Bhubaneswar, Jun 22: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi approved a 40 per cent increase in financial assistance provided to advocates in cases of retirement or death.

The enhanced benefit will support thousands of lawyers practising across courts in Odisha. The assistance amount was last revised in 2021.

Under the revised structure, in the event of the death of a lawyer with up to five years of practice, the nearest family member will receive Rs 1.05 lakh. The assistance amount will increase with each additional year of professional experience.

For advocates with 30 years of practice, the maximum benefit has been fixed at Rs 6.30 lakh, payable either to the advocate upon retirement or to the next of kin in case of death.

Also Read: President Murmu, PM Modi Unveil Development Projects Worth Over 47,000 Crore In Odisha

17.60 Lakh Beneficiaries Receive Pension
Meanwhile, the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department (SSEPD) said 17,60,435 beneficiaries have received pension payments under various social security schemes.

The department stated that out of 19,22,525 beneficiaries whose pension payments were pending, around 91.5 per cent have now received their dues.

Pension Backlog Cleared for Two Months
The government released pension payments along with arrears for April and May 2026, while the process of disbursing pensions for June 2026 is currently underway.

New Central Payment System Introduced
According to the department, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has decided to implement the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) through the SNA-SPARSH platform from the 2026-27 financial year.

Following the completion of technical integration between the NSAP portal, the state's Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS), the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) system, direct transactions under the new arrangement have commenced.