Kerala budget: Priority for Covid package

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The main item in the revised budget of the second Pinarayi government will be a package to overcome the impact of the second wave of Covid that rocked the state. Earlier, former finance minister Thomas Isaac had announced a Rs 20,000 crore Covid package but it was mainly used to pay arrears to contractors. The implementation of the package, which will benefit the health, small scale industries and agriculture sectors, will require some tax hikes that will not cause much inconvenience to the common man.

The Centre provides only half of the wax produced in India free of cost. The rest of the vaccine must be purchased by the state. There will be money for this in the package. If the budget cannot be passed in the House by July 31, the vote-on-account will have to be passed for as long as it can.

Expenditure bill and vote on account will be passed by the Assembly on June 10.

Budget's focus

• Loan scheme and financial assistance to create three lakh jobs in small and micro enterprises.
• Plan to rehabilitate returnees from abroad.
• Infrastructure development of hospitals, .Package to increase vegetable production and farmers' income.
• Plans to save tourism from crisis.
• Construction of additional houses through Life Mission, housing for all scheduled Ccastes and land for cultivation.
• K Phone, previously announced projects for higher education excellence