Pension mustering deadline tomorrow; 6.66 lakh beneficiaries may lose benefits

MALAPPURAM: As many as 6,66,654 beneficiaries in Kerala have not completed the social security pension mustering process. Tomorrow is the last day to complete the process. Those who fail to complete mustering may face a suspension of their pension payments. Beneficiaries must complete the mustering process through Aadhaar-based biometric verification at Akshaya centres. If these beneficiaries are excluded, the government could save Rs 133.33 crore every month. The total monthly expenditure on social security pensions is Rs 1,331.42 crore.

Mustering is being carried out to prevent people from receiving pensions in the names of deceased beneficiaries and to detect irregularities such as duplicate claims. The process is intended to ensure that only eligible people receive the benefits.

A total of 66.57 lakh people receive pensions in the state, including 14.33 lakh beneficiaries of pension schemes run by welfare fund boards. The old-age pension category has the highest number of beneficiaries yet to complete mustering. Of the 30,94,229 beneficiaries in this category, 28,44,181 have completed the process, while 2,50,048 are yet to do so.

Pension mustering status

Pension category..................Total beneficiaries........Completed........Pending

Widow pension............................13,58,253................12,96,839.............61,414

Disability pension.........................3,97,781................3,70,687................27,094

Agricultural workers' pension........2,86,665................2,73,604...............13,061

Pension for unmarried women........86,332................80,194......................6,138

Welfare Board pensioners yet to complete mustering

Welfare board.......................................................................Pending beneficiaries

Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board................94,664

Kerala Farmers' Welfare Fund Board................................................77,624

Cashew Workers Relief and Welfare Fund Board.............................20,622

Tailoring Workers Welfare Fund Board...............................................19,201