Irregularities galore in the distribution of old age pension scheme of the government with some members of the upper caste reportedly taking the benefit by forging the authorities and claiming themselves to be Dalits. Surprisingly, some local villagers brought the above scam in the knowledge of senior officers in Muzaffarnagar, but no one took cognizance of the matter.
An enquiry in this regard has been now handed over to divisional commissioner of Saharanpur by the Information Commissioner, Hafiz Usman. He directed to look into the matter and submit a report within a month so necessary action can be taken against the accused as well as the government officials who had facilitated the guilty to make financial gain out of forged documents.
Talking to The Pioneer, here on Saturday afternoon, Usman said that local residents of Thanabhawan area of Muzaffarnagar, contacted and appraised him that some persons belonging to upper castes were taking the benefit of old age pension scheme of the government which is meant for dalits. Usman claimed that he was informed that the accused submitted forged documents about the caste and were illegally withdrawing pension.
Usman, said that what surprised him more than the above residents had already contacted senior officers in Muzaffarnagar and appraised them of the said scam and requested necessary action, but the officials done nothing.
He claimed that not only this, local residents also made a written complaint in this regard and sought details of action taken through an application under Right To Information (RTI) Act but still nothing has been done. According to Usman, the residents also gave him example of Kalyan Singh (65)and Charan Singh (68), the two brothers hailing from Hakiman hamlet of Thanabhawan in Muzaffarnagar.
He said that both Kalyan and Charan belongs to Thakur community but they submitted forged certificates that they were dalits and getting pension through their bank accounts in Oriental Bank of Commerce branch also at Thanabhawan. Interestingly, the residents even claimed that Charan Singh, is aged just about 55-years still he submitted documents showing his age as 68-years-old.
Usman further claimed that besides submitting documents that the above accused were not dalits, the residents also submitted papers of huge land bank which the duo had their names but still they showed them as poor to receive government’s scheme benefit. Information Commissioner said that in wake of above information and documentary evidences submitted in support of allegations, he directed divisional commissioner of Saharanpur zone to probe the matter and submit his findings so that further appropriate action could be taken against all the accused.