The UDF government is expected to distribute ₹3,200 each to around 60 lakh beneficiaries, and has allotted ₹1,762 crore for this.
Published Aug 20, 2023 | 1:27 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 20, 2023 | 1:28 PM
Government employees found misusing welfare pension meant for the poor Representational Image. (Creative Commons)
In view of the Onam season, the Kerala government initiated the distribution of social security and welfare board pensions for the months of May and June in the state.
The Left government will distribute ₹3,200 each to around 60 lakh beneficiaries and allotted ₹1,762 crore for this, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a Facebook post on Saturday, 20 August.
The Left government has been providing a welfare board pension of ₹1,600 each to beneficiaries every month and is currently disbursing the amount for the months of May and June.
“Around 60 lakh people will receive ₹3,200 each as social security pension to celebrate Onam. The state government has set aside ₹1,762 crore, including ₹212 crore for the welfare board pension, despite the Union government’s suspension of funds since 2021. Disbursement will be completed by 23 August,” Vijayan said in a Facebook post.
Attacking the Union government, he claimed that even though it has not released its share towards the social security pension for the past two years, the left government has been disturbing the total amount every month without fail.
Vijayan said the Centre was yet to disburse its share of ₹580 crore from January 2021 which the state government has already released to the beneficiaries of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP).
Devoid of any other sources of income, the state’s social security pension for older people is the sole means for several people in the state to support their expenses, especially related to health.
But the pensions are irregular, and far between, which has landed them in a difficult situation.
Several beneficiaries told South First earlier that due to the irregular distribution of pensions, they were struggling to make ends meet.
When contacted by South First, officials of the state Finance Department confirmed that pension payments have been pending since April this year.
In part, the ruling CPI(M) blames the Union government for the problem as it has drastically slashed the state’s ability to borrow money — something that could fund its welfare schemes.
In June’s second week, each beneficiary received ₹1,600 in the bank account, the arrear from March this year. The government borrowed ₹950 crore from different lending agencies just for that instalment.
The cash-strapped government is finding welfare pensions to be a liability now, and the delay in its timely release affects the morale of about 64 lakh beneficiaries, especially those aged, widowed, handicapped, and suffering from chronic illnesses.
Kerala used to boast of its welfare pensions as one of its achievements. The Union government’s welfare pension schemes targeted hardly 5.7 lakh people; the state widened its scope by adding more people and using its money to support them.
While the Union government pensions are meagre, Kerala maintains a standard payment of ₹1,600 per month. On occasions like the Onam festival, the amount was released in advance so the beneficiaries would be able to celebrate such occasions.
Along with the financial struggles of the state government, what makes the welfare pension scene complex is the Union government’s decision to stop distributing them through the state government. The Centre said it started paying its share directly to the beneficiaries in their bank accounts.
“That is, in a way, good for the state. The beneficiaries would know what the actual contribution of the Centre is and how much the state adds to it,” Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal had told South First.
He added: “Financial constraints are delaying the release of welfare pensions. We are struggling, But there is no let-up in the release. We are looking to evolve a mechanism to release the amounts in time.”
As demanded by the Centre, Kerala has already handed over the database of its welfare pension beneficiaries. Based on this database, the Union government has started paying its share to 5.7 lakh beneficiaries.
However, there are widespread complaints and confusion over the delay and procedural lapses in releasing the Centre’s share of the pensions.
In the case of Kerala’s share of the pension, Balagopal cited the cutting of the borrowing limits of the state by the Union government as the prime reason.
He accused the Centre of playing politics even with the social security of vulnerable people.
(With PTI inputs)
