<p>Karnataka has either rejected or cancelled seven lakh social security pension applications since 2019 by integrating three citizen databases to weed out ineligible or bogus beneficiaries.</p>.<p>Authorities say the government has managed to save Rs 451 crore even as the annual pension outgo remains high at Rs 9,483.51 crore.</p>.<p>According to revenue department data, 22.69 lakh social security pensions have been sanctioned against 30 lakh applications since 2019. There are 39,597 pension applications pending.</p>.<p>At present, Karnataka offers nine monthly pensions covering old age, disability, widows, unmarried/divorced women, transgenders, acid attack victims and endosulfan patients. There are 75.90 lakh pensioners.</p>.<p>“We managed to cancel five lakh pensions in a special suo motu verification drive in which a database was sent to all village accountants for verification,” director of social security and pensions D M Satish Kumar told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>Kumar explained that the revenue department, which administers the pensions, has integrated databases.</p>.<p>“We’re verifying age details with the Aadhaar database, for example,” he said.</p>.<p>“We’re checking for dead beneficiaries based on data from the registrar of births and deaths. We’re also verifying beneficiaries against the ration card database of the food & civil supplies department,” he said. Pension applications have to be disposed of within 45 days under the Sakala scheme that guarantees timely citizen services.</p>.<p>In May, Revenue Minister R Ashoka launched the toll-free number 155245 for citizens to apply for pensions and get them within 72 hours. The toll-free number also serves as a portal for citizens to get any other information on revenue department’s services.</p>.<p>Before launching the toll-free number, Ashoka ordered pensions to be sanctioned suo motu using the Kutumba household database, without citizens having to apply.</p>.<p>The government is now trying to bring all pensions under the direct benefit transfer (DBT) regime.</p>
<p>Karnataka has either rejected or cancelled seven lakh social security pension applications since 2019 by integrating three citizen databases to weed out ineligible or bogus beneficiaries.</p>.<p>Authorities say the government has managed to save Rs 451 crore even as the annual pension outgo remains high at Rs 9,483.51 crore.</p>.<p>According to revenue department data, 22.69 lakh social security pensions have been sanctioned against 30 lakh applications since 2019. There are 39,597 pension applications pending.</p>.<p>At present, Karnataka offers nine monthly pensions covering old age, disability, widows, unmarried/divorced women, transgenders, acid attack victims and endosulfan patients. There are 75.90 lakh pensioners.</p>.<p>“We managed to cancel five lakh pensions in a special suo motu verification drive in which a database was sent to all village accountants for verification,” director of social security and pensions D M Satish Kumar told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>Kumar explained that the revenue department, which administers the pensions, has integrated databases.</p>.<p>“We’re verifying age details with the Aadhaar database, for example,” he said.</p>.<p>“We’re checking for dead beneficiaries based on data from the registrar of births and deaths. We’re also verifying beneficiaries against the ration card database of the food & civil supplies department,” he said. Pension applications have to be disposed of within 45 days under the Sakala scheme that guarantees timely citizen services.</p>.<p>In May, Revenue Minister R Ashoka launched the toll-free number 155245 for citizens to apply for pensions and get them within 72 hours. The toll-free number also serves as a portal for citizens to get any other information on revenue department’s services.</p>.<p>Before launching the toll-free number, Ashoka ordered pensions to be sanctioned suo motu using the Kutumba household database, without citizens having to apply.</p>.<p>The government is now trying to bring all pensions under the direct benefit transfer (DBT) regime.</p>
