Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI(M)-led Left government in Kerala on Friday announced disbursement of a two-month pension for over 60 lakh beneficiaries, marking an Onam gift.
Announcing the decision, state Finance Minister K N Balagopal said that Rs 1,700 crore has been allocated for this purpose.
“Around 62 lakh people will receive Rs 3,200 each for Onam. This is in addition to the one month’s pension that is currently being given,” he said in a statement here.
The disbursement of the Social Security and Welfare Fund pension, starting next week, is perceived as the Left government’s strategy to regain its mass base, lost during the Lok Sabha elections.
Earlier, the CPI(M) and its allies blamed their defeat on the delayed settlement of dues and recommended a course correction. In the polls, the LDF won just one seat, while the Congress-led UDF secured 18 seats, and the BJP made its debut in the state’s political landscape.
Balagopal confirmed that 26.62 lakh people would receive the pension amount directly in their bank accounts, and others through cooperative banks delivering it to their homes.
He added that one of the two additional months’ pension sanctioned is a backlog payment.
The Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, had promised that the delayed backlog payment of social security pensions, due to financial constraints, would be addressed this year and next.
Despite significant financial challenges posed by Central government policies, the Left government prioritized pension disbursement, ensuring monthly payments since last March.
This month’s pension is given ahead of time to coincide with Onam, affirming Kerala’s commitment to the most comprehensive social security pension scheme in India, funded primarily by the state.
