The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) voiced sharp criticism on Thursday regarding the alleged non-payment of financial aid to over 50,000 children who lost their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic, stating payments have been frozen since March.
In a press release, the regional political party strongly condemned the state government for allegedly cutting off the welfare funds meant for children orphaned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The BJD claimed that the current government is not only neglecting elderly, widowed, and disabled pensioners, but is also displaying severe insensitivity by withholding the crucial monthly stipends designated for vulnerable children orphaned by COVID-19.
Elaborating on the issue, media coordinator and party spokesperson Lenin Mohanty stated that the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic left more than 50,000 children across Odisha lost their parents and became orphans.
To ensure their survival and education, the previous government led by Naveen Patnaik launched the Ashirbad Scheme, establishing a monthly direct cash transfer system for these minors. Mohanty pointed out that under the initiative, children who lost both parents were entitled to Rs 2,500 monthly, while those who lost a single parent were allocated Rs 1,500 per month.
The spokesperson emphasized that these welfare funds were systematically transferred directly into the bank accounts of either the extended family members looking after the children or the childcare facilities hosting them.
“However, since March this year, the government has stopped releasing this financial assistance, creating a serious crisis in the care and upbringing of these children. Although the District Child Protection Officers have been playing a key role in implementing the Ashirbad Scheme, they are now expressing their helplessness as the government has stopped releasing the financial assistance,” added Mohanty.
Demanding swift intervention, the opposition party has called upon the state government to immediately clear all the arrears and resume the regular monthly payouts to the beneficiaries.
