THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a major relief to Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), anganwadi workers, pre-primary teachers, and literacy instructors, the Kerala Budget for 2026–27, presented by Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal on Thursday, announced a hike of Rs 1,000 in their monthly honorarium, as the state heads towards Assembly elections in a few months.
Anganwadi helpers will receive a monthly honorarium hike of Rs 500, while noon-meal cooks’ daily wages have been increased by Rs 25. Balagopal also assured that steps would be taken to expedite the disbursal of DA/DR for government employees and pensioners.
The Finance Minister announced that, from April 2026 onwards, the honorarium of elected representatives of local bodies will be increased. A welfare fund board will be set up for them with a corpus of Rs 250 crore.
For the first time in the country, an elderly budget document will be presented along with the main Budget for 2026–27.
Other major announcements:
The first batch of houses for victims of the 2024 landslide in Wayanad will be handed over in the third week of February.
A ‘VS Centre’, in memory of late Communist stalwart and former Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan, will be set up in Thiruvananthapuram, with an allocation of Rs 20 crore.
Rs 100 crore has been allocated for preliminary works of the proposed Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), covering 583 km of high-speed rail travel from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod.
Rs 20 crore has been allocated for the welfare of gig workers.
Scrappage bonus and loan interest waiver for autorickshaw workers.
An additional Rs 1,000 crore allocation for the employment guarantee scheme.
A Rs 1,000 hike in monthly pension for cancer and AIDS patients.
Group insurance projects for lottery workers, taxi drivers, and autorickshaw workers.
Fee waiver for degree students in arts and science colleges in the government and aided sectors.
Medisep model insurance scheme for cooperative workers.
Health insurance schemes for auto and taxi workers to be rolled out.
A new health insurance scheme for families outside the purview of the Karunya Arogya Suraksha Padhathi.
Rs 20 crore allocated for preliminary works to provide nativity cards for residents of Kerala.
Rs 100 crore allocated for group insurance for fish workers
Additional allocation of Rs 100 crore to counter wildlife attacks.
Skill centres will be set up at panchayat level with an allocation of Rs 20 crore
Accident insurance for school students up to Class X
Rs 38.76 crore allocated for providing Rs 15,000 monthly scholarship to researchers
Noon meal scheme in schools to be provided additional allocation of Rs 266.66 crore
Pneumococcal vaccination project for elderly
DA / DR arrears for government employees, pensioners to be disbursed in Feb, March
Option will be provided for government employees to switch to an assured pension