Finance
The Odisha government recently implemented thorough new guidelines to improve the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS). The NFBS is a welfare program that provides a one-time compensation of ₹20,000 to below-poverty-line households after the death of the primary wage worker. Lots of applications have recently been lying around unresolved, therefore the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) decided to change how people apply and how those applications are checked online. According to the midia, district collectors now have clear directions to expedite the verification and processing of these petitions, as mandated under the Odisha Right to Public Services Act (ORTPSA), 2012.
To apply online through the official SSEPD portal, applicants must upload five specific documents: a death certificate, an income certificate indicating the family earns ₹1 lakh or less per year, an age proof or Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC), their Aadhaar card, bank account details linked to Aadhaar, and the first page of their bank passbook.
In rural areas, Block Social Security Officers (BSSOs) now have 15 days to verify things on the ground and examine documents. If something is inaccurate or missing, the BSSO must contact the applicant and assist in resolving the issue, all within 15 days. On the 16th day, whether everything’s sorted or not, they need to forward the application to the Block Development Officer (BDO), who then has until the 20th day to approve or reject the claim.
In urban regions, Municipal Commissioners or Executive Officers oversee the entire process—verification, corrections, and final decision—within 20 days. Once the claim has been approved, the payment must be processed within seven days. The agency made it plain that if anyone misses these dates or violates the guidelines, they will face immediate disciplinary action under the ORTPSA Act of 2012.
