Despite doorstep benefits promised, 70-year-old woman forced to crawl 2 km to collect pension in Odisha

In Odisha's Keonjhar district, a 70-year-old woman named Pathuri Dehury was compelled to crawl nearly two kilometers from her home to the panchayat office to collect her old-age pension, as she is unable to walk due to her health. A video of Dehury crawling along the village road has since gone viral on social media.

Raisuan gram panchayat sarpanch Bagun Champia reported that he alerted the administration after seeing the woman’s struggle on television and in newspapers.

"I have also verified from the villagers that the woman is not able to walk properly due to her age-related aliment," the Sarpanch said.


Though the state government had earlier issued a directive to officials to deliver the pension of elderly and disabled beneficiaries at their doorstep, Dehury said a panchayat official had asked her to visit the office to collect the monthly pension.

The woman is 70 years old and had no other alternative to reach there, according to villagers.

The gram panchayat concerned is under Telkoi block in Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's home district Keonjhar.

Telkoi block development officer (BDO) Geeta Murmu told PTI that the old-age pension was earlier sent to Dehury's bank account.

However, as she became ill and expressed her inability to visit the bank, the local administration has started disbursing the pension by hand, she said.

Now, the panchayat extension officer was asked to disburse the old-age pension to Dehury at her home each month. A wheelchair has also been provided to her, the BDO said.

Raisuan sarpanch said the civil supply assistant will provide rations to Dehury at her doorstep.

The state government provides pension to 42 lakh elderly people under schemes like Madhu Babu Pension Yojana and the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme.