7,000 ‘fake’ pensioners get notices in Bathinda

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 2

Recently, the Department of Social Security issued 7,000 notices to “fake” pensioners to recover money from them in the district. In total, 70,137 fake pensioners had been identified by the department who had withdrawn Rs 162.35 crore in old-aged pension in the state.

In Bathinda, 8,762 fake beneficiaries were detected, who had withdrawn Rs 17 crore. Of them, 7,000 have been asked to pay back the pension amount they had got from the government within 15 days or else be prepared to face the police.

B Srinivasan, DC, said a committee led by the District Social Security Officer (DSSO) was constituted and notices had been issued to recover the money.

Bathinda DSSO Teaswaspreet Kaur said, “In 2017, a survey was done, during which around 8,762 wrong beneficiaries were found in the district. We have issued notices to 7,000 such beneficiaries. Those remaining will also be served notices soon.”

The highest numbers of fake pensioners were detected in Sangrur (12,573), followed by Bathinda (8,762), Amritsar (7,853), Muktsar (7,441) and Mansa (6,663).

During the SAD-BJP tenure, political parties, including the Congress, had alleged that pension was not provided to original beneficiaries in Bathinda and only workers of Akali Dal were getting the benefit.