Kerala Announces Broad Welfare Package to Start Nov. 1

Overview

• A new Women’s Security Pension promises Rs 1,000 a month to poor women, including transwomen, who are not covered by other schemes.
• Unemployed youth from families earning under Rs 1 lakh a year will receive a Rs 1,000 monthly scholarship for higher studies or skill training.
• Social security pensions increase by Rs 400 to Rs 2,000, while government staff get an additional DA instalment and pensioners benefit from the DA revision.
• Honoraria rise by Rs 1,000 for ASHA and anganwadi workers, helpers and literacy preraks; ayahs get Rs 1,000 more; the paddy procurement price moves to Rs 30 per kg; Kudumbashree ADS units get Rs 1,000 a month.
• The rollout comes before local body elections, and ASHA unions say the package ignores retirement benefits and that protests will continue.