Thiruvananthapuram: The General Administration Department under the Kerala government has decided to terminate the services of six part-time sweepers for illegally availing themselves of welfare pensions meant for senior citizens, widows and differently-abled people.

The recommendation issued in this regard by the department’s secretary also said that the pension amount received by these employees should be recovered from them along with an interest of 18 per cent.

The Finance Department recently found that 1,458 state government employees, including gazetted officers, were receiving social security pensions violating rules. The Finance Department also handed over the list of such employees to the respective departments for initiating action.

The Soil Survey and Conservation Department was the first to take action by suspending six of its staff members. The General Education Department is now following suit.

Meanwhile, an assistant time-keeper at Government Press, Shoranur, was served a charge sheet after he was found to be illegally receiving the welfare pension meant for differently-abled people. A report from his superiors said that the employee had received an amount of Rs 22,400 as pension over the last 14 months.