THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Central grands and tax allocation should be increased for Kerala, which is reeling under financial crisis. The 16th Finance Commission, which will decide and make recommendations regarding this, will begin a three-day critical visit to Kerala today. Central assistance will be available from 2026 at the rate recommended by the commission.

The team headed by Dr Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the Commission and former Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog will reach Kochi today afternoon. Finance Minister KN Balagopal, Chief Secretary Sharada Muralidharan and others will receive them and take them to Kumarakom.

The team will visit the Thiruvarpu and Aymanam panchayat areas on Monday morning and reach Kovalam in the evening. They will be received at the conference hall of Kovalam Leela Hotel at 9.30 am on Tuesday under the leadership of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Finance Minister KN Balagopal will deliver the welcome speech. They will then hold a discussion with the cabinet members. From 11.30 a.m. there will be a discussion with State Finance Commission Chairman Dr KN Harilal, representatives of Grama, Block and District Panchayat Associations, Chamber of Municipal Chairman, Mayors Council etc. The Commission will meet the traders and industrialists representatives from 12.45 pm. Meeting with representatives of political parties from 1.45. Then the Chairman will hold a press conference.

Other members of the Commission are Ajay Narayan Jha, who was a member of the 15th Finance Commission, Annie George Mathew, former Special Secretary of Expenditure at the Centre, Manoj Panda, former Director of the Institute of Economic Growth, and Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Chief Economic Advisor, SBI Group.

Finance Minister KN Balagopal said that the government has taken proper preparations to present the demands strongly and get the rightful financial rights.