Bhubaneswar: In a relief for over 17.6 lakh vulnerable citizens, the Odisha government has credited two months’ social security pensions for April and May directly into their bank accounts, with June disbursements also underway.
Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister Nityananda Gond informed that pensions have been released to 17,60,435 beneficiaries, including elderly persons, widows, and persons with disabilities. He said that nearly 91.5% of total beneficiaries have already received the two months’ pension in their accounts, while the remainder are expected to be processed after completing necessary banking and technical formalities.
The process of disbursing pension assistance for June has begun and steps are being taken to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries receive the funds within the stipulated timeframe, he added.
The disbursals mark the end of a prolonged period of financial hardship for many impoverished families who depend on these stipends, typically around Rs 1,000 per month, for essentials like food and medicine. The delays, which stretched for three months, were primarily attributed to technical glitches and software issues in the central processing portal, including challenges linked to systems like SPARSH.
Political Storm Over Delays
The pension crisis ignited a sharp political slugfest in the state. Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly criticised the BJP-led government, describing the non-disbursal as a “serious failure of governance” and “grave negligence.” He highlighted that under his previous administration, pensions were reliably disbursed by the 15th of each month—often observed as ‘Jan Seva Diwas’ with doorstep delivery for those in need.
Naveen urged immediate manual disbursal until technical issues were resolved and pointed to reports of extreme distress, including the alleged suicide of a 66-year-old widow in Ganjam’s Beguniapada block due to acute poverty exacerbated by the delays.
BJD leaders also threatened statewide agitation, accusing the government of disrupting a well-functioning system. Congress and other voices echoed calls for accountability, questioning over-reliance on digital platforms and urging direct intervention by district collectors.
