THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One more instalment of welfare pension has been sanctioned in the state. Finance Minister KN Balagopal announced that Rs 812 crore has been allocated for this purpose. Currently, three instalments of pension are pending. The beneficiaries will receive this month’s pension amount of Rs 1600.

The Finance Department announced that the pensioners will start getting the amount of Rs 1600 each from next week onwards. The arrears for the remaining three months are yet to be settled. The government has announced that the remaining amount will be paid in the next financial year.

Kerala has implemented the most comprehensive social security pension scheme in India. The state finds 98% of the required funds, with less than 2% coming from the central share. Out of 62 lakh welfare pension beneficiaries, only 6.8 lakh people receive an average assistance of about Rs 300 from the central government.

In Kerala, pensioners receive Rs 1600 per month, with the state covering the entire remaining amount. Only beneficiaries of old-age, disability, and widow pensions receive a nominal central pension share, which is also pending. Since November 2023, the state has paid Rs 419 crore in advance to pension beneficiaries as the central government has failed to reimburse this amount, leading to arrears.