THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State finance minister Thomas Issac has said that there won’t be any hike in taxes on this year’s budget. He also added that priority will be given to sustainable development and not to populist declarations. “It is a challenge to enable the state to stand on its feet as the pandemic has destroyed the state’s financial backbone but Kerala won’t be allowed to starve, even in the midst of any crisis,” Issac said.

“As all the usual income sources of the state were disrupted by the pandemic, the government is moving forward with central funds. The state is incurring a heavy expense on a daily basis, due to free welfare programmes, Covid 19 treatment and vaccines and at the same time, it is also facing challenges to rejuvenate existing income sources or crafting new ones,” the finance minister added.

Thomas Issac also said that in 2021, emphasis will be given to job creation. The current economic planning is based on the conviction of another five-year term and not for vote on account for the remaining three months. The support given to the public during the pandemic period will continue but the usual shortcuts for wooing the public before the completion of the term won’t be there.