Aizawl: The Mizoram government has sought the cooperation of churches across the state in creating awareness about its three-month amnesty scheme for people drawing family pensions through fraudulent or invalid documents, urging ineligible beneficiaries to voluntarily surrender their Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) by September 30, officials said on Sunday.

In a letter sent to heads of various churches last week, the government appealed to churches to circulate and read out the Finance Department’s June 16 Office Memorandum about surrendering fraudulent family pension claims among their congregations.

It said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that as many beneficiaries as possible become aware of the opportunity to voluntarily surrender their pensions.

The government opened the surrender window from July 1 to September 30, allowing ineligible family pension beneficiaries to surrender their PPOs without having to refund pensions already received.

“As we are a Christian state, and as it is the responsibility of church members to abide by government laws and regulations, we request the cooperation of the churches in this matter,” the government letter said.

Beneficiaries wishing to surrender their family pension have been asked to report to the Treasury Office from which they draw the pension and return their PPOs.

The move follows the government’s warning that, after the deadline, a task force will conduct comprehensive verification of family pension beneficiaries.

Those found to have obtained family pensions using forged or invalid documents could have their pensions discontinued and face legal action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) or Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the government order issued in June said.

Action may also be taken against persons responsible for issuing fraudulent documents, it added.

The government has identified several categories of potentially ineligible beneficiaries, including those who remarry while receiving family pension, serving government employees or pensioners drawing family pension in the names of their parents or children, and persons using forged birth, marriage, divorce, non-marriage, life or income certificates.

Those whose monthly income from all sources reaches the prescribed threshold of Rs 12,702, including the minimum pension of Rs 8,700 plus Dearness Relief, are also listed as ineligible under the applicable rules.

Chief Minister Lalduhoma, while launching the statewide sensitisation programme on voluntary surrender of PPOs in Aizawl in July, had said the government was determined to prevent misuse of public funds while ensuring genuine pensioners receive their benefits smoothly.

Anyone found to have secured family pensions using forged or invalid documents will have their pension discontinued and face legal proceedings, he had said.

Lalduhoma had also warned officials responsible for issuing certificates to exercise vigilance and said legal action could be taken against those found facilitating fraudulent claims.

According to official figures, 39,954 people are currently receiving pensions under the Mizoram government, including 11,194 family pension beneficiaries.

Officials said that several ineligible beneficiaries have already surrendered their PPOs since the voluntary surrender window opened.