CUTTACK: The Orissa high court has directed secretary, social security & empowerment of persons with disability, to consider and take a decision on the representation of a petitioner raising grievance about the rate of pension provided under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY).
The direction issued on Thursday assumes significance as MBPY is the largest social security scheme run by the Naveen Patnaik government in the state. The MBPY is completely funded by the state government and covers 27,801,63 beneficiaries with a budget provision of over Rs 1,724 crore.
Launched in 2008, the current rate of pension under MBPY is Rs 500 per month per beneficiary up to the age of 79 years and Rs 700 per month for 80 years and above and Rs 900 for beneficiaries, who are 80 years and have 60 per cent and above disability.
The two-judge bench of Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice M S Raman disposed of a PIL challenging the present rate of pension on the ground that is "pittance and wholly inadequate" for MBPY beneficiaries.
While the national minimum wage was fixed at Rs 178 per day in 2022 the rate of pension of Rs 500 per month under MBPY comes to Rs 16.67 per day, violating the right to equality, the petition pleaded Abhaya Kumar Pattnaik, a 67-year-old MBPY beneficiary and resident of Chottapur village in Puri district filed the PIL.
Appearing on the petitioner's behalf, advocate Anup Mohapatra sought the court's direction to the government to increase the rate of pension provided under MBPY.
The bench disposed of the petition with a direction to the secretary of the department to consider the petitioner's representation and "pass a reasoned order not later than April 17, 2023".
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