Dear Comrades,
CHENNAI: In 2010, the CBI
conducted raids in post offices in Chennai and arrested 11 postmen on
charges of taking bribes from poor pensioners of the Tamil Nadu
government's social security scheme. The situation, it appears , remains
the same even now after banking correspondents were appointed to put an
end to the corrupt practices. The action then was based on a report
published in The Times of India.
With the AIADMK government enhancing the social security pension from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month since May last, pensioners allege that postmen extract a 'tip' of up to Rs 50 for each payment they make to beneficiaries. Even the banking correspondents, who the state government engaged a few months ago with the help of banks to deliver pension at the doorsteps, are corrupt, allege pensioners.
The banks were roped in to get rid of irregularities that take place when postmen disburse the money. The banking correspondents carry handheld devices with printers and biometric authentication equipment and on confirmation, the pension is disbursed with a receipt.
Biometric parameters like thumb impression and images of 4.5 lakh pensioners, of the total 26.4 lakh, have been recorded, and smart cards given.
However, D Janakiammal, a widow from Rosalpatti panchayat in Virudhunagar, who received a smart card few months ago,said she was being offered only Rs 950 . "Initially,the correspondent said the balance sum was meant for service charges for the bank and later he said it was his wage. We kept silent," she said. Janakiammal said the receipt given by the correspondent was indeed for Rs 1,000. Her story is no different from that of other pensioners in the village. So far, 3,209 villages in the state are covered by banking correspondents.
A Kuppammal, an old-age pensioner from South Poigainallur in Nagapattinam said the postman, who delivers her pension, demands Rs 50 every month, but she could give him only.30. "Otherwise, he just does not go away." She alleged about 50 pensioners in her village did not get the payment last month. "When we inquired at the taluk office, we found that the payment had been made to the postal department last month. We do not know where the money went," she said. V Alagappan of Nanamedu in Cuddalore said nearly 30 pensioners from his village were to get pension from the local postoffice, buton payment of Rs 50. "I can't imagine my life without this amount as the daily wage is insufficient," he said.
Social security pension schemes cover old age, disability, widow, destitute/deserted wives, agricultural labourers and single women.Revenue officials warn that action would be severe, including suspension, if complaints are found to be true. "We have already suspended postmen in the past. Corrupt banking correspondents will face a similar fate," a senior revenue official said.The banks are paid Rs 50 to produce each biometric smart card as non-recurring payment and another Rs 30 for each transaction as recurring payment. The state also issued an order recently, bringing private banks, like HDFC, ICICI and Axis Bank, into the scheme to deliver pensions at doorsteps.
The Association of Transparency and Anti-Corruption has demanded a probe into it.
Times of India
