New Delhi: The government has dealt a major blow to pensioners under social security schemes. The Madhya Pradesh government has withheld funds from more than two lakh pensioners due to incomplete physical verification. There are approximately 5.6 million beneficiaries across the state.
The Social Justice and Disability Empowerment Department had issued instructions to physically verify these beneficiaries. Two months ago, the pensions of 2.99 lakh beneficiaries were suspended due to the incomplete verification process.
Since then, a total of 72,863 pensioners have undergone physical verification. Their pensions have been updated on the portal. The remaining pensioners have not yet completed their verification. This is why their pensions will not be released.
The department expressed displeasure.
People will face difficulties due to the suspension of pensions. The Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department, noting this as a serious development, informed the relevant district officials that the lack of expected pace clearly indicates that district and local body officials are not serious about their departmental responsibility for conducting physical verification. This is disappointing and tarnishes the government’s image. The negligence is also intolerable.
How much verification has been done where?
The level of verification in the state has been low. In Sidhi, Tikamgarh, Singrauli, Bhopal, Maihar, Umaria, and Dindori districts, less than 10% of physical verification has been completed. Furthermore, 16 districts have seen negligible physical verification. Show-cause notices are being issued to the social security officers in all these districts, seeking answers.