Kozhikode, Tuesday, February 16, 2010: The Non-Resident Keralites Welfare Board, constituted last year, will become fully functional by March this year, its chairman T K Hamsa said today.

The state government has earmarked Rs three crore for the board and additional amount was likely to be allocated in the coming budget, he told reporters here.

On the board’s pension scheme, launched on January 1, he said the members who had served abroad and aged 60 and above, will get a minimum pension of Rs 1,000 while those who worked in other states of the country Rs 500. Aspiring members should enroll in the scheme before the age of 55 and remit their contribution for five years.

Dependent family members would be eligible to get the pension in the event of death of the member, Hamsa said after chairing a meeting of the family members of NRIs here.

(PTI)