The Social welfare department officers of the State were stunned, finding around 4,000 persons from across the State drawing pensions under more than two pension schemes. This startling revelation came up while the officials reviewed the pension schemes, said Uttarakhand additional secretary (social welfare) Manoj Chandran on Friday. The social welfare department would recover around Rs3.97 crore from 3973 such persons, he added. He further said that as per the government rule, a person can draw pension under a single pension scheme.
Complaints were received from some districts that ineligible persons were drawing amounts under various pension schemes or under the same scheme using two names. Initial reviews revealed that some of these persons had enrolled themselves in the list of the pension beneficiaries from two or more districts.
Notably, social welfare department conducts camps at district levels where those who fulfill the criteria of eligibility are given pension cards under various pension schemes launched by the State Government
Chandran said that the social welfare officers had earlier been directed around a month ago to review the list of pensioners and draft a list of bank account numbers into which the pension amounts are released. “This was when the fact of persons drawing amounts under two or more pension schemes either under one name or two different names came to the notice of the officials,” he said.
Reports submitted by the officers revealed that 1357 persons are receiving two pensions under the same old age pension scheme. They had enrolled two names in the department under the same. likewise, 454 women are receiving two pensions from widow pension scheme. Similarly, 499 persons are receiving two pensions from the scheme meant for the physically handicapped. Moreover, 662 persons are receiving pension from two of the three schemes- old age pension scheme, widow pension scheme and that of the handicapped. There are also women who draw pensions from both old age pension scheme and widow pension scheme.
Notably, in Dehradun district, around 12, 500 persons are benefiting from the scheme meant for the physically handicapped while around 17,000 women are drawing amounts, availing the widow pension scheme. Besides, while around 800 farmers are getting pension around 53, 000 persons are benefiting from the old age pension scheme.
Critics opined that nexus of local political leaders and department officers is responsible for the persons making two cards of two different pension schemes. Moreover, local political leaders pressurise the officers to release pension scheme cards without verifying things thoroughly. “This is what is depriving a large number of intended beneficiaries of the benefits of the pension schemes,” one of them said.