Elderly woman dies, lakhs pushed to the brink due to stoppage of pensions in Odisha, say activists
Activists in Odisha are demanding better social security mechanisms following the death of an elderly widow whose pension was stopped for three months. The state government attributed the payment failure to technical glitches in the digital payment portal.
Why it matters
It highlights the risks of relying solely on digital infrastructure for essential social welfare programs in vulnerable populations.
Activists demanded a robust mechanism to protect vulnerable sections of society on Saturday (July 18, 2026) after a woman reportedly ended her life following the stoppage of the pension she was receiving from the government in Odisha.
Activists belonging to four different organisations visited Ganjam district after concerns were raised over the death of 67-year-old widow B. Sabitri Dora, a resident of Chadhiapada village under Mardakote Gram Panchayat in Beguniapada Block, who was deprived of pension for three consecutive months. They brought out a report on the facts surrounding the elderly pensioner’s death.
“In between April to June, social security pension was stopped for beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme [NSAP] supported by the Centre. It affected approximately 20 lakh pension holders, primarily receiving pensions related to old age, widowhood, and disability,” Samit Panda, convener of the Odisha Right to Food Campaign, said.
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