The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has detected shortcomings and loopholes in the manner in which social security pensions are distributed in the State, especially the direct-to-home (DTH) mode of disbursement through the primary agricultural credit societies (PACS).
The CAG report on ‘Performance Audit on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of Social Security Pension Schemes’ was tabled in the State Assembly on Thursday.
The CAG report noted that payment by DTH mode through PACS does not qualify as DBT as it is not done directly to beneficiaries and does not minimise intermediary levels. “Further, in respect of DTH disbursements, only the signature/thumb impression of the beneficiaries are obtained as acknowledgement by the agent which is kept in the PACS concerned,’‘ it noted.
