BJD Credits Naveen Patnaik For 12-Fold Expansion Of Social Security Pension Coverage In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has credited former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for laying the foundation of Odisha’s social security pension system, claiming that the number of beneficiaries increased nearly 12-fold during the party’s 24-year rule.

In a press statement, BJD media coordinator Dr Lenin Mohanty said pension coverage grew from 3.53 lakh beneficiaries in 2000 to around 36 lakh by 2024.

He highlighted the launch of the Madhubabu Pension Yojana on January 1, 2008, which extended financial assistance to senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Mohanty also cited welfare initiatives such as Mission Shakti, Mamata, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana and the State Food Security Scheme as key components of the previous government’s social security framework.

Criticising the BJP government, he claimed that only around five lakh beneficiaries had been added in nearly 30 months in power. He also alleged that the ruling party was politicising welfare schemes ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections.

The BJD maintained that the expansion of pension coverage and the state’s social security framework were significant achievements of the Naveen Patnaik government.