Rasgobindapur: A serious irregularity in distribution of pensions to widows under the social security scheme has come to fore in Rasgobindapur block of Mayurbhanj district. As many as 10 women from Sarumala panchayat, who have their husbands alive, are receiving widow pension here.
The block administration has suspended the block welfare extension officer (BWEO) Rajanigandha Singh for her involvement in the issue.
According to reports, some people had earlier alleged before the collector that some people ineligible for old-age pension, and some women ineligible of getting widow pension had been receiving the benefits.
Taking serious note of the allegation, collector Vineet Bhardwaj had directed district welfare extension officer Narendra Bindhani to look into the matter.
Bindhani had investigated the matter in the panchayat and detected the irregularity in the pension scheme. On basis of the investigation report, the collector had recommended suspension of BWEO Singh.
“She was involved in awarding widow pension to women, but several other officials are also involved in it,” a local man said.
A number of civil society organisations here have demanded a thorough probe into the irregularity and action against the guilty.