The Telangana Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Monday stated in the Assembly that the State Government was considering conducting a third party social audit on the ‘Aasara pensions scheme‘.
Replying to the debate on the departments’ demands for grants he said the government was committed to extend the benefit only to the eligible beneficiaries and asked the members (MLAs) to give the details of ineligible persons getting the pensions, if they had any.
Earlier, Congress member P. Kishta Reddy (Narayanakhed) pointed out that the Aasara pensions were being claimed by some ineligible persons in many villages.
He also announced that the Centre had taken a decision not to downsize the MGNREG Scheme and all rural mandals would be covered under it. On several members’ suggestion to link it with agriculture he said the Centre was yet to take a decision on it.
Source:The Hindu
