Daijiworld Media Network - Dumka
Dumka, Feb 18: A recent social audit in Jharkhand’s Dumka district has revealed that 14 married women had been fraudulently receiving widow pensions for the past 10 years by falsely declaring their husbands dead.
The irregularity came to light during a social audit in Ranishwar Block, where officials found that the women had been availing benefits under the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Vidhwa Pension Yojana despite their husbands being alive.
Block Development Officer Rajesh Kumar Sinha said the matter surfaced during an audit at Kadma village under Mohalbana Panchayat in Ranishwar Block.
“During the social audit at Kadma village, we were shocked to find that women whose husbands are still alive have been taking benefits under the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Vidhwa Pension Yojana for the last 10 years,” he said.
According to the BDO, six of the women were found living adjacent to each other in Kadma village, while the remaining eight were identified in other villages of the block. Physical verification of six women has been completed so far.
The women reportedly revealed that two middlemen had facilitated the approval of their applications after collecting substantial sums of money. They were allegedly told they would receive Rs 1,000 per month under the scheme but would have to pay half the amount to the middlemen every month.
Rajesh Kumar Sinha said action was initiated immediately after the fraud was detected. The six women whose verification has been completed have been issued notices directing them to deposit Rs 89,800 each, the amount allegedly withdrawn fraudulently since 2016, along with applicable interest to the treasury.
He added that the remaining eight women are being physically verified, and if found guilty, similar recovery notices will be issued to them.
The two middlemen accused of orchestrating the fraud will also be investigated and appropriate action taken, the BDO said.
The administration has stated that strict monitoring will be ensured to prevent misuse of social security benefits and to ensure that assistance reaches only eligible beneficiaries.
The social audit is being conducted in various panchayats under the directions of Deputy Commissioner Abhijeet Sinha.