Bhubaneswar: The State government has decided to provide social security pension to beneficiaries of Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) in cash, some also at their doorsteps. Earlier, since its launch, the pension was facilitated over DBT.
Secretary of the State Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) department, Bhaskar Sarma, has written to the District Collectors, in which he stated that many old and disabled beneficiaries were facing difficulties in withdrawing or collecting cash from their accounts.
“Some beneficiaries have also not received pension in time due to technical glitch in the portal,” Sarma’s letter stated, adding that from June onwards all payments will be made in cash.
Sarma’s letter follows reports from different parts of Odisha about the struggles the elderly face while receiving their monthly aid.
From the 15th of every month, most beneficiaries can now collect the cash from multiple camps set up in each panchayat area. For the elderly and those with disabilities, officials will deliver it at their doorsteps. District Collectors have been asked to involve members of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the disbursement of the pension under MBPY, the letter further read.
The MBPY scheme was launched in line with the Centre’s National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which covers around 20 lakh persons in the state.
