In excess of 70,000 Bogus Pensioners In Punjab, Restoration Sparks Political Row

Chandigarh:

For 65-year-aged Gurtej Kaur in Punjab’s Moga district, the working day begins with a go to to the lender to talk to right after a pension – a meagre Rs 750 for every thirty day period – that she has not received considering the fact that Might.

“I do not know why I have not been obtaining the pension amount of money. I am a senior citizen with no other earning member in the family members. I just take treatment of some of my expenditures by sewing garments. The authorities should keep on my regular monthly pension,” she mentioned.

There are quite a few like Ms Kaur in Punjab, who have been left in the lurch immediately after the office of social security detected a important fraud – extra than 70,000 persons have been illegally drawing rewards well worth close to Rs 162.35 crore.

Even though the names of the illegal beneficiaries have now been struck off the list and the point out has purchased recovery of the disbursed quantity, it will likely choose several extra months just before the cash is recouped and sent to Ms Kaur and the other people.

Officers say the fraud dates back to 2015, when tens of thousands claimed to be qualified for old age pension utilizing fake certificates to bypass the bare minimum age rule – 58 for women and 65 for males.

There ended up also other people beneficiaries, this sort of as destitute and disabled persons, who did not satisfy the requirements either.

Sangrur, Bathinda, Amritsar, Muktsar and Mansa are the districts with the most numbers of these unlawful beneficiaries

On the other hand, the restoration get has kicked up a political storm with the opposition Akali Dal contacting it “anti-human”, even though the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) has demanded action from erring officials

Dr Daljit Cheema, an Akali Dal spokesperson, explained the buy intended 70,000 people would be remaining with no pension, as against the Congress’s claim of raising pensions to Rs 2,500 per thirty day period.

“The authorities managed to detect this fraud, which took put in the Akali Dal administration. It is time to make recoveries also from those people officers who permitted it to transpire,” he stated.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has strike back, pointing out that deserving beneficiaries had been added to the checklist considering that he arrived to power in 2017.

He also accused the preceding administration – an alliance of the Akali Dal and BJP – of “fraudulently” serving to unlawful beneficiaries.

“My authorities had added 6 lakh authentic beneficiaries… even though weeding out the ineligible ones who have been fraudulently receiving social safety positive aspects below the patronage of the erstwhile Sad-BJP authorities,” he was quoted by news agency ANI.

“These points take place when political events come to be egocentric and indulge in wrongful functions to boost their very own pursuits,” the Main Minister declared.

Although the Congress and the opposition exchange barbs more than this problem, it is critical for the point out authorities to be certain that senior citizens and these genuinely deserving of social protection and assist from the state, are not left large and dry.

With input from ANI