Welfare Fund Board: State government facing liabilities of crores; 76,907 institutions without settling dues

KOCHI: 76,907 establishments have not paid their dues to the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishment Workers' Welfare Fund Board for months. The state government is facing a huge liability because not a third of the 2,18,438 establishments registered with the board have not paid their dues.

Although institutions have not been paying their dues for months, the government is still paying pensions to members without keeping even a single month's payment as arrears. If institutions do not pay their dues, there is a possibility that welfare pension and other benefits will be suspended.

The board, which has 17,96,451 members, provides education benefits, marriage benefits, maternity benefits, financial assistance related to miscarriage, medical assistance, post-mortem expenses, post-mortem assistance, cash award and a monthly pension of Rs 1,600 to 7,736 people. The monthly payment is Rs 100, including a deposit of Rs 50 and an employer's contribution of Rs 50. The additional liabilities are now being met from the board's own funds.

From April 2016 to March 2025, the government provided Rs 10,000 as a share of the maternity benefit amount of Rs 15,000. The board received Rs 2,60,10,000 as government assistance in this regard. In addition, Rs 43,06,85,840 has also been received from the government in the form of grants. This is in response to a reply received under the Right to Information Act by Raju Vazhakkala, a native of Kakkanad, Ernakulam.

Assistance for members

Scholarship --------1,000 to 3,500

Marriage assistance-----5000 for men, 7,500 for women

Maternity assistance------15,000

Miscariety -----2,500

Medical assistance-------10,000

Death expenses---------5,000

Death aid ----------5,000 to 20,000

Cash award-----------3,000 to 7,500

Refund of deposit------- For those who complete 60 years of age