Pension schemes for 5.4 lakh more people in state

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday announced the state government’s decision to include more people in the social security programmes like Madhu Babu pension scheme and artists’ pension scheme.
He said it has been decided to give Madhu Babu pension to additional five lakh people and 40,000 artists will get fresh pension from December 15, 2018.
Patnaik announced this while reviewing the state’s newly launched “Peoples Empowerment, Enabling, Transparency and Accountability’’ or PEETHA programme.
The new programme aims to improve transparency in the distribution of individual and social benefits. Stating that the government’s aim is to cover all the beneficiaries under the social security programme, Patnaik said 43 lakh people are availing Madhu Babu pension at the rate of `300 to `500 per month.
The artist pension scheme provides `1,200 per month. The chief minister said the district collectors have been instructed to distribute pensions to beneficiaries between 15th and 20th of every month. He said special camps will be conducted to distribute pensions to 48 lakh beneficiaries under Madhu Babu pension scheme.
Patnaik also asked the officials to create awareness among the people on the social security schemes meant for them.