MV Govindan Alleges UDF Government Is Attempting to Undermine Welfare Pension Scheme

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI(M) State Secretary M V Govindan has accused the UDF government of deliberately attempting to weaken Keralam's welfare pension scheme, alleging that the decision to discontinue doorstep delivery of pensions marks a retreat from the state's welfare commitments.

Addressing the media, Govindan said welfare pensions remain a vital source of support for nearly 62 lakh beneficiaries in the state. He argued that ending doorstep pension distribution would adversely affect economically vulnerable sections of society and warned that the CPI(M) would launch a large-scale public protest if the government failed to withdraw the order immediately.

Govindan said the social welfare pension scheme was introduced by the E.K. Nayanar-led government in 1980 with a monthly pension of ₹45. He noted that the pension amount had since been increased to ₹2,000. Referring to the opposition at the time, he claimed that then Opposition leader K. Karunakaran had criticised the scheme as being non-productive and added that the Congress and the UDF had consistently opposed welfare pensions for agricultural workers and other vulnerable sections.

He further alleged that when the UDF government left office in 2016, welfare pensions had remained in arrears for 18 months. According to Govindan, the LDF government that assumed office the same year cleared the pending dues and subsequently increased the pension amount in phases between 2016 and 2024.

Govindan also criticised the UDF over its election promise of increasing the pension to ₹3,000, alleging that the government was now taking steps that would instead weaken the existing welfare pension system.