The Union ministry of rural development (MoRD) paid pensions worth Rs2 crore to 2,103 beneficiaries in 26 states and union territories even after their death under the national social assistance programme (NSAP). Further funds worth Rs2.83 crore were diverted from NSAP for publicity and campaign, the comptroller auditor general of India (CAG) says in a report.
The CAG report on the performance audit of the NSAP from financial year (FY)17-18 to FY20-21 was tabled in the Lok Sabha.
The report says that according to NSAP guidelines, a pensioner's pension may be discontinued due to death or migration or crossing belo poverty line (BPL) or any other reason and the pension payment should be stopped accordingly. However, "In 26 states and UTs, payment of pension amounting to Rs2 crore was made in case of 2,103 beneficiaries even after the death of NSAP beneficiaries. During the course of the beneficiary survey, it was observed that in case of 290 out of 8,461 beneficiaries, the pension payment was continued even after the death of the beneficiaries. This indicated that the reporting of death and stopping of pension was not being done as required as per NSAP guidelines."
CAG also found a diversion of funds in NSAP for some other purposes. For example, it says funds of Rs2.83 crore earmarked for information education and communication (IEC) activities under NSAP were diverted for campaigning of other schemes. Further, total funds of Rs57.45 crore were diverted in six states and UTs for other schemes or purposes.
NSAP is being implemented in rural and urban areas by respective state governments and UT administrations. During 2017-21, the government of India allocated Rs34,432 crore for NSAP. Further, states and UTs also allocated Rs1,09,573 crore as additional assistance for pension and for coverage of additional beneficiaries. NSAP reached out to 2.83 crore beneficiaries annually through central allocations and additional 1.82 crore beneficiaries through states and UTs funds on an average per year from 2017 to 2021.
Data analysis carried out by CAG in first phase indicated that 61,933 beneficiaries of Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) were below the age of 60 years (as against criteria of BPL and above 60 years), 56,758 beneficiaries of Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS) were below the age of 40 years (criteria is BPL, widow, 40 years and above) and 5,869 beneficiaries of Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) were below the age of 18 years as against BPL, 18 years and above with disability of 80% and above.
In 14 states, the IGNOAPS pension of Rs30.47 crore was paid to 57,394 ineligible persons who were less than 60 years of age. In 17 states and UTs, the IGNWPS pension of Rs26.45 crore was paid to 38,540 ineligible persons who were less than 40 years of age. Further, in six states and UTs, IGNWPS pension of Rs57 lakh was paid to 414 persons other than widows, including male family members.
In 12 states and UTs, IGNDPS pension of Rs4.36 crore was paid to 5,380 ineligible persons who were less than 18 years of age, while in 16 states and UTs, IGNDPS pension of Rs15.11 crore was paid to 21,322 persons whose disability was either below 80 per cent or could not be ascertained.
"Due to non-verification of existing beneficiaries as well as due to lack of data cleaning, verification and authentication, cases of ineligible beneficiaries drawing benefits were noticed in many states and UTs. Further, in many states and UTs, pension was not being paid on a monthly basis. The scheme is not fully direct benefit transfer (DBT) compliant as pension is being paid in cash in some states. There were cases of over-payment, short-payment and multiple pension payments noticed in many states and UTs," the report says.
CAG has recommended instituting specific measures for cleaning or weeding out ineligible beneficiaries, stopping of pensions after the death of beneficiaries and verification and authentication of beneficiary data.
"Pension may be paid on a monthly basis through bank and post office accounts integrated with Aadhaar or biometric authentication. A mechanism for reviewing cases of irregular pension payments and fixing of responsibility on such cases may be instituted. Robust social audit and grievance redressal mechanisms may be established for ensuring transparency and accountability," CAG says.
