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Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Audit to check irregularities in Cheyutha pensions: Telangana
HYDERABAD: The state govt is spending nearly 12,000 crore per annum on extending Cheyutha pensions, formerly known as Aasara, to over 40 lakh beneficiaries in . Congress, after coming to power, continued the Aasara pensions started by the previous BRS govt. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, the incumbent govt changed its name to Cheyutha pensions. Also, Congress, in poll manifesto, promised to enhance the social security pensions from 2,016 per month to 4,000, the implementation of which was still pending. Under the Cheyutha scheme, presently, 2,016 per month is being given to weavers, single women, and widows, among others, while the visually challenged get 4,016. Presently, widows, single women, beedi workers, stone cutters, weavers, specially challenged individuals, dialysis, filaria, and HIV-positive patients below the poverty line and holding white ration cards comprise the beneficiary list of Cheyutha pensions. However, preliminary inquiries revealed that thousands of beneficiaries of these social security pensions were not staying at the addresses they submitted to the govt. They migrated or shifted to other localities and even to other states, but were availing the monthly Cheyutha pensions. Also, many beneficiaries died, with some families informing the govt about it and many more not doing so, but pensions were being remitted into their bank accounts. Complaints were also submitted to the govt that irregularities took place in the selection of specially challenged persons for the scheme during the previous govt, with some availing the scheme despite not being specially challenged. The complainants alleged that some obtained certificates of being differently abled and started availing the pensions. Over 50% of 44 lakh beneficiaries receive the pension through the bank, and others by the postal department. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For those who completed their know your customer (KYC) details, the pensions were directly deposited into their bank accounts. On its part, the postal department distributes the pensions by holding meetings in gram sabhas, and pension disbursal is done after taking biometrics (fingerprints) of the beneficiaries. The Society for Elimination of Poverty (SERP) decided to conduct a social audit so that the pensions go to genuine beneficiaries only. Though Congress, during the assembly elections, promised to open the window of the pension scheme to new applicants, it has not been done so far.
News18
24-06-2025
- General
- News18
Aasara Pension Scheme: Telangana Plans Massive Audit To Weed Out Fake Beneficiaries
Last Updated: The Telangana government plans mandatory social audits of the Aasara pension scheme to weed out ineligible beneficiaries and ensure only the truly deserving receive support If you are a regular recipient of a government pension, it's crucial to stay informed about recent developments. The Telangana state government has taken a significant step to ensure the Aasara pension scheme is implemented more transparently and equitably. In pursuit of this goal, it plans to conduct social audits to closely examine how the scheme is functioning. Social audits, previously used in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), have proven effective in uncovering irregularities and recovering misallocated funds. Now, a similar audit mechanism is being considered for the Aasara pension programme. The Aasara Pension Scheme is a flagship social welfare programme launched by the Government of Telangana in 2014, aimed at offering financial support to the most vulnerable sections of society; those who are unable to work due to old age, disability, or challenging social circumstances. The scheme is designed to ensure a basic standard of living and a sense of dignity for these individuals. The scheme provides pensions to several categories of beneficiaries, including senior citizens (aged 60 and above), widows, persons with disabilities (PWDs), single women (particularly those who are unmarried or abandoned), handloom weavers, and people living with HIV/AIDS. The monthly pension amount varies by category. Most beneficiaries receive Rs 2,000 per month, while individuals with disabilities are provided with an enhanced pension of Rs 3,000 per month. These amounts are aimed at covering basic needs and reducing dependency on others. Pension payments are disbursed directly into the beneficiaries' bank or post office accounts, helping reduce delays and leakages. Biometric verification is commonly used to ensure that the benefits reach the rightful recipients. To qualify for the scheme, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria. They must be residents of Telangana and belong to low-income households, typically those falling under the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. Moreover, those who already receive government pensions or are income taxpayers are not eligible. Who Are The Genuine Beneficiaries Of Aasara Pension Scheme? In the former Mahabubnagar district of Telangana alone, there are 395,852 Aasara pension recipients. These include the elderly, disabled individuals, widows, handloom weavers, toddy tappers, beedi workers, single women, and people living with HIV/AIDS, among others. However, concerns have emerged over recent years that ineligible individuals may be receiving pensions. To rectify this, a compulsory social audit will be carried out to verify the legitimacy of each beneficiary and ensure that the scheme benefits only those truly in need. This move is part of the government's broader commitment to transparent governance. What Should Pensioners Expect? Pensioners should be prepared for field inspections and have relevant documentation ready. Going forward, eligibility criteria will be strictly enforced. The Telangana government is expected to release detailed inspection guidelines, which will apply at both village and ward levels and involve public officials, elected representatives, and local volunteers. Concerns About Fake Claims To Aasara Scheme The disability quota is a key component of the Aasara scheme. However, there have been serious allegations that individuals who are not genuinely disabled are receiving pensions under this quota. In one village in the Narayanpet district, a preliminary inspection found that 30% of recipients under the disabled category may have obtained benefits using fraudulent certificates, often with the assistance of intermediaries. There have also been reports of individuals manipulating their