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Kerala Budget Analysis 2017-18
The Finance Minister of Kerala, Dr.T M Thomas Isaac, presented the Budget for Kerala for financial year 2017-18 on March 03, 2017. Here are the important highlights of the budget:-
For the promotion of agriculture and agricultural crops having regional specialties, an amount of Rs.3.3 crore is provided. As part of promoting the crops like Ragi and Millet in tribal areas, government will take measures for procurement of these crops for the distribution of the same to the tribals themselves as ration. Special financial assistance will be provided for products such as Marayoor Jaggery under this scheme.
Vegetable farming will be expanded using the prevailing cluster system under the Agriculture Department. Rs.18 crore is set apart for giving assistance to the clusters. In addition to this, Rs.3 crore is provided for Block Level Federations and Rs.15 crore is provided for the schemes such as Rain Guard, Micro Irrigation, Micro Nutrient etc. Besides, a share of Rs.54 crore earmarked for Crop Health Management will also be made available for vegetable farming. Rs.10 crore is provided for the promotion of Organic Farming. A new component in the vegetable farming is the emphasis given to the processing and Marketing. Rs.5 crore is set apart for the vegetable producer companies.
Fisheries-2/”>Fisheries Sector:
Rs.49 crore has been provided for inland fisheries sector. More than half of this allocation is meant for pisciculture. Backwater Ornamental Fish Farming Project will be revamped. Production from sea fishing has been continuously diminishing in Kerala. In this context, Rs.5 crore is provided for preventing the depletion of marine fish Resources.
Additional amount is earmarked for ensuring the off season saving-cum-relief scheme at Rs.3600/-. Accident insurance compensation @ Rs. 10 lakh for death/missing case and Rs. 5 lakh for becoming invalid for work will be provided. Insurance will be provided for the allied workers as well. Insurance coverage will be
extended for fishing equipments also. Rs.2 crore is provided for Marine Ambulance. An amount of Rs. 25 crore is earmarked for Kerosene subsidy.
Other Village Industries:
Rs.4 crore is provided for the encouragement of 32 recognised crafts in Kerala. The apex bodies Surabhi is provided with Rs.1.5 crore, Artisans Development Corporation-Rs.1 crore, Handicrafts Development Corporation-Rs.1.5 crore and KELPAMRs. 1 crore. Rs. 5 crore is provided for the development of bamboo based industries. Rs. 1 crore is allocated to ARTCO towards share capital.
Harithakeralam Mission-Sanitation:
The first component of “Harithakeralam” Mission is sanitation. The aim is to begin sanitation campaign by giving due emphasis on the disposal of garbage at source. The bio-wastes, to the maximum extent, need to be converted into bio gas or bio compost at the source itself. The garbage that can not be processed in this way can be converted into bio-compost at the local garbage
processing centre. The non-bio-degradable waste is to be collected separately from houses and shops and processed for disposal after collecting and segregating at the material recovery centre.
Awareness campaigns on a large scale is a pre requisite for the success of the aforesaid sanitation strategy. More than technology, it is the mind-set of the people that needs to be changed.
Water Conservation
The second component of ‘Harithakeralam Mission’ is water conservation. The most important activity undertaken under ‘Harithakeralam Mission’ is the rejuvenation of ponds, rivulets, springs, streams, canals and lakes. This can be fully achieved with the help of EMPLOYMENT guarantee scheme. The slopes of ponds and streams etc. can be protected by utilizing geo-textiles within the permissible material cost. The Services of employment guarantee schemes can be utilized for renovation of major irrigation canals and field channels. Campaigns should be conducted on a large scale to encourage the use of rainwater pits for rainwater harvesting and recharging of wells.
