Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has described the recently presented state budget as a significant step towards comprehensive development and public welfare. Speaking in the Assembly, he praised the Finance Minister for introducing a popular and balanced budget that carefully addresses the needs of all sections of society.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has been working for the past decade to transform Kerala into a modern, middle-income society. This vision was outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan of 2022. According to him, such a society must rest on two main pillars: first, becoming a welfare state guided by the principles of the Constitution, and second, boosting capital investment and infrastructure development to drive economic growth. He noted that Kerala is making rapid progress towards both these goals, and the swift implementation of the budget proposals will accelerate the state’s advancement.
Responding to criticisms that the budget includes only unfinished projects from the last ten years, the Chief Minister dismissed such claims as immature and born out of disappointment. He pointed out that many projects previously deemed impossible have been completed during this period, citing the development of national highways and the second phase of Vizhinjam Port as clear examples that cannot be overlooked.
The Chief Minister also emphasized the focus on welfare schemes. He mentioned that the honorarium for ASHA workers was increased by Rs 1,000 before the budget, with an additional Rs 1,000 hike included in the budget itself. Similarly, monthly salaries of Anganwadi workers, pre-primary teachers, and literacy promoters have also been raised by Rs 1,000. The government has committed to fully paying the remaining installments of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) to employees and pensioners. An installment of DA will be paid along with the February salary, providing much-needed relief to government staff. From April 1, a guaranteed pension scheme will replace the contributory pension plan, and the salary revision will adopt the principle of a five-year cycle.
A historic allocation of Rs 100 crore has been announced in the budget to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. The job guarantee scheme has been granted Rs 1,000 crore more than previous years. Provisions include modernising auto-rickshaw stands and creating gig hubs for gig workers. Undergraduate education in government and aided arts and science colleges has been made free. Additionally, Rs 400 crore has been allocated for the ‘Connect to Work’ scholarship programme.
The Chief Minister concluded by stating that the budget provides relief to all sections, including labourers, farmers, the middle class, government employees, and the business community. He also said this budget is a strong political response to the central government’s attacks on federalism and constitutional values. Restrictions on borrowing limits and policies depriving states of their tax shares are troubling Kerala, and this budget registers the state’s protest against such central policies.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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