Tapan Chand

AsOdisha strives toward its vision of Viksit Odisha@2036 and Samrudh Odisha@2047, true progress must be measured not just by economic and infrastructural growth, but by the dignity and well-being of its most vulnerable citizens. The elderly, widows, persons with disabilities, destitute women, HIV and leprosy patients, and economically disadvantaged groups deserve dedicated care, compassion, and social protection.

Reaching out to vulnerable citizens demonstrates a commitment to ‘Antyodaya,’ the upliftment of the last person in the queue.Fulfilling its promise, the BJP government in Odisha revitalised the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) in January 2025 by raising the pension to Rs 3,500 for beneficiaries aged 80+ and persons with 80 per cent+ disabilities, and has continued enriching the scheme since.

Significant changes are: (i) abolishing the district-wise quota systemand allowing eligibility to the aged persons on attending 60years and withoutany waiting on principle of saturation. (ii) time-bound grant of pension in nextmonth to the month of application. (iii) retrospective payment from the monthof Oct 2026 (iv) automatic grant of enhanced pension on attending age of 80 (v)eligible person to apply in BDO office or online (http://upmp.odisha.gov.in/)(vi) DBT transfer to bank account of the beneficiaries.

By removing the district-wise quota system, the rejuvenated Madhu Babu Pension Yojana has delighted 5,05,817long-waiting beneficiaries by granting them old-age pensions at once.Named after Odisha’s champion of social justice, Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, the scheme upholds a core principle: poverty, disability, old age, or social circumstances should never deprive anyone of the right to live with dignity.

The present pension structure provides: Rs 1,000 per month for eligible beneficiaries in the general pension categories; Rs 3,500 per month for beneficiaries aged 80 years and above; Rs 3,500 per month for persons with disabilities of 80 per cent or more.This differentiated financial support prioritises the most vulnerable, fostering their confidence, dignity, and social inclusion.In Odisha, the programme serves over 60 lakh beneficiaries—comprising roughly 42 lakh under MBPY and more than 19 lakh under NSAP —backed by a budget that more than doubled from Rs 2,501 crore to Rs 5,837 crore in 2023–24.

This increase demonstrates the government’s commitment to strengthening social security. Rather than viewing social security merely as an expense, it should be recognised as a vital investment in human dignity, social stability, and inclusive growth. However, the success of any welfare scheme depends not just on budget allocation, but on efficient and transparent delivery. To achieve this, the government must ensure eligible beneficiaries receive their pensions regularly and without bureaucratic hurdles. Integrating digital identification, rigorous verification, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), and transparent records will help minimise duplication, eliminate leakages, and strengthen accountability. Special attention is needed for elderly beneficiaries and persons with severe disabilities who struggle to visit offices or banks. Doorstep assistance, grievance redressal, and regular record verification can strengthen the scheme.