In a bid to include more hapless people under social security network, Odisha governemnt today extended Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) to 2.7 lakh more beneficiaries in rural areas.
The new beneficiaries would avail the pension scheme from October this year.
"In order to provide social security to more number of needy persons in rural areas, the state government has decided to provide additional 2.7 lakh pensions," announced Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Stating that the state government through its own funds is covering about 17 lakh persons under MBRS, Patnaik said the total number of beneficiaries will touch 19.7 lakh people. The state government spends about Rs 629 crore on the scheme from its own resources.
"Thus in total, the state government will be providing pensions to about 20 lakh persons and will spend about Rs 729 crore under MBPS," Patnaik said adding that beneficiaries are old age pensions, differently abled and widows.
The officials have been asked to complete the selection of beneficiaries by September and start disbursing the allowance from October. Gram Panchayat will be actively involved in identification of beneficiaries, an official said.
Patnaik said out of 2.7 lakh beneficiaries, 200 numbers per block will be kept reserved to cover destitute persons. Further out of this allotment a special drive will be taken to cover widows and differently abled on priority, the Chief Minister said.
