Post News Network
Krushnaprasad, May 21: Officials of this block in Puri district have allegedly misappropriated the old age pension amount of three elderly persons of Rasadi village under Bajrakot panchayat.
According to reports, Mayadhar Biswal (75), Sahadev Biswal (85) and Banambar Biswal (85) of the village are yet to get their pension amount of four months of the year 2012. The total amount payable by the block office to these aged persons is Rs3,600. However, the block development officer (BDO) Bhaskar Chandra Rout said these three have no outstanding payment to receive after they approached the officer on several occasions.
It is learnt that the old men do not know how to sign and they used to receive their pension by putting thumb impressions on the official documents. Taking advantage of their illiteracy, somebody in the block office has drawn the amount by putting thumb impression, sources said.
While officials said the money has been withdrawn, the beneficiaries have not received it. The elderly men, on the other hand, said they would stage a sit in at the Collectorate unless they get their dues. Locals demanded a probe into the incident.
