Disabled tribal child denied pension, housing benefits in Kalahandi

Sunil Majhi, a 7-year-old tribal boy from Tangari village in the Adri gram panchayat of Thuamul Rampur block, Kalahandi district, has been allegedly denied a monthly disability pension and government housing despite being certified with 80% permanent disability due to cerebral palsy. The family says they have repeatedly approached local officials for assistance, while the administration has provided only a wheelchair. The case, highlighted by Orissa Post on July 26, 2026, raises questions about the implementation of social security schemes in remote areas and the accountability of local authorities.

What benefits is the child allegedly denied?

Sunil Majhi is a 7-year-old tribal boy residing in Tangari village, which falls under the Adri gram panchayat of Thuamul Rampur block in Kalahandi district, Odisha. He has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and certified by the district’s Chief Medical Officer as having 80% permanent disability. This certification makes him eligible for a monthly disability pension and government housing under various central and state welfare schemes. Despite meeting the eligibility criteria, the family alleges that he has not received either benefit for several years. The only assistance the administration has provided so far is a wheelchair, which was given to Sunil to aid his mobility. Family members, particularly his father Uday Majhi, a poor tribal resident of the same village, say they have repeatedly approached local officials seeking financial assistance and a government house. They assert that their appeals for the disability pension and housing benefits have gone unanswered despite multiple representations. The situation has persisted, according to the family, for an extended period of time.

What did local officials say about the application process?

When Orissa Post journalists questioned Adri Sarpanch Nandei Majhi about the delay in extending benefits to Sunil, the sarpanch responded that beneficiaries are required to submit online applications for such schemes. He emphasized that elected representatives like himself are not authorized to process these applications on behalf of the beneficiaries. The sarpanch’s remarks were made in the context of explaining why the family had not yet received assistance.

What did the official verification reveal?

To verify the sarpanch’s claim about an online application, Orissa Post journalists checked the official SSEPD (Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities) portal. They entered Sunil Majhi’s Aadhaar details into the system’s search function. The portal returned a message stating, "No Application Found," indicating that no pension application linked to the child’s Aadhaar was registered. This outcome was reported by the journalists as part of their fact-checking process. The verification result raised questions about the accuracy of the sarpanch’s assertion that an application had already been submitted. It also suggested that the family might have been misinformed about the status of their request for benefits.

How have the family and residents responded?

The family says they have approached multiple local officials in search of help. Specifically, they have contacted the sarpanch, the Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO), the Block Social Security Officer (BSSO), and the Block Development Officer (BDO). According to their account, each of these officials was approached repeatedly over an extended period. Despite these efforts, the family alleges that no effective action has been taken to secure the pension or housing benefits. Residents of Tangari village and surrounding areas under the Adri gram panchayat echo the family’s concerns. They say that Sunil’s case is not isolated and that several other villages within the same panchayat continue to experience serious deficiencies in the implementation of welfare schemes. The residents describe a pattern where eligible beneficiaries fail to receive their entitlements despite meeting all criteria. This broader perspective was shared with Orissa Post during its field reporting.

What response came from the Block Social Security Officer?

After the Orissa Post report brought the issue to light, Block Social Security Officer Sunaram Soren responded that the complaint had not previously reached his office. He said, "This complaint had never reached our office earlier. I am personally looking into the matter. After verification, all benefits admissible under government rules will be extended to the child without delay." Soren’s statement was made in reaction to the journalists’ inquiries and the subsequent portal verification.

What actions are residents demanding?

Following the confirmation from the SSEPD portal that no application exists, local residents have urged the district administration to step in immediately. They have specifically called on the District Welfare Officer and the Kalahandi Collector to intervene and ensure that Sunil’s case is resolved without further delay. The residents’ appeal was conveyed to Orissa Post after the verification findings were made public.

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