Mizoram Seeks Church Help to Flush Out Pension Fraud

Aizawl: Mizoram officials want church leaders to help kill off pension fraud. They sent a letter to heads of various churches last week requesting help. The government wants them to broadcast details about an amnesty scheme for families holding invalid or fake Pension Payment Orders. The scheme asks these people to come forward and surrender their documents voluntarily.

The state Finance Department issued an Office Memorandum regarding this effort on June 16. Officials want church leaders to read this document during congregational gatherings to reach as many people as possible. It is a clear push to identify and strip out fraudulent claims. "The initiative is aimed at encouraging ineligible beneficiaries to voluntarily give up pensions being drawn on the basis of invalid or fraudulent documents," officials said on Sunday, September 13.

Time is running out. Anyone drawing these improper funds must turn in their paperwork by September 30. The government hopes that tapping into church networks will ensure the message reaches every corner of the state before the window shuts.