Bhubaneswar, August 30: Opposition parties, including the BJD and Congress, staged a dramatic walkout from the Odisha Assembly on Friday. Their protest centered around the government's failure to deliver on social security pension commitments made by the BJP in their election manifesto.
During a debate on an adjournment motion concerning the lack of social security benefits for PWDs, widows, and elderly individuals over 60, opposition members accused the government of neglecting its promises post-election. They argued that the BJP forget its poll promises after coming to power.
The BJP's manifesto had pledged the Mukhyamantri Sahayata Yojana, promising Rs 3,000 per month in pension for the elderly, differently-abled individuals, widows, and destitute persons. Additionally, it had committed Rs 3,500 per month for those above 80 years of age and for differently-abled individuals with 80 percent disability.
Congress Legislature Party leader Ramachandra Kadam urged the government to honor its election pledges and align benefits with those provided by Andhra Pradesh. His colleague, Ashok Kumar Das, questioned the exclusion of people over 80 from the scheme and criticized the transparency of the current assistance.
BJD member Dibya Shankar Mishra called for a review of the National Social Security Code and increased central assistance. He proposed Rs 3,000 monthly pension for those over 60 and Rs 3,500 for those over 80. Sarada Prasanna Jena (BJD) suggested lowering the disability threshold from 80 percent to 40 percent to qualify for the Rs 3,500 pension.
In response, BJP members Satrughana Jena, Jalen Nayak, and OM Prakash Mishra defended the current government, arguing that previous BJD-led administrations had distributed social security benefits unfairly, leaving many eligible beneficiaries out of the schemes. Kahnu Charan Dang (BJP) dismissed the opposition's accusations as unfounded, accusing them of using the motion for ulterior motives.
Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister Nityananda Gond refuted the opposition's claims, asserting that the government was indeed providing social security and was committed to fulfilling its promises. He highlighted that last year saw the inclusion of 8,13,813 new beneficiaries, with substantial budgetary allocations made for social security programs in the current fiscal year.
Despite the minister's assurances, BJD and Congress members remained dissatisfied with the response and proceeded with a noisy walkout from the Assembly.
