Kerala to constitute Farmer Welfare fund board, pensioners to benefit up to Rs10,000 monthly

Farmer | Farm Land | Field

Thiruvananthapuram: In a major step aimed at the welfare of farmers, the state cabinet has decided to constitute Kerala Farmers Welfare Fund Board to ensure monthly pension for farmers above 60 years of age. 

The beneficiaries can benefit up to Rs 10,000 per month as monthly pension under the scheme. The final decision on the same will be made during the first meeting of the Welfare Board scheduled for next week. The scheme is expected to begin in the next two months.

Dr P Rajendran, former vice chancellor of Agriculture University will be appointed as the chairman of the welfare fund board. The board will comprise of 22 directors including agriculture production commissioner, agriculture secretary, agriculture director, animal husbandry director, representatives of finance, law departments and CEO of vegetable and fruits promotion council.  It may be noted that Kerala was the first state to unanimously pass the farmers welfare fund bill in legislative assembly. 

Benefits of welfare fund pension: If a farmer becomes a member of the welfare fund for a minimum of five years , on reaching 60 years of age he will be entitled to get pension commensurate with the total contribution made by him. The minimum contribution is Rs 100. The pension amount and other assistance will be decided by the board.

The government will also deposit in the welfare fund a share equivalent to contribution of upto Rs 250. Farmers can also deposit a higher amount. 

The farmers who have completed 18 years of age and are not above 55 years, can apply for the membership of the welfare fund board. Other criteria – they should not be members of any other welfare funds, should personally own a minimum of 5 cents of land and annual income should be below Rs 5 lakh. In the event of the death of a member, his family will be entitled to receive the pension. 

The authorities will start accepting the applications only after the board convenes its meeting and finalizes the procedures to be adopted. Those who are currently receiving farmers’ pension in the state will receive the same through the welfare fund board from now on.

The next Cabinet meeting and Assembly select committee will take a decision on the approval of rules and schemes of the new welfare fund board.

At the moment 35 lakh farmers in the state have registered with the agriculture department. There are another 15 lakh in the animal husbandry and fisheries sector.

According to the government's own estimates, about 50 lakh farmers are expected to benefit from the welfare fund pension across the state.

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.