Bhubaneswar: Pension disbursement under the National Social Assistance Programme has been delayed due to technical glitches in the SPARSH portal, Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister Nityananda Gond said Wednesday.
Gond assured that beneficiaries will receive pending amounts within seven days. “We are working overtime to fix the technical glitch. Once resolved, pensions will be processed in real time through the Integrated Financial Management System,” he said. Official sources said around 50 lakh people in Odisha receive social security pensions.
State pensions are paid under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana, while central pensions are disbursed under NSAP for categories including old age, widows, persons with disabilities, and national family benefit. The opposition BJD criticised the BJP government over the delay.
“We have never heard of old age people not getting pension for months. During Naveen Patnaik’s tenure, pensions were disbursed on the 15th of every month. The BJP government has pushed vulnerable people to misery,” said Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik.
Under NSAP, beneficiaries of old-age, widow and disability pensions receive Rs 1,000 monthly. Those above 80 years and persons with over 80 percent disability get Rs 3,500 per month.
