The service delivery of social security schemes like old age pensions to the physically challenged people appears to have gone for a toss. In the Dasamathpur area of Koraput district, a distressing scene came to the fore on Sunday.
As per sources, an octogenarian has been riding piggyback on his relative every month to receive an old age pension at the panchayat office, 8 km away from his house.
As per reports, 80-year-old Pita Muduli, a resident of Jadaput village of Pindapadar panchayat under Dasmanthpur block is afflicted by paralysis and unable to move outside his house.
He said that he was hit by paralysis five years ago and since then he has been confined to his house. He is being paid Rs 500 as an old age pension.
Earlier, he used to walk to the panchayat office to get the pension money and now it is not possible on his part to walk that far. “In such circumstances, I have no option but to depend on a relative to get my subsidized rice and pension,” he added.
However, such an incident stands in sharp contrast with the government’s announcement to deliver pensions at the doorsteps of old and physically challenged beneficiaries.
Though the octogenarian has long been riding piggyback on his relative to get the pension from the panchayat office, the block social welfare officer concerned is hardly aware of it.
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When contacted, block social welfare officer Gourang Kumar Kanhar said, "I have no information about the elderly person riding piggyback on another to the panchayat office. I had talked to the PEO about such an incident, but he denied having come across such a case. I will make arrangements to pay his pension money at his doorstep next month.”
He also stated that in the case of the bed-ridden beneficiaries, the panchayat executive officer should be informed about it. In that case, spouses can receive the pension from the panchayat office or money can be paid at the doorsteps, he added.