Former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.
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Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Friday (June 19, 2026) urged the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to immediately arrange for the disbursement of all pending pensions directly into the hands of nearly 18 lakh beneficiaries who have not received their pensions for a prolonged period.
“Pensioners comprising the most vulnerable sections of our society such s elderly citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities, most of whom depend entirely on this pension for their daily survival, have not got their dues,” said Mr. Patnaik in a letter addressed to Odisha CM.
He pointed out, “The denial of this vital support for three consecutive months has exposed our most vulnerable citizens to severe distress, deprivation, and even the risk of starvation. There are reports that Sabitri Dora of Beguniapada, Ganjam lost her life after being deprived of her pension benefits. Such a situation is unacceptable in a State committed to protecting its weakest citizens.”
“What is even more shocking is that this prolonged delay has reportedly occurred due to a software-related issue. This reflects grave negligence and an abdication of the government’s basic responsibility. Peoples’ rights cannot be left at the mercy of technological failures,” Mr. Patnaik charged.
“It is important to recall that for the past 24 years, my government ensured that pensions were distributed regularly on the 15th of every month, observed as ‘Jan Seva Diwas.’ Beneficiaries received their pensions at the Gram Panchayat level in a transparent and humane manner. In cases where pensioners were unable to attend, officials ensured that the pension amount was delivered directly to their homes,” the former CM noted.
“This citizen-centric model earned widespread appreciation and was even commended by the Supreme Court. We consistently resisted pressure to shift entirely to the bank-based pension disbursement system because our model ensured timely delivery, personal accountability, and dignity for beneficiaries,” said the veteran leader.
Stating that the stoppage of pensions for three months was not merely a procedural lapse, but represented a serious failure of governance, Mr. Patnaik urged Mr. Majhi to to immediately release all pending pension payments through manual disbursement and ensure that such a situation never recurs.
Published – June 20, 2026 12:30 am IST
