Murshidabad, 06 July (H.S.): Fresh allegations of irregularities in a West Bengal welfare scheme have surfaced, this time involving the disability pension programme. A Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and his family have been accused of fraudulently receiving disability pensions despite being physically fit. The accused, however, has denied all allegations.
The allegations have been levelled against Asikul Islam, a member of the TMC-run Samserganj Panchayat Samiti in Murshidabad district. According to the allegations, at least 15 members of his family have been drawing government disability pensions for years despite allegedly being physically and mentally fit.
Those named in the allegations include Islam's wife Reshma Laila, his three sons—Mohammad Adil Islam, Mohammad Saif Islam and Sajid Islam—as well as several other family members, including his brother, uncle, nephews and nieces. It is alleged that they were listed as persons with disabilities in official records to obtain benefits under the government's disability pension scheme. Local residents claim that all of them are in good physical and mental health.
The allegations have triggered strong public resentment in the area. Residents have questioned how so many members of a politically influential family could be included in the list of beneficiaries while many genuinely eligible persons reportedly struggle for years to receive government assistance.
The issue has also raised questions about the role of the administration in the verification and approval process. After the allegations went viral on social media, the matter sparked political controversy, with opposition parties claiming that government welfare schemes have been misused through political influence and that the case is not an isolated one.
The opposition has demanded a comprehensive investigation into the allegations, strict action against those found guilty, and the publication of the list of alleged ineligible beneficiaries.
However, Asikul Islam has categorically denied all the allegations, describing them as baseless. No official statement has yet been issued by the administration regarding the matter.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