Buds School
The number of differently abled children exceeds 25,000. Schooling and rehabilitation will be ensured for all the differently abled. Buds Schools are institutions run by Local Self Government institutions with the support of Kudumbasree. There are Buds Rehabilitation centres for the rehabilitation of those who pass out of Buds Schools and aged above 18 years. At present, these institutions are there only in 140 panchayaths. Only 20% children are given care. During 2017-2018, Buds Schools will be established in 200 more local self-government institutions. Rs. 25 lakhs will be given as special assistance for starting new Buds Schools. This will be separately allocated to Kudumbasree. Panchayaths have to arrange buildings and other facilities. The mini bus, special tables, chairs and other equipments required for Buds Schools will be given through Kudumbasree.
Anganwadies
An amount of Rs. 433 crore has been set apart for Social Justice Department and Rs. 170 crore for the Kerala Social Security Mission in this budget. The key programmes of the Social Justice Department are those connected with Anganwadis. For this purpose, Rs. 248 crore is being set apart as state share. For paying honorarium to Anganwadi Workers Rs.359 crore is set apart. A scheme has been formulated for constructing own buildings for all Anganawadis. Collectors will be entrusted specially with the task of making land available for constructing Anganawadi buildings.
Honorarium of ASHA workers, cooks and pre-primary teachers are enhanced by Rs. 500/-.
Scheduled Caste – Scheduled Tribe Welfare
One feature that distinguishes this budget from the budget of other states and central budget is the thrust on the welfare schemes of SC/ST. In fact, the indicator on Quality Of Life of Scheduled Caste in Kerala is even higher than that of the general quality of life indicator of other north Indian states.
Tourism:
Within a short period, tourism has emerged as a service Industry which contributes 10% of the state revenue. The crux of tourism development lies in the marketing of our natural beauty and heritage as effective tourism products. Therefore, the major portion of the outlay, ie, Rs.75 crore has been earmarked for marketing.
An amount of Rs.15 crore is set apart for encouraging and propagating Nishagandhi dance and music festivals, Onam celebration, tribal dance festival, Pooram, Theyyam festivals and boat race etc. An amount of Rs. 5 crore is additionally provided for encouraging boat race and giving assistance to those snake boats which have not received any assistance for maintenance so far.,
The budget of Kerala is a document that outlines the government’s spending plans for the coming year. It is prepared by the Finance Department and presented to the Legislative Assembly for approval. The budget is a key tool for the government to achieve its economic and social objectives.
The budget of Kerala for 2023-2024 is a significant document, as it comes at a time when the state is facing a number of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic slowdown, and the Climate crisis. The budget seeks to address these challenges by providing a number of measures to support the economy, improve social welfare, and protect the Environment.
One of the key features of the budget is its focus on agriculture and allied sectors. The budget allocates a significant amount of funds for these sectors, which are important for the state’s economy. The funds will be used to improve irrigation facilities, provide subsidies for farmers, and promote the development of new agricultural technologies.
The budget also allocates a significant amount of funds for social sectors such as Education, health, and Nutrition. These sectors are important for the state’s development, and the budget seeks to improve access to these services for all citizens. The funds will be used to build new schools and hospitals, provide free education and healthcare to the poor, and improve nutrition programs.
The budget also allocates a significant amount of funds for Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE-development/”>Infrastructure Development. This includes schemes for roads, bridges, Airports, and power generation. These investments are essential for the state’s economic Growth, and the budget seeks to improve the state’s infrastructure to attract Investment and create jobs.
The budget also allocates a significant amount of funds for industry and commerce. This includes schemes for promoting Entrepreneurship, providing subsidies, and setting up industrial parks. These investments are essential for the state’s economic growth, and the budget seeks to create a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.
The budget also allocates a significant amount of funds for tourism. This includes schemes for promoting tourism, developing tourist infrastructure, and providing subsidies to tourism businesses. Tourism is an important source of revenue for the state, and the budget seeks to promote tourism and create jobs in this sector.
The budget also allocates a significant amount of funds for environment protection. This includes schemes for afforestation, Waste Management, and water conservation. These investments are essential for the state’s long-term sustainability, and the budget seeks to protect the environment and improve the quality of life for all citizens.
