Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered for release of winter assistance to the beneficiaries of pension schemes under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana and National Pension Yojana by 1st December.
Each beneficiary will be given an assistance of Rs 300 as winter aid to purchase blankets. About 48 lakh beneficiaries will benefit from the decision. The money will be transferred directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. The government of Odisha will spend Rs 146 crore for this.
Chairing a review meeting with regard to the cold wave situation in the state, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said that not a single person should be left in the out or suffer due to winter.
The Meteorological Department has predicted that temperatures will dip in the coming days with a significant decrease in the temperature in interior areas like Koraput and Kandhamal.
In view of the onset of winter, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of keeping the poor especially the senior citizens safe.
The Chief Minister directed to pay special attention to ensure that no one is left helpless in the open during winter. For this, the Chief Minister advised Panchayati Raj Department, Urban Development Department, District Collector and Municipal authorities to take immediate action.
It is worth mentioning that, the Government of Odisha has been providing summer and winter assistance to the pension beneficiaries every alternate year.
According to a release, as of now 855 shelters have been opened in the state. It was also decided that panchayat offices and school houses will be used as night shelters where ever necessary.
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