The Information Kerala Mission's investigation, supervised by the Finance Department, uncovered that 1,458 government employees, including assistant professors, clerks, wardens, and gazetted officers, were unlawfully receiving welfare benefits meant for the poor
Published Nov 27, 2024 | 6:36 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 27, 2024 | 6:36 PM
Government employees found misusing welfare pension meant for the poor Representational Image. (Creative Commons)
A recent verification by the Finance Department has exposed a significant misuse of social welfare pensions intended for the poor.
The investigation, conducted by the Information Kerala Mission under the Finance Department’s supervision, revealed that 1,458 government employees, including assistant professors, clerks, wardens, and gazetted officers, were wrongfully receiving these welfare benefits.
Among the ineligible beneficiaries identified were two assistant professors—one from a government college in Thiruvananthapuram and another from Palakkad—along with three higher secondary school teachers.
These individuals, along with others across various government departments, were found to have illegally accessed the pensions, which were intended to support vulnerable families in need.
The highest number of misused pension claims was reported in the Health Department, with 373 employees implicated. The General Education Department followed with 224 employees receiving the benefits unlawfully.
Other departments with significant numbers of ineligible beneficiaries included:
The discovery has raised serious concerns over the management of welfare schemes intended to aid the poorest sections of society.
Authorities are now taking action to recover the misused funds and hold the responsible individuals accountable. Further investigations are underway to ensure that such irregularities are prevented in the future.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman)
