

BHOPAL: More than six months on, officials of the social justice department are still 'verifying', 4 lakh pensioners who were found untraceable by Samagra (online identity card) scheme.

"There could be some duplications or some other reasons. We are screening the list and after verification removing duplicates from the list. Screening will be completed by November and only then course of action it any would be decided," commissioner social justice, V S Niranjan told TOI.

Government records suggest that 31,62,087 beneficiaries are registered and they receive pension under various scheme including Indira Gandhi national old age pension, Indira Gandhi national widow pension, Indira Gandhi national disability pension, social security pension and financial assistance for mentally retarded and kanya abhibhawak pension . These beneficiaries get a pension amount of Rs 300 and Rs 500 as per month

It is learnt that on verification of beneficiaries undertaken by the department only 27,44,028 pensioners could be verified. Remaining 4,18,059 could not be traced or contacted.

An officer from the Samagra mission said that Samagra is a system and its idea is to create a data base to bring in transparency. Physical verification rests with the concerned departments which are disbursing funds.

However, officials of the social justice department claimed there could hardly be any issue with the misappropriation of funds as from last two years funds are being paid directly through the funds transfer scheme.

Department has stopped payment of pensions to the beneficiaries who are missing or remained untraceable from May this year.

