CSWO alleges scam in old age pension scheme

A Correspondent

Shillong, June 21: The Civil Society Women Organization has been informed by aged persons that they have been deprived of the benefits of the old age pension scheme for the past several years.

Those who lodged complaints with the CSWO are Skem Kurbah, Thim Kyrsian, Jwim Basalarmaw, Bron Nongrum and Kwet Nongrum, from the village of Kynroh Nonglyer, East Khasi Hills district. They are beneficiaries of the Indira Gandhi tiol Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS).

 The deprived persons had approached the Block Development Office at Mawphlang and were told that the money was deposited into their account at the Post Office at Krang.

 Taking advantage of their ignorance, some employees of the Post Office had taken away their passbooks and have not released the money to them.

"Whenever the aged beneficiaries visited the post office, they were told that there was no money in the post office. They even approached the Post Office at Sohiong in East Khasi Hills district, but even there they got the same reply," the CSWO said. The organization said that since it is a case of corruption in a Post Office, the CBI can take up the matter sou moto and investigate, as the persons affected are stakeholders of the State.

 "The State government should instruct their officials at the Block Office to look into cases of complaints of corruption in the scheme seriously and promptly so that villagers do not have to waste their time running from pillar to post for availing its benefits," it said.