While the price of one gas cylinder in Odisha is Rs 1,095, the Odisha Government provides only Rs 500 per month as social security pension for maintenance expenses of a disabled family. According to an analysis, the amount of pension paid by Odisha is the lowest compared to other States.
This issue was discussed in a meeting of the Central Advisory Board on Disability on November 26, 2020. It was held under the chairmanship of Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Pawar Chand Ghelot.
Participating in this discussion, Arunachal Pradesh Minister Alolibank said that disability pension is Rs 2,000 per month in his State. Chhattisgarh Minister Anil Vendia said that the pension in his State is Rs 2,000 per month. Minister of Sikkim Dr MK Sharma said this to be Rs 2,000 per month in his State. In the meeting, Ashok Chandra Panda, Minister of Social Security and Empowerment of persons with Disability, Government of Odisha, was present and did not participate in the discussion regarding the increase of disability pension. His silence spoke volumes.
Many intellectuals and social organisations of Odisha, including the Odisha Viklang Manch are demanding that the Odisha Government increase the disability pension to Rs 3,000 as soon as possible. The district wing of Odisha Viklang Manch along with all other disability organisations including Odisha Association for the Blind under the leadership of its secretary Jalandhar Bacheli, adviser Gobinda Chandra Mishra and others have sent a special demand letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through district Collector Swadha Dev Singh to take a befitting decision in this regard.