Poll bound Kerala tables welfare oriented budget

Kerala LDF Government presented the last budget of the tenure on Friday. Finance Minister Thomas Isaac promised the creation of 8 lakh jobs, internet provision for the poor, construction of 1.5 lakh houses under the Life mission scheme and other welfare initiatives.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government in Kerala led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, presented the last budget of this term, focused on welfare schemes and employment creation among others. Finance Minister Thomas Isaac presented the state budget for the year 2021-2022, in the Assembly on Friday. The budget speech went on for more than three hours.

"The Government is to create 8 lakh new jobs in the next financial year. The plan is to provide jobs to at least 20 lakh people in the next 5 years through the digital platform. Educated and skilled women who may have taken career breaks due to personal reasons would also be provided opportunities based on their qualifications," Finance Minister said in his budget speech.

Special projects have been included to strengthen digital economy and education, and also to digitalise homes. Higher Education sector gets special consideration in the budget with plans to revitalise the sector gradually. Support has been announced for the Health and Farm sectors and start-up initiatives.

Special schemes for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities have been mentioned in the budget. Funds have been earmarked for house construction and education. Elderly people also get support as per the announcements in the budget. The fisheries sector and the coastal regions are also given due importance in the budget.

The people-friendly budget from the Left Government has generally pleased almost all sectors, besides tax exemptions, and pension schemes and other announcements expecting to be re-elected to fulfil the fresh promises. The Welfare pensions have been raised in the State. All welfare pensions amounted as Rs 1600 with a flat Rs 100 increase. Finance Minister said the increased welfare pensions would be effected from April 2021.

Thomas Isaac presented the budget with thrust on employment. He declared that the State would employ as many as 20 lakhs in 5 years. A digital platform would be developed to support job seekers. More than 50 lakh educated youth would be trained through Kerala - Development Innovation Strategy Council (K- DISC).

Special projects have been announced for those who ‘work from home’ and work stations would also be facilitated near the homes. The digitisation at schools has reached homes too. Each house will get a laptop as part of the project. For this, the laptops distribution programme announced in the 100-day action plan would be expanded. Laptops would be made available for the children from the backward sections at 50 per cent cost. For the BPL cardholders, a 25 per cent subsidy would be given by the Government.

The first phase of K-Fon project would be completed by February. BPL families would be ensured free internet in the State. Internet services cannot be monopolised in the State by anyone, the Minister said. The welfare fund for the labourers attached to the MGNREGA would begin in February. A draft has been made for the same.

As many as 3 lakh more people would be ensured with jobs. All those who work under the scheme for at least 20 days a year can enrol themselves for the scheme. Those who do not benefit from any other Government pensions will be given welfare pension for the senior citizen from 60 years of age.

The food kit distribution started during the pandemic to lend a helping hand to the common people amid Covid-19, will continue, Isaac stated. For those who possess blue and white cards, an additional 10 more kilograms of rice would be distributed at the rate of Rs 15. Rs 1060 crore has been earmarked for food subsidy by the State, Isaac said.

More announcements were made by the Finance Minister under the Life Mission project as a relief to the homeless and the landless. As many as 1.5 lakh more houses would be built by the State. Of these 60,000 houses will be for fisherfolks and Scheduled sections. Funds have been allocated towards buying land for the Scheduled sections. Of the Rs 6,000 crores needed for the Life project, Rs 1000 crores have been allotted in the budget. Rest will be on borrowings.

Houses have been approved for 40,000 Scheduled Castes and 12,000 for Scheduled Tribes communities. Rs 2,080 crore has been set aside towards this cost, Thomas Isaac said in the budget speech. ‘Karunya at Home’ project would be implemented for the welfare and wellbeing of the elderly in the State. Through this project, medicines would be delivered at door. ‘Vayo Club’ (Club for the elderly) would be formed in all wards.

Projects were also announced intending to eradicate poverty in the State. A list of the poorest would be made. Those who have no means of income or any job would be supported directly by the State. The daily pay of the mid-day meal workers at State schools would be increased by Rs 50 per day. The pension for Anganwadi teachers has been hiked to Rs 2,000.

The allowance for ASHA workers has been raised by Rs 1,000. Karunya programme would continue. Migrant (Guest) workers’ welfare has been given special attention in the State Budget. Rs 10 crore has been allocated for the welfare programmes meant for the guest labourers living and working in the State.

The pension for the expatriates who have returned home has been made Rs 300, said Finance Minister during his budget speech. Overall, the LDF government’s last budget for this tenure has touched upon each and every sector with special attention to creating employment, farming and welfare initiatives.