Nearly 1,500 Kerala government employees found taking pension meant for poor

The irregularities came to light during an audit conducted by the Information Kerala Mission after instructions from Finance Department to ensure that only those eligible get the pension.

In Short

• Audit revealed irregularities in pension distribution
• Kerala government plans to recover misappropriated amounts with interest
• Stringent action ordered against involved officials

An inspection ordered by the Kerala government has highlighted that 1,498 state officials, including gazetted officers and college professors in the state, were fraudulently receiving social security pensions meant for people of weaker sections of society.

The irregularities came to light during an audit conducted by the Information Kerala Mission after instructions from the Finance Department to ensure that only those eligible are getting the pension.

The Kerala government provides Rs 1,600 as a monthly pension to around 62 lakh people who belong to the weaker sections of society.

After the irregularities, the government decided to recover the misappropriated pension amounts, including interest, from the employees.

Additionally, Finance Minister KN Balagopal has ordered stringent disciplinary action against those involved.

"The Finance Department has also assured that further scrutiny will continue to identify ineligible recipients. Measures will also be taken to ensure rightful pension distribution to eligible beneficiaries, safeguarding the integrity of the welfare system," KN Balagopal while speaking to the media on the issue.

The Finance Department has decided to continue with inspections at various levels to unearth such frauds, the minister said.