Kerala announces `20K-cr relief

`5 cr set aside for children orphaned due to Covid; `1,000 cr to be used for free vaccination

Pinarayi Vijayan government which came to power for the second time in Kerala after the recent polls, has presented it’s maiden budget on Friday which comprised a `20,000 crore special package to deal with the huge crisis triggered by Covid 19 second wave.

While presenting the budget in state Assembly, Kerala’s finance minister K.N. Balagopal announced that as part of the package `2,800 crore would be spent on facing health emergency situation.

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, taluk and district hospitals will have 10 isolation beds each. Each medical college to have separate blocks for dealing with epidemics. Oxygen plant with a capacity of

150 metric tonne would be set up.

Balagopal said `1,000 cr 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.

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 third wave might pose.

People spared of tax hike as Pinarayi government focuses on reviving Covid hit economy.

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 state’s revenue due to Covid crisis, it would be difficult to move forward without an increase in tax and non tax revenues.

Balagopal said the government hoped to shore up more revenues when the economy comes back on track.

Special package for coastal areas

The minister announced a special package for the state’s coastal areas which witnessed widespread destruction due to recent cyclones and rains. The government would spend

`5,300 crore as part of coastal package for coastal conservation activities including construction of integrating tetrapods and diaphragm walls.

A special loan package of `2,500 crore had been announced for farmers and `1,000 crore loans through Kudumbasree.

Opposition slams the government and said the budget is packed with deceit. Opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan said the government had deceived the people by making false claims. The government had earlier claimed that `8,900 crore would be transferred directly into the hands of people. However, now it has retracted from the announcement which clearly indicates their trickery.

Satheeshan said the former finance minister Thomas Isaac before demitting office had claimed that he was leaving behind `5,000 crore in state’s exchequer. Where is the money? asked Satheeshan.

State reports 16,229 new cases; 25,860 recover

Kerala reported 16,229 new cases of Covid on Friday even as 25,860 people recovered from infection.

The number of active cases in the state fell to 1,74,526. During the last 24 hours 1.09 lakh tests were carried out in the state and the test positivity rate was 14.82. The state also reported 135 Covid deaths on Friday.

As of now 6.93 lakh people are under observation across the state including 6.57 lakh under home or institutional quarantine.

The state government has announced that additional restrictions would be put in place in the state from June 5. Only shops selling essential commodities and the units which supply raw materials for various industrial establishments would be allowed to function.

The restrictions are being imposed with the objective of preventing third wave of Coronavirus, expected to hit in December this year, in the state.