Machilipatnam (AP), Dec 1 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh is leading the way in social welfare spending, with a significant focus on pensions, state minister Kollu Ravindra said on Monday.

"Andhra Pradesh is the only state in India that provides a large number of pensions," the minister holding the mines and geology and excise portfolios said.

Speaking to the media, Ravindra said the state government has allocated a substantial budget of Rs 34,000 crore for the NTR Bharosa pension scheme, benefiting 63,25,999 people in December alone.

He added that Rs 2,739 crore was distributed in pensions on December 1, while 1,08,000 spouse pensions were sanctioned after the coalition government came to power.

Not a single spouse pension was given during the previous YSRCP government, he claimed.

The state government has spent Rs 50,763 crore on pensions in the last 18 months, he said.

"Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu personally distributes pensions to the beneficiaries," Ravindra said. PTI COR ARI ARI