Bhubaneswar, July 1 -- Several elderly tribal residents of Roladihi village under Chordhara panchayat in Odisha's Sundargarh's Koida block have alleged that they have been deprived of benefits under the state's social security pension scheme despite being eligible.

The villagers claimed that many senior citizens, including those above 80 years of age, have either not received pension for years or have never been brought under the scheme. They alleged that the lapse has left several elderly people dependent on their family members for survival.

Residents said the issue has persisted for a long time. While some elderly villagers claimed they have not received pension for the last eight to ten years, others said the payments, which were be...