Nabarangpur, 24th July 2025: From the previous administration to the newly elected state government, the people have held high hopes. Yet, at the grassroots level — in districts and blocks — many eligible beneficiaries are left disheartened. The number of people awaiting pensions in the district continues to grow day by day.
The government provides pensions under the Madhu Babu Pension Yojana and Indira Gandhi National Pension Scheme to six categories of beneficiaries — including the differently-abled, widows, senior citizens, unmarried women, abandoned wives, and transgender persons. However, in backward and tribal-dominated districts like Nabarangpur, the implementation of such schemes remains ineffective. A lack of awareness means many rightful claimants are still being excluded.
Currently, 15,592 identified beneficiaries are receiving pensions in the district. But in the district’s 10 blocks and 96 urban local bodies, large numbers of applications remain pending. For instance:
- Nabarangpur Block: 490 deprived
- Nabarangpur Municipality: 190 deprived
- Umerkote Block: 300 deprived
- Umerkote Municipality: 88 deprived
- Tentulikhunti Block: 940 deprived
- Nandahandi Block: 100 deprived
- Kosagumuda Block: 1,200 deprived
- Papadahandi Block: 750 deprived
- Chandahandi Block: 200 deprived
- Jharigaon Block: 970 deprived
- Dabugaon Block: 450 deprived
- Raighar Block: 630 deprived
Despite submitting applications long ago, over 10,000 people are still waiting for their pensions. In Umerkote Block, for instance, Navita Rajganda (16), a differently-abled girl, has been waiting eight months, and Sandha Santa (65) for over a year. When inquiring at the block or municipality offices, they are often told that “there is no new target” — meaning that until a currently enrolled beneficiary passes away, no new inclusion will be made. In other words, one must wait for someone to die to receive a pension.
In a district where most families rely on schemes like pensions and subsidized rice due to low incomes, such delays are critical. These families also struggle with medical expenses and rising living costs.
Sujit Rath, secretary of a local organization working for the differently-abled for the past 12 years and district president of ‘Saksham’, expressed concern. He urged the government to extend the benefit of increased pensions, currently available to 80% of differently-abled and elderly beneficiaries above 80 years, to those under that age or percentage as well. He demanded that the annual target for new beneficiaries be increased.
He also expressed dissatisfaction that new eligible individuals are only included after a current beneficiary dies.
Given that Odisha’s Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister Nityananda Gond hails from Nabarangpur district, locals hope the issue will be treated with urgency and appropriate action will be taken without delay.