Part-time employees becoming scapegoats; big shots and high officials being avoided from action in social welfare pension scam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Only ordinary people including part-time employees are being scapegoated for the illegal receival of social welfare pension. Actions are taken only against them and the bigwigs and high officials are being avoided. No action has been taken against the people's representatives and officials of the local bodies who conspired to scam the undeserved pension. It is alleged that this is due to political and high-level pressure. The government's announcement that there will be a vigilance and crime branch investigation against the fraudsters is yet to be acted upon.

Most of the six people in the agriculture department who were suspended the other day are part-time employees. Of the 72 people in the animal husbandry department who have been recommended for action, all but one are working in lower posts like sweepers. One is a veterinarian. Many of them have been receiving welfare pensions when they were temporary employees and continued to receive them even after getting permanent jobs. However, there is no inquiry as to how a BMW car owner and the family members of ex-servicemen pensioners became eligible for welfare pension. It is alleged that the move is to limit the action by taking action only against a few ordinary employees.

No action on CAG report either

CAG's social audit report had pointed out two years ago that welfare pension fraud had taken place in many municipalities, including Malappuram Kottakkal. There has been no investigation into it yet. The reason for this is the concern that going into such a wide-ranging investigation would bring disrepute to the government system. At the same time, government sources say that the Finance Department is continuing its investigation at the local body level and action will be taken once it is completed.

Welfare Pension Fraud

1458 people found by the government

Amount lost in the fraud................... 2.25 crores

9201 people found by CAG

Amount lost in the fraud................... 39.27 crores

Those who should be subjected to action

• Those who received welfare pension illegally
• Officials who cooperated to insert the ineligible in the pension list
• Those who influenced officials to include the ineligible in the list

People drawing welfare pension: 62 lakh

Annual Expenditure: 11,000 crores