Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards strengthening the welfare ecosystem in Odisha, the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department held a comprehensive review meeting on Wednesday, chaired by School and Mass Education, Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Development Minister Nityananda Gond. Senior officials, including SSEPD Director Niyati Pattnaik, Financial Advisor-cum-Special Secretary Jayashree Tripathy, Additional Secretary Sonia Behera, Bhaskar Raito, and other senior officers and staff of the department attended the meeting. The minister took stock of various welfare schemes and programmes being implemented by the department, particularly reviewing the status of social security pensions, ongoing projects, legal matters, and administrative processes. He stressed the need for regular monitoring and timely disposal of welfare initiatives to ensure that benefits reach the intended beneficiaries without delay. In a welcome development, Minister Gond announced the sanctioning of social security pensions for an additional 83,135 beneficiaries across the state. With this, the total number of pension recipients has risen to nearly 5 lakh. Beneficiaries will now receive an enhanced pension amount of ₹3,500 per month, providing crucial support to the elderly, persons with disabilities (PwDs), and other vulnerable groups. The minister directed officials to address administrative and policy-level challenges promptly, enabling smoother access to welfare schemes. He also emphasized completing infrastructure projects within stipulated timelines and ensuring regular visits to special schools, old age homes, and other welfare institutions under the department’s purview. While reviewing the financial status of the department, Minister Gond called for 100 per cent utilisation of the allocated budget, underscoring the importance of timely and efficient implementation of welfare programs for the elderly, PwDs, and other marginalized sections. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks from SSEPD Director Niyati Pattnaik, who appreciated the minister’s guidance and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to inclusive welfare delivery in the state.
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