PeterGriffin
Elite
Sarpanch draws pension of five dead persons; dodges action by repaying govt
After the Shagun scheme scam, an old age pension scam has surfaced in the district administration office. Gurbaksh Singh, Sarpanch of Janta Colony falling in Gill village, was found guilty by the district administration authorities for drawing pensions of five persons who are dead. The inquiry conducted about a month ago found him guilty and, on January 13, the district social security officer wrote to the commissioner of police for taking suitable action against the sarpanch. However, no action has been taken so far and even departmental action by the block development panchayat officer (BDPO) has also not been initiated so far. Reason: The sarpanch admitted his crime and paid back the extra bucks drawn.
Although the bungling of old-age pension amounts to only Rs 18,250 but the matter is of grave concern as many other panchayats may also be having such scams.
As per details of the inquiry, pension amounting to Rs 4,250 (at the rate of Rs 250 per month) had been drawn in the name of Gurdev Kaur from August 2008 to December 2009 while she had died on August 15, 2008, as per the death certificate. This information was never given to the department by the sarpanch. Another villager, Ajit Singh, who died on Feb 16, 2009 was getting pension till August 2009 and hence Rs 1,750 more was spent by the department. In the name of Nirmala Devi, pension amounting to Rs 7,500 was drawn for 30 months together. She had expired two and a half years ago.
After the Shagun scheme scam, an old age pension scam has surfaced in the district administration office. Gurbaksh Singh, Sarpanch of Janta Colony falling in Gill village, was found guilty by the district administration authorities for drawing pensions of five persons who are dead. The inquiry conducted about a month ago found him guilty and, on January 13, the district social security officer wrote to the commissioner of police for taking suitable action against the sarpanch. However, no action has been taken so far and even departmental action by the block development panchayat officer (BDPO) has also not been initiated so far. Reason: The sarpanch admitted his crime and paid back the extra bucks drawn.
Although the bungling of old-age pension amounts to only Rs 18,250 but the matter is of grave concern as many other panchayats may also be having such scams.
As per details of the inquiry, pension amounting to Rs 4,250 (at the rate of Rs 250 per month) had been drawn in the name of Gurdev Kaur from August 2008 to December 2009 while she had died on August 15, 2008, as per the death certificate. This information was never given to the department by the sarpanch. Another villager, Ajit Singh, who died on Feb 16, 2009 was getting pension till August 2009 and hence Rs 1,750 more was spent by the department. In the name of Nirmala Devi, pension amounting to Rs 7,500 was drawn for 30 months together. She had expired two and a half years ago.
