Bhubaneswar: The State government has recently decided to enhance the social security pension to Rs 3,500 per month for elderly people aged 80 years and above and persons with over 80 per cent disabilities. So, as many 4,17,496 pensioners are likely to get benefit from the decision.
As per data available with the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), 166.661 beneficiaries above 80 years and 33,922 PwDs covered under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) along with 173321 persons above 80 years and 43,592 PwDs covered under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) would get the enhanced pension from this month.
Highest 30,946 such beneficiaries from Puri district would receive Rs 3,500 pension from January while Cuttack district has 29,738 beneficiaries, who will get the hiked pension.
Similarly, a total of 26,584 social security pensioners in Kendrapara district, 26,134 in Ganjam, 26,001 in Balasore district and 24,988 in Mayurbhanj district would benefit from the enhanced pension.
For smooth distribution of the enhanced pension, the SSEPD Secretary R S Gopalan has written a letter to all District Collectors today.
Gopalan said the State Government has enhanced the social security pension of beneficiaries aged 80 years and above and beneficiaries with not less than 80% disability under both MBPY and NSAP to Rs. 3,500 per month with effect from January, 2025
He asked the Collectors to direct the Sub-Collectors to issue sanction orders of the beneficiaries eligible for the enhanced pension and ensure that enhanced social security pension amounting to Rs. 3500 is disbursed to the approved beneficiaries on Jana Seva Diwas on January 15, 2025.
Two days ago, the Department had directed the DSSOs to remove all ineligible beneficiaries from the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension (IGNDP) Scheme under NSAP by January 13, 2025.