Several rays of relief for Kerala even in despair

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as AIIMS and the approval of the SilverLine project remain a dream, there are many things in the union budget that will give relief to Kerala. The inclusion of the Thiruvananthapuram - Mangalore route in the 2000 km railway track being prepared for Vande Bharat in the country is one of them.

Relief

• The borrowing limit will remain at 3.5%. Rs 1000 crore as an interest-free loan with a repayment period of 50 years for development
• Import duty hike of rubber will be a solution to the price drop
• 900 crores to provide a one percent subsidy for small and medium-sized enterprises loans. One lakh enterprises will benefit.
• Reduction in customs duty of IT Electronics
• Price of the battery of e-vehicles reduced
• Kerala's Young Internship going to national Level. Internship for 47 lakh youngsters for three years.
• Income tax reform beneficial for 10 lakh service, pensioners
• Tax exemption on leave surrender and retirement benefits for bank and public sector employees increased from Rs 3 lakhs to Rs 25 lakhs.
• Carbon reduction scheme assistance to government institutions and public sector institutions like KSRTC to replace old vehicles and buy new ones.
• Dekho Apna Desh scheme to develop 50 tourism centres and promote domestic tourism
• Sickle cell anaemia eradication scheme for tribals
• Mangrove forest development project
• 19,700 crore for Green Hydrogen Energy Project.
• Nursing colleges to be established alongside Medical Colleges
• More money for pharmaceutical research.
• Beneficial for the Institute of Virology, Kerala.

Disappointment:

• Kerala's demand for AIIMS found no mention in the budget
• No approval for the SilverLine project
• The amount for the employment guarantee scheme reduced
• No rehabilitation package for expatriates
• The plantation development project was neglected