Guwahati: PSSA threatens protest over non-receipt of Orunodoi benefits

Staff reporter

Guwahati: Frustrated over a two-month delay in receiving their financial aid under the state’s Orunodoi scheme, members of the Pratibandi Suraksha Santha, Assam (PSSA) gheraoed the Director of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment inside his office on Monday as part of their protest.

The organization alleged that despite assurances in a meeting held on June 27 at Janata Bhawan, the promised disbursement of funds for June and July had not yet reached several eligible beneficiaries. According to the PSSA’s secretary Nripen Malakar, the Divyang Pension was previously merged with the Orunodoi scheme, but many disabled individuals were excluded during the transition. Some of those who continued to receive aid have now been deprived of payments for the past two months.

After repeated attempts to get a response from the department failed, the organization had earlier staged a protest in front of Janata Bhawan on June 24, following which the minister had promised resolution. On June 30, the organization submitted a list of affected beneficiaries as requested. However, due to alleged negligence on the part of the Director’s office, the names were not forwarded to the respective District Commissioners, leading to the continued withholding of funds.

Today’s protest escalated when the demonstrators confronted the Director at his office and, receiving no satisfactory reply, staged a sit-in protest that lasted nearly two hours. They eventually dispersed after Joint Director and Joint Secretary Suswapna Kakoti intervened and assured them that prompt action would be taken to resolve the issue.

Speaking to the media, Malakar warned that if the beneficiaries do not receive their pending funds by August 10, the organization will launch an intensified agitation in front of Janata Bhawan.

 Also Read: Orunodoi 3.0, Udyamita Abhijan in Udalguri is reviewed by CM Sarma.

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