Pension suspension in Odisha linked to elderly woman's death, activists report

Activists in Odisha have reported that the suspension of pensions for nearly 20 lakh beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) between April and June has led to severe hardship, including the death of an elderly woman. The pensions, covering old age, widowhood, and disability, were halted mainly due to technical glitches in the SNA-SPARSH platform, a digital system used for fund disbursement. According to activists, the stoppage pushed many families to the brink, with the elderly woman's death being cited as a tragic consequence of the disruption. The NSAP is a central government scheme that provides financial support to vulnerable groups. The technical issues on the platform caused delays and non-receipt of payments, leaving beneficiaries without crucial income for months. While the government has since worked to restore the system, activists argue that the incident highlights the risks of over-reliance on digital platforms without adequate safeguards. They are demanding immediate measures to prevent such disruptions in the future and to compensate affected individuals. The state government has not officially commented on the reported death. The situation underscores the importance of reliable social security mechanisms for India's most vulnerable populations.