Kerala announces `20Kcr Covid package
Balagopal: `1,000cr would be utilised for providing free Covid vaccination for all above 18 years of age
The Pinarayi Vijayan government, which came to power for the second time in Kerala after the recent polls, has presented its maiden Budget, on Friday, which comprised a `20,000 crore special package to deal with the huge crisis triggered by the second wave of Covid-19.
While presenting the Budget in the state Assembly, Kerala’s new finance minister K.N. Balagopal announced that as part of the package `2,800 crore would be spent on addressing health emergency situations.
The minister said `8,900 crore would be pumped into the market through various social welfare measures including social welfare pensions. This would, in turn, help people who have been plunged into grave crisis due to loss of livelihood. Besides, `8,300 crore has been set aside for interest subsidy on loans granted for reviving the economy.
The minister said all community health centres and taluk and district hospitals will have 10 isolation beds each. Each medical college will have separate blocks for dealing with epidemics. An oxygen plant with a capacity of 150 metric tonnes would be set up.
Mr Balagopal said `1,000 crore would be utilised for providing free Covid vaccination for all above 18 years of age.
The minister announced that `500 crore would be spent on providing infrastructure facilities including equipment for mass vaccination drive. The government has set aside `5 crore for children who lost their parents due to Covid. Each orphaned child would be given `3 lakh.
Mr Balagopal said the emphasis of the new Budget was on ensuring health and food for all, especially during the pandemic period. With the state still fighting the second wave, the current challenges posed by the pandemic are also adversely impacting the state’s development, he
added.
He said the government was also gearing up to face the challenges that the third wave might pose.
While sparing the people of additional tax burden, the minister said this was not the right time to impose taxes. However, he said that considering the 18.7 per cent dip in the state’s revenue due to Covid crisis, it would be difficult to move forward without an increase in tax and nontax revenues.
The minister announced a special package for the state’s coastal areas which witnessed widespread destruction due to recent cyclones and rains.
A special loan package of `2,500 crore had been announced for farmers and `1,000 crore loans through Kudumbasree.