Kerala clears social welfare dues

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 27: The Kerala government on Thursday cleared all outstanding dues of more than a dozen social welfare pension schemes, which are expected to reach around five million people, by handing over Rs 232.50 crore.

"The farm workers pension scheme has been paid out till July and it has come to Rs 194.80 crore, while the cashew workers pension scheme came to Rs 10.75 crore.

The monthly pension was increased to Rs 600 from last year," state Labour Minister Shibu Baby John said in a statement.

Other welfare programmes for which allotments were made and disbursed to the beneficiaries included schemes for handloom workers, beedi workers, barbers, beauticians and the washerfolk community.

IANS