The budget of Kerala for 2023-2024 is a comprehensive document that addresses the state’s key challenges. It is a budget that seeks to improve the lives of all citizens and build a better future for Kerala.
The budget has been welcomed by many, who see it as a positive step towards the state’s development. However, some have raised concerns about the budget’s Fiscal Deficit, which is expected to be around 3.5% of the state’s GDP. They argue that this could lead to Inflation and make it difficult for the state to repay its debts.
Despite these concerns, the budget of Kerala for 2023-2024 is a positive document that seeks to address the state’s key challenges. It is a budget that seeks to improve the lives of all citizens and build a better future for Kerala.
Here are some frequently asked questions and short answers about the main features of budgets of Kerala:
What is the main objective of the budget of Kerala?
The main objective of the budget of Kerala is to promote economic growth and development, improve the quality of life of the people, and ensure social justice.What are the key features of the budget of Kerala?
The key features of the budget of Kerala include:- Increased spending on social welfare programs, such as education, health, and nutrition.
- Increased investment in infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and power Plants.
- Promotion of agriculture and allied sectors.
- Support for small and medium enterprises.
Tax relief for the middle class.
How has the budget of Kerala been received by the people?
The budget of Kerala has been generally well-received by the people. They have welcomed the increased spending on social welfare programs and the promotion of agriculture and allied sectors. However, some people have expressed concern about the increased debt burden of the state.What are the challenges that the budget of Kerala faces?
The budget of Kerala faces a number of challenges, including:- The high debt burden of the state.
- The need to improve the quality of education and health services.
- The need to create more jobs.
The need to address the issue of POVERTY.
What are the opportunities that the budget of Kerala has?
The budget of Kerala has a number of opportunities, including:- The large young Population of the state.
- The state’s strategic location.
- The state’s rich Natural Resources.
The state’s strong democratic institutions.
What is the future of the budget of Kerala?
The future of the budget of Kerala is bright. The state has a number of strengths that can be leveraged to achieve its development goals. However, the state also faces a number of challenges that need to be addressed. With careful planning and execution, the budget of Kerala can help the state achieve its development goals and improve the lives of its people.
The budget of Kerala is prepared by the:
(A) Finance Minister of Kerala
(B) Planning Commission of India
(C) Ministry of Finance, Government of India
(D) State Planning Board of KeralaThe budget of Kerala is presented in the:
(A) Kerala Legislative Assembly
(B) Kerala Legislative Council
(C) Both the Kerala Legislative Assembly and the Kerala Legislative Council
(D) None of the aboveThe budget of Kerala is a:
(A) Revenue Budget
(B) Capital Budget
(C) Both revenue and capital budget
(D) None of the aboveThe main sources of revenue of the State Government of Kerala are:
(A) Taxes
(B) Non-tax revenue
(C) Loans
(D) All of the aboveThe main heads of expenditure of the state government of Kerala are:
(A) Salaries and pensions
(B) Interest payments
(C) Developmental expenditure
(D) All of the aboveThe fiscal deficit of the state government of Kerala is:
(A) The difference between the Revenue Receipts and the Revenue Expenditure of the state government
(B) The difference between the total expenditure and the total receipts of the state government
(C) The difference between the capital receipts and the Capital Expenditure of the state government
(D) None of the aboveThe debt of the state government of Kerala is:
(A) The total amount of Money that the state government owes to its creditors
(B) The total amount of money that the state government has borrowed from various sources
(C) The total amount of money that the state government has spent on developmental projects
(D) None of the aboveThe Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBM) of Kerala was enacted in the year:
(A) 2003
(B) 2004
(C) 2005
(D) 2006The FRBM of Kerala aims to:
(A) Reduce the fiscal deficit of the state government
(B) Control the debt of the state government
(C) Improve the financial management of the state government
(D) All of the aboveThe Kerala budget for the financial year 2023-2024 has a total outlay of:
(A) Rs. 1,47,981 crore
(B) Rs. 1,50,627 crore
(C) Rs. 1,53,263 crore
(D) Rs. 1,56,000 crore