Governments’ final budgets are generally popular. The last budget of the Left government led by Pinarayi Vijayan presented by Finance Minister Thomas Isaac is no different. Thomas Isaac’s budget includes announcements to attract people. The budget includes proposals to address the various crises facing the state due to Kovid and to focus on the higher education sector and the labor market along with welfare activities. According to the Finance Minister, the aim of the budget is to transform the state into a knowledge economy.
There is no going back on welfare
This year too, Isaac continues to focus on the welfare schemes that followed in previous budgets. All welfare pensions have been increased to Rs.1600. One lakh people will be allotted houses next year through the Life scheme. It has been informed that 10 kg extra rice will be distributed to white and blue card holders through ration shops. Asha workers, Kudumbasree CDS members, Anganwadi workers and school cooks have all been given pay hikes. The budget also includes a special scheme for expatriates. The most notable of these is Poverty Alleviation. The announcement that a welfare fund and a festival will be set up for the guaranteed workers has also had a huge impact on the people.
Aim for leaps and bounds in higher education
The main objective of the Left government is to transform Kerala into a knowledge economy. The primary change for this is in the field of higher education. The government budget states that about 30 centers of excellence will be set up in universities. The government is aiming for a big leap forward in higher education, including infrastructure development, digital classrooms and new courses. The government does not hesitate to pour large sums of money into the higher education sector.
Special plan to overcome the employment crisis
The Left government is taking on the heavy responsibility of overcoming the major employment crisis in Kerala. It will provide employment to 20 lakh people in the next five years. Jobs will be created through a digital platform. It will provide employment to eight lakh people in the next financial year. Women will be given special consideration in this. The budget also says that Kovid will benefit from the special work culture that followed, including work from home. Special schemes have been formulated including skill development.
Where is the money?
There are always big announcements and the question arises as to where the money for all this is. The debt of the state is increasing at an unprecedented rate. In this case, additional fundraising is needed to provide new benefits to the people. Finance Minister Thomas Isaac remained silent on the matter. The Opposition says that many of the projects announced by the Finance Minister this year, like the Kuttanad, Idukki and Wayanad packages announced earlier, will have to be abandoned halfway.
This year’s budget includes proposals to address at least some of the crises facing the state. The government has also sought to formulate development plans for the future. However, there are concerns that Kerala, which is facing a severe financial crisis, will not be able to implement all this in a timely manner.
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