Pravasi Pension Scheme

Read on to know more about the different aspects of the Pravasi Pension Scheme: 

Pravasi Welfare Fund 

The government of Kerala had presented a bill to pass the Kerala Non-Resident Keralites Welfare Act, 2008. Board of Kerala Welfare was established by the Government of Kerala to form a Pravasi Welfare Fund that will offer welfare plans to NRKs (Non-Resident Keralites). More than four lacs NRKs have been registered as participants of the Pravasi welfare fund. NRKs abroad who have now returned to India for permanent settlement after at least 2 years of foreign service, can also avail of membership in this Pravasi welfare fund. Various schemes are there in the Pravasi welfare act like pension plans, pension plans for invalids, medical aid, family pension plans, financial assistance to dependents of a departed participant, etc. 

Features of Pravasi Pension Scheme Plan 

• The PPS was launched by Kerala’s CM, Pinarayi Vijayan on 2018, 21st April. 

• The scheme is specifically designed for the individuals of Kerala who are living outside India. 

• The Pravasi Pension Scheme is operative under the management of the Pravasi Welfare Board of Kerala. 

• Individuals enrolled in the Kerala Pravasi Welfare Board will be entitled to receive the scheme benefits 

• NRKs who have resumed to India for settling permanently can also get membership in this Pravasi welfare plan after at least 2 years of service. 

• People above 60 years of age are eligible to receive the Pravasi welfare scheme benefits.

• NRKs who have paid contributions to the Pravasi welfare pension fund constantly up to 60 years of age are entitled to a minimum pension on a monthly basis of 2000 Rupees. 

• Every NRKs abroad member is required to pay 300 Rupees for each month in a form of a contribution. 

• Every NRKs in India have to pay a 100 Rupees contribution each month 

• The period of contribution is 5 years 

• PPS is not offered for central and state government employees. 

Kerala Pravasi Pension Scheme 

Same as NRKs Abroad (Application 1A), Kerala people who have come back from abroad/overseas (Application -1B) for getting settled permanently can pay to the Pravasi welfare fund constantly up to 60 years to receive the Kerala Pravasi pension scheme benefits and profits. They are also considered eligible for a pension on a monthly basis of 2000 Rupees. 

Eligibility of Pravasi Pension Scheme 

Every NRK having age between 19 to 60 years is entitled to enroll as a Welfare fund member. The Pravasi scheme membership is mainly categorized into 3 categories as mentioned below: 

• NRKs who are employed abroad – Form 1A

• NRKs who came back to India permanently after at least two years of employment in abroad – Form 1B

• NRKs employed in India outside Kerala- Form 2A 

How to Register for Pravasi Pension Scheme Online

Following is a step-to-step guide you are required to follow for registering Pravasi Pension Scheme online:

Step 1: Visit the Pravasi Welfare Board of Kerala’s official website  

Step 2: Click on a ‘Service’ option 

Step 3: Then, click on ‘Online Apply’ tab by visiting the online registration menu 

Step 4: After this, you will be forwarded to the PPS Online Application Form Page 

Step 5: Choose the type of registration according to your group i.e., 2A, 1A, and 1B 

Step 6: Enter the important information requested on the page, such as the nominee’s details 

Step 7: Submit the self-attested documents like a photo with a signature 

Step 8: Click on ‘Submit’. 

Registration Fees for Pravasi Pension Scheme 

The PPS registration payment is Rs, 200 for all groups. One can pay the enrolment fees via online or submit them at any nearest prescribed bank branch or Pravasi Co-operative Societies money exchange for abroad and more. 

The contribution on a monthly basis for each group is as follows:

Kerala Pravasi Family Pension Scheme – A Brief Overview 

If an enrolled member who is eligible to receive the pension passes away in an unfortunate event, his/her family, including wife, children less than 21 years, dependent parents, unmarried daughter, etc., shall be entitled to receive a family pension of a sum equal to 50 percent of the entitled pension intended for the dead member. 

In case a member of the Pravasi Welfare fund (overseas form 1A) dies because of an accident or illness, in such cases, one of the member’s dependents i.e., minor children, spouse, widowed/unmarried daughter, dependent sisters, brother or parents, or further legal recipients, shall also be entitled to avail maximum monetary support of Rs. 50000. 

In case a member of NRK – 1B passes away, his/her family members who are dependent shall be reimbursed with the maximum monetary support of Rs. 30000. 

Pravasi Pension Scheme (PPS) For Medical Treatment 

In case any Non-Resident Keralite member is suffering from a critical ailment, then he/she can claim financial support up to 50000 Rupees during the complete time of membership. Though, if a person receives any financial support for the same from the state or central administration or any other organizations such as the Local self-department, Norka Roots, he/she cannot claim the monetary support from the welfare fund of Kerala under the PPS. 

Pravasi Pension Scheme for Marriage 

Those NRKs members who have constantly contributed to the welfare fund at least for a period of 3 years shall be eligible to receive financial support of 10,000 Rupees for marriage expenditures of his/her 2 daughters subjected to the following conditions: 

• The financial assistance shall be paid to the NRKs member a maximum of 2 times 

• Only 1 NRK member of the family is entitled to financial support if others are also members of the welfare fund.

