Odisha government to clear pension arrears for 20 lakh beneficiaries by October

The Odisha state government has announced it will clear pension arrears for over 20 lakh beneficiaries by October. The delay, which affected payments for approximately five months, was attributed to technical glitches and system integration faults between state processing channels and central registries.

Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister Nityananda Gond confirmed in a written statement to the Odisha Assembly that the government is coordinating with the finance department, the treasury, and the central government to resolve these issues. Once fixed, beneficiaries will receive their pending payments along with regular monthly disbursements.

Under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), the state provides ₹1,000 per month to senior citizens aged 60 to 79, and ₹3,500 per month to those aged 80 and older. The non-payment issue had previously been raised by opposition parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Congress.