Odisha Govt Hikes Welfare Benefit To Rs 3,500 For Beneficiaries Under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana

To enhance social welfare, the Odisha government has announced an increase in the monthly social security pension for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY).

Effective January 2025, beneficiaries will receive Rs. 3,500 per month, a substantial rise from the previous emolument of Rs. 1,500. The increase applies to recipients under MBPY and the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP). The state has allocated Rs 7,600 crore to support these enhanced pension schemes. This scheme offers some monthly pension as financial support to provide a certain degree of financial security to the beneficiaries.

What is Madhu Babu Pension Yojana

MBPY is a social security initiative launched by the government of Odisha in 2008. It was introduced to provide financial support to vulnerable sections of the society. The scheme merges two older pension programs: the Revised Old Age Pension Rules and the Disability Pension Rules.

Eligibility: To avail of benefits under MBPY, applicants must be permanent residents of Odisha, have a disability, be widows and unmarried women above 30 years from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, or be transgender individuals with BPL status, and not receive any other government pension.

The benefits include monthly financial assistance to support basic living expenses. It also includes social inclusion of elderly along with disabled, and marginalised individuals. This scheme advocates for financial independence of vulnerable groups.

Targeted Beneficiaries: This pension hike is designed to specifically benefit senior citizens aged 80 years and above. The Individuals with disabilities exceeding 80 per cent are also qualified as a beneficiary under MBPY.

Other Government Welfare Initiatives

Beyond the pension enhancement, the Odisha government has also introduced several other welfare measures:

Jashoda Scheme: The scheme has an allocation of Rs. 83 crore. This initiative aims to offer financial assistance to orphaned children.

Support for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs): An amount of Rs 302 crore is dedicated to the welfare of PwDs. It also includes an amount of Rs. 10 crore to improve accessibility in government buildings and infrastructure.

Solar Energy Subsidy: The government of Odisha offers a subsidy of Rs 25,000 to residents under this scheme. The Centre also provides a subsidy of Rs 30,000. This combined amount of subsidy helps in the installation of 1-kilowatt rooftop solar panels. The initiative promotes renewable energy adoption among residents.

Mukhyamantri Krushi Udyog Yojana (MKUY): The state government has allocated Rs. 847.14 crore under this scheme to support agricultural entrepreneurs by generating employment opportunities in the sector.