In a heartwarming display of community power, the residents of Kankia Panchayat in Odisha’s Kalahandi district have successfully secured long-overdue pensions for dozens of their most vulnerable members. Through a united effort involving the Village Development Committees (VDCs), self-help groups (SHGs), and ward members, the villagers overcame bureaucratic hurdles and ensured that the rightful beneficiaries received their entitlements.

Years of struggle end in triumph

For years, individuals like Rupa Malik, a 62-year-old widow, had struggled to access their pensions despite meeting all the eligibility criteria. After years of waiting and multiple appeals, she finally received her old-age pension in October last year. 

Rupa expressed her happiness, thanking the Village Development Committee (VDC), SHG members and the ward member for their efforts, “I approached the Sarpanch more than a year back to help me enrol for my old-age pension. But even after his assurances, I was not able to enrol. It was only when the VDC, SHG members, ward members and residents united in August 2022, after several rounds of meetings, that I received approval for my pension.” 

Rupa’s relief and gratitude stemmed not from individual persistence, but from a united community effort that changed the fate of many like her. In Purunapatna village, five individuals, including Rupa, received their monthly pension for the first time in September 2023. Out of the five beneficiaries, four women received their widow pension. 

Grassroots planning drives pension success

Gram Vikas assists the Village Development Committees in combining or consolidating the needs and priorities identified at the village level and presenting them at the Panchayat level. By presenting aggregated needs, the Panchayat can better allocate resources and budget to address the collective concerns of the villages under its jurisdiction.

Village Development Committees across 21 villages in Kankia spearheaded a collaborative effort, uniting residents, ward members, and SHGs to secure pensions for eligible community members.

Members of SHGs in every village compile a list of individuals eligible for a monthly pension – those who were over the age of 60 years, physically disabled and widows. Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the 21 villages under the Kankia Panchayat compiled a list of 45 residents eligible for monthly pensions. They supported these individuals to submit the necessary documentation for the applications. 

Collective action overcomes bureaucratic barriers

In March 2023, ward members, VDC members, and SHGs united to present a list of eligible pension recipients to the Gram Panchayat, urging them to expedite the process. The list was detailed, including each individual’s name, village, supporting documents, and the specific type of pension they qualified for (e.g., old-age, widow, disability).

In September 2023, 22 people received their monthly pension for the first time. Subsequently, in October 2023, another 17 people received their pension for the first time that month. A total of 39 people started receiving their pension between September and October 2023. The remaining five individuals are expected to receive their pension in 2024. 

Ward member of Sana Karanjei village, Sisira Mallik, 36, says, “No amount of requests made on an individual level helped. The collective action was an enabling factor in getting demands fulfilled.” 

Voices of relief and unity 

Kumari Mallik, 57, of Kankia village, is relieved, “My husband Kartik Mallik passed away five years ago. Despite applying for a widow pension multiple times at the Panchayat, I could not avail of the pension. I receive five kg of rice under the Public Distribution System, which is insufficient to last an entire month for even one person. Therefore, I work on a daily wage to sustain myself. Since October 2023, it has been a relief for me because I am assured of a pension of ₹1000 every month from the Government. With the money, I can afford to buy vegetables, pulses and oil and have a proper meal.” 

Kashinath Mallik, 52, the President of Kankia VDC, feels that village-level planning develops a sense of community and is helping villages assert their rights more effectively. He says, “The collective action was crucial in addressing the needs of our Panchayat’s most deserving and vulnerable individuals. It has created a sense of belonging and a shared emotional connection among all the residents in the 21 villages.” 

The victory of these villages is a testament to the power of community organising and the importance of solidarity in overcoming systemic challenges.

Reported by: Kailash Chandra Das, Bidulata Dhala