The State Bank of India was paying pension to more than 3,000 freedom fighters for many years after their death, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday. Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said government has decided to transfer accounts of central freedom fighter pensioners from SBI to other banks for disbursal of central freedom fighter pension due to certain irregularities on the part of SBI.
“The irregularities, include paying pension to more than 3,000 dead pensioners for many years after their death, payment of wrong amount of pension to many pensioners, delayed payment of revised dearness relief, loss of more than 1,100 original disburser’s portion of PPOs,” he said replying a written question. The Minister said on account of these irregularities, more than Rs 16 crore has already been recovered from SBI.
Rijiju said in order to avoid any hardship to the pensioners, they have been advised to open account in any bank of their choice from the authorised banks for the purpose and the banks have also been advised to approach such pensioners and open their accounts by June 30, 2015. In respect of those pensioners who have not opened new accounts in other banks till June 30, the SBI will continue to disburse their pension so that the pensioners may not face hardship, he said.