Karnataka Government to Verify Eligibility in 11.8 Lakh Pension Cases
Krishna Byre Gowda said that there have been complaints about able-bodied individuals obtaining disability certificates to receive disability pensions.
Karwar: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday said that the state government has identified about 11.8 lakh social security pension cases that require verification to confirm beneficiary eligibility. He added that a comprehensive scrutiny process will soon be launched to assess the authenticity of these claims.
Speaking to reporters at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Uttara Kannada district, the minister said that while the pensions are meant for eligible and deserving individuals, preliminary findings suggest that some recipients have availed the benefit by submitting inaccurate or misleading documents.
“Initial data points to around 11.8 lakh cases that require closer scrutiny. Among these, 13,702 are income tax payers, 117 are government employees, and a significant number are APL (Above Poverty Line) cardholders. There are also instances where beneficiaries are reportedly below the eligible age for old-age pensions,” he said.
The minister added that there have been complaints about able-bodied individuals obtaining disability certificates to receive disability pensions. “If true, these are not only violations of government norms but also unfair to genuine beneficiaries,” he noted.
In Uttara Kannada district alone, officials have identified 11,956 such cases, including 351 individuals who pay income tax.