In the Samajwadi pension scheme of the previous UP government under Akhilesh Yadav, a scam of billions of Rupees has surfaced. According to a report, a total of 4.50 lakh persons have been identified across the state, who were ineligible for the pension under the scheme. This ambitious scheme was implemented during the Samajwadi Party government in the year 2014-15.
Under the Samajwadi pension scheme, the beneficiaries were provided a sum of Rs 1500 as their quarterly installment in their bank account. It is estimated that the UP government is under a debt of more than 1000 crore because of this scheme of the previous government. According to reports, pensions had been sanctioned to ineligible and dead people as well. As soon as disruptions were found in the scheme, it was scrapped. Recovery of money from ineligible beneficiaries and probe against the guilty officers started soon afterward.
After getting complaints of rigging in the Samajwadi pension scheme, Chief Secretary of Social Welfare had probed in the case in May 2017 and submitted a report in a month. Now, a list of officers is being prepared having the most ineligible beneficiaries in their respective districts.
Director Social Welfare Jagadish Prasad pointed out that a new pension scheme may be implemented at the place of Samajwadi Pension Scheme. Under the Samajwadi pension scheme in Uttar Pradesh, there were a total of 54 lakh beneficiaries from 75 districts of the state. After receiving complaints of embezzlement, the investigation was carried at the government level. In the probe, more than 4.5 lakh of ineligible were identified, who got the benefit of the scheme.
Recently, the Chief Secretary to the state government submitted a complete report of swindling in the Samajwadi pension scheme. According to Rural department officials, there were surveys conducted at that time in order to add eligible beneficiaries to government schemes but government officials added those who were below 60 years of age so that they can get the benefits of the pension scheme.
Minister of Social Welfare Department, Ramapati Shastri told that more than Rs 1000 crore had been sent into account of 4.5 lakh illegal beneficiary. He further added that a major decision will be taken after meeting with the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The government will soon be preparing a new scheme for eligible beneficiaries. Strict action will be taken against the officials who misused the government money by adding the names of dead people in the scheme as beneficiaries.
During Akhilesh regime in Uttar Pradesh, questions were always raised regarding the law and order situation in the state. The scam that unfolds with the Samajwadi pension scheme is just the tip of the ice-burg of the corruptions of Akhilesh’s government in Uttar Pradesh