Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: Nagaland NPP MLA Tseilhoutuo Rhutso demanded a total overhaul of the state pension system on September 1. He cited a massive Rs 2,679.12 crore expenditure for 2025-26. The costs are climbing. Spending jumped from Rs 2,429.56 crore in 2023-24, with another Rs 1,049.63 crore already gone by July of the 2026-27 fiscal year.
Rhutso raised the alarm during Zero Hour in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. He noted that 63,370 retired government employees and their nominees currently draw benefits. Of that group, 31,714 use SBI-CPPC while 31,656 process payments through state treasuries. Among them, 11,449 pensioners are 70 or older. This includes 450 people over 90 and 19 centenarians. The MLA argued that "pension was a right and a reward for government service" and insisted that genuine recipients deserve timely, dignified payments.
The MLA warned of ghost payments and systemic leaks. He suspects ineligible beneficiaries are collecting cash due to unverified credentials and delayed death reports. He also flagged potential duplication between the state treasury and SBI-CPPC, as well as unverified remarriage claims. Rhutso wants the state to scrutinize pensioners living outside Nagaland and verify all life and marriage certificates.
To fix the leak, Rhutso proposed Aadhaar-linked biometric verification and a wider rollout of the Jeevan Pramaan digital system. He called for a high-level committee under the Finance Department to audit the entire operation. He suggested a new central online portal to catch cross-state double dipping. The proposal includes a firm deadline of December 31, 2026, or March 31, 2027, to report fraudulent withdrawals. Excess payments must be clawed back. Speaker Sharingain Longkumer noted that Zero Hour issues are not for open debate, though members may pursue them later.
Updated at 2nd September 2026 at 2:00am
Rhutso also flagged specific cracks in the family pension system. He identified 10,176 spouses and 734 dependent children currently drawing benefits, noting the upper age limit for children sits at 25. He also pointed to 39 children with disabilities receiving payments and questioned whether dependent parents of a deceased worker should double dip if those parents are also retired government employees.
To stop the bleeding, the MLA proposed that the state hold officials, religious leaders, and judicial officers accountable for manipulating documents or signing off on fake certificates. He suggested a ten-year cycle for pensioners to update their spouse and dependent records. He argued that weeding out fraud protects the dignity of legitimate widows and families, freeing up state cash for public welfare rather than feeding a leaky treasury.
Updated at 2nd September 2026 at 9:48am
Rhutso drilled down into the numbers, revealing that the state’s family pension list includes 755 husbands and 9,421 wives. He noted that the current roster covers 400 sons and 334 daughters, while another 39 children with disabilities pull benefits from the pot. The MLA questioned the fairness of the current rules, asking whether dependent parents of a deceased worker should double dip if those parents are already collecting their own retirement pay from the state.
To clean up the mess, Rhutso wants the hammer to drop on anyone helping fraud along. He pushed for strict penalties against officials, religious leaders, and judicial officers who knowingly sign off on fake death, marriage, or disability certificates. He also proposed a mandatory ten-year cycle for pensioners to refresh their spouse and dependent records, ensuring the state isn't paying out for ghosts or ineligible relatives.
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