Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the full saturation of the Madhubabu Pension Yojana (MBPY), introducing over 5 lakh new beneficiaries into the fold and scrapping the previous quota system.
Speaking at the launch event held at the Reserve Police Line Grounds in Baleshwar, the Chief Minister declared that no eligible elderly, differently-abled, or destitute person in the state will be left without financial support.
Key Highlights of the Announcement
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5 Lakh New Beneficiaries: With the addition of 5,05,817 new beneficiaries, the total number of MBPY beneficiaries in Odisha has reached 41,80,825, bringing the scheme to 100% saturation.
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End of the Quota System: The Chief Minister criticised the previous administration’s restrictive quota policy, where eligible individuals had to wait for an existing beneficiary to pass away to receive aid. This system has been completely abolished.
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Annual Financial Commitment: The expanded coverage will entail an additional expenditure of Rs 625 crore annually. Chief Minister Majhi emphasised that spending Rs 500–600 crore to secure the dignity of senior citizens is a meaningful investment for the government.
Launch of the UPMP Portal & Streamlined Process
To make the pension disbursement smooth, transparent, and hassle-free, Chief Minister Majhi unveiled the Unified Pension Management Portal (UPMP).
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Online Applications: Applicants can register directly through the UPMP portal, at nearby Common Service Centres (CSCs), or at Block Development Officer (BDO) offices.
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Automatic Upgrades: Beneficiaries reaching 80 years of age will automatically receive the enhanced monthly pension of Rs 3,500 without needing to reapply.
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Disbursement Schedule:
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Oct & Nov Combined Allowance: New beneficiaries will receive two months’ allowance upfront.
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Event Distribution: Program distribution camps will take place at the district level (Nov 11–12) and block level (Nov 13–14).
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Cash Payouts: Those missing the events can collect cash at their local Panchayat or Municipality offices on November 25.
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Regular Schedule: Direct monthly disbursements will occur on the 15th of every month starting December.
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Additional Infrastructure & Development Boost
Beyond social security, the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 70 development projects in Balasore worth approximately Rs 340 crore:
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28 completed projects inaugurated (worth Rs 78 crore).
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42 new projects laid foundations (worth Rs 262 crore).
The Chief Minister also flagged off the Madhubabu Pension Yojana Awareness Chariot (Ratha), designed by the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department to spread scheme awareness across rural and urban areas.
Key Quotes & Dignitaries Present
“Today is a historic day for Odisha. The era of waiting for your rights is over; the era of respecting your rights has begun. Under our government, every eligible individual will get their pension promptly.” — Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha
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Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida noted that women are transitioning from mere scheme beneficiaries to active entrepreneurs (SMEs), backed by a welfare-oriented government.
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Minister for SSEPD Nityananda Gond highlighted that pension is not just financial aid, but a symbol of human dignity and social protection.
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Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi welcomed the historic initiative and thanked the administration for directly handing over pensions to beneficiaries on the ground.
The event was attended by several state ministers, including Dr Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, Suryabanshi Suraj, Pradeep Bal Samanta, and Ganesh Ram Singkhuntia, along with local MLAs, SSEPD Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr Brunda D., and Balasore Collector Suryawanshi Mayur Vikas.
