Odisha govt issues heatwave advisory for pension disbursal

Bhubaneswar: Prevailing heatwave conditions have prompted the state govt to direct all district collectors to ensure adequate safety measures in disbursement of pension under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) on the 15th of every month.In a letter to all collectors and district magistrates on Monday, principal secretary of social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities department, Suresh Kumar Vashishth, said beneficiaries gathering at pension disbursement centres in panchayats could face serious health risks due to the intense summer conditions.Odisha has been witnessing severe heatwave conditions in several districts, with temperatures in interior and western regions hovering between 40 and 45ºC. Coastal districts, meanwhile, are grappling with high humidity along with scorching heat.As MBPY pension is distributed in cash every month, beneficiaries, many of them elderly and physically vulnerable, visit panchayat-level centres to collect their it.Highlighting health risks posed by the heatwave, Vashishth noted that prolonged exposure to high temperatures could lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and even fatal heatstroke. The department has asked district administrations to make necessary arrangements at all disbursement centres to ensure comfort and safety of beneficiaries. Officials have been directed to keep drinking water, ORS sachets and first-aid kits readily available at the centres.The govt has also stressed the need for doorstep delivery of pension to the elderly, physically challenged individuals and infirm beneficiaries to minimise their exposure to extreme weather conditions. Collectors have been instructed to ensure that the doorstep delivery mechanism is implemented without fail during the upcoming pension distribution scheduled for May 15.