Major Onam relief for around 6000 members; festival allowance hiked to Rs 6,000 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government has increased the Onam festival allowance for members of the Kerala Document Writers', Scribes' and Stamp Vendors' Welfare Fund Board from Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Registration Department Minister and Welfare Fund Board Chairman O J Janeesh. The minister said around 6,000 Welfare Fund Board members will receive the enhanced festival allowance.

The meeting also decided to increase the higher education loan limit for the children of Welfare Fund Board members from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. The minister directed officials to expedite the disposal of pending applications for welfare benefits submitted by the dependents of deceased Welfare Fund Board members.

Among those present were Welfare Fund Board members and representatives of licensed stamp vendors K Bahuleyan Nair, M V Ramesh, V V Sasimon, K Praseetha and T K Umais. Welfare Fund Board Secretary P K Sajankumar, Taxes Department Additional Secretary M V Pramod, Finance Department Additional Secretary L Shobha and Law Department Joint Secretary K B Beena also attended the meeting.