Govt. will look into revision of social security pension guidelines: Kerala CM V.D. Satheesan

The government will examine the demand for timely revision of guidelines for receiving social security pensions, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has said.

He was responding to a submission by T.P. Ashrafali, Kondotty MLA, in the Assembly on Tuesday on revision of guidelines for receiving social security pensions.

Mr. Ashrafali called for a revision of guidelines for individuals with intellectual challenges, cerebral palsy, and autism spectrum disorders. He said that the pension application and renewal processes are complicated and should be simplified.

The Chief Minister, in his reply, said the social security pensions were intended to support the needy. Besides ensuring that all those eligible get the pensions, the ineligible should be weeded out. It is with this purpose that the guidelines for sanctioning social security pensions were fixed in September 2020.

According to these guidelines, people with houses over 2,000 sq ft, air-conditioning in the house, and car with over 1,000 cc fell in the category of those slightly better off and hence were not eligible for the pensions, Mr. Satheesan said.