawih ngawiha inhriatna leh tangkai lo ni a inngaih tlatnate nuaibo sak a tul tih sawiin, harsatna an tawhte ngai thlaa kaihruai turin councellor pek chu thil tih makmawh a ni, a ti a. Nu leh pate kalsan mai lova ngaiksaka hmangaih taka enkawl chu mitin mawhphurhna a nih thu sawiin, Social Welfare Department-in harsatna an tawh leh mamawh an thlente a tul ang zela bawhzui sak a tum thu a hrilh a ni.
He hunah hian Social Welfare Department atangin Pi Caroline Hmingthanzuali, Jt. Director leh Pi Zomuanpuii, Asst. Director te’n kum upate enkawlna leh upa pension chungchanga department hmalaknate PowerPoint Presentation hmangin an sawifiah a. Tarlan a nih danin Upa Pension (Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme) hamthatna dawngtu Mizoramah mi 24,524 an awm mek a. Heng zingah hian kum 60-79 inkar mi 15,393 awmin monthly pension Rs 1,200 (Sawrkar laipui tum Rs 200 leh State Sawrkar tum Rs 1,000) an dawng a. Kum 80 chin chung lam mi 9,131 awm bawkin, monthly pension Rs 1,500 (Sawrkar laipui tum Rs 500 leh State Sawrkar tum Rs 1,000) an dawng a ni.
National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) hnuaiah Aadhar seeding 97.96% leh mobile seeding 90% zawhfel tawh niin, Northeast state-a ti tha berte zingah Mizoram a tel a. The Mizoram Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Rules 2013, hnuaiah Sub-Division level-ah Maintenance Tribunal leh District level-ah Appellate Tribunal-te din niin, tun thlengin kum upate enkawlna kaihhnawih case lut a la awm lo a ni. Kum 1989 a din mi 10 awm theihna State Senior Citizens Home, Aizawlah mi 9 (mipa 6, hmeichhia 3) awm mekin thawktu 10 an awm a. Vawiin thlengin mi 79 (mipa 53, hmeichhia 26) te enkawl tawh niin, admit zinga upa ber chu kum 96 mi a ni.
Social Welfare Department hotute chuan Upa Pension dawng thei zat tur chu Sawrkar laipuiin a rawn bituk sa vek thu leh tun dinhmunah dilna 7,500 chuang khawl a nih tawh thute, thihna avangte a nih ngawt loh chuan hamthatna dawng tur a thar thlan a harsat thute Larsap hi hrilhin, tun aia hamthatna dawngtu tam zawk Mizoramin a neih theih nana hmalak a tul thute an thlen a. Upa Pension mai bakah National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) hnuaia scheme dang – Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (Hmeithai Pension), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (Vohbik Pension) leh National Family Benefit Scheme (Chhungkaw eizawngtu ber borala chhawmdawlna) hnuaia tanpuina pek thinah, state-in a tum ve tura tih chu April ni 1, 2024 ah state sawrkarin Rs 100/- atangin Rs 1,000/- ah a tihsan thu leh, hetiang bawk hian sawrkar laipui tum ve tur pawh tihsan a tul tawh thute Larsap hnenah hian an thlen a ni.
Meeting-ah hian upate enkawlna kalpui dan chungchang leh an tana hamthatna awmte buaipui kawnga hmalak tulte sawiho a ni a. Rilru lama harsatna an tawh loh nana Senior Citizens Home-a counselling service kalpui a tul thute, nakin zel atan tun aia changtlung leh lian zawk upate enkawlna home ruahman lawk a tul thute, day care centre, palliative care training leh tul dangte sawiho a ni bawk.
He hunah hian Pu Ajit Roy, Secretary to Governor bakah, Social Welfare Department atangin Addl. Secretary Pu Lalnunhlua, Jt. Secretary Pi Zonunthari leh official dangte an tel a ni.
Written by: Dr. Lallawmkima Thangluah, MIS, PRO to Governor