Cuttack: A probe by the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) into the old age pension issue has confirmed that an unidentified person was drawing old age pension in the name of corporator Gouri Das’ dead grandmother for last 12 years.
According to the findings of the probe, the unidentified person drew a monthly pension of `300 in the name Das’ grandmother P Mahalaxmi by putting his thumb impression on the record books.
Though Mahalaxmi died August 9, 2006, this person, claiming to be the dead woman’s nephew, drew pension amount to the tune of `34,300 in last 12 years.
The probe report has blamed the carelessness of some CMC officials for such irregularity in the old age pension scheme of the civic body.
“We are examining the probe report. The civic body will recover `34, 300 from officials responsible for the pension gaffe. Besides, we are mulling departmental proceedings against the errant officials. Soon, a police complaint will be lodged and steps taken to identify the person who drew the pension illegally,” said CMC commissioner Bikash Chandra Mohapatra.
Notably, the irregularity in old age pension disbursal came to fore when corporator Gouri Das filed written complaint in this regard with the CMC commissioner.
Earlier, there were allegations that the municipal body had issued old age pension in the name of another dead person at ward no. 29 for a decade.
Some social activists and intellectuals, meanwhile, claimed the involvement of a racket in the illegal withdrawal of pensions. They have sought a Vigilance probe into the issue. “This is not an isolated incident. The CMC should constitute a special team and look into all allegations related to pension irregularities. The civic body should opt for a Vigilance probe to unearth the racket,” said corporator Giribala Behera.
PNN
