Kerala demands fair share from Centre: Chief Minister

MALAPPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that Kerala is not asking the Center for freebies or kindness but for a fair tax share. The Chief Minister was speaking at a press conference after the morning meeting held in Tirur in connection with the Navakerala Yatra.

A deserving share of taxes collected from the people and the grand should be given. The hostile approach towards the states in this regard should be stopped. The central government is suffocating Kerala financially. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman herself has come forward with a campaign against facts. Centralized schemes are increasing the state's liability. While 3,56,108 houses were constructed as part of the LIFE housing scheme, only 32,171 houses received assistance of Rs 72,000 as part of PMAY Gramin. Kerala has increased the amount and is paying a total of four lakh rupees. In PMAY Gramin, new houses cannot be allocated as the target has not been fixed for three years. Yet the centre says the houses under the LIFE scheme should be given the centre's branding. Centralized schemes are not done by spending money from someone's personal savings.

The central government sees the social upliftment of Kerala as a means of punishment. The central share in respect of welfare pension has been disbursed by the state government to the beneficiaries over the years. Union Finance Minister's statement that there is no more arrears is misleading. After years of unwarranted withholding of the central allocation, the allocation from January 2021 to June 2023 has now been released after constant pressure. Only 16.62% of the Social Security Pension beneficiaries in Kerala are Centrally Contributed Pension Beneficiaries. 790 crore central allocation for paddy procurement is not available still. The problem will end when the centre pays.

Kerala should not be concerned about the over-reporting of respiratory diseases in China. The health department is looking into the matter carefully. The Chief Minister added that there is no threat in Kerala now.