After the flood destroyed the economy, the Kerala Finance Minister presented the State budget for the year 2019-20 today. The key highlights of the budget proposals are the following;
- Additional 2 percent tax would be levied on alcohol.
- Gold and silver ornaments to be slapped with 0.25 percent cess.
- GST revenue to be raised to 30 percent from 10 percent.
- Another Rs 100 Crore for Travancore Devaswom Board which takes care of the Sabarimala shrine.
- The state has earmarked Rs 739 crore for development of Sabarimala, said a leading daily.
- The integrated health insurance scheme to kickstart this year, says the minister.
- Rs 25 crore has reportedly been earmarked under Santhwanam project to assist NRIs who lost jobs.
- The FM has announced 10 lakh electric vehicles by 2022. State transport corporation to also switch to electric buses.
- Schemes to double the income of Wayanad farmers and Rs 30 crore allocated for miscellaneous developments.
- Govt has put aside another Rs 10 crore for pepper cultivation.
- Rs 2 crore put aside for women empowerment schemes. Rs 250 crore allocated for employment guarantee schemes.
