The TRS government had hiked the pension from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 per month but the beneficiaries are crying foul at the high-handedness of officials.
Gram sabhas are held at panchayat offices to distribute pensions every month.
According to sources,sarpanches and village revenue officers verify tax payment records of every household.
If they find that the household has defaulted on tax, distribution of pension to that household is stopped and the amount is adjusted towards payment of property tax, water tax, land cess, electricity charges etc.
“We have not issued any directions to officials, either written or orally. Pension distribution and tax collection are two different issues. Some officials might have tried to collect tax arrears from wilful defaulters by threatening to stop pensions,” said C. Suresh Babu, district panchayat officer, Medak.
Beneficiaries, who used to normally receive pension in the first week of every month, have not been paid yet.
Panchayat raj minister K.T. Rama Rao has received several complaints from beneficiaries against Mr C. Suresh Babu, district panchayat officer, Medak, for stopping pensions to achieve 100 per cent tax collection.
Siddipet Assembly constituency, represented by irrigation minister T. Harish Rao, has achieved 100 per cent tax collection while the CM’s constituency, Gajwel, has crossed 95 per cent and is set to meet the 100 per cent target by March 31.
Of the total 1,066 gram panchayats in Medak, nearly 900 have already achieved 100 per cent tax collections so far.