- BJP Forgot Its Election Promise of ₹3,500 Old Age Pension After Coming to Power
- Beneficiaries Suffer Due to Inordinate Delay in Receiving Old Age Pension
- Around 7 Lakh People Waiting to Be Added to the Old Age Pension Beneficiary List
Bhubaneswar, 15/09/2026: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has strongly criticised the State Government over the inordinate delay in the disbursement of social security and old age pensions in the State. The BJD has alleged that beneficiaries are facing immense difficulties due to the delay in receiving old age pensions, while the State Government is not taking any steps to resolve the issue.
In a press statement issued by the Biju Janata Dal, party spokesperson and Media Coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty said that from March this year till September, there has been an inordinate delay in the disbursement of old age pensions, due to which the beneficiaries are facing immense difficulties. From April to June, around 20 lakh beneficiaries did not receive their monthly pension of ₹1,000. At that time, widespread reactions were witnessed across the State over the issue. In response, the State Government had stated that the delay in the disbursement of the pension was due to technical or software-related problems. Although the Government claimed that the disbursement of old age pensions had returned to normal after rectifying the technical problem, reports are still coming from different parts of the State that old age pensions are not being received on time.It is pertinent to mention that most of the old age pension beneficiaries use the pension to purchase medicines and essential daily necessities, and any delay in receiving the pension causes them considerable hardship.
Dr. Mohanty said that more than 7 lakh applications are pending with the State Government from people seeking to be included in the old age pension beneficiary list. However, they are not being added to the list. It is pertinent to mention that removing deceased persons from the old age pension beneficiary list and adding newly eligible persons is a regular process, which the BJP Government is deliberately not implementing.The BJP had promised in its election manifesto that it would increase the old age pension from ₹1,000 to ₹3,500. However, after coming to power, the BJP has forgotten this promise. Far from increasing the pension of the beneficiaries, they are not even being provided the pension regularly.Dr. Mohanty said that the BJD demands that the State Government streamline the system of disbursement of old age pensions, ensure that beneficiaries receive their pensions on time, and include all newly eligible beneficiaries in the beneficiary list.
