Bhubaneswar: The State department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) has now approved inclusion of widows of Covid-19 victims in its pension scheme.
The department has decided to amend the rules of the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) rules of 2008. The department has resolved to amend section 6 of the scheme rules which deal with the eligibility, criteria and categories of persons who are entitled to get pension under the state pension scheme.
According to the plan of the department, the widow of the deceased will be eligible for pensions only if the widow herself or anyone of the family members are not payers of income tax or government servants either working or retired.
The department has made the identification of such beneficiaries based on self declaration of the widows. The applications will be verified and authenticated by the local Tehsildar.
According to the government plan, the local District Social Security Officers (DSSOs) could be contacted for the same or the system for online applications could also be made available on the department website after a few months.
The department under MBPY is already giving monthly pensions to elderly people, differently abled, people living with HIV, transgenders and other vulnerable sections of the society. Many of the vulnerable sections of the society also get pensions from the Union government under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
The department in the last few years has also made the whole process of application and approval online with least involvement of physical visits to DSSO offices and the department office. The local district officials have also been asked to complete the process of online applications within one month.
PNN