Leave during cancer treatment, no welfare pension for this Anganwadi teacher

VANDOOR: Even after two years of retirement, Anganwadi teacher CK Komalavalli is not getting her welfare pension. This is because she was not able to pay the welfare fund contribution when she had to take leave for one year and one month due to colon cancer. Komalavalli, hailing from Chembanathodi in Vandoor's Kaappil, was diagnosed with cancer in 2019 while working as an Anganwadi teacher at Thekumpadam in Mampadu Panchayat. The disease was in the fourth stage. It took a year for her to recover from the severity of the disease. She returned to work in May 2020 and retired in April 2022. She received welfare and retirement benefits but no pension.

There is a rule that if the welfare fund contribution is stopped for more than six months, an individual won't be eligible for pension. However, as per the 2023 order, those taking long leave are allowed to pay lump sum welfare contributions every six months.

64-year-old Komalavalli now lives by selling 'unniyappam' near Nilambur. If she gets pension, it will be helpful for her to pay for the medicine at least. Her intermittent check-ups and medication are still going on. A complaint was filed in the Chief Minister's Navakerala Sadas. To this, Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Welfare Fund Board replied that she is not eligible citing legal issue. Many people who have retired during 2021-2023 are suffering without getting welfare pension. Welfare pension is Rs.2500.