Officials from the Keonjhar district administration in Odisha directly delivered old-age pension money to 80-year-old Pathuri Dehury. Recently, a video showed Pathuri crawling to the panchayat office to pick up her payment. This touching gesture occurred on September 18, after the video went viral and gained significant attention.
From Struggle to Support:
In addition to her pension, Pathuri, a resident of Raisuan gram panchayat in the Telkoi block, received a wheelchair from the local government. The wheelchair was provided to assist with her mobility. On September 15, Pathuri attempted to go to the panchayat office to collect her pension. During this time, someone recorded a disturbing video of the incident. The video later went viral.
Block Development Officer Geeta Murmu clarified that the administration did not ask Pathuri to collect her funds in person that day. Her pension was first deposited into her bank account. However, due to her declining health and difficulty reaching the bank, the local government began delivering her pension directly. Despite this, Pathuri still had to walk 500 meters to the panchayat office with two disabled family members to collect their pensions.
Unfortunately, Pathuri’s health deteriorated, and she eventually became unable to walk, to the point that she had to crawl to the panchayat office to get this month’s payment. But on September 15, the pensions were unavailable. Recognizing her situation, officials acted on September 18. They ensured she received the help she needed by delivering her pension directly to her home.
Officials stated that the district administration has given new instructions. Local authorities must now deliver her monthly ration directly to her home. The National Food Security Act mandates this.
The Fight for Senior Pension Support
The narrative of Pathuri Dehury highlights the considerable obstacles that senior citizens encounter while attempting to obtain necessary assistance. In spite of her failing health, Pathuri needed to crawl to the panchayat office to receive her pension. However, the local authorities acted quickly in response. The Keonjhar district administration showed they cared for her dignity and well-being by delivering her pension directly to her home. They also provided her with a wheelchair. This situation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of empathy and prompt assistance for vulnerable individuals. It highlights our shared responsibility to care for those in need.
