Kerala Budget focuses on rebuilding after floods, 25 new projects announced

As anticipated, the focus of the fourth budget of the Left Democratic Front government is on rebuilding the state. Finance Minister Thomas Isaac announced 25 projects for Kerala, each one of which will be implemented as joint programmes of a comprehensive rebuilding scheme, annual plan and also involving the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).

“The total outlay for the budget is Rs 1.42 lakh crore. Even during the financial crisis, the expected plan outlay for 2019-20 was raised to Rs 39,807 crore from Rs 32, 564 crore. There are altogether 1,200 schemes in the plan itself. Let me introduce, as a prelude to the Budget, 25 projects from the Budget that have potential to deeply influence our future,” the Finance Minister said.

New Kerala is a term coined by the LDF government when they came to power and post the floods in August last year, it was merged and associated with the rebuilding of the state.

The following are the 25 projects announced under the Nava Kerala (New Kerala) mission:

• Industrial Parks and Corporate Investments- Rs. 15,600 crore has already been sanctioned from KIIFB for acquiring 6,700 acres of land and for Industrial Parks utilising the potential of  Kannur airport. A massive industrial complex will be created on the outskirts of Kannur airport
• Startups- An amount of Rs 10 crore is earmarked for formulating the startup accelerator programme as part of the Innovation Zone
• Malabar Coffee and Carbon Neutral Wayanad – the project aims to sell coffee powder of Wayanad, branded as Malabar. 
• For increasing the production of coconuts and for getting a higher price for them, Rs 70 crore has been earmarked
• Integrated Rice and Rubber Parks- Rs 20 crore has been set aside for rice parks, the outlay for paddy cultivation is Rs 91 crore.
• Kuttanad rebuilding package of Rs 1,000 crore.
• River Rejuvenation and Watershed Development- Rs 25 crore has been allocated
• Rehabilitation and Restoration of Coasts- Rs 1,000 crore will be spent on development in the coastal areas.
• Public Sector Industries- By the end of the financial year, the number of profit-making PSUs will rise to 20. The turnover will rise from Rs 2,800 crore to Rs 3,800 crore.
• Energy Mission to enhance power generation.
• Construction of 6,000 kilometres of roads will be completed in the next two years.
• The number of electric vehicles will be increased to 10 lakh by 2022.
• West Coast Canal- Reconstruction of several bridges and construction of waterways will be completed by 2022, including 585 kilometres of Bekal-Kovalam waterway.
• North-South Parallel Rail Track- It will be an independent elevated double line from the existing rail line covering 515 kilometres.
• Kerala Boat League- There will be a boat race on every weekend in at least one centre, which will also herald a new tourism season.
• Spices Route and Heritage Projects- An extensive project will be undertaken in the Tourism sector, which will connect the ports of Kerala.
• Boards made of Coir Replacing Wood- Coconut fibre production will be raised to 10 times in the next two years, coir production to three times, and coir produce to two times.
• Non-Resident Keralite Investment and Protection: From now on, NORKA will bear the expenses to transport the bodies of Malayalis who die in Gulf countries and bring them back home.
• Kerala Bank- The most decisive event of 2019-20 will be the formation of the Kerala Bank. Approval for formation of the bank was given by the RBI in October 2018. In the Assembly session, the legal framework for the bank’s creation will be in place after required amendments to the Co-operative Act.
• Hunger Free Kerala- Rs 20 crore has been earmarked for getting food materials at subsidised rates from the Civil Supplies Corporation.
• Women empowerment and Kudumbashree Branding- Rs 1,420 crore for schemes meant solely for women and Rs 1,000 crore for Kudumbashree.
• Placement for 10,000 members from Scheduled Communities- A scheme to guarantee employment in the organised sector.
• Housing for All- Rs 1,296 is earmarked for housing complexes for landless and homeless people.
• Educational Excellence - In the last two years, an additional 2.5 lakh students got enrolled in schools run by the government. Rs 2,037.91 crore has been sanctioned for the general education sector. Rs 170 crore is earmarked for the expansion of infrastructure facilities of schools that had not obtained financial aid from KIIFB.
• Universal Health Security Scheme- To enhance insurance support for the poor and bring in more people under it.