Kerala Starts Disbursing Enhanced Welfare Pension; Each Beneficiary Gets 3,600 Rupees This Month

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government has begun distributing two months’ pension to social security and welfare fund beneficiaries, with each person receiving 3,600 rupees. The amount includes 1,600 rupees, the final instalment of the previously pending arrears, along with 2,000 rupees as the pension for November. With this payment, all outstanding pension arrears have now been cleared. The Finance Department had sanctioned 1,864 crore rupees for the disbursal on October 31.

The Congress had earlier criticised the pension hike, alleging that the announcement was made ahead of the Assembly elections to shift the financial burden to the next government. However, the government’s assurance that the revised rates would take effect from November 1 has been implemented as promised. A total of 63,77,935 beneficiaries are receiving the combined amount this month, and pensions have been distributed regularly since last March.

Earlier, the state required around 900 crore rupees to distribute one month’s welfare pension. With the monthly increase of 400 rupees, the requirement has risen to 1,050 crore rupees. Although the central government has not released even its minimal share, the state government has been meeting the full expense on its own.

Around half of the beneficiaries receive their pension through bank accounts, while the rest are served through cooperative banks that deliver the amount to their homes. Over the last nine and a half years under the LDF government, a total of 80,671 crore rupees has been allocated for welfare pensions.