THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has granted one instalment of pension to beneficiaries of social security and welfare fund pensions. Nearly 62 lakh people will receive Rs 1600 each on the occasion of Christmas. Finance Minister K N Balagopal announced that the amount will start reaching pensioners from Monday onwards.

Around 27 lakh people will receive their pension directly into their bank accounts, while others will have their pension delivered to their homes through cooperative banks. The government has ensured the distribution of monthly pensions since last March. Since this government came into power, approximately Rs 33,800 crore has been allocated for the distribution of welfare pensions. Kerala is the state that has implemented the most comprehensive social security pension scheme in India.