Thiruvananthapuram | The distribution of welfare pension for the month of July will begin on Friday, Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal said.

A sum of Rs 831 crore has been allocated for the purpose, the minister said in an official release on Thursday.

Nearly 62 lakh people are receiving Rs 1,600 each as welfare pension under various categories.

The amount will reach the bank accounts of more than 26 lakh people. Pension will be transferred to the homes of others through cooperative banks.

The union government will pay the central share of the National Pension Scheme to 8.46 lakh people. The state has also sanctioned Rs 24.31 crore for this on an advance basis.

The share will be credited to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries through the central government's Public Finance Management System (PFMS), the release said.