Amritsar, April 27
Believe it or not, but it is true that unmarried and married — both are getting ‘widow pensions’ while middle-aged persons are among the beneficiaries of old age pension in the border belt—thanks to the “pension mafia” operating in the border belt.
Lakho, a resident of Taza Chakk village on Chhehrta-Bir Sahib road is a happily married woman. She was approached by Surinder Shah, a middleman of the adjoining village for getting “widow pension”. She happily agreed to the proposal as she was assured regular pension on meagre commission. Lakho, who is in early 40s, got puzzled when this correspondent met her in Taza Chakk village. She admitted that her husband, Mr Lakhwinder, was alive.
An unmarried girl of Baserke Bhainy village also succeeded in getting the “widow pension” due to the “efforts” of a “pension agent” of the same village. Another married woman of the same village, Bholi (40), is also getting widow pension.
The family of Banta Singh and his two sons who are less than 50 years old are getting old age pension. Though the eldest son of Banta Singh, Rattan Singh, a driver, is above 50 yet he did not succumb to the pension after his two younger brothers, Kashmir Singh and Bachan Singh are getting old age pension.
Veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang alleged that he had submitted a list of 13 agents and sub-agents to the Social Security Department and high officials of the state government but no action was initiated against them. He alleged that the “pension mafia” was active with the connivance of the department officials.
Sources pointed out that the “pension mafia” was active in the entire border belt and it was in the knowledge of district administration on the complaint of Mr Dang. Surinder Kumar Shah, a panch of Baserke village, was booked by the local police. Before the local police could arrest him he secured a stay from the court.
Swarn Kaur, a panch of Taza Chakk village, alleged that a certain agent of the adjoining village had got commission from the ineligible pension beneficiaries. She alleged that the agent keep the copies of such cases at their homes. Officials of banks and Social Security Department would inform them to get the pension. The agents get commission on the delivery of pensions.
The increasing number of old age beneficiaries has given an impression that the entire belt “had grown old”.
According to confirmed reports, the pension scam would come out to be in crores if investigations were done by the state government. The above information about the embezzlement of social security funds is just a tip of the iceberg.
Mr Kabul Singh and Mr Ram Singh, sarpanches of Baserke and Taza Chakk villages admitted that many genuine cases were denied pensions while ineligible persons succeeded in getting their cases sanctioned through agents and sub-agents. The villagers gave a long list of landlords getting old age pension which was not permissible under the rules.
