- Odisha’s Madhu Babu Pension Yojana pension amount has been raised significantly for senior citizens and differently-abled persons.
- Increase in forged voter ID cards with changed age details is threatening the scheme’s fairness and pension payments.
- The government is strengthening verification processes, focusing on well-known age proof documents like birth certificates and Aadhaar cards.
Odisha’s Madhu Babu Pension Yojana recently saw a big increase in pension amounts to support at-risk senior citizens and persons with disabilities. But this good change has also brought some problems, especially because forged voter ID cards are being used to change age details and claim benefits unfairly. This article looks at who can get the pension and its benefits, the problems caused by fake voter IDs, and what the government is doing to keep the scheme fair.
Who Can Get Benefits and What They Are
The Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) gives financial help to elderly citizens and differently-abled people in Odisha. In January 2025, the state government raised the monthly pension for senior citizens aged 80 and above and for persons with 80% or more disability from Rs 1,200 to Rs 3,500. Also, the minimum social security pension was increased to Rs 1,000 to help more vulnerable people.
Also Read – Madhu Babu Pension Yojana
About 4.2 lakh beneficiaries are expected to get the higher pension amount, while the total number of beneficiaries under MBPY is around 36.75 lakh. This scheme plays a very important role in providing social security and improving the quality of life for many in Odisha.
Problems with Fake Voter IDs in Pension Applications
After the pension increase, officials from the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) department have seen a rise in applications with fake voter ID cards. These fake documents often have changed date of birth or age details, letting ineligible applicants claim higher pension amounts.
How Fake Voter IDs Affect Pension Payments
Voter ID cards, or Elector’s Photo Identity Cards (EPIC), are usually accepted as proof of age for government schemes. But they have become less trustworthy for the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana because they can be changed more easily than other documents. Changed age details on these cards let some applicants wrongly qualify for the pension increase, leading to misuse of government funds and hurting real beneficiaries.
Government Steps to Find and Stop Fraud
To fix this problem, the SSEPD department has warned district officials and collectors to carefully check the authenticity of voter ID cards submitted with pension applications. Secretary RS Gopalan has told officials to see if the date of birth or age on the voter ID has been recently changed, especially in newly issued cards. This checking process aims to find differences and stop fake claims.
Why Reliable Age Proof Documents Matter
Because of the problems with voter ID cards, the government stresses using more trustworthy age proof documents like birth certificates and Aadhaar cards for pension eligibility checks. These documents are harder to fake and give a more accurate record of an applicant’s age, helping keep the scheme fair and making sure benefits reach the right people.
| Scheme Name | Number of Beneficiaries | Pension Amount | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY) | 36.75 lakh | Rs 3,500 (for 80+ years & 80%+ disability), Minimum Rs 1,000 | Senior citizens 80 years and above, Differently-abled with 80% or more disability |
| National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) | 21 lakh | Changes | Social security pensioners |
For more details and official updates, you can visit the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department, Odisha.
By staying informed and submitting real documents, you can make sure you get smooth access to the benefits under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana. The government keeps working to protect the scheme and support those who really need it.