Transgender people in Odisha will be given pension under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY), announced Ashok Panda, Minister of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), Odisha
Under the scheme, a trans person will be eligible for monthly pension between Rs 500-Rs900. They will have to apply on the on the website or via application forms. According to the minister, around 6000 transgender people in Odisha stand to benefit from the scheme. He further informed that an additional financial assistance of Rs 1000 will be provided to the MBPY beneficiaries.
The Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) was introduced by the Odisha government in 2008 to provide assistance to destitute elderly, destitute disabled persons and widows.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJP) in its 2019 election manifesto had promised to include transgender community in the MBPY scheme. “Now, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved a proposal in this regard,” said Panda.