Kerala to Begin Distribution of Two Months’ Welfare Pension From November 20

Thiruvananthapuram: Distribution of two months’ pension for social security and welfare fund beneficiaries will begin on the 20th of this month. Each beneficiary will receive 3,600 rupees this time. This amount includes the final installment of the previous arrears-1,600 rupees- and the 2,000 rupees pension for the month of Novemeber. With this payment, all pending pension arrears will be completely cleared. The Finance Department had sanctioned 1,864 crore rupees for this on October 31.

The Congress had earlier reacted to the government’s decision to increase welfare pensions by alleging that the announcement was made ahead of the Assembly elections, burdening the next government. However, the government’s assurance that the revised pension would come into effect from November 1 is being fulfilled one by one. A total of 63,77,935 beneficiaries are now relieved and happy to receive both the previous arrears and the pension for this month — amounting to 3,600 rupees — together this month. Since last March, pensions have been distributed on a monthly basis.

Earlier, about 900 crore rupees was required to distribute one month’s welfare pension. With the pension increased by 400 rupees per month, the requirement has risen to 1,050 crore rupees. Although the Centre has not provided even its nominal share, the state government has been covering that amount as well. Nearly half of the beneficiaries will receive their pensions through bank accounts, while the rest will receive them at home through cooperative banks. Over the nine-and-a-half years of LDF governance, the state has allocated 80,671 crore rupees for welfare pensions.