Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday directed all district administrations to expedite Aadhaar linkage and the completion of e-KYC for around 3.3 lakh beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), as the state prepares to shift to an Aadhaar-based pension disbursement system.
In a communication issued by Principal Secretary of the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department, Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Collectors and District Magistrates have been instructed to ensure the completion of Aadhaar seeding and related formalities at the earliest.
The department said pension payments are being transitioned to the SNA-SPARSH platform under an Aadhaar-based payment mode from the financial year 2026–27. It further noted that beneficiaries whose Aadhaar numbers are not linked with their bank accounts may face disruption in receiving pensions once the new system becomes operational.
According to the department, a significant number of beneficiaries—approximately 3,35,850—are still receiving pensions through the account-based payment system without Aadhaar mapping. The government has made it clear that the SNA-SPARSH platform will not support account-based transfers, making Aadhaar linkage mandatory for continued benefits.
The government has also expressed concern that a section of beneficiaries includes elderly and bedridden persons who may face difficulties visiting banks for Aadhaar linking or e-KYC updates. District administrations have therefore been directed to identify such cases on a priority basis and ensure doorstep facilitation wherever required to avoid disruption in pension payments.
The directive emphasises the use of District Social Security Officers’ login credentials on the NSAP-PPS portal to track and identify pending beneficiaries. It also calls for coordinated efforts at the block level, where Aadhaar operators have been tasked with completing seeding and e-KYC processes.
Aadhaar coordinators have been instructed to resolve technical and operational issues to ensure smooth implementation of the exercise.
