Relief To Poor: Odisha Govt Relaxes Aadhar-Mandatory-For-Pensioners Rule

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has made it clear that Aadhaar verification was not mandatory for eligible beneficiary covered under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) for availing monthly social security pension from August and the one-time ex-gratia of Rs 1,000.

In a letter to district collectors, social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities (SSEPD) secretary Bhaskar Sharma said: “It is found that pensioners without Aadhaar are facing difficulties in receiving pension. The state government has now decided that an eligible beneficiary should not be denied pension for not having Aadhaar. If somebody is alive and identifiable as a beneficiary he/she should not be denied pension for not having Aadhaar,.”

However, steps will be taken to provide Aadhaar card to such beneficiaries before the next phase of disbursement. A web-based system has now been put in place by which this data will be captured and monitored, the letter added.

Around 49 lakh old elderly, differently-abled, widow and destitutes in Odisha avail monthly pension under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) and Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY).

The government had earlier made Adhaar seeding mandatory of pensioners under these schemes, depriving around 20 per cent of the beneficiraries of the entitlements.