Koraput: Hundreds of Congress workers and local residents on Tuesday staged a demonstration and gherao of the Borigumma block development office, protesting the alleged delay in the disbursement of old-age, widow and disability pensions, as well as rising prices of fuel, cooking gas and essential commodities.The protest was organised following a call by Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati. Demonstrators held a rally and marched through the town before converging at the BDO office, raising slogans against the govt over issues affecting pension beneficiaries and common citizens. Addressing the gathering, Bahinipati alleged that pension beneficiaries across Odisha have not received their old-age, widow and disability pensions for the past three months.“Thousands of elderly persons, widows and differently abled beneficiaries are facing immense hardship due to non-payment of pensions. These pensions are not a favour or charity from the govt; they are the rightful entitlement of the beneficiaries,” the MLA said.He further alleged that the continuous increase in prices of petrol, diesel, domestic LPG cylinders and essential commodities has placed an unbearable burden on poor and middle-class families. “The govt must immediately release all pending pension dues and take concrete steps to control spiralling prices of essential commodities. The common people cannot be made to suffer because of administrative apathy,” Bahinipati said.Responding to the allegations, BJP leader Goutam Samantaray said the state govt remains committed to the welfare of pension beneficiaries and the overall development of Odisha.“The allegations made by the Congress are politically motivated. The BJP govt is committed to the welfare of the poor, elderly, widows and differently abled persons,” Samantaray said.As part of the agitation, a memorandum addressed to the governor of Odisha was submitted to the block development officer. The memorandum sought immediate disbursal of all pending pension payments, measures to curb price rise and urgent intervention to address the problems faced by the public. Samantaray added that several of the govt’s welfare initiatives have directly benefited vulnerable sections and that efforts are underway to strengthen service delivery at the grassroots level.
