THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: About 6. 8 lakh beneficiaries of the government’s social security pension scheme got lesser amounts this time. According to the state government, the Central government is yet to sanction its share and hence these pensioners will get Rs 400-Rs 1000 less for the instalments disbursed in the wake of the festival season.
The state government had taken steps to give the full amount by bearing the Central share for the time being and adjust it when the central share arrives. Though this money was transferred to the Public Financial Management System (PFMS), through which the central share is given, the beneficiaries did not get money.
The Union government cited technical glitches in the PFMS for the delay. Finance department sources said the issue occurred last month as well. As many as 1.94 lakh persons received lower amounts then. The Union government could not complete distribution even three weeks after the state government distributed its share.
The PFMS-based direct benefit transfer of central share came into effect in Kerala in April last year. But the Central government could not transfer its share afterwards.
The central share was borne by the state government to avoid difficulty for pensioners but the money is yet to be reimbursed. Only about 6.88 lakh of the 52-lakh-odd beneficiaries of the state government’s social security scheme get the Central government’s assistance. They fall under the categories of old-age, widow and the differently-abled.