Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister V D Satheesan on Monday informed the assembly that the women’s security pension is not part of the social welfare pension scheme and that the govt has not yet decided whether it will be continued.Replying to queries in the House, Satheesan said the scheme had been introduced by the previous govt shortly before the assembly elections. He, however, assured members that social welfare pensions would be distributed without interruption and that all necessary measures were being taken to ensure timely disbursal. The order sanctioning this month’s pension would be issued on Tuesday, he said.The CM also referred to a complaint received from a pension beneficiary in Los Angeles who had not received the monthly benefit. Raising the issue, opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan asked whether it was fair to deny pension assistance to an elderly mother merely because her son was living abroad. In response, Satheesan said the govt’s only concern was to ensure that eligible beneficiaries were not deprived of assistance.Reiterating the govt’s commitment to increasing welfare pensions to Rs 3,000, the CM said there would be no undue delay in fulfilling the promise made to the people. He added that a comprehensive review of beneficiaries would be undertaken, as several deserving persons remained outside the beneficiary list while some ineligible recipients continued to receive benefits.Satheesan also assured the House that the delays in pension distribution witnessed during the previous LDF govt’s tenure would not be repeated. Distribution of pensions for the current month will commence on June 24, while the beneficiary list will be scrutinised to identify and remove ineligible recipients.
