Thiruvananthapuram: The state cabinet will set up a new company under the finance department to ensure smooth disbursal of social security pensions. The funds required to distribute the pension will be transferred to the company by the government. All the shares of the new company will be owned by the government. With the new move, the government intends to pay the pensions, which sustain the lives of many people, regularly every month.
At present, the processing and payment of social security pensions are being carried out by various welfare boards. Restrictions on treasury payments often cause uncertainty and delay in the payment of pensions. Pension is distributed once in three months or during festival time only.
The chairman’s post of the new company’s director board will be the finance minister and the managing director, the finance secretary.
Co-operative policy
Meanwhile, the cabinet ratified the draft of the co-operative policy. The policy aims to ensure a favourable environment for the smooth functioning of co-operative institutions. Its other goals include implementing development projects of Central and state governments, examining the process of appointments and suggesting necessary changes, introducing professionalism in the sector, working for women’s empowerment and bringing about suitable change to meet the aspirations of the youth.
The policy also intends to tap the skills of non-resident Keralites to bring about progress in the state, develop hospital co-operative societies in order to make treatment affordable to common people and constitute co-operative societies at tourist spots.
The cabinet has decided to appoint Cherian Philip as the co-ordinator of Haritha Keralam, Aardram, General Education Protection and LIFE Missions. Rani George will hold the additional charge of co-operative department secretary and P Venugopal the full charge of I & PRD secretary.
Other cabinet decisions are,
- The development of two roads under the road connectivity package of Kannur International Airport will be entrusted with the Kerala Road Fund Board. The roads are, Kuttiyadi – Nadapuram – Peringathur – Mekkunnu – Panur – Pookkode – Koothuparamba – Mattannur stretch of 53 km and the Mananthavady – Boys Town – Peravoor – Sivapuram – Mattannur stretch of 63.5 km.
- Kabaddi former national player P K Rajimol will be appointed as a clerk in a permanent post in the Kerala Sports Council.
- Government employees in the Food Craft Institute under Tourism Department will get a hike.
- 28 new posts will be created at the managerial level in Kerala State Financial Enterprises.
- The cabinet gave the sanction to release Rs 2.79 crore as advance to clear the salary arrears of tea garden employees.