THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 14-member expert committee was formed under the chairmanship of Finance Minister KN Balagopal to find a new way to generate revenue for the state, which is reeling under financial crisis.

The committee should suggest ways to generate additional revenue in addition to tax revenue. It will be included in the new budget. In last year's budget, cess was imposed on petrol and diesel, additional charges were imposed on foreign liquor, government services were increased and the fair value of land was revised to increase revenue. The GST system was also restructured but the central government's tight credit limit restrictions left the government in a quandary. This year's budget is presented ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, the revenue should be increased in a way that does not cause too much hardship to the people.

The committee members are Head of Department of Economic Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University Dr. C.P. Chandrasekhar, Member Finance Commission Dr. Indira Rajaraman, Dr. Pinaki Chakraborty of National Institute of Public Finance, Dr. Ashima Goyal of Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Studies, Mumbai, C Balagopal from Federal bank, G Vijayaraghavan, Dr Muralee Thummarukudy, Dr Debashish Chatterjee, Dr Suresh Babu, Dr C Veeramani of CDS, R Mohan, Dr KM Abraham, Dr Surajit Das and Dr KJ Joseph of GIFT.