Pension Arrears Leave Vulnerable Beneficiaries in Khordha in Distress ;

Elderly people, widows and persons with disabilities await payments; beneficiaries seek government intervention.

Dillip Kumar Pattnaik

KHORDHA, OCTOBER 1: Hundreds of pension beneficiaries in Khordha district are facing mounting financial difficulties as payments under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme and the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana have reportedly remained pending for months. Beneficiaries receiving their pensions through bank accounts said they had not received their monthly assistance since August, leaving elderly people, widows and persons with disabilities struggling to meet their essential expenses.

The delay has caused considerable hardship among economically vulnerable households, where monthly pension payments often constitute a crucial source of income. For many beneficiaries, the money is essential to purchase medicines, meet food expenses and manage other basic necessities. The continued uncertainty over the release of their dues has added to their distress.
Beneficiaries said pension payments were earlier disbursed on the 15th of every month, providing them with a predictable source of financial assistance. However, they claimed that changes in the disbursement mechanism following the change of government in Odisha had been accompanied by irregularities, particularly for those receiving payments through bank transfers.
According to the beneficiaries, the absence of a fixed schedule for crediting pension amounts has made it difficult for them to manage their household expenses. Those dependent on regular medication and other essential services are among the worst affected by the delay.
The latest disruption has also brought back memories of a similar interruption earlier this year, when pension disbursement was reportedly affected for more than three months during the implementation of a new software system. The delay had triggered resentment among beneficiaries across the State, with many elderly people facing difficulties in meeting their daily expenses.
Following criticism over the disruption, the government reportedly released pension payments for two months ahead of the Raja festival. However, beneficiaries in Khordha allege that the disbursement system has continued to face problems, with payments through bank accounts remaining irregular.
The recurring delays have raised concerns over the timely delivery of social security benefits to the State’s most vulnerable sections. For beneficiaries without any regular source of income, even a brief interruption in pension payments can have serious consequences, particularly when the assistance is needed to meet healthcare costs and other unavoidable expenditure.
Several pensioners said they had approached the Khordha Panchayat Samiti and the Khordha Municipality office to enquire about their pending payments. However, they alleged that they had not received any clear explanation regarding the reasons for the delay or the likely date of disbursement.
Some officials, according to the beneficiaries, expressed their inability to resolve the matter at their level and indicated that the issue was being dealt with by higher authorities. The lack of a definite response has left pensioners uncertain about when their outstanding dues will be credited.
The situation has also brought the monitoring of pension disbursement under scrutiny, with beneficiaries seeking greater accountability and a reliable mechanism to ensure timely payments. They have urged the authorities to clarify whether the delay is related to administrative procedures, technical issues or other factors affecting the transfer of funds.
An attempt was made to contact the Khordha District Social Security Officer over the telephone to ascertain the department’s position on the matter. However, the officer could not be reached for comment.
Pension assistance under the two schemes serves as an important social security measure for elderly people, widows and persons with disabilities who have limited financial resources. Timely disbursement is particularly significant for those who depend on these payments to meet recurring expenses, including medicines, food and other basic requirements.
The beneficiaries have urged the State Government and the district administration to intervene, identify the reasons behind the delay and ensure the immediate release of all outstanding pension payments. They have also sought steps to streamline the disbursement process and establish a dependable monthly payment schedule.
With many beneficiaries dependent on pension assistance for their daily survival, the timely release of dues has emerged as an urgent concern in Khordha. The pensioners hope that the authorities will address the disruption at the earliest and ensure that such delays do not recur.