Property of illegal pensioners can be confiscated; vigilance recommendation to government

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The vigilance has recommended to the government that the properties of government officials, including those in gazetted positions, can be confiscated for taking social security pensions meant for the poor. Those who have accepted the pension intentionally, without making forged documents and by mistake, can repay the money along with interest. Others should be booked for corruption and economic offences. Vigilance chief Yogesh Gupta told Kerala Kaumudi that strict action would be taken as such people were trying to extort government money and sabotage welfare schemes. The vigilance has informed the government that a probe is required across the state under the leadership of the Special Investigation Unit. Apart from the social welfare pension, serious irregularities have also been found in schemes in other departments, including the mid-day meal scheme and civil supplies.

The vigilance will also look into how such people have illegally received pension. How much money has been lost should be found out. For this, the documents with the finance department need to be checked. Cases, where widows and disabled pensioners continued to get pensions after getting jobs, will also be identified separately.

The list of beneficiaries of social security pension is prepared after a three-tier inspection. Once the application is received, the officials of the local bodies should conduct field verification. The village officer should then certify the annual income. Based on this, the list of beneficiaries is handed over to the government by the secretary of the local bodies. The rule is that their eligibility should be repeatedly ensured annually by mustering under the leadership of the local bodies. Those who own more than two acres of agricultural land, those who have a house of more than 2,000 sq ft, those who have a motor vehicle with more than 1,000 cc and those with an annual family income of more than Rs 1 lakh are not eligible for social pension. Yet crime is widespread.

"The wrong disbursement of pension is due to corruption and misuse of the government machinery. If strong action is not taken, it will send a wrong message to the society."

- Yogesh Gupta, Vigilance chief