Kerala UDF govt’s move to halt doorstep delivery of social welfare pension draws political flak
The Kerala UDF government's decision to shift social welfare pension payments from doorstep delivery to direct benefit transfers (DBT) has faced opposition from the LDF. Critics argue the move will create bureaucratic hurdles and inconvenience elderly and vulnerable beneficiaries who are not bank-savvy.
Why it matters
The dispute illustrates the political friction between digital modernization efforts and traditional welfare delivery systems in India.
Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s decision to stop door-step in-person disbursal of social welfare pension to beneficiaries and channel the monthly payment of ₹2,500 through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts has run into strong political headwinds.
As many as 62 lakh people, including the aged, the infirm, the differently abled, widows, agricultural labourers, and single women above 60, among others, benefit from the social security allowance, which had been delivered directly to a bulk of beneficiaries at their homes by the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government.
The UDF government’s decision to limit doorstep cash delivery routed through service cooperative banks, a majority of which are controlled by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], to “bedridden” recipients has drawn flak from the LDF Opposition.
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