THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala presented its first full budget with finance minister Thomas Isaac pledging to keep social welfare measures going despite the revenue squeeze due to demonetization in the last three months. (LIVE UPDATES HERE)
Here are 25 main points of the budget presentation:
1. One lakh houses to be built for the homeless this year.
2. 2500 new teacher posts to be created.
3. 45,000 smart classrooms to be made ready by 2018.
4. Rs 201 crore for soil and land conservation.
5. Rs 150 crore for water conservation.
6. Rs 350 crore allocated for the Karunya scheme.
7. Rs 8,621 crore for local governance institutions.
8. Rs 100 crore for clean crematoria.
9. Thre crore trees to be planted in three years and Rs 50 crore allotted for scientific landfills.
10. Some 5,210 medical posts including doctors and nurses to be created.
11. Medicines for treatment of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol to be free at primary health centers.
12. Special health insurance for the differently abled, the aged, BPL families and other vulnerable sections. Around Rs 250 crore has been allotted the welfare of differently abled people. There will be 5 per cent reservation to the differently abled in higher education.
13. Autism parks in all districts. Special focus on autistic children and their physiotherapy and behavioral therapy.
14. Internet to be made a right of citizens. Basic internet services will be provided to 20 lakh poor families.
15. Rs 700 crore has been allotted for food storage.
16. Rs 117 crore has been allotted for plugging leakages in the rationing system. Rs 900 crore has been allotted for ration subsidy.
17. Rs 100 crore for the Smart City mission.
18. Rs 350 crore allotted for Anganwadi teachers’ honorarium.
20. Rs 2600 crore announced for SC welfare and Rs 750 crore for ST welfare.
21. Rs 4 crore allotted for the revival of Agraharams in Kerala.
22. Rs 10 crore for pepper and cardamom farming;
23. Rs 500 crore to stabilise the rubber base price.
24. Water taxis to ply on the Ernakulam-Kumarakom-Muhamma route
25. Rs 2 crore for marine ambulances.