Salary revision for employees, full DA, no new tax or rate hike; 'Welfare' budget in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the assembly elections approaching, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal delivered a welfare budget aimed to satisfy all sections, from ASHA workers to government employees.

No new taxes or rate hikes. New pay commission for employees. New pension scheme. Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief to be paid along with arrears. Welfare fund for former members of local bodies. Honorarium of current members to be increased. Nativity card for the people.

The revenue generated by granting amnesty to tax arrears, Rs 10,271.51 crore, is expected to be obtained by improving tax collection; Rs 1595.05 crore in non-tax revenue, and the Central Grant and Finance Commission share, which increases according to the season are expected to increase the revenue by Rs 45,889.49 crore. Reward scheme for taxpayers. State-of-the-art surveillance system at check posts. Finance Tower in Kochi.

The budget presented for the year 2026-27 is expected to have an expenditure of Rs 2.4 lakh crore, income of Rs 1.82 lakh crore and a deficit of Rs 55420 crore. The budget speech, which lasted 2.52 hours, became the fourth longest in the history of the Assembly.

Salary hike of Rs 1000

*Anganwadi worker

*ASHA worker

*Pre-primary teachers

*Literacy motivators

*Librarians' allowance

Other increased benefits

*Rs. 25 per day for school cooks

*Rs. 1500 in pension for journalists

*Rs. 1000 in pension for cancer, leprosy, AIDS, tuberculosis-affected people

*Life Saver scheme to provide immediate treatment without any fee to those involved in road accidents.

*Accident and life insurance scheme for students up to class 12

*New health insurance scheme for those outside the welfare system

*Treatment assistance for spinal muscular atrophy

Relief for autorickshaw workers

*Solar charging units at auto stands

*Two per cent loan interest subsidy for buying electric auto rickshaws

*Scrappage bonus of Rs 40,000 for switching to electric auto rickshaws

*Hub for gig workers to relax

V.S. Centre

*V.S. Achuthanandan Centre, Thiruvananthapuram

*Ayyankali Study Centre

*Kandan Kumaran Study Centre, Kavarikulam

*Mar Ivanios Museum

* Sheikh Zainuddin Makhdoom II Historical Research Centre, Ponnani

“Only things that can be implemented have been included in the budget. The increase was not announced in the budget because the welfare pension was increased in November. All the announcements made in the last five years have been implemented. The government is concerned about the common man, the unorganised sector and students.” Said Minister Balagopal.