THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government will give away Rs 112 crore as welfare pensions to as many as 1.2 lakh beneficiaries in 10 sectors during the Onam season, according to Labour Minister T P Ramakrishnan. Apart from this, another Rs 337 crore from the fund of welfare boards will also be distributed in five sectors.
An amount of Rs 58.28 crore has been set apart for the Income Support Scheme introduced for the traditional sector, he said. Ramakrishnan said an amount of Rs 2,000 each as ex-gratia will be given to the workers of the cashew factories, plantations and other industries that closed down. 7,558 workers in the PSU/private factories, 2,620 plantation workers and 39,329 cashew workers will get the benefit, he said.
Apart from this, the cashew workers will be given 10 kg of rice and the plantation workers will be provided with Onam kit worth Rs 500. He said Rs 5,000 each will be given to 299 workers at the defunct Alappuzha port on the occasion of Onam. The minister said a decision has been taken to give Rs 1,000 each to the employees of the Employment Guarantee Scheme who have completed 100 man days.