Financial Assistance to Ex-Convicts — ₹15,000 Kerala Grant — Frequently Asked Questions

Eligible beneficiaries receive up to ₹15,000. It is a one-time grant, so the amount is paid once rather than spread across months or years.

Three conditions must be met together. The applicant has to be a native and resident of Kerala, has to be an ex-convict who was released from jail and comes from a poor economic background, and has to belong to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.

No on both counts. The assistance is a one-time grant, not a loan, and nothing has to be paid back. It is also non-dilutive — no stake, ownership share or profit participation is taken in the beneficiary's activity.

There is no fixed closing date. The scheme runs on a rolling basis, which means applications can be submitted at any point during the year.

No. This is an individual rehabilitation scheme rather than a startup or enterprise funding programme, and the published eligibility criteria make no mention of DPIIT recognition, MSME registration or any similar business certification. The only requirements are Kerala residency, ex-convict status with a poor economic background, and BPL category.

Applications are filed through the SUNEETHI — Online Service Application Portal at suneethi.sjd.kerala.gov.in. You complete a one-time registration with your name, email ID and mobile number, verify the mobile number using the code you receive, and fill in the mandatory details to create a profile. After logging in with your registered mobile number and password, you update your profile — personal information, contact details, identity cards and bank details — then pick "Financial Assistance to Ex-Convicts" from the list on the left side of the screen, click "Apply Now", fill in all mandatory fields in the form and hit Submit.

Yes. You can download the application form from the Social Justice Department's official website at sjd.kerala.gov.in, or collect a physical copy from the District Probation Officer. Fill it in completely, attach the supporting documents it asks for, and hand the whole set to the Probation Officer in your district.

The grant is intended for self-employment or for starting a small industry or trade. In practice it is meant to cover the initial setup costs and working capital needed to begin an income-generating activity, which is what makes the beneficiary economically independent.

The scheme does not publish a fixed checklist of its own. The supporting documents required are the ones specified in the application form, and the online profile asks for your personal information, contact details, identity cards and bank details, so it is worth keeping those ready before you begin.

It exists to support the social rehabilitation of people released from jail who come from economically weak backgrounds. By funding a livelihood activity, the Department of Social Justice, Government of Kerala aims to give the beneficiary a genuine alternative to re-offending and a route back to productive life in the community.

Financial Assistance to Ex-Convicts — ₹15,000 Kerala Grant is offered by Department of Social Justice, Government of Kerala, a government body. It is provided as non-dilutive funding.