The Odisha government has rolled back its decision to provide social security pension to beneficiaries of the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) through direct benefit transfer (DBT). All of them will now receive the assistance in cash, some even at their doorsteps.
Launched in 2008 by the Naveen Patnaik government to provide financial aid to the destitute, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, MBPY has more than 28 lakh beneficiaries. Nearly 15 lakh of these beneficiaries receive the amount in bank accounts through DBT, while the rest would get it in cash.
Secretary of the State Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) department, Bhaskar Sarma, has written to the District Collectors, saying many “old and disabled beneficiaries” were facing difficulties in withdrawing or collecting cash from their bank accounts.
“Some beneficiaries have also not received pension in time due to technical glitch in the portal,” Sarma’s letter stated, adding that June onwards all payments will be made in cash.
Under MBPY, eligible individuals, including widows, transgenders, persons with disabilities and the destitute aged between 60-79 years are provided Rs 500 per month, while those above 80 years get Rs 700 per month.
But with more than half of Odisha’s 6,798 gram panchayats without banks, residents have to cover long distances to reach the nearest branch to withdraw money.
Sarma’s letter follows reports from different parts of Odisha about the struggles the elderly face while receiving their monthly aid. In a recent viral video, a 70-year-old woman from Jharigaon village in Nabarangpur district was seen walking barefoot for several kilometres, with help from a broken chair, to collect her pension.
The video also caught the attention of Union Finance Minister Nirmala sitharaman.
According to Sarma’s letter, 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 MBPY scheme was launched in line with the Centre’s National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which covers around 20 lakh persons in the state.
