Old age pension for BPL families above 65 age: Sahu

Rourkela, Oct 6 (UNI) BPL families above the age group of 65 years would be provided with old age pension from November, Union Rural Development Minister Chandra Sekhar Sahu said here today.

Addressing the partymen at Congress Bhawan here, Mr Sahu said one of each BPL family member would also be included in the Health Insurance scheme of the Centre.

The Union Minister said the UPA government was committed to the development of both urban as well as rural areas, for which projects like National Road Development and RGRY were taken up by the Centre and implemented by the Orissa government.

He claimed the Centre had provided grant under various schemes to 24 districts in the state till date and the remaining six districts would be included in March 2008.

Mr Sahu said a review meeting would be held within a couple of months to monitor proper utilisation of Central fund in the state and he would be associated with the monitoring of the projects.

On the allegations of misutilisation and misappropriation of Rs 500 crore in the NREG scheme in KBK districts, the Union Minister said the matter was being examined by CAG, adding that the report was expected by the end of April 2008.

UNI