Odisha's Chief Minister Unveils Financial Aid for Panchayati Raj Representatives

Support for Elected Panchayat Officials

Bhubaneswar: On Thursday, Odisha's Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a new financial support scheme aimed at elected officials of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the state, designed to assist in cases of death or disability during their service.

As per the announcement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), all representatives within the panchayat system, ranging from ward members to zilla parishad presidents, will qualify for this assistance.

In the unfortunate event of death or the loss of both eyes, hands, or legs while in office, the government will provide an ex gratia payment of ₹2 lakh to the deceased's family.

For those who suffer the loss of one eye or one limb, a compensation of ₹1 lakh will be granted, according to the CMO.

These PRI representatives play a vital role in local governance, directly interacting with communities to meet their needs and foster rural development.

Acknowledging their essential contributions and the challenges they face, the Chief Minister has initiated this financial aid to protect both the representatives and their families from potential hardships.