Delhi govt starts pension verification drive next month to identify ineligible beneficiaries. Door-to-door checks for seniors, widows, and disabled.

DELHI: The Delhi government will begin a widespread pension verification drive next month to identify ineligible recipients receiving pensions under the old-age, widow, and disability support schemes.

Officials said the action was in response to frequent reports of irregularities, such as cases when beneficiaries who were discovered living outside the city were nevertheless receiving pensions.

A private agency has been tasked with carrying out the verification procedure, which involves door-to-door visits and surprise inspections.

Camps will also be set up throughout districts to assist retirees with the verification procedure. “Teams will visit pension holders’ homes and photograph them on a tablet to prove that they are alive and living at the registered address,” said a senior official from the social welfare department.

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Verification will also include examining previously submitted papers such as identity and address evidence. Beneficiaries who are not discovered at home during the visit will have two more chances.

“If someone isn’t found at home, they’ll have two more chances. However, if they are absent all three times, their pension would be terminated,” the source added.

According to department officials, they have received numerous complaints about fraudulent or duplicate pension disbursements. “Verification is essential to make sure only those genuinely eligible continue to benefit from the schemes,” said the government employee. The entire procedure is planned to start next month and end quickly.

Officials stated that once the verification is completed, a new list of beneficiaries will be developed to ensure that government monies are distributed to the correct people.

The Social Welfare Department provides financial assistance to around four lakh older citizens, widows, and those with disabilities.

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Other departments’ social plans have also shown irregularities. Previously, the Women and Child Development Department conducted a random audit of its pension system for distressed women and discovered that 11% of claimants were ineligible.

Similarly, the Food and Supplies Department checked the backgrounds of free ration cardholders and discovered that 5,621 government personnel were taking advantage of the free ration scheme.