KERALA BUDGET

Kerala: Isaac presents women-friendly, coastal-focused budget

thomas-isaac-fb Kerala Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac | File

State budget includes a Rs 2,000-crore special package for fisheries

In a presentation that was generous with quotes from female writers in Malayalam, Kerala Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac tried his hand at addressing women empowerment and coastal development in the state. Coming on the trail of Cyclone Ockhi that devastated Kerala’s coastline, the state budget includes a Rs 2,000-crore special package for the fisheries sector. The finance minister, who also announced measures to revive the healthcare sector, said the cyclone presented a model in disaster management. 

He also said that Kerala was No. 1 in economic achievements and the state was an impenetrable fortress against forces of communalism. Isaac's budget gave women their due—from ensuring protection to aid for women-centeric projects. Isaac also hinted at tough austerity measures as he set fiscal deficit target at 3.1 per cent compared to the current 3.3 per cent. In his budget speech he blamed GST for the current financial crisis, saying the new tax regime only benefits the corporates. He also came down heavily against the Centre's move to ban Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes in 2016 and compared the same to Cyclone Ockhi that wreaked havoc in the state last year. 

Below are the highlights of Kerala budget 2018-19: 

Major announcements

  • Rs 80 crore for startup incubator
  • Pamba action plan to be revive
  • Land tax of 2015 restored, to rope in Rs 100 crore in revenue. The previous UDF government had withdrawn the tax after protests
  • Rs 40 crore assistance for special schools

Women

  • Rs 1,267 crore for women-safety projects
  • Rs 50 crore for women safety
  • Rs 10 crore for panchayats for women safety
  • Rs 36 crore to assist assault survivors
  • Nirbhaya houses to get Rs 5 crore
  • Rs 25 crore for working women's hostel in all districts

Coastal package

  • Rs 150 crore for rehabilitation of families living in coastal areas
  • Rs 900 crore investment for coastal areas from KIIFB
  • Free WiFi for coastal areas
  • Rs 584 crore loan to redevelop fishing harbors
  • All schools in coastal areas to be modernized
  • Rs 2,000 crore package for coastal areas
  • Rs 100 crore to set up satellite network as part of coastal package
  • Rs 10 crore for detailed project report (DPR) on coastal package

Industries

  • Rs 600 crore for coir sector
  • Rs 150 crore for handloom
  • Rs 19 crore for Khadi sector
  • Rs 54.45 crore for cashew sector

Budget Goes Green

  • Three crore saplings to be planted
  • Rs 50 crore to ensure water for wild animals inside forests
  • Rs 71 crore for environmental projects
  • Rs 100 crore to tackle wild animal menace in human habitats

Healthcare

  • Rs 10 crore differently abled, safe homes to be set up in all district centers
  • Trauma care units to be set up in taluk hospitals
  • Rs 1 crore renovation fund for schools with more than 500 students
  • Rs 33 crore for modernisation of education sector
  • Rs 17 crore for mental healthcare
  • Rs 300 crore for setting up computer labs in LP and UP schools• Uber-model ambulance services to be introduced across state
  • Public health services to get Rs 1685 crore
  • Rs 2,500 crore for life mission housing scheme
  • Kerala lottery funds to be utilised for comprehensive healthcare scheme
  • Cardiology units to be set up in all district hospitals
  • Oncology departments to be set up in all medical colleges
  • New cancer centre in Kochi

Infrastructure

  • Allotted Rs 4,274 crore for KIIFB
  • Fair value of land increased by 10 per cent
  • Rs 16 crore for NRI returnees 
  • Rs 144 crore for art and culture
  • Rs 10 crore for Punnapra-Vayalar memorial
  • Rs 10 crore for setting up AKG memorial at Peralasseri, Kannur
  • Rs 14.5 crore for jail modernisation
  • Half of the revenue from jails to be used for jail modernisation
  • Rs 28 crore for Sabarimala Master Plan
  • Rs 2,500 crore for life mission housing scheme
  • Rs 8 crore for SupplyCo modernisation
  • Rs 954 crore for food subsidy
  • Rs18 crore for poultry farming, govt will set up hatcheries in all panchayats to be run by

Kudumbashree

  • Rs 31 crore to implement food security plan

KSRTC

  • Govt will not take over the pension dues of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC)
  • Rs 1,000 crore to revive KSRTC
  • Will enable KSRTC to pay off its salary, pension dues
  • Will make changes in the management level
  • To be divided into three profit centers
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Topics : #Kerala | #budget

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