The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) to take all possible steps to clear the pending pension arrears of members of the Kerala Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund Board, who have contributed to the fund for several years.The Commission instructed the Finance Secretary to coordinate with the departments concerned to expedite the release of arrears. The Commission observed that denying eligible workers their pension in time amounted to violation of their constitutional right to live with dignity.The order stated that prolonged delay in pension payment pushes elderly beneficiaries into financial hardship and mental distress. It emphasised that welfare pension was not merely a financial benefit but an essential social security measure supporting the beneficiaries’ livelihood, medical expenses, and day-to-day living.The Commission issued the order while considering a complaint filed by members of the board alleging that they had not received their welfare pension for the past 16 months.The board’s Kannur district executive officer informed the Commission that pension had been disbursed up to May 2025. The report also said that one of the complainants had died and had received pension up to December 2022.The Commission further held that citing financial constraints to indefinitely delay pension payment was inconsistent with the concept of welfare state. The action was taken on a petition filed by O. Raja of Shivapuram and others.The SHRC announced that a sitting would be held at the PWD rest house, Kannur, at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday (July 16, 2026). Published - July 15, 2026 08:05 pm IST