<p>Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday presented a populist state Budget for 2016-17, the last in the Congress-led government’s tenure, with an eye on the upcoming Assembly election, amid protests by Opposition legislators.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Members of the Opposition Left Democratic Front raised slogans against the government over bar bribery and solar scam charges even as the chief minister continued his budget speech.<br /><br />In his introduction to what critics called a “manifesto-budget”, Chandy also made a political statement, thanking people for backing the government in the face of crisis<br />.<br />“There were attempts from some centres to destabilise this democratically elected government… as a government with a thin majority, we have rewritten history by executing our action plan for the people while surviving all political storms,” he said. <br /><br />Chandy is the first chief minister in 29 years to present the budget in the House. He doubled as Finance minister following resignation of K M Mani last year, over charges in the bar bribery scam. Chandy’s two hours-and-54-minutes speech on Friday was also the longest budget speech in the history of the House.<br /><br />Chandy also criticised the Centre over its “directionless” development policies in the wake of scrapping of the Planning Commission. “Niti Ayog which came into being as a replacement is clueless on its responsibilities.<br /><br /> The ministers have been expressing individual views but there is no clarity on development goals,” Chandy said.<br /><br />The chief minister pitched the budget as a mix of implemented programmes and a proposed plan of action, sending out a message of confidence barely two months ahead of a change in government.<br /><br /> He stressed on the government’s focus on development and listed Vizhinjam International Seaport, Kochi Metro, Kannur International Airport and Kochi Smart City among its achievements.<br /><br />The budget featured a slew of welfare measures — among them are free rice for BPL/AAY families, Rs 500 crore earmarked for the government’s fixed-price scheme to ensure rubber farmers Rs 150 per kg and insurance cover for about 30 lakh beneficiaries of social security pension schemes.<br /><br /> The government also proposes to work along with banks on a programme for waivers and discount on educational loans availed by students from economically backward families.<br />DH News Service</p>
<p>Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday presented a populist state Budget for 2016-17, the last in the Congress-led government’s tenure, with an eye on the upcoming Assembly election, amid protests by Opposition legislators.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Members of the Opposition Left Democratic Front raised slogans against the government over bar bribery and solar scam charges even as the chief minister continued his budget speech.<br /><br />In his introduction to what critics called a “manifesto-budget”, Chandy also made a political statement, thanking people for backing the government in the face of crisis<br />.<br />“There were attempts from some centres to destabilise this democratically elected government… as a government with a thin majority, we have rewritten history by executing our action plan for the people while surviving all political storms,” he said. <br /><br />Chandy is the first chief minister in 29 years to present the budget in the House. He doubled as Finance minister following resignation of K M Mani last year, over charges in the bar bribery scam. Chandy’s two hours-and-54-minutes speech on Friday was also the longest budget speech in the history of the House.<br /><br />Chandy also criticised the Centre over its “directionless” development policies in the wake of scrapping of the Planning Commission. “Niti Ayog which came into being as a replacement is clueless on its responsibilities.<br /><br /> The ministers have been expressing individual views but there is no clarity on development goals,” Chandy said.<br /><br />The chief minister pitched the budget as a mix of implemented programmes and a proposed plan of action, sending out a message of confidence barely two months ahead of a change in government.<br /><br /> He stressed on the government’s focus on development and listed Vizhinjam International Seaport, Kochi Metro, Kannur International Airport and Kochi Smart City among its achievements.<br /><br />The budget featured a slew of welfare measures — among them are free rice for BPL/AAY families, Rs 500 crore earmarked for the government’s fixed-price scheme to ensure rubber farmers Rs 150 per kg and insurance cover for about 30 lakh beneficiaries of social security pension schemes.<br /><br /> The government also proposes to work along with banks on a programme for waivers and discount on educational loans availed by students from economically backward families.<br />DH News Service</p>
