No surprises, Kerala budget high on populist projects

The budget presented by Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Issac announced several people-friendly projects including advance salary for state government employees during Onam. The minister began his budget by quoting the great philosopher and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. 

 

The education sector of Kerala will witness huge reforms as the budget gave utmost importance to elevating educational institutions in the state to international standards. 

 

The first budget of the LDF government set aside ₹1000 crore for upgrading one school in each constituency to global standards. Free uniforms would be given to students of aided schools from class I to VIII. 

 

The budget promises to ensure water, house and electricity for everyone. It hopes to fix a minimum social welfare pension upto ₹1000 and provide pension for all labourers above 60 years of age. It also promises to give a pension to women deserted by their husbands.

 

This is perhaps for the first time that a budget promised pension for transgenders who are above the age of 60 years. 

 

At a time when the state is facing several issues due to increasing number of migrant labourers, another key feature of the statement is the law for migrants . 

 

The budget speech lasted for 2 hours 56 minutes. The minister concluded the speech by reciting a poem of Jnanpith winner ONV Kurup. 

 

Other Highlights are:

 

- ₹1300 crore boost for IT sector 

 

- Special concessions for transgenders’ education

 

- 1500 acre land to be procured for industrial corridor

 

- ₹100 crore for heritage tourism projects in Thalassery and Alappuzha

 

- ₹400 crore to improve the conditions of tourism spots across the state

 

- Four lakh people to be given jobs in tourism sector

 

- Kochi-Coimbatore hi-tech corridor announced

 

- ₹10 crore allocated for Endosulfan victims

 

 -Water cess not to be increased for next five years

 

Items which are going to be dearer:

 

- 14% tax on pizza, burger

 

- 5% tax for wheat products in packets

 

- 5% tax for coconut oil

 

- Disposable plates, glasses to cost more

 

- 20% tax for disposable plastic

 

- Textiles to cost more, 2% tax on garments

 

- Vehicle tax to be increased