Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Monday said that the government would undertake a thorough review of welfare pension beneficiaries to remove ineligible recipients while ensuring that all eligible persons receive benefits, and reiterated its commitment to raising the social security pension to Rs 3,000.
Replying to a query by CPI(M) member A C Moideen in the Assembly, Satheesan said the enhancement of the welfare pension to Rs 3,000 was part of the UDF's "Indira Guarantee" programme and would be implemented at the earliest.
He said two of the guarantees announced by the Congress-led front -- free travel for women in KSRTC buses and the creation of a separate department for senior citizens -- had already been fulfilled within a month of the government assuming office.
"Social security pension is also among those guarantees and the promise will be fulfilled as quickly as possible," he said.
The chief minister accused the previous LDF government of increasing the welfare pension to Rs 2,000 only ahead of the Assembly elections despite having promised Rs 2,500 during the 2021 polls.
"There will not be such delays under this government. We will fulfil the promise at the earliest," he said.
Satheesan said welfare pensions would be disbursed without interruption and announced that the order for this month's pension would be issued on Tuesday, with distribution beginning from June 24.
The government would also examine the beneficiary list to identify anomalies, as some ineligible persons were continuing to receive pensions while several deserving beneficiaries remained outside the system, he said.
Referring to irregularities in the beneficiary database, the chief minister said an official had informed him that a person residing in Los Angeles had complained about not receiving pension this month.
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, however, questioned whether a mother could be denied pension merely because her son was employed abroad.
Responding, Satheesan said the government was not proceeding on the assumption that elderly parents were necessarily being supported simply because their children lived overseas.
He said many beneficiaries who were eligible when they were first enrolled may subsequently have become ineligible, necessitating a comprehensive review.
"We will conduct a detailed examination, rectify anomalies in pension distribution and remove ineligible beneficiaries, while ensuring that no eligible person is denied assistance," he said.
"The objective is to establish a flawless pension distribution system by excluding ineligible recipients and extending benefits to all those who are entitled," the chief minister added.
Around 62 lakh beneficiaries receive various social security and welfare pensions monthly in Kerala, as per figures.
