MLA, Dr. Tseilhoutuo Rhutso speaking during the Ninth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly at NLA Hall, Kohima on September 1. (DIPR Photo)
63,370 retired government employees and nominees currently drawing pension
Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 1
MLA Dr. Tseilhoutuo (Ato) Rhutso, representing 9th Kohima Town Assembly Constituency today raised a matter of grave public and financial importance concerning pension disbursement in Nagaland.
Raising an issue of urgent public importance during Zero Hour under Rule 49 on the 1st day of the 9th Assembly Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Dr. Ato flagged irregularities in the disbursement of pensions in the state tate and called for a comprehensive overhaul of the verification system.
Rhutso told the House that pension is not a gift but a right earned through decades of government service, and that the state has a moral and constitutional obligation to ensure pensioners receive their dues on time and with dignity.
According to figures placed before the Assembly, a total of 63,370 retired government employees and nominees are currently drawing pension through the two disbursement channels - the State Treasury and the SBI-run Computerised Pension Processing Centre (CPPC). Of this, 31,714 pensioners are covered under CPPC (life and family pension combined), while the State Treasury accounts for 31,656, comprising 20,406 life pensioners and 11,250 family pensioners.
Break-up figures by age showed that the bulk of pensioners fall in the 60-69 age bracket, with 12,885 under CPPC and 13,520 under Treasury. Nineteen pensioners above 100 years of age continue to draw pension across both channels.
On family pension, the MLA informed the House that 10,176 spouses (755 husbands and 9,421 wives) and 734 dependent children (400 sons and 334 daughters) are currently receiving benefits, with the upper age limit for dependent children fixed at 25 years. Thirty-nine children with disabilities are also drawing family pensions.
Citing expenditure data, Rhutso said the government spent Rs 2,429.56 crore on life and family pension in 2023-24, rising to Rs 2,633.24 crore in 2024-25 and Rs 2,679.12 crore in 2025-26, with Rs 1,049.63 crore already spent till July of the current financial year.
Raising concerns over misuse, the MLA listed a series of irregularities reportedly plaguing the system, including delayed reporting of pensioner deaths that allow ineligible drawal of pension for up to 10-11 months, late submission of death certificates to fraudulently claim arrears, unverified remarriage of family pensioners, and possible duplication of pension drawal between CPPC and Treasury records. He also pointed to gaps in verifying pensioners settled outside Nagaland, and cases of allegedly fraudulent marriage, death and disability certificates being used to claim benefits.
Dr. Ato further questioned whether dependent parents of a deceased government employee should be entitled to an additional family pension if both parents are themselves retired government servants, calling it a matter requiring clarification.
Warning that the fraudulent drawal of pension - even in small percentages - places a heavy burden on the state exchequer, the MLA noted that Nagaland runs a salary and pension-driven economy, with a substantial share of the state budget going toward these commitments.
Among the suggestions placed before the House, Rhutso urged the government to conduct a time-bound, Aadhaar-linked biometric verification of all pensioners through Jeevan Pramaan, the online digital life certificate system, and to constitute a high-level committee under the Finance Department, with representation from Personnel & Administrative Reforms, Treasuries and the Accountant General, to carry out a detailed audit.
He also called for a centralised online pension portal for the state, coordination with Accountant Generals of other states to verify Nagaland pensioners settled outside the state - with payments withheld pending verification where no details are furnished - and a requirement for pensioners to submit updated details of dependants and spouses at least once every ten years.
The MLA further suggested that officials, religious leaders or judicial officers found manipulating documents or issuing fraudulent certificates to secure pensions be penalised, and proposed that the House consider a resolution fixing a deadline - such as December 31, 2026, or the end of the 2026-27 financial year - for reporting fraudulent pension drawals, with funds drawn illegally before the deadline pardoned and any drawn thereafter subject to recovery.
Concluding his submission, Dr. Ato said “This presentation is not against pensioners or the government. In fact, it serves the interests of both. By weeding out fradulent cases, we will protect the rights and dignity of thousands of genuine retired employees, widows and their families. This will reduce unnecessary expenditure on the sate exchequer allowing funds to be utilised for general public welfare.”
In this, he urged the House to take up the matter and direct concerned departments to act at the earliest.
(With DIPR inputs)
