The shocking revelation of over 13,000 fake beneficiaries under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme exposes the glaring flaws in the system's integrity and implementation. The findings raise serious concerns about the lack of system controls. This is negligence of social welfare department (SWD) officers disbursing fraudulently the amount to their accounts, without proper verification resulting in loss to state exchequer. The scheme has been plagued by individuals receiving benefits despite not meeting the criteria, including deceased persons or those exceeding income limits and those with businesses. There is no proper credential check and verification as the beneficiaries forms are signed by MLAs themselves. The scheme’s protocols, which mandates officials to verify beneficiaries’ identities, financial status, survival and eligibility, were deliberately ignored. Not only in DSSS, but what about in other social welfare schemes including rations meant only for poor and EWS. A departmental probe should be conducted against the tainted staff and a committee should be formed to undertake a magisterial probe into the matter. The disbursal of funds to ineligible beneficiaries underscores the need for urgent reforms to prevent such misuse in the future.
