BJP MLA corners minister over halting old age, widow pension
BJP legislator countered on Tuesday a minister’s reply in the assembly on discontinuation of pension to senior citizens and widows.
Social justice and empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi said around 62 lakh people now avail of pension; people found eligible after verification were given pension with arrears. “The government intends to benefit only those who are eligible.”
He said 53 lakh people were given pensions amounting to ₹280 crore in 2013-14; the government now spends ₹379 crore on pensions. “On July 16, 2016, district collectors were directed to verify pensioners. Information received from 17 districts states that of the 1,79,498 pensioners verified, 8362 were found eligible, and their pension was revived,” the minister told the House during the question hour.
Countering the minister’s reply, BJP MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari said pension of over five lakh people was stopped; 1.79 lakh pensioners have been verified
till date, still around four lakh are left. “Stopping pension has tainted the government’s image in media. Is the government unable to take action against the officials responsible?” the MLA asked.
“How much time officials will take for verification? Of the one lakh pensioners verified in three years, only 8000 were found alive, and rest have been declared dead falsely,” Tiwari alleged. “When the department does not have its own network in districts, then writing to collectors is a waste.”
The minister said, “Pension of 4,18,333 people was stopped because of various reasons such as deaths, duplicity and wrong bank accounts. After verification, 3,80,326 were found ineligible, and 38,007 eligible who were then given pensions with arrears.” He added, “Pension for 1,79,798 people was stopped on the ground of death. However, 8362 were found alive after verification, and their pension was restored.”
Chaturvedi said incomplete address, deaths, migration and taking pension from two places are main reasons for the stopping the benefit. “Verification of pensioners is being done at the district level and the process will be completed soon,” the minster assured the House.