Big shots are safe even in pension fraud!

It has been weeks since an inspection found 1458 government employees who were unduly receiving the welfare pension introduced by the government to help the poor. There are 62 lakh people on the pension list. After discovering those who were illegally collecting pensions, it was boasted that a wide-scale investigation would be conducted and action would be taken against those who were taking government money illegally. However, nothing has been heard so far after the initial inspections that detected the irregularity. Two days ago there was news that six employees of the agriculture department were suspended in connection with welfare pension fraud. Most of them are low-level employees of the agriculture department. There were reports that people from professors to sepoys have committed social pension fraud. However, only the low-level employees were included when the first action happened!

Although 1458 fraudsters were found in the inspection, there is widespread suspicion that the government is trying to wash its hands by taking action against only six people. One would think the same when one sees the lax attitude of the government in this matter. 2.25 crore rupees were drained from the exchequer by blowing the norms and accepting social security pension. The finance minister and others have said that this amount will be recovered with interest. However, nothing much happened. The employees, who have received social security pensions from the government in addition to their own salary, are continuing in government service comfortably without paying back the embezzled money. Officials who have received money through wrong means may not have shame. But why is the government not taking action despite having a list of people who committed fraud?

Things in the state of Kerala are now in such a way that it is a fact the allegation that the administration of justice is done only after looking at people's faces. If the crime is committed by the big men of the society, efforts will be made to save them without putting the cuffs of the law on them. Even deserving justice is far away if the crime is committed by someone who has no influence or political power. This can be understood if we look at the experience of those who were involved in cases of the Kannur district panchayat president down to those who closed the road in Vanchiyoor and built a stage. In the Vanchiyoor incident, neither the organizers nor the speakers of the conference, but the hired workers who built the stage and the mic operators are the leading suspects!

The fact that 62 lakh people are regularly receiving social security pensions in Kerala, which has a population of only 3.5 crores, raises doubts. If the list of pensioners is carefully checked, thousands more who are receiving benefits illegally can be found. 11,000 crores a year is needed to pay social security pension. Agencies including CAG have already informed the government that many of the social pension recipients are getting this benefit illegally. Maybe the government did not take it seriously because votes were involved. The government, which is facing financial stress, will get at least some relief if the illegal pensioners are identified and action is taken. Deserving poor can also be included in the pensioners' list instead of those excluded.