Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma has set a September 30 deadline for anyone drawing family pensions on fraudulent or invalid documents to surrender their Pension Payment Orders. The state launched a three-month amnesty period on July 1, allowing those holding illicit PPOs to come forward without returning money already received.
This initiative aims to clean up the state's books. A government task force will start sweeping field verifications once the amnesty window closes. Those caught after the deadline will lose their benefits and face prosecution. The Chief Minister warned that his administration intends to pursue anyone involved in the racket. "Those found to have obtained Family Pension illegally will have their pension discontinued and will also face legal action."
Investigators plan to audit birth, marriage, divorce, and income certificates, alongside ration cards and other supporting documents. The government also put officials on notice. Those caught enabling fake documentation could face legal trouble of their own. Adviser to the Chief Minister TBC Lalvenchhunga noted that pensions currently claim the biggest slice of state revenue expenditure.
The state currently supports 39,954 pension beneficiaries. This group includes 22,139 superannuation pensioners, 11,194 family pension recipients, and 5,629 individuals paid through the Centralised Pension Processing Centre. The rolls also cover 594 voluntary retirement pensioners, 289 under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme, 69 invalid pensioners, and 40 compulsory retirement cases.
Lalduhoma acknowledged that poor staff training has slowed down legitimate processing. He plans to open a dedicated training wing to improve bureaucratic efficiency and keep payments flowing to honest retirees.
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