Telangana Government, as a part of its welfare measures and social safety net strategy, introduced the Aasara pension scheme with a view of ensuring a secure life with dignity for all the poor people. Aasara pension scheme is meant to protect the most vulnerable sections of society to support their day to day minimum needs to be required to lead a life of dignity and social security. Aasara pensions provide substantial financial benefits to all the below-mentioned categories, particularly those who are most needy.

• Old and infirm
• People with HIV-AIDS
• Widows
• Incapacitated weavers
• Toddy tappers

Eligibility Criteria for Aasara Pension

• The following are the eligibility criteria for obtaining Aasara Pension for various categories of applicants:

Eligibility Criteria for Old Age

• To get Aasara to pension, the age should be 65 years and above
• Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups
• Only one pension in a family, preferably women
• Landless agricultural laborers, rural artisans or craftsmen slum dwellers, persons earning their livelihood daily in the informal sector like porters, coolies, rickshaw pullers, hand cart pullers, fruit or flower sellers, snake charmers, rag pickers, cobblers, destitute and other similar categories irrespective of rural or urban areas
• Homeless households residing in temporary informal establishments or huts especially in urban areas
• Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons, disabled persons or persons aged 65 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support and able-bodied earning member

Eligibility Criteria for Widows

• If the age of the widow is 18 years and above, she is eligible for Aasara pension.
• Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups
• Women headed households with no able-bodied earning members
• Only the widow is given the pension
• Landless agricultural laborers, rural artisans or craftsmen, slum dwellers, persons earning their livelihood daily in the informal sector like porters, coolies, rickshaw pullers, hand cart pullers, fruit or flower sellers, snake charmers, rag pickers, cobblers, destitute and other similar categories irrespective of rural or urban areas
• Homeless households residing in temporary informal establishments or huts especially in urban areas
• Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons, disabled persons or persons aged 65 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support and able-bodied earning member

Eligibility Criteria for Weavers

• Age criteria for weavers to get Aasara pension are 50 years and above or local post office
• Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups
• Only one pension in a family
• By profession, a person should be in weaving, irrespective of rural or urban areas
• Homeless households residing in temporary informal establishments or huts especially in urban areas
• Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons, disabled persons or persons aged 65 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support and able-bodied earning member

Eligibility Criteria for Toddy Tappers

• 50 years and above-aged Toddy Tappers are eligible for Aasara Pension
• Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups
• Only one pension in a family
• By profession, a person should be in Toddy Tapping, irrespective of rural or urban areas
• Homeless households residing in temporary informal establishments or huts especially in urban areas
• Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons, disabled persons or persons aged 65 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support and able-bodied earning member
• For Toddy tapper pensions the verification should be confirmed whether the beneficiary is a registered member in the Co-Operative Society of Toddy Tappers
• Eligibility Criteria for Disabled Person
• Aasara pension is issued to the Disabled Person irrespective of their Age
• Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups
• Women headed households with no able-bodied earning members
• In the case of Hearing Impaired, the minimum disability should be 51%
• Landless agricultural laborers, rural artisans or craftsmen slum dwellers, persons earning their livelihood daily in the informal sector
• Homeless, houseless households residing in temporary, casual establishments or huts especially in urban areas Households headed by widows or terminally ill persons, disabled persons or persons aged 65 years or more with no assured means of subsistence or societal support and able-bodied earning member