Thiruvananthapuram – There are no announcements made in the name of Kerala in the Union Budget. Interest-free loans to states and central projects can be used for infrastructural development of the state. 5300 crore drinking water supply project in Karnataka is the only important project in the state budget named after the election.
State Finance Minister KN Balagopal in his letter to the Center before the Budget had requested to give permission for the Silver Line project as soon as possible, but it was not considered. Although there was no hope of a favorable decision on Silverline soon, the government hoped to get the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) center at least this time. The announcement of new AIIMS was not in the budget. The site for AIIMS has been found at Kinalur, Kozhikode. The government estimates that around 150 acres will be required. Kerala’s request for AIIMS was not heeded by the Center despite repeated requests over the years.
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The state had asked the Center to pay 60% share of the GST collected. Now the center and the state get half each. The state also requested to extend the GST compensation for five years but it was not considered. A special package was required by Kerala for returning expatriates due to covid. Kerala also demanded to increase the number of working days in the employment guarantee scheme. None of them were included in the budget.
Most of the employees in the cashew sector, which employs three lakh people, are women. Another important demand was to announce a special package for them. The state also demanded an increase in the central share in welfare pensions. These demands were not accepted. The state had demanded that the amount that the states can borrow should be increased to 4 percent of the state’s gross domestic product and the loan taken through KIFB should be exempted from the borrowing limit, but no positive action was taken.
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Content Highlights: Union Budget 2023, Kerala Government