Shocking scenes emerged from Keonjhar district in Odisha. Here, a 70-year-old woman has to climb about two kilometers from her home to get her pension from the Panchayat office. The sick woman, identified as Pathuri Dehuri, a resident of Raisuan Gram Panchayat, is unable to walk. The old woman relied on a pension to make ends meet and had no one to help her.
A video of Dhuri crawling along a rural road went viral on social media, prompting criticism of the local government.
It is learned that the state government has issued instructions to officials to deliver pension to senior citizens and disabled beneficiaries at their doorsteps. However, Dhuri said a panchayat official asked him to go to the office to collect his monthly pension and he had to crawl to get there on Saturday. As a result, he developed severe blisters on his feet, knees and hands.
Panchayat office settled in chief’s hometown
The gram panchayat in question is located in Telkoi block of Keonjhar, the hometown of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Telkoi Block Development Officer (BDO) Geeta Murmu told PTI that the pension had been transferred to their bank accounts in advance. However, when she became ill and couldn’t go to the bank, the local government began disbursing the pension herself.
Now, Panchayat extension officers are asked to visit Dehuri’s house every month to distribute pension. BDO said they also provided him with a wheelchair. Raisuan Sarpanch Bagun Champiya said the Civil Supplies Assistant will provide ration to Dehuri at his house.
Pathuri said: “The Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) asked me to collect my pension at the office. There was no other option and no one helped me. I had to walk 2 kilometers to reach the Panchayat office. There was no one for me.”
When questioned, the village committee executive officer acknowledged the incident but seemed unaware of the woman’s condition.
Sarpanch expresses regret
Reacting to the incident, the chief minister of the Raisuan Panchayat expressed regret and claimed that he was unaware of the woman’s condition. Sarpanch said: “We were not aware that the old woman had to crawl to reach the office. She had an accident recently, so she might have difficulty walking. We have decided that on the 15th of every month, by then their pension and ration will be Delivered to their homes.”
He also assured that Patuli would soon be provided with a wheelchair as per government regulations. “We are committed to ensuring that this does not happen again and we will ensure that he receives all necessary assistance starting next month. We have resolved the matter through official channels,” Sarpanch said.
