Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has announced the release of two instalments of social security and welfare fund board pensions, benefiting around 62 lakh recipients. Each beneficiary will receive ₹3,200 under the two instalments. The payments will be disbursed starting from Friday.

Finance Minister K N Balagopal stated that ₹1,604 crore has been allocated for the same. The payments cover the January pension and one pending arrear installment.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had informed the State Assembly that the arrears of welfare pensions would be cleared across the current and next financial years, despite the ongoing financial crisis. The first installment was distributed during Onam, and the current distribution is the second installment.

Since March last year, monthly pensions have been distributed without interruption. Since the LDF government assumed office, approximately ₹35,400 crore has been allocated for welfare pension distribution.

Kerala is recognized for implementing the most comprehensive social security pension scheme in India, with 98% of the required funds sourced by the state itself. The central government contributes less than 2%. Of the 62 lakh welfare pension beneficiaries, only 6.8 lakh receive an average central assistance of ₹300. Monthly pensions in Kerala amount to ₹1,600 per beneficiary, with the state covering the remaining amount.