Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29 (PTI): With Assembly elections approaching, Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Thursday presented a welfare-oriented Budget for 2026–27, announcing a Rs 14,500 crore package to strengthen social security pensions and roll out new community-focused schemes.
Presenting the sixth budget of the second Pinarayi Vijayan-led government in the Legislative Assembly, Balagopal announced an increase of Rs 1,000 per month in the honorarium of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Anganwadi workers, while Anganwadi helpers will receive an additional Rs 500 per month. The pay of pre-primary teachers and literacy mission motivators has also been raised by Rs 1,000 per month, and daily wages of school cooking staff increased by Rs 25.
The budget earmarked Rs 3,700 crore for the Chief Minister’s Stree Suraksha Scheme. An additional Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated to the rural employment scheme compared to previous years. The budget also announced life and health insurance schemes covering all sections of society, including school children, and free degree education for students in arts and science colleges.
For infrastructure, Rs 100 crore has been set aside for preliminary works related to the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod, which received in-principle approval from the state cabinet on Wednesday. Around Rs 150 crore has been allocated for coastal area development and over Rs 250 crore for forest and wildlife protection.
Criticising the Centre during his budget speech, Balagopal alleged that the Union government was “strangling” Kerala by curtailing its tax revenues. Despite this, he said the state had continued to make progress. PTI
Category: Breaking News
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