Bhubaneswar: A total of 10,320 elderly people and persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Odisha have applied for the Rs 3,500 monthly pension under state social security schemes but are still awaiting the benefit, Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister Nityananda Gond told the state assembly on Friday.
In a written reply to a question by Kendrapara MLA Ganeswar Behera, the minister said that out of the total applicants above 80 years of age, 3,689 are under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) and 146 under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), bringing the total to 3,835. Among persons with more than 80% disability, 6,029 are registered under MBPY and 456 under NSAP, totaling 6,485.
The minister also highlighted that Ganjam district has the highest number of elderly applicants waiting for the pension, with 532 persons above 80 years still awaiting approval. For persons with more than 80% disability, Cuttack district tops the list with 614 pending applications.
Minister Gond said the government is taking steps to expedite the processing of applications so that beneficiaries can receive the monthly pension as soon as possible
