THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government has sanctioned ₹1,105 crore for the disbursement of social security and welfare pensions to more than 65 lakh beneficiaries ahead of Onam, as part of a broader package of festival payments and financial commitments.

Pension payments are due to begin on Wednesday, with the government also approving ₹630 crore towards allowances and bonuses for government employees, teachers, part-time and contingent workers, service pensioners, ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers.

The government allocated another ₹310 crore to clear arrears in backward classes scholarships carried over from the previous administration, while ₹200 crore has been earmarked to settle urgent liabilities under health schemes, including Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi and Arogya Kiranam.

It sanctioned ₹150 crore to clear Paddy Receipt Sheet arrears for paddy procured through SupplyCo up to July 31, while ₹34 crore will be used to settle Anganwadi pension arrears over the same period.

Workers who completed 100 days under the employment guarantee scheme will receive Onam allowances, for which ₹45 crore has been allocated.

Another ₹44 crore has been set aside to make advance payments to school mid-day meal cooks following a ₹1,000 increase in their wages. The government also sanctioned ₹26 crore for the welfare of lottery sellers and agents, with their festival bonus increased to ₹1,000.

As part of efforts to contain prices during the festival season, SupplyCo and Consumerfed have been allocated ₹53 crore and ₹25 crore respectively for market intervention and the sale of essential and subsidised goods.

The government also rejected allegations of delays or shortages in the distribution of Onam kits.

It said more than six lakh kits had been prepared against an estimated requirement of about 5.93 lakh. More than three lakh kits have already reached ration shops, while around 75,000 have been distributed to card holders.