5L More Beneficiaries To Get Old-Age Pension In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Madhu Babu Pension, the old-age pension scheme of the state government, would be extended to an additional 5 lakh beneficiaries from December 15.

With this, 48 lakh people aged between 60 and 80 years would get Rs 300 old-age pension, while beneficiaries aged above 80 years will receive Rs 500 a month.

Similarly, 40,000 more artists will be provided an assistance of Rs 1,200 to 40,000 under Mukhya Mantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana.

Making the announcement after chairing a high-level review meeting on implementation of PEETHA, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said that not a single eligible beneficiary will be left out of the scheme.

“PEETHA is a re-assertion of my 3Ts mantra for good governance. The state government is committed to provide all benefits to the individual in the community in a transparent manner. The disbursement of benefits in a camp mode under the PEETHA programme will enhance accountability and shall empower the people,” he said.

Naveen also directed the district collectors to disburse the assistance to beneficiaries under both the schemes from December 15 to 20 by organising special camps.

He further said that PEETHA camps would be organized from the 15th to the 20th every month in every block. “The Block Development Officers (BDOs) in consultation with the functionaries of Panchayati Raj institutions and assistance of voluntary social workers will organize these camps. I will personally monitoring the progress and achievement of the PEETHA programme,” he added.

According to official sources, massive public awareness will be created at the grassroots level about the various developmental schemes and programmes. The state government will also seek the help of  Panchayati Raj institutions and assistance of voluntary social workers for successful implementation of these schemes, the sources added.