Berhampur: A 97-year-old woman in Gajapati district has finally started receiving pension under Madhu Babu Pension Scheme (MBPS) following intervention of a block development officer (BDO), who facilitated completion of all requisite documentation within 20 days.Todingi Ramalakshmi, a resident of Golagam village under Tatiputi panchayat in Goshani block, received Rs 3,500 as monthly pension along with her Aadhaar card, bank passbook and pension passbook from Goshani BDO Goura Chandra Patnaik on Tuesday.Living with her daughter-in-law in a small house on the outskirts of the village, Ramalakshmi was unaware of her entitlement under the social security scheme until the BDO informed her during a visit to the area. “I felt guilty that a 97-year-old woman in our block, despite being eligible, was not receiving pension benefits. Handing over the pension to her within such a short period has given me a sense of satisfaction,” Patnaik said.The BDO said he came across Ramalakshmi while touring the area and found that she possessed only a voter’s identity card and lacked essential documents such as an Aadhaar card and a bank account, which prevented her from availing the pension benefit.To resolve the issue, he constituted a team comprising two panchayat executive officers and an Aadhaar operator to assist her. Despite concerns over capturing biometrics at her age, the team successfully completed her Aadhaar enrolment at Paralakhemundi. A bank account was also opened for her subsequently.The BDO then directed the concerned panchayat executive officer to apply for her pension under MBPS. The application was forwarded to the district administration, and Paralakhemundi sub-collector Anup Panda sanctioned a monthly pension of ₹1,000.Subsequently, a revised application was submitted seeking the enhanced pension of Rs 3,500 applicable to beneficiaries above 80 years of age, which was also approved promptly, officials said.“All formalities, from Aadhaar enrolment to pension sanction, were completed within 20 days, enabling her to receive the benefit from the current month,” the BDO added.
