By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi, MP from Berhampur, has sought the urgent intervention of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi regarding the extreme hardship faced by the beneficiaries of the Social Security Scheme, especially the Madhubabu Pension Scheme and National Old Age Allowance due to software problems and technical errors in the payment of old age allowance in the state and the widespread public discontent created over this. In this regard, he has sent a memorandum (letter number: MP/BAM/2026/O-1404) to the Chief Minister.
MP Dr. Panigrahi stated in his statement that during various programs of his constituency and during his visits to villages, thousands of helpless elderly people, widows and differently-abled persons have expressed their grief and anger over not receiving their allowance for the last three months. Local public representatives and the public have been repeatedly requesting the MP to draw the attention of the Chief Minister to resolve this problem immediately. In the letter, the MP has narrated two very touching and serious incidents: * Suicide of an old man due to non-receipt of allowance:* B. Savitri Dora, a 66-year-old helpless widow of Chadheyapada village, Beguniapada block, Ganjam district, was going through extreme financial hardship for the last three months without receiving her old age allowance. Finally, after running to the bank and panchayat offices in despair, he took extreme measures like suicide by consuming poison, which is very heartbreaking. In Ganjam district alone, more than 1.49 lakh beneficiaries are deprived of getting allowance due to this software problem.
* *Suo Motu Intervention of the Hon’ble Supreme Court:* Regarding such a problem, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has taken suo motu action regarding the very miserable condition of Jap Bhuye, a blind man from Subarnapur district, and his 80-year-old mother Radhika Bhuye and directed the Odisha government to provide all social security and basic amenities immediately. The Supreme Court has made it clear that the poor cannot be deprived of their right to life for any paper or technical reason. MP Dr. Panigrahi said that the helpless poor cannot be kept hungry for months in the name of digital or online software updates. In view of this critical situation, he has presented the following demands to the Chief Minister:
*Immediate distribution of allowances through manual method:* Until the new software or digital system is fully functional and error-free, urgent instructions should be issued to *distribute allowances through manual method (in cash)* in all blocks and panchayats through the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD).
*Clear instructions to all District Collectors:* All District Collectors of the state should be given full responsibility to personally monitor the process of distribution of allowances in their respective districts and ensure that no such unfortunate or tragic incident happens in the coming days.
*Investigation and compensation:* A high-level administrative review should be conducted into the death of B. Savitri Dora in Ganjam district, action should be taken against the guilty officials and immediate government assistance/compensation should be provided to the family of the deceased. Realizing the importance of this problem, the MP has also sent a copy of the letter to the State Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of Social Security Department, South RDC and all the District Collectors of the State for information and immediate action.
The MP has expressed his strong hope that the Chief Minister will take immediate steps to resolve the growing discontent among the people and save the lives of the poor.
