Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati has raised serious concerns over the alarming lack of awareness among state officials and the general public regarding key central welfare schemes. Speaking at a public event on Monday, the Governor highlighted the “essential gap” in outreach and criticized the poor implementation of social security programmes across the state.

During various district-level review meetings, the Governor noted that a majority of government representatives could not provide basic information on major welfare initiatives. “When asked about flagship schemes, many officials simply replied, ‘We don’t have this data,’” Kambhampati remarked.

Widespread Ignorance of Key Schemes

According to the Governor, nearly 95 percent of Odisha’s population remains unaware of essential central schemes such as the Atal Pension Yojana, the Sukanya Samridhi Yojana, the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, and the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. Even among those who have heard of these programs, he said, only about 5 percent have enrolled or benefited.

He stressed that these schemes, many of which involve nominal premiums for life insurance, pensions, and financial security, are failing to reach intended beneficiaries due to lack of awareness and weak promotion efforts.

Symbolic Action and Call for Digital Literacy

To draw attention to the issue, Kambhampati symbolically enrolled 101 individuals from Raj Bhavan in various welfare schemes. He also underscored the importance of improving digital literacy and vigilance to help people access their entitlements.

“Until officials at the sarpanch level are properly informed, benefits will not reach the grassroots,” Kambhampati said. Echoing his concerns, social activist Jagadanand called for a stronger, better-trained panchayat system, saying, “Erase every problem with schemes, but awareness must begin at the village level.”

Educational Institutions Urged to Lead Campaigns

The Governor urged all state-run institutions, colleges, and universities to launch awareness campaigns to educate students and communities about welfare programmes. He also called for greater public engagement and stronger administrative accountability.

“Our primary responsibility is to ensure that information on these schemes reaches the grassroots,” he stated, adding that the failure of outreach even among the educated and resourceful signals a breakdown in the current communication structure.

Kambhampati concluded with a call for immediate, robust awareness campaigns to bridge the knowledge gap and ensure that every citizen receives the benefits they are entitled to under various government initiatives.

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