Thiruvananthapuram: The distribution of social welfare pensions for this month is scheduled to begin across the state on Wednesday. The Finance Department announced that a total allocation of ₹952 crore has been sanctioned to facilitate pension payouts for 51.70 lakh eligible beneficiaries.

Furthermore, a specific sum of ₹24.76 crore has been earmarked for 8,46,000 individuals registered under special categories, including old-age, disability and widow pensions.

In addition, ₹128 crore has been allocated to cover the June pensions for 65,952 beneficiaries enrolled under various welfare fund boards. The Department has directed authorities to ensure the entire distribution process is completed by July 3.

 

Budget commitments and manifestos

The prompt disbursal of funds arrives on the heels of the newly formed United Democratic Front (UDF) government's revised state budget presentation in the Legislative Assembly. Chief Minister V D Satheesan recently reiterated the administration’s firm commitment to smoothly continuing the monthly social welfare pension system, aiming to completely avoid the significant delays that frequently plagued disbursals during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) regime.

While the monthly pension amount currently remains at ₹2,000 per beneficiary, the ruling alliance has consistently pledged to elevate this figure to ₹3,000 in a phased manner, fulfilling a key guarantee outlined in their election manifesto. To sustain this extensive social welfare architecture amidst tight state borrowing caps, the government is concurrently planning a thorough verification process of the state's 62 lakh registered pension holders to prune ineligible names and systematically accommodate thousands of genuinely deserving applicants currently left off the state beneficiary list.