Elderly Woman's Struggle Highlights Pension Disbursement Issues in Odisha

A 70-year-old woman in Odisha's Keonjhar district, named Pathuri Dehury, was forced to crawl nearly two kilometres to her panchayat office to collect her old-age pension. This incident went viral, highlighting the inefficiency in the disbursement process despite government directives to deliver pensions to the doorsteps of elderly beneficiaries.

A heart-wrenching incident in Odisha's Keonjhar district has brought attention to the struggles faced by elderly citizens in accessing their pensions. Pathuri Dehury, a 70-year-old resident of Raisuan gram panchayat, was forced to crawl nearly two kilometres to the local panchayat office to collect her pension, despite her inability to walk.

The video of Dehury's arduous journey has gone viral, sparking outrage and highlighting discrepancies in the pension disbursement process. State government directives mandate that pensions for elderly and disabled beneficiaries should be delivered to their homes. However, an official had instructed Dehury to come to the office.

The local administration has since reacted swiftly, pledging to deliver the pension directly to Dehury's home each month and providing her with a wheelchair. Additionally, civil supply assistants will ensure she receives her rations at her doorstep.

(With inputs from agencies.)