“GEN-SENIOR: NYAYA, SWASTHYA, SAMMAN ANDOLAN”:
By Advocate Lokanath Mishra, MA, LLB, IRS (Retd.)
Chief Adviser, AIPACBIC:
A Digital Movement for Land Justice, Health Dignity and Security of Odisha’s Elders:
Odisha is aging with grace, but our systems are not aging with us.
For the last 70 years, lakhs of senior citizens in Odisha have been fighting not for luxury, but for three basic rights — Land to live on, Health to live with, and Security to live in peace.
The delay has now become denial. Today, most of the original landholders and petitioners are above 70 years of age. They do not have another 10 years to wait in courts.
It is time for a new, peaceful, digital movement led by the elders themselves.
NAME OF THE MOVEMENT: “GEN-SENIOR: NYAYA, SWASTHYA, SAMMAN ANDOLAN”:
Gen = Generation | Senior = Our Elders | Nyaya = Justice | Swasthya = Health | Samman = Dignity:
This is Odisha’s own version of a Gen-Z style campaign — but led by wisdom, not noise.
ISSUE 1: NYAYA BHOOMI – LAND JUSTICE IN ODISHA, WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON KHURDA & PURI;
Land record settlement remains a major problem across Odisha.
Khurda District: Bhubaneswar & Jatni Tahasil
In the 1960s–80s, the Govt. of Odisha leased “waste lands” in 16 mouzas of Bhubaneswar and 24 mouzas of Jatni to the poor, the landless, and to war veterans of 1965 & 1971.
Today, those areas are part of the city. Yet, despite clear directions from the Hon’ble High Court of Odisha, the administration is granting Patta on a selective basis — to influential persons, while rejecting poor and senior citizens.
More alarming, the State is now considering filing SLPs in the Supreme Court selectively, only to delay justice, not to correct the law. Once an SLP is filed, it will take another 10–15 years. At this age, that amounts to a life sentence.
Puri & Jatni: The Marfatdar Problem
Thousands of acres under “Marfatdar” status, linked to Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu and other temples, have not been regularized. The Govt. had once adopted a uniform policy for Jagannath Temple lands, but it was never extended to common landholders and dependents.
These families have held the land for 50+ years. All original allottees are now senior citizens.
Our Demands:
- Immediate SOP for time-bound settlement of all 70–80 year old lease cases across Odisha.
- Grant Patta based on legally issued Parcha during settlement, without discrimination.
- Withdraw the proposal to file selective SLPs. Respect High Court judgments uniformly.
- Apply a uniform regularization policy for Marfatdar lands.
- Convert settled residential lands located within BDA areas to “Gharabari” kisam .
ISSUE 2: SWASTHYA – HEALTH DIGNITY FOR SENIORS:
A senior citizen suffering from BP, diabetes and knee pain should not be forced to stand for 3 hours in a hospital queue.
Our Demands:
- Exclusive Senior Citizen Counters in every Govt. Hospital, District HQ Hospital, Community Health Centre, Private Hospital and AIIMS Bhubaneswar. Separate queues for OPD, Laboratory, Pharmacy and Billing.
- More CGHS Wellness Centres in Odisha. Present CGHS coverage is grossly inadequate. New wellness centres must be opened immediately in Balasore, Puri and Rourkela so that pensioners do not have to travel to Bhubaneswar for every treatment.
- Geriatric Wards and free annual health check-up camps in every district for citizens above 60 years of age.
Health is not a privilege. For seniors, it is survival.
ISSUE 3: SAMMAN – SECURITY & RESPECT
Police Priority
In cases of theft, fraud, cybercrime, or medical emergencies involving senior citizens, the Police must respond on a priority basis. FIRs should be registered at home if the person is unable to travel to the station. A dedicated “Senior Citizen Help Desk” should be established in every police station.
Temple Darshan
Odisha has no special provision for senior citizens in our great temples — be it Shri Jagannath, Puri; Lingaraj, Bhubaneswar; or Konark.
We demand a separate queue, seating arrangements, drinking water and volunteer assistance for all citizens above 60 years in all major temples. Faith should not be a test of physical endurance.
WHY “GEN-SENIOR” AND WHY NOW?:
We are not asking for charity. We are asking for implementation of existing laws and court orders.
Courts cannot resolve 5 lakh land cases one by one. Police stations cannot treat every senior citizen’s case as “routine”. Hospitals cannot treat an 80-year-old the same as a 20-year-old.
The Gen-Senior Andolan will be 100% digital and peaceful.
We will send emails and letters to the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Revenue Minister, Health Minister and DGP.
We will share stories of 50-year-long court battles on WhatsApp, Facebook and X.
We will tag and appeal — not abuse.
This movement is not against any party or officer. It is for the Constitution, for the judgments, and for the dignity of those who built modern Odisha.
OUR APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ODISHA:
Hon’ble Chief Minister, if you resolve a 50-year-old problem in 5 months, your name will be written in golden letters.
Give us Nyaya on Bhoomi, Swasthya in hospitals, and Samman in society.
The elders of Odisha gave their youth to this state. Now give them their rights.
*Jai Jagannath। Jai Odisha :
Lokanath Mishra
Chief Adviser, AIPACBIC
Email: jailoknathjee@gmail.com | Mobile: 9437314941