Widow, 91, to get pension 46 yrs after husband’s death

Cuttack/Kendrapada: The Orissa high court has directed the Kendrapada collector to pay family pension to a 91-year-old widow whose husband, a school teacher, died 46 years ago. The single judge bench of Biraja Prasanna Satapathy on Wednesday issued the direction in the case of Hara Sahoo, widow of Benudhar Sahoo, who was an assistant teacher at Ratnakar Middle English School, Kasoti, when he died on August 26, 1977. The widow had filed several representations for family pension before school and mass education authorities in Kendrapada district since 1991, but in vain. The Kendrapada collector rejected her representation for family pension, gratuity, and other service benefits on August 21, 2023. After that the widow moved the high court on October 19, 2023. The state authorities had taken the stand that the case was not eligible for family pension as it was introduced after the death of her husband. However, Justice Satapathy granted the relief considering the fact that though Benudhar died in 1977, in normal course he would have retired in 1983. “Hara Devi is now 91 and stays with her only son, a 60-year-old retired fisheries department employee, daughter-in-law and three grandsons at Palei Derakundi in Kendrapada district,” said advocate Ganeswar Behera, who argued on behalf of the widow, on Saturday. “I have three grandsons and two great granddaughters. I will spend all the money on the education of my great granddaughters ,” said Hara.

46 years after hubbys death, Odisha woman, 91, to get pension

The Orissa high court has ordered the Kendrapada district collector to provide family pension to a 91-year-old widow whose husband, a school teacher, passed away 46 years ago. The widow had made multiple attempts to receive the pension but was unsuccessful. The state authorities argued that she was ineligible for the pension as it was introduced after her husband's death. However, the court granted her relief, considering her husband's expected retirement date and ordered the collector to release the pension within two months.

All-women club in New Town gets widow to do puja rituals

A widow was made the face of Kali Puja in New Town, Kolkata, breaking the tradition of excluding widows from festival participation. The same organizers had previously worshipped a Muslim girl during Kumari Puja, promoting inclusivity. Chhanda Das, an 82-year-old widow, had always been religious but was excluded from participating in community pujas. The organizers aimed to correct this practice and encouraged Das to perform the 'boron' ritual. Despite initial hesitation, Das found no objections and felt good about her participation.

Govt sanctions Rs 667 crore for welfare pensions

The government of Kerala has sanctioned Rs 667 crore for disbursing social security pensions in five sectors for the month of July. The finance minister stated that in the past two and a half years, Rs 23,350 crore has been disbursed for welfare pensions. The LDF government has increased pensions from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000 and the total disbursal under welfare pensions is projected to reach approximately Rs 50,000 crore by the end of the current government's tenure. The state's own revenue has increased from Rs 47,000 crore to Rs 71,000 crore in the last two years.