A Rs 162-crore pension rip-off has been unearthed in Punjab
Chandigarh:
For 65-year-old Gurtej Kaur in Punjab’s Moga district, the day begins with a go to to the financial institution to ask after a pension – a meagre Rs 750 per thirty days – that she has not acquired since Could.
“I do not know why I’ve not been receiving the pension quantity. I’m a senior citizen with no different incomes member within the household. I care for a few of my bills by stitching garments. The federal government ought to proceed my month-to-month pension,” she stated.
There are various like Ms Kaur in Punjab, who’ve been left within the lurch after the division of social safety detected a significant rip-off – greater than 70,000 folks had been illegally drawing advantages value round Rs 162.35 crore.
Though the names of the unlawful beneficiaries have now been struck off the listing and the state has ordered restoration of the disbursed quantity, it would possible take a number of extra months earlier than the cash is recouped and despatched to Ms Kaur and the others.
Officers say the fraud dates again to 2015, when tens of 1000’s claimed to be eligible for outdated age pension utilizing faux certificates to bypass the minimal age rule – 58 for ladies and 65 for males.
There have been additionally others beneficiaries, corresponding to destitute and disabled individuals, who didn’t meet the standards both.
Sangrur, Bathinda, Amritsar, Muktsar and Mansa are the districts with essentially the most numbers of those unlawful beneficiaries
Gurtej Kaur, 65, has not acquired her month-to-month pension of Rs 750 since Could
Nonetheless, the restoration order has kicked up a political storm with the opposition Akali Dal calling it “anti-human”, whereas the AAP (Aam Aadmi Occasion) has demanded motion in opposition to erring officers
Dr Daljit Cheema, an Akali Dal spokesperson, stated the order meant 70,000 households can be left with no pension, as in opposition to the Congress’s declare of elevating pensions to Rs 2,500 per thirty days.
“The federal government managed to detect this fraud, which occurred within the Akali Dal administration. It’s time to make recoveries additionally from these officers who allowed it to occur,” he stated.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has hit again, declaring that deserving beneficiaries had been added to the listing since he got here to energy in 2017.
He additionally accused the earlier administration – an alliance of the Akali Dal and BJP – of “fraudulently” serving to unlawful beneficiaries.
“My authorities had added 6 lakh real beneficiaries… whereas hunting down the ineligible ones who had been fraudulently getting social safety advantages beneath the patronage of the erstwhile SAD-BJP authorities,” he was quoted by information company ANI.
“These items occur when political events turn out to be egocentric and take pleasure in wrongful acts to advertise their very own pursuits,” the Chief Minister declared.
Whereas the Congress and the opposition trade barbs over this difficulty, it’s important for the state authorities to make sure that senior residents and people genuinely deserving of social safety and help from the state, are usually not left excessive and dry.
With enter from ANI
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