Activists demand safeguards for the vulnerable in Odisha
Activists demand safeguards for vulnerable pension beneficiaries in Odisha after a widow’s death
- The campaign said social security pensions were stopped for beneficiaries from April to June and argued that the disruption affected large numbers of pensioners.
- The Odisha government said technical glitches and software issues caused the pension disruption.
- The fact-finding team visited Chadiapada village and examined the case of B. Sabitri Dora.
What happened in Odisha
Activists in Odisha have demanded a stronger protection mechanism for vulnerable people after a 67-year-old widow in Ganjam district allegedly died by suicide following stoppage of her government pension. A fact-finding team visited Chadiapada village and examined the case of B. Sabitri Dora, who had not received her pension for three months.
The Odisha Right to Food Campaign said social security pensions were stopped for beneficiaries from April to June, affecting about 20 lakh pensioners. The state government blamed technical glitches and software issues.
Relevant for GS2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections; governance and grievance redress mechanisms, GS2: Role of state governments in delivering social security and public services, GS3: Public distribution system and social protection delivery systems. Activists in Odisha have alleged that stoppage of a widow pension contributed to the suicide of a 67-year-old woman in Ganjam district. The case has renewed scrutiny of social security delivery, technical breakdowns in pension systems, and the absence of backup mechanisms for vulnerable beneficiaries.
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