Ten per cent rise in fair value of land, decision to reform taxes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K N Balagopal presented the first budget of the second Pinarayi government. Major projects have been announced in various fields such as agriculture, employment and industry.

The finance minister said the land reforms law would be amended and all slabs in the land tax would be reformed. The basic land tax, which is the central factor in handling land documents, needs to be reformed. A high level committee will be formed to resolve the issues in the fair value of land. A one-time increase of 10 per cent in the existing fair price will be implemented in all categories. An additional revenue of Rs 200 crore is expected through this. The basic tax will be revised by introducing new slabs above 40.476 in gram panchayats, municipalities and corporations. The basic land tax rate on all slabs will be increased. An additional revenue of Rs 80 crore is expected through this.

Other main announcements
1) Skill courses in all assembly constituencies at a cost of Rs 140 crore

2. A medical tech innovation park will be set up at Thiruvananthapuram at a cost of Rs 100 crore by bringing together medical technology related institutes to create a medical entrepreneurial ecosystem.

3. Kerala Genomic Data Centre at a cost of Rs 500 crore for health care, study of genetic defects, improvement of productivity in primary sector, medical, agricultural and livestock sector.

4. The establishment of a Center of Excellence in Nutraceuticals will be initiated.

5. Capital investment of Rs 186 crore to keep CIAL in the public sector.

6. Rs 30 crore for Sabarimala Master Plan

7. Rs 30 crore for interest relief on bank loans and implementation of employment-incentive schemes to promote the cashew industry

8. Rs 117 crore for coir sector and Rs 38 crore for the price stability fund for coir products

9. Rs 140 crore for school uniforms

10. Location tracking system on public transport for women's safety

11. Rs 2 crore for feasibility study and DPR preparation of Sabarimala Greenfield Airport

12. Mobile ration shops in all the assembly constituencies in Kerala

13. Door to door ration shop in densely populated areas of scheduled castes and fishermen

14. Rs 342.64 crore for school lunch scheme

15. Rs 200 crore for K Disk

16. P Krishna Pillai Navodhana Study Centre will be set up at a cost of Rs 2 crore in Vaikkom, the birthplace of comrade P Krishna Pillai, a renaissance leader and freedom fighter

17. Chavara Cultural Research Centre at Mannanam at a cost of Rs one crore in memory of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara

18. Cancer Care Suite will develop software that includes information on cancer patients, bone marrow donors and comprehensive cancer control strategies

19. Kerala Adhithi Mobile App Scheme for registering guest workers and providing identification number

20. The monthly mess allowance for SC/ST children will be increased. Candidates with Civil Engineering Degree/Diploma/ITI qualification belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes will be appointed as Accredited Engineers/Overseers for two years

21. Rs 5 crore for Mazhavi scheme to create employment opportunities and provide social security to transgender people

22. An amount of Rs 2134.5 crore is sanctioned for the twin tunnel project through KIIFB and Rs 6769 crore for land acquisition of Thalappadikars on the national highway

23. Aadhaar based biometric identification system will be introduced from April 1 to ensure complete security of treasury transactions

24. e-wallet system to enable utility payments through treasury from the next financial year

25. KSFE will open three regional Offices, 50 new branches and 15 micro branches in the next financial year. KFC's loan assets will increase to Rs 10,000 crore within the next two years. Loans of Rs 250 crore next year through KFC's Startup Kerala project. The loan limit of KFC CM's Entrepreneurship Development Scheme will be increased to Rs 2 crore

26. Lucky Bill Scheme to give attractive prizes to those selected from those who upload GST invoices

27. Milk and eggs will be provided in anganawadis