
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has intensified its crackdown on employees found illegally receiving social welfare pensions. Following the suspension of six soil conservation department employees and the publication of names of 373 health department staff involved in the fraud, the revenue and survey and land records departments have now come under scrutiny.
The government has suspended 38 employees—four from the revenue department and 34 from the survey and land records department—for fraudulently claiming social welfare pensions. Details of these employees, along with the amounts they have collected over the years, have been published by the authorities.
In one instance, a part-time sweeper at the Kottayam Collectorate reportedly received ₹53,400 through the pension scheme. Similarly, a part-time sweeper at the Malappuram Collectorate collected ₹52,000, while another from the Cheruvalli Village Office received ₹52,800. The list also includes surveyors, clerks, typists, gardeners, and village field assistants.
To recover the misappropriated funds, the government has decided to impose a penal interest of 18% on the total amount collected by these employees.
Massive Irregularities Unearthed by Audit
An internal audit conducted by the finance department revealed that 1,458 government employees, including a gazetted officer, were illegally receiving social welfare pensions meant for the economically disadvantaged. The Information Kerala Mission discovered the large-scale fraud following orders from the finance department.
The health department accounted for the highest number of offenders, with 373 employees on the list. Shockingly, assistant professors and higher secondary teachers were also found to be beneficiaries. One assistant professor works at a government college in Thiruvananthapuram, while the other is employed in Palakkad district. Three higher secondary teachers have also been implicated.
Strict Action by the Government
The government has reiterated its commitment to addressing welfare pension fraud and recovering misappropriated funds. Officials have vowed to take strict action against those who misuse social welfare schemes, emphasizing that the system is designed to support vulnerable sections of society, not government employees with secure jobs.
The crackdown underscores the government’s resolve to uphold the integrity of social welfare programs and ensure that benefits reach the rightful recipients.