Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has approved a new scheme to provide social security benefits to eligible women living in religious institutions, including convents, monasteries, ashrams, and other faith-run establishments. The decision was announced at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday.

The scheme aims to support women who have been left out of welfare programs, particularly those without independent income, including nuns and other residents of religious institutions. Many of these women have faced challenges in accessing government benefits due to documentation requirements for pensions and other aid.

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Under the new initiative, unmarried women aged 50 and above who do not receive a salary, pension, or any other government benefit will be treated as a special category. To simplify access, the government has waived the usual requirement for income and unmarried status certificates under an existing government order from March 31, 2001.

Instead, a special application form will be introduced specifically for this group, making it easier for them to apply for and receive pension benefits.