In an attempt to woo the voters ahead of the election to urban local bodies (UlBs) in the State, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has now extended the Government’s umbrella scheme to the urban areas.
"Pension holders under different welfare measures like the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana as well as national pension holders living in the urban areas will also be given assistance of Rs 100 to purchase umbrella to tide over summer and rainy seasons," an official said.
More than three lakh needy persons would be benefited from the initiative, the official said, adding that the Chief Minister having asked district Collectors to disburse the assistance money to the beneficiaries by June 15.
The umbrella scheme will now cover differently-abled, widows, destitute and elderly persons in the urban areas.
The total number of beneficiaries to get the umbrella assistance has now reached nearly 36 lakh. The Government had on May 21 announced a onetime assistance to the tune of Rs 100 for the pension holders of the rural areas for buying umbrellas.