The Kerala government on Thursday cleared all outstanding dues of more than a dozen social welfare pension schemes, which are expected to reach around five million people, by handing over Rs.232.50 crore.

"The farm workers pension scheme has been paid out till July and it has come to Rs.194.80 crore, while the cashew workers pension scheme came to Rs.10.75 crore. The monthly pension was increased to Rs.600 from last year," state Labour Minister Shibu Baby John said in a statement.

Other welfare programmes for which allotments were made and disbursed to the beneficiaries included schemes for handloom workers, beedi workers, barbers, beauticians and the washerfolk community.

With IANS