Thiruvananthapuram: Govt will begin the distribution of social security and welfare fund pensions for this month on Feb 25. Finance minister K N Balagopal on Monday announced that Rs 1,050 crore was allocated for this purpose. Approximately 62 lakh people will receive a pension of Rs 2,000 each. The amount will be credited to the bank accounts of 26.62 lakh people. Others will receive the amount directly at home through cooperative banks. Welfare pensions for welfare fund members will be distributed through their respective boards. “The central govt is responsible for providing the central share of the national pension scheme to 8.46 lakh people. In view of the non-receipt of the same at regular intervals, the state govt pre-emptively allocated Rs 24.21 crore as the central share. This amount will be credited to beneficiaries’ bank accounts via the central govt’s PFMS system. However, the state requested that delays in this process be avoided,” Balagopal said.To date, the current state govt has distributed Rs 49,433.83 crore as welfare pensions. The first Pinarayi govt provided Rs 35,154 crore to pensioners. The UDF govt, which was in power from 2011 to 2016, provided Rs 9,011 crore. During the UDF govt’s tenure, the welfare pension was Rs 600. The first and second Pinarayi govts gradually increased it to Rs 2,000. Currently, around Rs 1,050 crore is being distributed monthly as pensions, without any arrears. The annual requirement for welfare pension distribution is currently Rs 14,500 crore, and provisions for this were included in the budget for the coming year as well, the minister said.
