Patnaik Urges CM Majhi: Release Pensions Now
Bhubaneswar, June 19: Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to immediately release pending pensions for nearly 18 lakh beneficiaries across Odisha.
In a letter to the CM, Patnaik highlighted that elderly citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities have been deprived of their entitlements for the past three months due to a software glitch.
Patnaik described the delay as a grave governance failure, citing reports of distress and even starvation among vulnerable groups.
He referred to a tragic case in Ganjam district where a woman allegedly died after being denied pension benefits.
The former CM reminded that during his tenure, pensions were disbursed regularly through the “Jan Seva Diwas” model at the Gram Panchayat level, which was praised by the Supreme Court for its transparency.
He demanded immediate manual disbursement of pensions until the technical issue is resolved, accountability for the lapse, and assurances that such delays will not recur.
