Ministerial protests yield results: 100 crores extra for CPI departments; 29 crores for other departments

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Finance Minister has sanctioned Rs 100 crores based on the complaint that the allocation announced in the budget for the departments of the CPI ministers was low. This is in the context of CPI ministers publicly reacting and expressing their dissatisfaction even in the Legislative Assembly.

Finance Minister KN Balagopal, while replying to the public discussion of the budget in the Assembly today, informed that the additional amount has been allocated. A total of Rs 29 crore was allocated to other departments.

Food Minister GR Anil had strongly reacted on the day the budget was announced that the amount for Supplyco has been greatly reduced. Out of 100 crores, 71 crores were allotted to his department. With this, the 1930 crores allocated to the public distribution sector in the budget has increased to 2001 crores.

The Finance Minister announced that although the budget allocation for KSRTC is 900 crores, it was given about 4000 crore rupees in the current year, and money will be given to Supplyco in the same manner.

The rest of the money goes to the departments of agriculture, revenue and animal welfare, which are managed by CPI ministers. Budget expenditure increased to 129 crore. The budget deficit increased from Rs 273 crore to Rs 403.94 crore.

The Finance Minister rejected the demand to increase the welfare pension and said that the government will try to pay the current Rs.1600 on time. It will be possible as soon as central allocation is available. A delay of up to six months is being faced in getting the central share of the paddy price. That is why paddy prices are given as bank loans to farmers.

Additional share

(Amount in Crores)

*NoRKA International Cultural Complex..................................5

*For Science City ...............................................................................5

*Cultural Digital Survey...................................................................3

* Media Academy New Building.................................................. 3

* Continuation of Pattaya Mission.............................................. 3

* To rehabilitate the paddy field.................................................. 2

*Government land conservation................................................. 2

*Matching Fund for Dairy Development Central Scheme...2

*Agricultural Labor Welfare Fund............................................... 20

*Campus Industrial Park................................................................. 10

*Malappuram KSRTC Bus Stand................ 5

*Sasthamcotta backwater protection................................... 1

* 7 SIMET Nursing Colleges................................... 7

New announcements

• Assistance to industrial parks in the cooperative sector
• Assistance to cooperative mills, Rubco etc
• Government assistance to Poorakkali Academy
• Reward scheme for the exchange of confidential GST information

Change in plans

• Priority for rural roads in 1000 crore construction project
• 1000 crores for the projects that came up in Navakerala Sadas. One scheme each in 140 constituencies