Thiruvananthapuram: Confusion prevailed on whether the farmers can avail a second pension from Kerala Agricultural Workers Welfare Fund Board apart from the government-sponsored farmers’ pension. Finance minister Dr. T. M. Thomas Isaac had said in his budget speech last year that all other pensioners other than physically challenged persons will be eligible for only one pension.
The finance department and the State Finance Commission had launched a process with the help of Kudumbashree Mission to streamline the list of 3.65 lakh pensioners after the LDF government decided to remove those who availed more than one pension. It is estimated that the LDF government’s decision to give pension only to those with Aadhaar card eased out more than a lakh farmers from the list.
“We will know who are availing more than one pension once the streamlining process is over,” said an agriculture department official in the rank of additional director. “At present, 90 per cent farmers have their Aadhaar card. The deserving ones will not be left out under no circumstance.” If a farmer is contributing a specific portion along with the welfare board’s contribution then he or she is entitled to get the welfare pension, he said.
However, there is still confusion on the number of farmers who contribute to their welfare fund pension scheme. Agriculture department officials feel that the farmers can appeal before the government as the finance minister has already informed that a final decision have to be taken at the adalat.
