Will govt distribute welfare pensions anytime soon?

It is a solace that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan finally stated about soon completing pending benefits, including social welfare pensions that have put many commoners on the edge of penury. The LDF committee had earlier discerned the delay in pensions as a major factor in LDF’s LS poll debacle. This revelation finally made CM change his stance and adopt pro-people policies rather than waiting for another debacle in the upcoming elections.

Welfare pensions related to various departments have also been stalled for months. Almost all payments due from the government, not just welfare pensions, are in arrears. Even if the central government pay the amount alleged to be delayed, the state government would struggle to complete the arrears in all these categories.

Despite CM’s promise to complete the payment soon, the reality tells a different story. Social welfare pension is arrears of five months. It is promised that Rs. 3200, which is two months' arrears, will be paid this financial year itself. The remaining Rs.4800 will be distributed in the next financial year. The pension distribution should go unhindered in the coming months to avoid the piling up of arrears. It has been decided to issue a special order to settle the arrears incurred by the welfare boards. The government should have taken proper care to not trouble people, who are long waiting for their pensions. No justification will be sufficient to free the government from criticism for the cruel act of stopping the benefit to indigent patients.

Amidst a crippling economy, the finance minister revealed that there has been a 65 per cent growth in the state's revenue. Fees have been increased for all types of government services. The rates for electricity, water, and transport have been raised significantly. A cess of two rupees has been imposed on petrol and diesel to prevent the social welfare pension from getting further delayed. Even funds for the distribution of mid-day meals in schools are not provided on time.

All eyes are on the upcoming union budget which will have the final say in the promises made by the chief minister. Kerala’s failure in financial management was acutely pointed out by experts but the government paid no heed. There is no doubt that the government will be under more stress if the flaws in setting priorities, and wasteful expenditure continue unchanged.

Employees' organizations are protesting over the Chief Minister's silence on the Assembly statement regarding salary revision. Let's not forget the fact that the salary revision every five years has put the state in a financial crisis to a large extent. Pay revision is done once in ten years in the centre and most of the states. Organizations should think whether it is right to insist on it every five years.