Thiruvananthapuram : From 1st of December, the Farmers Welfare Fund Board will commence process facilitating payment of up to Rs 5000 in pension for farmers. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the specially designed web portal for the purpose on the day. Farmer residents can register for membership from Wednesday by logging on to http://kfwfb.kerala.gov.in. Those already receiving agriculture pension will from now on receive their payments via this portal.
Who is eligible ?
Persons of ages 18 - 55 engaged in agriculture as main source of livelihood for at least 3 years up to now and are not members of any other welfare fund scheme, are eligible to apply. The registration fee is Rs 100. The applicant should have in possession a minimum of 5 cents and not exceeding 15 acres of land under cultivation. The applicant’s annual income should not exceed 5 lakhs. Those engaged in horticulture, medicinal herb farming, nurseries, breeding of ornamental fish or mussels, beekeeping and rearing of silkworms, poultry, ducks, goats rabbits and keeping livestock are eligible to apply.
Premium remittance
Those becoming members of the welfare fund scheme must pay premium either monthly or once every 6 months, the minimum of such payment being RS 100. The government shall contribute an equal sum against the member’s remittance for up to Rs 250.
Pension when ?
Those who have contributed to the scheme for a minimum of 5 years and have no pending arrears shall be eligible for pension proportionate to their fund at age 60. In case of a member’s demise, the pension shall become payable to his/her family.
