The government has decided to transfer accounts of central freedom fighter pensioners from the State Bank of India (SBI) to other banks, as the SBI services have been found faulty in this regard, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that due to certain irregularities on part of the SBI, the government has decided to transfer disbursal of freedom fighters' pensions to a bank of their choice.
The SBI was accused of irregularities like paying pension to over 3,000 dead pensioners for many years, payment of wrong amount of pension and delayed payment of revised dearness relief.
"On account of these irregularities, more than Rs.16 crore has already been recovered from the SBI.
"In order to avoid any hardship to the pensioners, they have been advised to open account in any bank of their choice," the minister said.
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