Kerala Budget 2009-2010

Rs 2/kg rice, Rs 10K cr to meet crisis in Kerala budget

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac presented the budget in the Assembly here on Friday. The Minister's introductory speech was laced by instances from Thakazhi's famous novel Kayar. The minister said that the present economic crisis drew similarities with some events from the novel. The present crisis should be seen as an opportunity to uplift the woes of the common man, he said.

The minister started his budget speech at 9 am. He said that the Centre has neglected the Kerala region and had not done anything to improve the present crisis. He announced a special package of Rs 10,000 cr for the State to deal with the present economic crisis.

His main focus was on upgrading the common man's woes and had alloted Rs 2/kg rice to people living below poverty line. The minimum pension will also be increased from Rs 200 to Rs 250.

The minister hoped that in the coming fiscal the state will be able to present a surplus budget.

For the year 2008-09, there was a 2.04 pc decrease in revenue. Though the revenue was down, income from tax saw an increase at 23 pc. He attributed the success to the administrative officials.


Highlights

Rs 20 cr for land acquisition for Kochi Metro

Business park in Kochi's Edayar

Rs 115 cr for IT sector

Road upgradation work for Kannur airport to get Rs 259 cr

Kinfra alloted Rs 15 cr

KSRTC gets Rs 55 cr

Ten new ITIs to be set up

Coastal Highways to get Rs 25 cr

Rs 3 cr for Sivagiri road widening

Life Science park in Thiruvanthapuram to be set up

Sabarimala road widening alloted Rs 20 cr

Nine new electricity projects sanctioned

Rs 56 cr alloted for rice cultivation

Coconut development project to get Rs 15 cr

Planting of coconut saplings to get Rs 500 cr

Rs 25 crore for agriculture debt relief

Rs 10 crore package for fishermen

Small scale water irrigation projects to get Rs 66 cr

Rs 76.4 cr for animal protection

Cashewnut cutivation to get Rs 46 cr

Kerafed debt of Rs 35 cr will be waived off

10 new fishing harbours will be set up

Minimum pension hiked from Rs 200 to Rs 250

Rice for people below poverty line at Rs 2/kg

Rice distribution through Maveli Stores to be upgraded

Housing loan for poor people will be waived off

Rs 4000 cr package for business sectors

Irrigation, drinling water, plumbing sectors to get rs 5000 cr

Rs 270 cr for the food sector

A Malabar package at Rs 1500 cr announced

Rs 10,000 crore announced to meet the financial difficulties through recession