Bhubaneswar: Ahead of twin elections to Lok Sabha and State Assembly, the State Government today Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced enhancement in the monthly pension amount being provided under state’s own social security scheme—Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) by Rs 500.
The MBPY beneficiaries, who were availing Rs 500, Rs 700 and Rs 900 each month, will now receive Rs 1,000, Rs 1200 and Rs 1400 every month, Patnaik said.
The beneficiaries of the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana will get the revised pension amount from this February in between 20th to 25th. The State Government will spend additional Rs 3683 crore annually for this enhanced pension.
During the visit of 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman V K Pandian to the different districts, the people of different areas requested him to increase the pension amount. Accepting the request of the people, the Chief Minister has increased the pension amount of the social security pension scheme.
Recently Chief Minister Madhu Babu increased the number of beneficiaries of the pension scheme. It was increased by 4.13 lakh in August last year and after the inclusion another 4 lakh recently, now a total of 36.75 lakh beneficiaries are there under the scheme.
It is worth noting that the State Government has made provision of social security pension for various categories of people. It includes senior citizens, widows, disabled, unmarried women, recovered leprosy patients, AIDS patients identified by the Odisha State AIDS Cell, divorced women, transgenders, orphans due to Covid and widows and other vulnerable groups.
Besides, the State Government is also providing additional assistance to the beneficiaries of the National Social Assistance Programme.
Beneficiaries who are upto 79 years of age were getting Rs 500 per month under MBPY. People aged 80 years and above were getting Rs 700 per month.
In the case of disabled persons, those with 40 to 59 percent disability were receiving Rs 500 per month, while those with 60 percent or more disability were getting Rs 700. People above 80 years of age with more than 60 percent disability get Rs 900 per month. Now everyone will get additional Rs 500 each month.
