Kerala budget: Rs 20,000 crore COVID package, no new taxes

A Rs 20,000 crore Covid package, liquid medical oxygen plant of 150 metric tonnes capacity, Rs1,000 crore towards Covid vaccines and no new taxes were some of the big announcements in the revised budget presented by Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal in the state assembly on Friday. The package includes Rs 2,800 crore for healthcare, Rs 8,900 crore for income transfer and Rs 8,300 crore for economic revival. The Finance Minister said this was the only way before the government to save lives of people, ensure health of the people, and to revive the economy.

Balagopal, who presented his maiden budget, said all the proposals in the budget presented by his predecessor T.M. Thomas Isaac on January 15 and the promises made in the LDF manifesto would be implemented. “There are financial constraints that we are all facing due to the pandemic. We will stand with the people and fulfil the promises,” he said. Opposition Leader VD Satheesan, welcoming the COVID-19 package of Rs 20,000 crore, said, "With the political comments included in the policy statement as well as budget speech, this has been turned into a political stunt."