Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said in the state assembly that the government is planning to increase the welfare pension. 

The Chief Minister informed the Assembly that the government plans to distribute two instalments of the welfare pension in FY 2024-25 and three instalments in FY 2025-26 to the beneficiaries. This announcement was made through a resolution presented in the Assembly.

Currently, there are outstanding payments for five instalments of social welfare pensions. The Chief Minister assured that the government is committed to clearing these arrears. As of now, Rs 4250 crore remains outstanding, out of which Rs 170 crore will be disbursed in the current financial year, he stated.

Other announcements:

Welfare boards will disburse pensions from their own funds. Meanwhile, pension distribution till May 2024 is complete in the Kerala Motor Workers Welfare Board, Kerala Cargo Workers Welfare Board, Kerala Shop Workers Welfare Board, Kerala Toddy Industry Welfare Board and Kerala Abkari Workers Welfare Board. However, pensions till May 2023 are paid to Kerala Building Welfare Board. The construction workers' pension is paid out of cess collected from the builders. There will be special intervention at the government level to speed up the steps for efficient collection of cess and clearance of arrears.

Khadi income Support scheme: The government’s income support scheme for workers in the Khadi sector, rebate on Khadi garments, producer bonus to Khadi spinners and weavers and festival allowance are currently outstanding. Dues of Rs 38 crore till May 2024 are outstanding. Including production incentives and rebates, a total of Rs 80 crore dues are pending. The Chief Minister said that action will be taken to settle this.

Kerala Anganwadi workers and helpers Welfare fund: Pension for workers who retired from 2010n onwards are pending. This will be cleared soon.

Dues in the Health Sector: It was announced that the dues as part of the Karunya scheme and bills for the supply of medicines will be disbursed in the 2024-25 financial year itself. 

Supplyco: As part of market intervention, the arrears of assistance to Supplyco, dues for paddy procurement and paddy production expenses under the National Food Security Act will be disbursed in the 2024-25 financial year.

Due to contractors: The arrears of the amount made available through the bill discounting scheme will be disbursed this financial year. 

Scholarships: The arrears of scholarship benefits for students belonging to the Scheduled Tribes and fishermen families will be disbursed in 2024-25 FY.

Pension dues from salary revision: Rs 600 crore that is due as a part of the pension reforms implemented in the 11th Pay Reform Commission will be disbursed this year.

The state government is of the opinion that benefits should be available to all sections of society as their right. The government will not back down from development and welfare schemes in the face of the financial crunch, the Chief Minister said. There is no doubt that the impact of the monetary squeeze created by the differential stance of the central government will be felt in the current financial year as well as the next. The government is engaged in self-analysis, he added.