age on Aadhaar cards to qualify for old-age pensions prematurely. Such practices undermine the integrity of the entire welfare system. Social Audits Aim To Prevent These Malpractices The government is making social audits mandatory as a means of preventing fraud and misuse. These audits will help identify ineligible claimants, remove them from the scheme, and restore benefits to the truly deserving. Guidelines are currently being drafted, and the government aims to compile detailed reports, examine them officially, and act decisively against misuse. Is Pension Distribution Currently Transparent? At present, pensions in rural areas are distributed through the Postal Department, with biometric (fingerprint) verification. However, reports indicate a lack of transparency in some locations. In instances where beneficiaries are unable to provide fingerprints, Panchayat Secretaries have reportedly stepped in to facilitate disbursement, leaving the process vulnerable to abuse or misappropriation. top videos View all The government is addressing the issue with urgency. It is preparing a robust framework for social inspections, including clearly defined procedures on who will conduct inspections, under whose supervision, and how findings will be recorded and verified. The implementation will involve Panchayat-level staff, village volunteers, and local councils, ensuring oversight and accountability at the grassroots level. This initiative signals a strong shift towards ensuring that public funds are used properly and fairly, providing support only to those who meet the established criteria. First Published:
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cong govt likely to open Cheyutha pensions for new applicants
Hyderabad: After the farm loan waiver and other welfare schemes, Congress is likely to open the doors for new applicants seeking Cheyutha (earlier Aasara) pensions. The ground report received by the govt is that lakhs of people are waiting to be covered under Cheyutha. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Even Bharat Jodo Abhiyan team, led by Yogendra Yadav, informed the Congress govt that the next priority should be opening the window for new pensioners. The team, which interacted with the people during its field visits in Telangana, received feedback that while Aasara pensions were being continued, there were lakhs more waiting to be covered under Cheyutha. The Revanth Reddy govt is continuing the social security pensions (Cheyutha) to 40-odd lakh beneficiaries. However, nearly seven lakh more were waiting to be covered, it is learnt. It is a financially-intensive scheme, with over 11,000 crore per annum presently being spent by the state govt on existing beneficiaries. Sources in the govt said that although Congress promised to enhance the social security pensions from 2,016 per month to 4,000 per month, the first step would be to bring new applicants under the Cheyutha scheme. As per existing monthly pensions, 2,016 was being given to weavers, single women, and widows, among others, while it was 4,016 for the visually challenged. Presently, widows, single women, beedi workers, stone cutters, weavers, specially challenged individuals, dialysis, filaria, and HIV-positive patients below the poverty line and holding white ration cards were eligible to receive monthly Aasara pensions ranging between 2,016 and 4,016 for the visually challenged, depending upon the category of beneficiary. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A senior officwer said the govt has given directions to all district collectors to prepare the list of people seeking Cheyutha. The Revanth Reddy govt has invited applications from the people for its various welfare schemes and received applications through the conduct of gram sabhas. Over five lakh applications were received for Cheyutha pensions , which were pending approval. "The list of beneficiaries will be prepared after field visits and cross-verification of applicants door to door. Some of the proposals are to transfer the pension to the wife if the husband, who was receiving it, dies. The officials, during their field visit, will collect documents such as ration card, Aadhaar card, bank account, pension ID, and death certificate of the beneficiary (in case of the husband's death) and cover the wife under the widow pension category. Likewise, other eligible beneficiaries' lists will be prepared. This is likely to take a month or two," an officer said. Though there is also a proposal to keep on hold the pensions of those who have not taken it for three months in a row by categorising them into a migration list, the officials said a final decision might be taken by the state cabinet on this proposal, along with opening the doors for new applicants for Cheyutha.
Hans India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
One year on: No headway on release of enhanced pension
Adilabad: One and half year passed since the Congress government was formed in the State, beneficiaries of Aasara pension scheme are complaining that there is no increase in the amount. The previous BRS government gave a pension of Rs 2,016, but during the last(2023) Assembly elections, Congress leaders promised that if they come to power, they would double the pension provide equal pension to the two member of the family. Meanwhile, pensioners are expressing their grief that the promise has not been implemented so far. Although the pensions that they currently receiving are useful for their needs. As the prices of essential commodities are increasing drastically, the pension provided by the government is not enough for their requirements. They are demanding the government to increase the pension amount. Beneficiaries are complaining that the government is not taking a decision on the issue of pension increase. Pension is one of six guarantees given to the people as part of the promises made to the people in the last Assembly elections. Pensioners are complaining that they have pinned a lot of hopes on the government. Congress government has promised to increase the pension for the elderly from Rs 2,016 to Rs.4,016 and for the disabled from Rs 4,016 to Rs 6,016. The beneficiaries are waiting with hope to increase the pensions as per that promise. Since no decision was taken on the issue of increasing pensions in the recent cabinet meeting, beneficiaries are expressing their dissatisfaction. In Adilabad district, the total number of pensioners 73,596, among them are 28,998 old age pensioners, 28145 widow pensioner, 6,877 disabled pensioners, 19 weaver pensioners, 41toddy pensioners, 972 HIV, 625 filaria, 5,545 beedi pensioner, single women pensioners are 2,219 there in the district.
