CM V D Satheesan reaches assembly to present maiden budget amid financial challenges, Kerala with high hopes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V D Satheesan will present his maiden budget shortly. The chief minister, who is in charge of the finance department, has reached the assembly with the bag containing budget documents. Speaker Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and others have reached the house. The officials of the printing department handed over the bag containing the budget documents to the chief minister Friday morning. This was in the presence of chief secretary A Jayathilak and finance department additional chief secretary K R Jyothilal. The budget will be presented at 9 am.

The public's expectations are on welfare and charity announcements. With the state's debt reaching Rs 5.07 lakh crore, the chief minister will also have to find ways to find money for these.

Expectations and possibilities
1. Government employees: DA arrears may be partially paid. The government's share in the participatory pension may be increased from ten to fourteen percent. A new pay commission can also be expected


2. Social welfare: The election promise of welfare pension of Rs 3,000 may be implemented
3. Higher education: The focus will be on efforts to obtain what is due from the center in the salary revision arrears of Rs 750 crore

4. Monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 may be provided to young generation female students

5. Startups: New schemes may be announced with more benefits and incentives

6. Investment increase: There will be new schemes to attract investment under the PPP model. New investment opportunities will be sought in the port, airport and tourism sectors

7. Revenue increase: Short-term and long-term schemes may be introduced. Steps to increase revenue and prevent tax leakage

8. For women: In addition to Indira Guarantee, more welfare schemes, Kudumbashree empowerment

9. Fuel cess: Fuel cess of Rs 3 may be withdrawn.

10. Industry: Steps to reduce public sector losses, announcement of benefits for workers, and more private participation can be expected.