'Will make them pay back with interest'; CM Pinarayi Vijayan proposes strict action against ineligible pensioners

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan promised strict action against government employees involved in the welfare pension fraud. CM held a special meeting today to discuss the issue and promised to make the fraudsters pay the money back with interest.

Strict action will also be directed against officials who aided ineligible people to get into the pension list. Action will also be taken against non-employees who received pensions ineligibly. The Chief Minister said that those who died would be excluded from the list by conducting concurring muster at that time.

• He also clarified that annual mustering will be made mandatory.
• A face authentication system will be introduced.
• Income certificate and Aadhaar seeding will be made mandatory.

It is proposed to assess the eligibility of welfare pensioners on the basis of the local self-government bodies and to continue the inspection by the finance department.

Last day, it was found that people owning BMW cars and mansions were illegally availing the monthly social security pension of Rs 1600, meant for the poor. A vigilance inquiry was ordered against those responsible for the pension fraud in the Kottakkal municipality.

Vigilance Director Yogesh Gupta submitted a report to the Chief Minister on Friday recommending a state-wide investigation and action against corruption and financial crimes. The report demanded that the property of the officers involved in the fraud be confiscated.