State identifies 3.58 lakh fake pensioners

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The state revenue department has identified 3.58 lakh fake pensioners and saved around Rs 430 crore to the state exchequer, by stopping pension to fake claimants and those pensioners who are no more.

“The beneficiaries under the monthly pension scheme have to withdraw their pension from their bank accounts every month. If any beneficiary fails to withdraw a pension amount in nine months, the revenue department cancels the name of the beneficiary and stops depositing the pension in a bank account. He/she has to apply again for the pension,’’ said Revenue Minister R Ashoka.

The revenue minister said the Chief Minister would launch the new pension programme shortly and it would ensure pension and pension certificate within 72 hours at the door steps of the beneficiaries. “A helpline – Hello Revenue Minister – will be launched shortly. It will eliminate the delay and paperwork considerably. The applicants have to enter their Aadhaar number and bank account number to get the pension and their annual income should be below Rs 32,000,” the revenue minister said. The details of the applicants would reach the village accountant in 15 minutes and the application would be processed. “The village accountant will go to the applicants’ houses and take their pictures and other details and upload it. The beneficiary will get the pension certificate within 72 hours,” he said. He said the state government has allocated Rs 9483.51 crore for this financial year for the benefit of 73.23 lakh people, who are availing monthly pension under various schemes.