Old age pension of Rs 500 - A drop in ocean for elderly people in Odisha

At a time when the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing and even middle-class families are experiencing hardship in meeting their day-to-day expenses, have you ever imagined how elderly people living a lonely life after being rejected by their children, are making both ends meet with the meager Rs 500 they receive under Madhubabu Pension Yojana?

In order to find out how these elderly persons are coping with the present situation when even the essential things are fast becoming out of the reach of many, OTV teams met two couples as a case in point.

Saura Pahan and his wife Bhasi Pahan are living in Nuan Phasula village under Khalikote block in Ganjam district. At the dusk of their lives, they have none to look after them. Their children have long rejected them. At that, they are also no longer able to work to keep the pot boiling. Most of the days, they go to sleep without food.

In such a situation, this elderly couple depends on the Rs 500 they receive under Madhubabu Pension Yojana, which is, they say, a drop in the ocean.

With this meager amount, they find it difficult to buy vegetables and other essential grocery items, let alone meet their medicine cost. 

“Can anyone meet his/her daily expenses in Rs 500 monthly pension in these days? Every month, we spend Rs 100 to 150 towards medicine. Then, is it possible to live on the rest Rs 350 for a month? Our children are not taking care of us. If the government increases amount of the pension, it would go a long way in ending our sufferings,” said Bhasi Pahan. 

Our team came across another elderly couple Mohan Palei, aged 80, and his wife Kumari Palei who are living in Khallikote and are in the same predicament as Saura Pahan and Bhasi Pahan are experiencing. 

They have the same story to narrate. 

“I receive Rs 500 a month as a pension. This amount always falls short of meeting my family expenses. I am treating my wife who has a wound on her left knee. So far, I have spent Rs 4000 to treat her. I have already taken loans from my relatives. Due to her illness, she is not able to do anything on her own. I am also no longer able to work as a daily labourer. Most of the days, we have to skip meals and go to sleep with an empty stomach,” said Palei.