‘Dead people on NDMC pensioners’ list’

Corporation recently released pensions for three months — Oct to Dec 2014

February 23, 2017 01:24 am | Updated 01:24 am IST - New Delhi

People who had died or moved away from the city years ago are still on the rolls to receive pensions from the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, which recently wrote out cheques to many such beneficiaries, councillors alleged on Wednesday.

Councillors raise issue

Speaking at a meeting of the Corporation’s Standing Committee, councillors raised concerns that the social welfare pension scheme for senior citizens, widows and the differently-abled still included the names of those who were no longer around.

The civic body, which disburses pensions to about 80,000 people, has been falling behind on payments. Recently, the Corporation released pensions for three months — October to December 2014.

While the councillors welcomed the move, they pointed out that many beneficiaries were no longer alive or present in their wards.

18 cheques

Prithvi Singh Rathore, the Congress councillor from Peeragarhi, said 18 cheques had been written to deceased persons or those who had moved away from his ward.

In addition, he said 21 people whose names had been nominated for the pension scheme in 2014 did not receive the payment.

“On the one hand, we don’t have the money to pay salaries on time, and on the other, we’re giving pensions to dead people and those who are not in Delhi or have signed up for the Delhi government’s pension scheme,” said Mr. Rathore.

Seema Tahira, the Congress councillor from Bazar Sita Ram ward, said pension cheques had been written out to 30 people who had passed away or left the area.

“The people we had recommended for pension in place of those no longer there have not been given pension. I will return the 30 cheques and ask for payment for the real pensioners,” she said.

Admitting that these allegations were serious, Standing Committee chairperson Parvesh Wahi ordered an inquiry, adding that action would be taken against any officials who did not allow new pensioners to be added to the list. Each councillor is allowed to nominate 750 people for the ₹1,000 per month per person pension scheme, with the office-bearers, including the Mayor, having their own quota. When a beneficiary passes away or moves, the councillor can nominate someone else for that spot.

Meanwhile, the Standing Committee also passed a resolution asking the Delhi Government till February 28 to nominate beneficiaries for a common pension scheme.

One lakh beneficiaries

The Delhi Government will be adding one lakh beneficiaries to its pension scheme, and has asked MPs, MLAs and councillors to nominate people from their areas. The government had given the Corporation till February 23 to sign up for an online portal, where beneficiaries could be added.

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