Indian Express 26.04.2010
No double benefit: 3,500 pensioners struck off MCD list
Express News Service Tags : corporation, employee Posted: Monday , Apr 26, 2010 at 0314 hrs
New Delhi: The names of 3,583 beneficiaries of various pension schemes were struck off from the rolls by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) after it found that these pensioners were enjoying the benefits from the civic body as well as the government.The issue was taken up after an inquiry was conducted by the MCD following complaints it received last year about irregularities in the pension scheme for the elderly, widows and the physically challenged. The corporation had said a detailed inquiry would be held to identify the beneficiaries who were collecting double pension. According to sources such beneficiaries have been identified and their details have been checked and verified with the Social Welfare Department.
After verification, the names of 3,583 beneficiaries have been deleted from the pension list of MCD and the zonal deputy commissioners of the civic body have been directed to take action to recover the amount of pension illegally received by them. According to rules, a person can avail such a benefit either from the MCD or from the Delhi government.
ccording to officials, the highest number of such pensioners were found in MCD West Zone (932), followed by Shahdara North (618), Civil Lines (445), South Zone (399), City Zone (262), Rohini (249) and Shahdara South (218).
To prevent such irregularities in the future, deputy commissioners of the 12 zones of MCD have been instructed to send details of pensioners to the Social Welfare Department regularly. The MCD also plans to take steps to verify details of the pensioners and prepare a software which could help in checking duplicate payments, a senior official said.
