By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 2, 2016 : Odisha on Saturday expanded its social security pension schemes adding three lakh more beneficiaries. Earlier it had covered 40 lakh people in the state.

The list of new beneficiaries would be ready by August 15, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said.

“My aim is to include all eligible beneficiaries in the social security network. I am keen to announce that the state government has decided to include three lakh more beneficiaries in the social security pension schemes,” Patnaik told reporters.

The government will spend Rs 115 crore to implement the new proposal.

Maintaining that old men and women, widows and physically challenged persons have the right to live with dignity in the society, the chief minister said that the state government has always given top priority to the social security of the poor people.