Commendable decision to pay one month pension immediately; construction workers to have happy onam

Even though the pension amount given by the government to the underprivileged is a small amount, it is a great blessing for many if they get it without fail. Despite prosperity, Kerala is a state with thousands of people waiting for this pension. There are also those who postpone even the purchase of their medicines when their pension is delayed. However, welfare pensions are often delayed or suspended due to the government's financial constraints. The construction workers were a section that had been deprived of welfare pension for one-and-a-half years. The report containing this information, written by our correspondent Arun Prasannan, was published on Thursday under the title '13 months since suspension of construction worker pension, ₹20,800 to be paid to each person'. It was pointed out in the news that it has been 13 months since the pension of Rs 1,600 per month for those who were members of the Building Workers' Welfare Fund Board was stopped and three and a half lakh people would have been relieved if they had received the pension arrears at least during this Onam season.

The Construction Workers Welfare Fund Board has more than 20 lakh members. Of these, there are 3,24,580 pensioners. Each of them has to get Rs 20,800 as arrears. Along with this, there are arrears including marriage assistance for the members, maternity benefit, post-death and accidental death assistance, educational assistance and medical assistance for bedridden patients.

Our correspondent was preparing the news based on an RTI reply received by Raju Vazhakkala, a native of Ernakulam. The local bodies collect a percentage of the estimated amount as cess from the builders of new houses and pay it to the welfare board. Though crores of rupees are generated every month, the board does not get this amount on time. That's why the pension was stopped. Often the real reason is that the amount is diverted and spent for other purposes. The welfare fund was set up with the aim of helping the members. Not being able to fulfill this purpose cannot be justified. Around 20 lakh members of the board are being charged a monthly dividend of Rs 50 on top of this. The trade unions allege that the mismanagement of the officials is what is leading to the suspension of pensions. However, there was a swift intervention on the part of the government as soon as the news came out. A meeting chaired by the Chief Minister decided to pay one month's arrears to construction workers before Onam. Labour Minister Sivankutty announced that the entire arrears will be cleared within six months. The decision will benefit 3.80 lakh people, including those who became eligible for pension recently.

The board has found Rs 62 crore to clear one month's arrears, including the pension of Rs 1,600 and other benefits. It has also been decided to hold discussions between the Labour Minister and the Local Self Government Minister next week regarding the speedy collection of building cess. The delay is happening because the cess is collected by sending notices in the old way. Software has been activated to collect cess now. Once it is fully implemented, around Rs 80 crore per month will reach the board. The cess arrears till January 2024 are around Rs 400 crore. The pension arrears so far can be paid if this alone is collected fully. The labour department should make arrangements to distribute this without fail. The arrears crossing crores will disrupt the functioning of the board itself. The labour department should focus on putting in place a system to collect the cess accurately.