Social security pension for 5 lakh more people

BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced to add five lakh more people as beneficiaries to the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY), the state’s own social security pension scheme. With this, the total number of beneficiaries will go up to 48 lakh.


Over 40,000 artists will also receive monthly pension of Rs 1,200 under the Mukhyamantri Kalakara Yojana from December 15, the chief minister announced. Naveen, during a video conferencing with the district collectors from the secretariat, directed them to distribute the pension amount to the beneficiaries by organizing special camps from 15th to 20th of every month.

Naveen asked the district collectors to ensure that not a single eligible person is excluded from the pension scheme. “My government has always emphasised on social security of the downtrodden. The main goal of my government is to bring smile on everyone’s face and to help them lead a dignified life,” said Naveen.

Special camps will be organised as part of the People’s Empowerment Enabling Transparency and Accountability of Odisha Initiative (PEETHA), which is aimed at creating awareness about various schemes of the state government and improve transparency in distribution of individual and social benefits.

The MBPY was launched since January 2008 by merging two pension schemes — old-age pension and Odisha Disability Pension Scheme. The beneficiaries receive Rs 300 a month after attaining 60 years up to 79 years and Rs 500 a month for 80 years and above. The scheme also extends benefits to widows,

leprosy

and AIDS patients.

Unmarried women above 30 years belonging to a BPL family or has individual income below Rs 24,000 per annum are also eligible. The decision would have an additional financial burden of Rs 60 crore for four months (December-March) of 2018-19, said an official source. As the PEETHA programme is scheduled to start from December 15, the chief minister directed the district collectors to take steps to create massive awareness among the rural people about the programme. The opposition slammed the state government accusing it of using government machinery for political gain.