Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) said that there had been no arbitrary deletions and that ineligible beneficiaries under the Cheyutha pension scheme, including deceased persons and duplicate recipients, were removed after verification.

She said that nearly one lakh new pensions had been sanctioned since the government assumed office, including for dialysis and AIDS patients, and proposals were in place to add two lakh more beneficiaries next year.