1.75 lakh "fake" pension accounts detected in Haryana

A whopping 1.75 lakh "fake" pension accounts have been detected by Haryana government during the implementation of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for social security pension.
"We have found 1.75 lakh accounts, which may be fake and receiving a pension of about Rs 288 crore per annum," a senior official of Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Department said here.
All beneficiaries will now get social security pension transferred directly into their banks accounts from January for the first time.
There are 23.26 lakh beneficiaries of social security pension in the state involving an outlay of Rs 3,400 crore per annum.

"The beneficiaries were asked to submit their copies of bank pass book and other documents for DBT, and 21.50 lakh beneficiaries have deposited their documents, so the remaining are feared to be fake beneficiaries," the official said.
The state government gives eight kinds of pension, including old age, widow, disability and Laadli to the beneficiaries.

Besides, the department also found some cases in which beneficiaries were taking double pension from EPFO and state government, village and city, in both Haryana and Punjab.
The official further informed that the December pension would now be credited directly into the accounts of beneficiaries in January.

"All 6,756 villages will be covered by DBT. In January 2016, pension will be given by DBT alone across Haryana," he said.
For distribution of pension through DBT, the department has made arrangements with banks, post offices, banking correspondents, Vodafone M Pesa agent and common services centres, he added.