Ganjam district has received the lion’s share in the inclusion of new beneficiaries under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana. As many as 59,031 newly eligible beneficiaries from the district have been included in the scheme at one go, bringing an end to their prolonged wait. Ganjam accounts for nearly 11 per cent of the total newly included beneficiaries in the state.
This was stated by Commerce and Transport, Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena during the district-level programme organised on the launch of the Unified Pension Management Portal (UPMP) and the saturation of the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana. The initiative aims to make the social security pension system simpler, more transparent and faster, ensuring timely disbursement of pensions to all eligible persons.
Addressing the gathering as Chief Guest at the programme held at the Rushikulya Conference Hall, Chhatrapur, Minister Jena said that the day was a happy and historic occasion for Ganjam district. Eligible persons would no longer have to wait for months or years to receive social security pensions. Earlier, due to the fixed quota system, many eligible persons were deprived of pensions and had to remain on the waiting list. That system has now come to an end. The new portal would simplify the application, verification and approval processes and ensure timely pension payments to eligible beneficiaries. He described it as a significant step towards advancing the vision of Digital India of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. He said that the Government of the People believes not merely in announcements but in implementation.
A total of 5,05,817 additional eligible persons have been included in the scheme across the state, taking the total number of beneficiaries to 41,80,825. The State Government will incur an additional annual expenditure of approximately Rs. 625 crore for the newly included beneficiaries. With 59,031 new beneficiaries added in Ganjam, the total number of pension beneficiaries in the district has reached approximately 3.72 lakh, the Minister informed.
Minister Jena further stated that there had been reports regarding non-disbursement of pensions to beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme. However, the fact was that nearly 19 lakh beneficiaries across the state had already received their pensions by September. The Government has decided that pension amounts will be disbursed through a combination of cash and coupons: Rs. 800 in cash and a coupon worth Rs. 200, and Rs. 3,000 in cash along with a coupon worth Rs. 500. Under this arrangement, the State Government contributes Rs. 800 and Rs. 3,000 respectively, while the Central Government contributes Rs. 200 and Rs. 500 respectively. This system has been implemented from November. The Government is committed to ensuring transparency and regularity in pension disbursement so that no eligible beneficiary is left out.
The Minister also appreciated the cooperation of the people of Ganjam and the tireless efforts of the district administration, including the Collector, in managing the recent floods and carrying out restoration work. He said that the Government was committed to extending assistance to all affected people in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts. As farmers had suffered extensive losses due to the floods, the Government was determined to address their problems.
District Planning Board Chairman and Khallikote MLA Purnachandra Sethi said that more than five lakh new beneficiaries had been included across all 30 districts of the state, while nearly 60,000 people in Ganjam would receive pensions at one go. He said that the Government had always accorded priority to Ganjam district. The Government had extended all necessary assistance before the floods and promptly provided 50 kg of rice and Rs. 2,500 assistance to affected families after the floods, besides according priority to restoration work. He observed that Ganjam had managed to stand back on its feet within just 8 to 10 days after such a massive flood. He appreciated the cooperation of the State Government, district administration and people in this regard.
Aska MP Anita Subhadarshini said that ensuring the right of people to live with dignity and respect during their old age was the responsibility of a welfare-oriented government. Understanding people’s needs, the Government had taken important steps in this direction. Bringing smiles to people’s faces and fulfilling their needs were the objectives of both the Central and State Governments, she said.
Brahmapur MLA K. Anil Kumar said that earlier, pensions were provided to only 100 or 200 beneficiaries at a time. Under the new system, thousands of eligible persons could benefit simultaneously, marking a major transformation in the pension distribution system.
Chhatrapur MLA Krushna Chandra Nayak said that earlier, eligible persons had to wait for a long time to be included under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana. The new system would eliminate such delays. He said that the Government was committed to public welfare through schemes such as Subhadra, Shri Anna and Ayushman.
Ganjam Collector V. Keerthi Vasan said that it was a happy day for the entire district. The new portal would make the social security pension system simpler, more transparent and faster. Earlier, numerous pension-related grievances were received during the public grievance hearings held every Monday. He expressed hope that the new system would reduce such complaints and difficulties.
Through the new UPMP portal, eligible persons can apply using their mobile phones or computers. They can also submit applications through nearby Jana Seva Kendras and Block Development Officer (BDO) offices. Eligible persons who have attained the age of 60 years can now apply directly without waiting for a vacancy to arise. Regular pension payments will commence from the month following approval of the application.
Furthermore, beneficiaries attaining 80 years of age and persons with 80 per cent or more disability will not be required to apply again to receive the enhanced pension of Rs. 3,500. The increased amount will be automatically applicable through the portal. This will help prevent irregularities and misuse in pension disbursement while safeguarding the entitlements of eligible beneficiaries.
During the programme, the dignitaries distributed pension benefits to around 1,000 newly included beneficiaries from different parts of the district, including Chhatrapur, Rangeilunda Block and Berhampur Municipal Corporation.
The dignitaries also flagged off an awareness vehicle for the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana to spread information about the scheme among the public.
Additional Executive Officer of Ganjam Zilla Parishad Bijay Kumar Behera, District Social Security Officer Krushna Chandra Behera, departmental officers and hundreds of beneficiaries attended the programme.
