Pending Allowances / Odisha Elderly Plead for Pending Old-Age Allowances

Rayagada, Jul 21: Hundreds of elderly citizens and widows across Odisha have been left in distress after being deprived of their monthly pension allowances for the past few months.

The delay has forced many beneficiaries to repeatedly approach panchayat offices, banks, and district administrations, but they continue to return empty-handed.

Among them is an 80-year-old Tulabati Hial, who once relied on her monthly ₹1,200 pension to buy medicines and food. With payments halted for months, she now depends on others for survival.

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Similarly, 60-year-old widow Nila Karakara has been struggling to manage her daily needs without pension support. Jamuna Suna, another beneficiary, said she has been unable to afford food or medicines for five months, relying instead on odd jobs at a hotel to sustain herself.

The plight is widespread, with many elderly and widows voicing frustration over the prolonged delay.

“It has been four long months without receiving my pension money. I am facing great difficulty in moving around, I cannot buy medicines, and I cannot eat properly. Please give us our pension money,” pleads a beneficiary.

“We are tired of running from one office to another. Every time, officials say the money hasn’t arrived yet,” lamented another.

District Social Security Officer Elizabeth Garada acknowledged the issue, assuring that from next month all pending pensions will be disbursed together and future payments will be made on time.

What the Numbers Say?

According to official data, the district has 1,57,047 pension beneficiaries. Of these, 83,183 receive allowances in cash, while 73,864 get payments through banks.

However, 8,807 beneficiaries have not completed their e-KYC, which has contributed to delays. While 7,163 have recently updated their records, 1,644 are still pending.

Currently, 7,111 beneficiaries aged above 80 or with over 80 per cent disability receive ₹3,500 per month. Meanwhile, 8,497 new applicants are awaiting approval for pension benefits.

The delay has worsened hardships for the elderly, who often rely solely on these allowances for food, medicine, and daily expenses. Many have expressed that the repeated visits to government offices have become more painful than their financial struggles.