More than six lakh people in Odisha are awaiting pension benefits under various social welfare schemes, according to Minister Nityananda Gond.
During a session of the Odisha Assembly, Minister Gond disclosed that a total of 6,04,688 applications are yet to be processed. The breakdown includes 40,927 applications for disability pensions, 61,579 applications for widow pensions, and an overwhelming 4,64,849 applications for old-age pensions. Additionally, there are 269 applications for pensions designated for leprosy patients.
The minister was responding to a query posed by MLA Sarada Prasad Nayak in the Assembly. The figures underline the pressing backlog and the challenges in delivering timely social security benefits to eligible individuals across the state.
