Bhubaneswar: The number of beneficiaries under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) has increased by 22.65% from 23.13 lakh to 28.37 lakh in the last four years.
This was revealed during a review of the targets and achievements of the Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) during last four years and the fulfilment of the assurances given in the manifesto by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today.
SSEPD Minister Ashok Chandra Panda presented details of fulfilling the assurances given in the election manifesto and other transformative steps undertaken by the Department during last four years.
Addressing media men followed by the review Minister Panda said that Chief Minister has directed to hold regular camps under Bhima Bhoi Bhinnakhyama Samarthya Abhiyan (BBSA) in every Block and the certificates given to PwDs be uploaded in the portal. He directed to transform the Special Schools under 5-T initiative. He also emphasised on timely arrangement of financing the institutions working for the empowerment of PwDs, the Minister said.
Panda said that the dynamic approach has been taken for inclusion of beneficiaries under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY).
The new categories of beneficiaries such as Divorcee and Deserted women, Transgender persons, Orphan Children and Widows of Covid affected families have been included. Total 14,719 Deserted and Divorcee women, 1468 Transgender Persons, 43 orphan Children (Covid affected family) and 626 Widows (Covid affected Family) have been benefitted in this process.
Widow and Divorcee Deserted women are being identified based on self-certification and no death certificate or document of divorcee is required.
Similarly, Transgender Persons, Widows and Orphan children of COVID-affected families are getting pensions under MBPY.
Seven Geriatric Disability Centres and 83 Old Age Homes are functioning for the Welfare of Senior Citizens.
Panda said that as per the announcement of the Chief Minister in January 2022, Artificial Limbs/High End Limbs and Hearing Aid have been provided to all eligible persons with Disabilities irrespective of their family income. As many as 2974 beneficiaries have availed the benefit of Artificial/ High End Limbs (Orthosis/Prosthesis) and 685 students with disabilities availed the benefit of Hearing Aid, he added.
He said that for the Rehabilitation of Senior Citizens and PwDs, the Department has taken steps for setting up of Integrated Infrastructure Complexes (IIC) in 10 Districts. These Complexes will be developed as National Level Centre of Excellence, he added.
He said the Department has made available 11 of its Citizen Centric Services through online in the Portal ssepd.gov.in.
It was highlighted during the briefing that the number of beneficiaries under MBPY have been increased from 23.13 lakh to 28.37 lakh in the last four years. The process of application has also been simplified and made more transparent.
For the Empowerment of persons with Disabilities, two World-class centres of SIEP (Manodaya) have been set up in Bhubaneswar and Sundargarh districts. Other eight such centres are in progress.
Similarly, four Rehabilitation centres with CAD CAM facilities and DDRCs are functional at Bhubaneswar, Sundargarh, Angul and Keonjhar. One Biju Mahavir Jaipur Foot Centre has been established in the Khordha district to provide Artificial Limbs to PwDs.
Out of 10 Shradhalaya (IIC) in 6 districts i.e., Cuttack, Ganjam, Khurda, Kandhamal, Sambalpur and Puri have been completed and 5 are made operational. Each Shradhalaya (IIC) will accommodate three special schools and one Old Age Home with Residential support, Health Care and Therapeutic services for PwDs and Senior Citizens. Also, there will be provision for Free Education, Vocational Training, Music School, Sports and other activities for Students with Disabilities.
As many as 103 Special Schools for Students with Disabilities, 83 Old Age Homes, 24 Rehabilitation centres for Beggars, 3 Rehabilitation centres for Transgender persons and 73 centres for Mentally ill persons are running in the States, Sri Panda said.
Under Bhima Bhoi Bhinnakhyama Samarthya Abhiyan (BBSA) scheme, 1440 Camps have been conducted and 256218 PwDs have been provided different services during the last 4 years.
Odisha has also progressed well in the generation of Unique Disability ID Cards (UDID) The State is now among the States that are in the “ surging ahead” category with more than 6.00 lakhs cards generated, Minister Panda said.
Sushil Kumar Lohani, Principal Secretary, SSEPD Department was present in the briefing while Bratati Harichandan, Director along with other senior officers were present.
