Thiruvananthapuram: Starting today, the Kerala government will distribute September’s social security and welfare pensions, benefiting nearly 62 lakh people across the state. Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal said the government has sanctioned ₹841 crore for the payouts, with each beneficiary receiving ₹1,600.
Of the total, 26.62 lakh beneficiaries will have the amount credited directly to their bank accounts, while the rest will receive pensions at home through cooperative banks.
For 8.46 lakh beneficiaries under the National Pension Scheme, the Centre is responsible for its share. However, the state has already released ₹24.21 crore in advance, awaiting credit through the PFMS system.
Since the inception of the scheme, Kerala has spent an impressive ₹42,841 crore on welfare pensions. During the recent Onam festival, beneficiaries had already received two months’ pension in advance (₹3,200 each).
