Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has sanctioned ₹32 crore for disbursing pensions through the Pravasi Welfare Fund Board, with the amount expected to be credited to beneficiaries’ bank accounts ahead of Onam, Chief Minister V D Satheesan’s office said on Sunday.

The Finance Department has released the funds, enabling pension payments to be credited to the accounts of expatriates before the festival, the office said.

The Congress-led government attributed the delay in pension payments and the accumulation of arrears to a financial crisis, alleging that funds earmarked for the Pravasi Welfare Fund Board’s pension scheme were diverted and spent during the previous Left Democratic Front government’s tenure.

"Keeping in mind the commitment to the expatriate community, the present government intervened in the matter and sanctioned the first instalment," the statement said.

Chief Minister Satheesan has directed officials to speed up steps to release the remaining arrears, according to the statement.

The government said the latest allocation was part of its efforts to address the pension dues owed to members of the state's expatriate welfare scheme.