Shimla, March 17 – CAG: Irregularities in DBT for HP Social Security Pension Schemes
Irregularities have been found in DBT (Direct benefit transfer) for HP Social Security Pension Schemes. The Execution of the Direct Benefit Transfer of Social Security Pension Schemes in Himachal Pradesh is observed to be not in consonance with the DBT framework. A number of processes which were required to be done using IT systems were being done manually and there were also deviations from scheme guidelines in the manual processes being undertaken. This finding came to fore in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Status of Direct Benefit transfer of Social Security Pension Schemes in Himachal Pradesh for the year ended 31 March 2021.
A performance audit on Status of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of Social Security Pension
Schemes in Himachal Pradesh was conducted for the period 2017-21 to assess whether
disbursement of benefits to beneficiaries was done as per scheme guidelines and whether
the system(s) of disbursement of benefits was in compliance with the DBT framework as
prescribed by Government of India.
CAG indicates Rs 541.95 Cr shortfall in state levies
Six schemes were selected for the performance audit: three Government of India schemes under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), viz. Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS), Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS); and three State Government schemes, viz. Old Age Pension (OAP), Widow Pension Scheme (WPS), and Disability Relief Allowance (DRA). All these six selected schemes were to be implemented through DBT, for which process reengineering was to be done in line with the prescribed DBT framework.
As per finding of the CAG The procedure implemented by the Department is not in consonance with the DBT framework, which should involve transfer of benefits directly to the beneficiaries. The CAG media brief informed that the current procedure can be termed as benefit transfer, but not as “direct” benefit transfer, since funds are not transferred directly to the beneficiaries (as is being done by some other States/ Government of India) but funds are transferred into the bank account of the District Welfare Officer (DWO) and then cheques are issued for further transfer to the beneficiary bank accounts.
In the findings it was noted that Expenditure of ₹ 0.88 crore was incurred on IEC activities for welfare schemes during 2017-21, however, exclusion of eligible persons was noticed. Also, of 826 BPL households in 11 test-checked GPs (under TWOs Arki and Mandi
Sadar and Shimla Rural), 29 BPLs persons of these families were not covered
under any scheme although their age was above 60 years.Category-wise or age-wise database of eligible population through proactive periodic surveys or obtaining statistics from field offices was not maintained. In the absence of which, submission of pension applications was entirely dependent on the initiative of beneficiaries or gram panchayat representatives.
State Govt extends undue favour to Pawan Hans helicopter company : CAG
Futher the report stated that there was shortfall in coverage of beneficiaries against targets at the end of each financial year ranging between 4362 and 8519. Funds were unspent at the end of respective financial years and applicants remained in the waiting list. In three (Mandi, Shimla and Solan) selected districts, funds ranging between ₹ 12.34 lakh and ₹ 1436.87 lakh were lying unspent at the end of each quarter in the bank accounts of concerned DWOs. Time schedule for finalization of pension cases had not been fixed. Cases ranging between 23,442 and 43,026 during 2017-21 were pending at the end of each
financial year due to delay in verification of temporarily suppressed beneficiaries and onboarding of waitlisted applicants on active pensioners list, disclosed the report.
Talking about compliance with DBT framework, the process was not followed as the client server-based e-Kalyan was not reengineered in line with DBT framework. The disbursement process was not integrated with the e-Kalyan software and involved manual intervention.
Uniqueness of beneficiaries with Aadhar or any other unique ID was not ensured. Guiding principles contained in standard operating procedure for DBT payments such as interface with State treasury/ postal department/ banks, validation, disbursement through PFMS (in case of state schemes) and feedback mechanism were not complied with.
Further talking about Process of Social Security Pension Schemes’ Implementation. The report stated that Functionalities to check / detect duplicate entry were not enabled / provided in the e-Kalyan software. Instances of incomplete application forms (17 per cent) without requisite certificates, and delay in processing of applications and verification of
beneficiaries were noticed. Analysis of e-Kalyan software revealed irregularities in selection of beneficiaries and duplicate / excess payment of ₹ 47.24 lakh indicating lack of monitoring by the departmental authorities. Disbursement of pension to expired beneficiaries (255 cases out of 9196 beneficiaries) resulting in irregular payment of ₹ 60.73 lakh. Cross verification of pensioners’ record in e-Kalyan software with basic record at
panchayat level in 59 GPs revealed cases of variation in age of 776 beneficiaries, selection of 63 underage beneficiaries under IGNOAP and old age pension schemes resulting in irregular payment of ₹ 55.21 lakh. Also, there were deficiencies in payment of pension through department of posts such as non-delivery of doorsteps benefits to eligible beneficiaries, non-obtaining of required certificates, and usage of money order mode for payment of pension. There was lack of co-ordination between the Department, postal authorities and GPs resulting in non-sharing of information about beneficiaries rendering
ineligible under various Social Security Pension Schemes, spelled the CAG report.
HP has not amended Fiscal Responsibility Management Bill Act: CAG
In an analysis of Information Technology application it was found that Software Requirement System, Software Design Document, user manual and system manual for ease to manage and use the e-kalyan software had not been prepared by the HP-NIC. Basic checks to prevent unauthorized access to e-Kalyan and auto validation of data entered in e-Kalyan were not available. Software had not been integrated with other existing modules such as e-pariwar portal of panchayat and post office / bank portal for real time beneficiary’
verification and status of pension disbursement. Facility for generation of previous quarters’ reports and access to end user had not been provided in the web-based e-Kalyan software.
Then, the Organization, and management of Direct Benefit Transfer was pointed at. CAG paper stated that DBT Cell was not discharging its duties of co-ordinating with departments and implementing DBT in various schemes. Also, meetings of Advisory Board to guide and
monitor various departments in adopting DBT had not been conducted. DBT Cell had not provided training and support in capacity building on DBT to State officials, they added.
Serious remarks like there was variation in data on benefit transfer under social security pension schemes supplied by the Department and reflected on the State DBT portal, were given by the CAG. Adding, that PFMS had been introduced in the NSAP schemes with delay; for State schemes PFMS has not been commenced yet. There is no acknowledgment push of transactions in the e-kalyan from PFMS. For failed transactions, reasons are manually recorded in the e-kalyan. Due to non-integration of PFMS with the NSAP portal through Aadhar Payment Bridge system, NSAP portal is showing zero transaction through DBT in the State.
Concluding by a mention about the Human Resource Management and Monitoring. The CAG stated that there was shortage of manpower in each category (ranging between 9 to 39 per
cent), hampering smooth functioning of social security pension schemes in the
State. Training in respect of utilities and functionalities of the e-Kalyan software and
user manual had not been provided to the officials dealing with implementation of
social security pension schemes. Grievance redressal and social audit mechanism had not been established.
Empower Independent Journalism – Join Us Today!
Dear Reader,
We’re committed to unbiased, in-depth journalism that uncovers truth and gives voice to the unheard. To sustain our mission, we need your help. Your contribution, no matter the size, fuels our research, reporting, and impact.
Stand with us in preserving independent journalism’s integrity and transparency. Support free press, diverse perspectives, and informed democracy.
Click [here] to join and be part of this vital endeavour.
Thank you for valuing independent journalism.
Warmly,
Vishal Sarin, Editor
