By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 18, 2016 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said some three lakh new beneficiaries under various pension schemes of the government would be identified and brought under the schemes.

Addressing the district collectors during the second day of the two-day Collectors’ Conference being held at the Secretariat today, Patnaik said that the State Government has already covered four million old, destitute, widows and disabled persons under several pension schemes.

Patnaik also felicitated Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur and Khurda collectors for implementing several best practices in their districts.

While Mayurbhanj bagged the top position for its work on food processing and won a cash award of Rs 20 lakh, Nabarangpur came second for its work on eradication of superstition and was awarded Rs 15 lakh. Khurda secured the third position for its work on eye care and won an award of Rs 10 lakh.

The Chief Minister further announced several cash rewards for districts that have successfully implemented government welfare schemes.

“The best district in the disbursement of incentives for rural pucca houses would receive a cash award of Rs 1 crore. One best model gram panchayat selected in each of the 30 districts would receive a cash award of Rs 50 lakh. The best district in the coverage of BPL households in rural electrification would receive a cash award of Rs 1 crore,” said Patnaik.

He also announced that the best district for overall tribal welfare would receive a cash award of Rs 1 crore. Besides, Rs one crore award will be given to each of the best district in implementation of construction workers’ welfare package, skill development in employment generation, and credit linkage to women self–help groups (SHGs), he added.