1. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approves the expansion of Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) to include 4 lakh more beneficiaries.
2. The total number of beneficiaries under MBPY will rise from 32.75 lakh to 36.75 lakh following the approval.
3. The expansion will require Rs 190.20 crore from the government’s exchequer.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 07: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has given the green light to a proposal to expand the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) coverage by including an additional four lakh beneficiaries.
This move will increase the total number of beneficiaries from 32.75 lakh to 36.75 lakh.
The expansion of the beneficiary base will require an expenditure of Rs 190.20 crore from the state government’s funds. Chief Minister had previously sanctioned the inclusion of 4.13 lakh beneficiaries in August of the previous year.
The decision to extend the scheme’s coverage follows numerous appeals from elderly citizens across various regions of the state during the visits of VK Pandian, the chairman of the 5T initiative.
The MBPY caters to senior citizens, widows, differently-abled individuals, unmarried women, AIDS and leprosy patients, divorced women, transgenders, and children orphaned by the Covid pandemic.
Under the MBPY, beneficiaries aged up to 79 receive a monthly pension of Rs 500, while those aged 80 and above receive Rs 700 per month.
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Additionally, individuals with disabilities ranging from 40% to 59% are eligible for a monthly pension of Rs 500, whereas those with more than 60% disability receive Rs 700. Those above 80 years with more than 60% disability are entitled to a Rs 900 monthly pension under the scheme.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Patnaik also approved the inclusion of 30,000 artists under the Mukhyamantri Kalakar Sahayata Yojana (MKSY), a significant initiative of the Odia Language, Literature, and Culture department.
During his visits to different state regions, many artists approached the 5T chairman seeking support.
Under the MKSY, 50,000 artists currently receive financial assistance of Rs 1,200 per month. With the inclusion of an additional 30,000 artists, the total number of beneficiaries under the scheme has now risen to 80,000.
