Welfare Pension: Government provided Rs 16,730 crore; Chief Minister reacts to Kerala Kaumudi news

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that after coming to power, this LDF government has provided Rs 16,730.67 crores for social security pension. He also said that based on the CAG report, ineligible persons are excluded to include more deserving persons. The Chief Minister was reacting to the news article published by Kerala Kaumudi yesterday stating that 7 lakh ineligible people are receiving welfare pensions.

"Even when the state is facing a severe financial crisis, the state government has been providing the full amount to all eligible, including NSAP (National Social Assistance Programme) beneficiaries, since January 2021 despite not getting central allocation. The state share and central share are separately credited to the bank account after linking the software used by the Panchayat Department for disbursement of social security pension with PFMS to continue making the central share available to NSAP beneficiaries," he said.

"Even in the era when governments are no longer taking up the responsibility of social security, the LDF government has been able to overcome all the limitations and ensure the welfare of the people. However, the Congress, its allies and the BJP are trying to defame the government by spreading falsehoods even about welfare schemes that are beneficial to the common man," the CM said.