Kerala Budget: Slew of measures targeting unorganised sectors like gig workers

An assured pension scheme that offers pension of upto 50% of last basic salary along with dearness relief was also announced in view of widespread complaints over the existing contributory pension scheme.

Thiruvananthapuram: From free education up to degree level for students to special care facilities for elderly people, the election year budget presented by Kerala finance minister K N Balagopal on Thursday includes a slew of measures targeting unorganised sectors.

Apart from announcing the 12 pay revision commission for revision of salary of state government employees, the finance minister also announced that existing dues in dearness allowances would be cleared by February and March.

An assured pension scheme that offers pension of upto 50 per cent of last basic salary along with dearness relief was also announced in view of widespread complaints over the existing contributory pension scheme. The new assured pension scheme will be rolled out in April. Option will be given for existing contributory pension scheme members to switch over to the new scheme.

Free education, which is now offered up to higher secondary level, will be extended up to degree level in arts and science streams.

Remuneration to various sections like Anganwadi and ASHA workers were increased by Rs. 1000.

Gig hubs offering resting facilities for gig workers will be announced. Rs. 20 crore was allocated for it.

A scrappage bonus of Rs. 40,000 for replacing diesel and petrol autorichshaws with electric autorichshaws and modernisation of autorichshaw stands with charging facilities are other popular announcements.

Amidst the row over the centre revamping the MGNREGA scheme, the state budget made an additional allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for MGNREGA.

In a bid to address the issues faced by the increasing elderly population in the state, the budget allocates Rs. 10 crore for setting up on call volunteer service for elderly people, Rs 30 crore for providing subsidy for promoting setting up of retirement homes.

A scholarship for students from minority communities for pursuing education in foreign countries was another highlight of the election year budget.

While the revenue receipts was estimated at Rs. 1.82 lakh crore, revenue expenditure was estimated at Rs. 2.4 lakh crore.

Opposition leaders V D Satheesan said that announcements like constituting pay commission just ahead of polls could be seen only as an election stunt. Even half of budget allocations made in the last budget for various key sectors like addressing man-animal conflict were not utilised, he alleged.

He also said that this budget was irrelevant as the left front would be ousted from power in the coming election.