SW Dept officials accused of embezzling pension fund
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 01 2023:
MLA K Meghachandra has drawn immediate attention of the state assembly into alleged dishonest act of some officers in the Social Welfare Department who are siphoning off old age pension money meant for elderly citizens.
MLA Meghachandra along with Th Lokeshwar moved policy cut motions when the demand for grant of social welfare department amounting to Rs 968,19,57,000 was moved in Tuesday's sitting of the House.
Moving the motion, Meghachandra claimed to have evidences about some officials and computer operators of the department embezzling money meant for beneficiaries of Indira Gandhi National Pension Scheme and Manipur State Old Age Pension Scheme.
The Opposition member also urged the House to look into the matter'seri-ously and take up necessary action against such officials, who he likened to rodents.
Explaining about the modus operandi, Meghachandra said officials and computer operators Change names of deceased beneficiaries who used to receive old age pension earlier and transfer the pension amount for cumulative months to another account.
This is not known to ministers, MLAs or public, he said and strongly called for a thorough investigation into the matter so as to expose the drama of the rodent-like officials.
As nobody reports demise of beneficiary of old age pension scheme and the department seldom conducts enquiry to ascertain such matters the centre continues to allocate the pension amount for the deceased beneficiary as usual.
However, those dealing with the scheme in the department change names of deceased beneficiaries and transfer the pension amount into another account, he reiterated and urged the minister concerned to check into the matter and take up necessary action.
In his reply, social welfare minister H Dingo said that selection of beneficiaries for old age pension schemes was done in the past collectively by the district social welfare officer and elected member.
However, the earlier process involving elected member has been abolished due to certain issues including lack of transparency, he said, adding that selection of beneficiaries is being done now by a screening committee comprising director (social welfare) as chairperson and district level social welfare officer.
A state level selection committee looks after selected beneficiaries from districts again, Dingo explained.
While asserting that selection of beneficiaries is being done as per rule and Centre's guideline in respect of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme, the minister said that the state has a total of 55,972 beneficiaries under the Centrally-sponsored old age pension scheme with the amount disbursed through DBT system.
He also said that bank correspondents hand over the pension amount directly to beneficiaries who are unable to go to banks or ATM.
He also assured the House that the matter of taking money by bank correspondents in disbursing pension amount, if any, will be identified with the banks at the level of the chief secretary.
Meanwhile, chief minister N Biren appealed to the Opposition members to submit a list of elderly people aged between 70-80 years who are still deprived of old age pension scheme to the department.