Odisha: BJD flags halt in COVID-orphan aid for 50,000+ children since March
Synopsis
More than 50,000 children orphaned during COVID-19 in Odisha have allegedly not received monthly financial aid since March 2025, according to the BJD. The party says the state government has quietly suspended the Ashirbad Scheme payments — leaving District Child Protection Officers helpless and vulnerable children without support.
Key Takeaways
The BJD alleged on 9 July that Odisha 's state government stopped releasing funds under the Ashirbad Scheme since March 2025 .
More than 50,000 children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic are reportedly affected.
Children who lost both parents receive ₹2,500/month ; those who lost one parent receive ₹1,500/month under the scheme.
Lenin Mohanty , BJD spokesperson, said District Child Protection Officers are expressing helplessness over the payment freeze.
The BJD has demanded immediate release of all pending dues along with regular monthly assistance.
The Odisha government had not issued an official response as of the time of reporting.
The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday, 9 July alleged that the Odisha state government has stopped releasing monthly financial assistance to more than 50,000 children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic, with payments reportedly suspended since March 2025. The party condemned the move as a serious failure of welfare delivery, demanding immediate release of pending dues.
What the Ashirbad Scheme Provides
The Ashirbad Scheme was introduced by then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to support children who lost parents during the pandemic. Under the scheme, children who lost both parents to COVID-19 receive ₹2,500 per month, while those who lost one parent receive ₹1,500 per month. The assistance is credited directly to the bank accounts of relatives caring for the children or to residential institutions where the children are housed.
BJD's Allegations Against the State Government
Lenin Mohanty, Media Coordinator and Spokesperson of the BJD, stated in a press release that the state government has not released the financial assistance since March, 'creating a serious crisis in the care and upbringing of these children.' He added that District Child Protection Officers, who have been central to implementing the Ashirbad Scheme, are now 'expressing their helplessness as the government has stopped releasing the financial assistance.'
The BJD further alleged that the government's welfare failures extend beyond COVID-orphaned children, claiming that pensions for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and widows are also reportedly being withheld. The party characterised the alleged non-payment to orphaned children as 'inhumane.'
Scale of the Crisis
According to the BJD, more than 50,000 children across Odisha lost one or both parents during the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes amid a broader national conversation about the adequacy and continuity of pandemic-era welfare schemes, many of which were introduced as emergency measures and have faced implementation challenges in the years since. Notably, the Ashirbad Scheme was among the more structured state-level responses to COVID-related child welfare needs in India.
What the BJD Is Demanding
The opposition party has called on the state government to immediately release all pending dues along with the regular monthly financial assistance under the Ashirbad Scheme. As of the time of this report, the Odisha government had not issued an official response to the allegations.
With over 50,000 vulnerable children reportedly affected, the coming days will be critical in determining whether the government acknowledges the lapse and restores payments — or disputes the BJD's claims.
Point of View
But the humanitarian stakes are real. Over 50,000 children — already among Odisha's most vulnerable — reportedly losing access to modest but critical monthly support raises serious questions about welfare continuity under the new state administration. The BJD, which introduced the scheme under Naveen Patnaik, has a political interest in amplifying this issue, but that does not diminish the obligation on the current government to either restore payments or transparently explain why they were paused. The silence from the state government is itself telling — and the absence of a counter-narrative suggests the allegations may have substance worth scrutinising.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ashirbad Scheme in Odisha?
The Ashirbad Scheme is a state welfare programme introduced by then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to provide monthly financial assistance to children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children who lost both parents receive ₹2,500 per month, while those who lost one parent receive ₹1,500 per month, credited directly to caregivers' bank accounts or residential institutions.
Why has the BJD raised concerns about the scheme?
The BJD alleges that the Odisha state government has stopped releasing payments under the Ashirbad Scheme since March 2025, leaving more than 50,000 COVID-orphaned children without financial support. The party says District Child Protection Officers are now helpless and has demanded immediate release of all pending dues.
How many children are affected by the alleged payment halt?
According to the BJD, more than 50,000 children across Odisha who lost one or both parents during the COVID-19 pandemic are covered under the Ashirbad Scheme and are reportedly affected by the alleged suspension of payments since March 2025.
Has the Odisha government responded to the BJD's allegations?
As of 9 July, the Odisha state government had not issued an official response to the BJD's allegations regarding the suspension of Ashirbad Scheme payments.
What other welfare failures has the BJD alleged?
Beyond the COVID-orphan aid issue, the BJD has also alleged that the state government is failing to disburse pensions to the elderly, persons with disabilities, and widows — suggesting a broader pattern of welfare payment disruptions under the current administration.
