Welfare pension distribution in Kerala: Thomas Isaac seeks to roll back DBT decision
Former Kerala Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has criticized the current government's move to mandate direct benefit transfers (DBT) for welfare pensions. He argues that the previous system, which allowed for home delivery of pensions, should be maintained for those who prefer it.
Why it matters
It highlights the tension between administrative efficiency and social welfare accessibility in Indian state governance.
Former Kerala Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac on Saturday (August 8, 2026) demanded immediate roll-back of the United Democratic Front (UDF) government’s decision to shift welfare pension distribution fully to direct benefit transfer (DBT) mode. Dr. Isaac said that direct-to-home (DTH) distribution was chosen as an option as many of the pensioners had requested it.
Addressing a press conference, Dr. Isaac said that around 23 lakh beneficiaries had opted for the DTH mode so that they could get their monthly pension distributed to their homes via cooperative sector institutions.
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