Hatadihi: Alleged misappropriation of social security pension funds in the names of deceased beneficiaries has come to light in Hatadihi block of Kendujhar district, prompting the Block Development Officer (BDO) to initiate action.
The irregularities were detected by newly appointed Panchayat Executive Officer (PEO) Ajay Nayak, who joined Danr Panchayat in September.
During the distribution of pension benefits for October, Nayak visited beneficiaries door to door and discovered that several people listed in official records had died long ago.
He identified nearly 30 deceased beneficiaries, whose names continued to appear on pension rolls, raising suspicion that funds had been fraudulently drawn in their names.
“During pension distribution this month, I found that money had been withdrawn in the names of several deceased beneficiaries by putting thumb impressions in the official register.
I will request the BDO for action at his end,” Nayak said.
The discovery has raised serious questions about the monitoring of pension distribution and the role of officials responsible for maintaining beneficiary records.
The BDO and the newly appointed PEO have brought the suspected irregularities to light, exposing possible financial misconduct in the implementation of welfare schemes.
Questions have also been raised over how pension payments continued for months after the beneficiaries’ deaths and whose thumb impressions and signatures were recorded in the registers.
According to local residents, the irregularities are not con fi ned to a single panchayat.
Similar fraudulent withdrawals are allegedly taking place in several panchayats, raising serious questions about the lack of monitoring and account ability.
Following the revelations, Hatadihi BDO Ranjan Kumar Parida has initiated steps to investigate the alleged irregularities.
BDO Parida said stringent legal action would be taken after receiving the PEO’s report.
“No one involved in the irregularities will be spared. Verification will be conducted in every panchayat, and appropriate legal action will follow,” the BDO said.