Welfare Standing Committee

In Kerala’s Local Self-Government Institutions (Grama Panchayat, Block Panchayat and District Panchayat), the Welfare Standing Committee is one of the most important committees working for the upliftment and welfare of marginalized and vulnerable sections of society.

The primary objective of the committee is to ensure that the development funds and welfare schemes of the Panchayat reach the eligible beneficiaries in a timely and effective manner. Its major responsibilities and areas of activity are described below:

Major Duties and Areas of Responsibility

1. Social Security Pensions

  • Identify eligible beneficiaries for various social security pensions such as Old Age Pension, Widow Pension, Disability Pension and Agricultural Labour Pension.
  • Ensure that beneficiaries meet the prescribed eligibility criteria and that the benefits reach the deserving persons.

2. Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) Development

  • Give priority to the development of SC/ST colonies, including infrastructure improvement, drinking water facilities and housing construction, such as under Life Mission housing schemes.
  • Ensure the proper distribution of educational benefits and scholarships to children belonging to these communities.

3. Women and Child Development and Welfare of Persons with Disabilities

  • Plan awareness programmes to prevent violence against women and children and formulate women-oriented development programmes through gender budgeting.
  • Implement schemes for the distribution of assistive devices to persons with disabilities, such as wheelchairs and hearing aids, as well as self-employment programmes for them.

4. Poverty Alleviation and Employment Opportunities

  • Identify extremely poor families within the Panchayat and prepare and implement special Micro Plans for their upliftment.
  • Coordinate Kudumbashree activities, strengthen the functioning of neighbourhood groups (NHGs), and facilitate subsidies and other support for women’s self-employment groups.