Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government on Sunday announced the disbursal of another installment of social security and welfare fund pensions to beneficiaries.
Around 62 lakh people would get Rs 1,600 each as pension from Thursday, Finance Minister K N Balagopal said here.
A sum of Rs 817 crore has been granted for the disbursal of the installment, he said in a statement.
Due to financial constraints, the state was unable to distribute pensions earlier. Last year, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had assured in the state assembly that the delayed pension payments would be disbursed in 2024 and 2025. Later, in September 2024, the state finance minister allocated Rs 1,700 crore for welfare pensions. During the Onam festival last year, the first installment was disbursed.
“Despite financial challenges, the pending welfare pensions will be disbursed during this financial year and the next, as assured by the Chief Minister in the Assembly. The first installment was distributed during Onam, and the second installment is being released now,” said Balagopal.
He added that since March 2024, the monthly pensions have been distributed regularly. The government has spent approximately Rs 35,400 crore on welfare schemes since assuming office.
Reportedly, Balagopal further stated, “Of the 62 lakh welfare pension beneficiaries, only 6.8 lakh receive an average assistance of Rs 300 from the Central Government. In Kerala, monthly pension beneficiaries receive Rs 1,600, with the state covering the remainder of the cost.”
The central government’s contribution to welfare schemes in Kerala is minimal and is limited to old-age, disability pension, and widow pensions. According to the Kerala State Planning Board, the state runs various pension schemes, including old-age pensions, widow pensions, disability pensions, pensions for unmarried women above 50, and agricultural labour pensions. Among these, the central government contributes only to three schemes (old-age, widow, and unmarried women pensions), which are part of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
Since 2015, Kerala has been disbursing pensions through a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. As of March 31, 2016, there were around 32 lakh pensioners in the state, with the majority (40 per cent) receiving old-age pensions. Widow pensioners constitute 33 per cent of the total beneficiaries.