Kerala Pravasi Welfare Schemes

1. Pension Scheme

   • Under the pension scheme, the Non-Resident Keralite (Abroad Form 1A):
     Those who remit contributions towards the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme up till the age of 60 are eligible to receive a monthly pension of Rs. 2,000/- after the age of retirement. Abroad form 1A needs to be filed to benefit from the scheme under this category.

   • Under the pension scheme, the residents repatriated from abroad and settled in Kerala (Form 1B):
     Those who remit continuous contribution towards the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme up till the age of 60 are eligible to receive a monthly pension of Rs. 2,000/- after the age of retirement. Form 1B needs to be filed to benefit from the scheme under this category.

   • Under the pension scheme, Non-Resident Keralites in India but outside Kerala (Form 2A):
     Those who remit continuous contribution towards the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme up till the age of 60 are eligible to receive a monthly pension of Rs. 2,000/- after the age of retirement. Form 2A needs to be filed to benefit from the scheme under this category.

   • Under the pension scheme, members who contribute for more than 5 years continuously:
     Receive additional pension equivalent to 3% of minimum pension prescribed, that is, Rs. 2,000 per month, every year after the completion of 5 years. It is important to know that the receivable amount shall not exceed twice the minimum pension amount.

2. Family Pension Scheme

   If the deceased member of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme is eligible for superannuation pension, any eligible family member shall be qualified to receive 50% of the equivalent amount of the pension receivable by the deceased member. Eligible family members can be:

   • Wife of the deceased

   • Children below 21 years of age

   • An insane child of the deceased

   • Unmarried daughter above the age of 18 years

   • Dependent parents

3. Pension Schemes for Invalids

   Under the pension scheme for invalids, any member of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme, who made their contribution for a continuous period of 3 years but are unable to continue due to incapability or physical deformity, are eligible for the Invalid Pension amount.

   For the Invalid pension eligibility, the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme member has to have:

   • Valid doctor’s certificate who treated to member

   • Valid incapability condition under which any laborious activity cannot be performed

4. Financial Assistance to Dependents of the Deceased Member Scheme

   • In case the deceased member of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme falls under the above mentioned category of Abroad Form 1A:
     A maximum amount of Rs. 50,000/- is offered to the family member (falling under the family member eligibility mentioned above) as financial assistance.

   • In case the deceased member of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme falls under the above mentioned category of Form 1B:
     A maximum amount of Rs. 30,000/- is offered to the family member (falling under the family member eligibility mentioned above) as financial assistance.

5. Financial Assistance to Medical Treatment Scheme

   If any member of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme gets afflicted with any critical illness during the active membership of the scheme, then they are eligible for a maximum of Rs. 50,000/- as financial assistance. It is important to note that if the member of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme has already received any kind of financial assistance from the Central Government or the State government or any other Government body, then they will not be eligible to receive any remunerations from the Welfare Fund scheme.

6. Payment of Financial Assistance for Maternity Scheme

   Any female member of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme, remitting a continuous contribution towards the scheme for a minimum of 2 years, is eligible for:

   • Rs. 3,000/- as financial assistance to meet the maternity needs and expenses.

   • Rs. 2,000/- as financial assistance in case of abortion.

7. Payment of Educational Grant Scheme

   Non-Resident Keralites who are members of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme and have made continuous contributions for a minimum of 2 years can opt for an educational grant for their children’s higher education under the educational grant scheme. Generally, post graduate professional courses, ITC/ITI degrees are eligible under the welfare scheme.

8. Insurance Scheme for Accident Cum Death and Health

   After prior sanction from the Government body and association with any one of the Nationalized Insurance Company, the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme provides financial assistance to their members in case of any accidental death or medical related issues of the member of the welfare scheme.

9. Housing Loan Payment Scheme

   As per the Kerala Pravasi Welfare Scheme Relief Fund, any member who has continuously contributed towards the scheme for a minimum period of 5 years, only after the approval of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare Board, is eligible for a housing loan. The housing loan may be for:

   • Construction of house

   • Land purchase for the construction of a house

   • Land purchase with the building

   • Reconstruction of the existing building, etc.

10. Assistance in Marriage Scheme

    To get financial assistance towards marriage expenses for daughters, the member of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme needs to make a continuous contribution for at least 3 years under the welfare scheme. Following conditions need to be fulfilled to attain benefits under the marriage scheme:

    • Financial assistance can be claimed twice by the member throughout the tenure.

    • Only 1 member is eligible for the marriage scheme under the welfare fund (even if there are more members under the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme in a family).

    • A maximum of Rs. 10,000/- can be claimed under this scheme.

11. Other Schemes

    NRKs (Non-Resident Keralites) who due to age restriction cannot be members of Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme (55 years as approved by the Government) are offered certain other schemes by the Government, which are:

    • For common diseases, medical financial assistance of up to Rs. 10,000/- is sanctioned.

    • For critical illness, medical financial assistance of up to Rs. 25,000/- is sanctioned.

    • Financial assistance for old age is provided in a lump sum or the form of pension as approved by the Kerala Pravasi Welfare Board.

    • In case the NRK passes away before the age of 60 and is also not a member of the Kerala Pravasi Welfare scheme, dependents are provided Rs. 10,000 as financial assistance.