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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Estate workers, potters may get rice at Rs.2 a kg

Estate workers, potters may get rice at Rs.2 a kg

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published Published on Mar 10, 2010   modified Modified on Mar 10, 2010

Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac told the Assembly on Wednesday that inclusion of estate workers, the disabled and potters in the scheme for supply of rice at Rs.2 a kg would be considered.

Replying to the general discussion on the budget, the Minister said that their inclusion would be subject to condition that the total number of families benefiting from the scheme should not exceed 35 lakh. The budget could not be stretched to include more programmes or works because the revenue deficit ought to be controlled.

Noting that the budget had provided higher allocation for agriculture, he said the pension scheme for farmers would be enlarged to cover more farmers. Awards would be instituted for farmers cultivating fallow lands and families cultivating vegetables. Welfare scheme for Fire and Rescue Services personnel would be extended to forest staff also.

Tax exemption

Dr. Isaac announced that paintings sold through galleries would be exempted from tax. This was a proposal that had got left out from the budget speech. The details of additional resource mobilisation and additional expenditure proposed in the budget would be presented to the House, he said in reference to the Opposition criticism about absence of the details in the budget speech. The additional resource mobilisation proposed in the current year's budget, which could not be collected, would be realised in the coming year.

Refuting the Opposition criticism that provision to check price rise was lower than that in the current year, the Minister said that Rs.50 crore had been provided for market intervention which was higher than Rs.40 crore allocated last year. However, Rs.82 crore had been spent in subsidies last year. A sum of Rs.20 crore was being provided to Consumerfed. The State Civil Supplies Corporation proposed to start three new Maveli stores next year.

Dr. Isaac said that while Kerala provided for subsidies, the Centre had increased duty on petrol and diesel.

He declined the Opposition demand to raise the size of the MLA Fund from Rs.75 lakh, noting that the revenue deficit would go up further. However, if members mobilised treasury savings, an equal amount could be granted for various works. Though Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy sought the intervention of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan in increasing the MLA Fund, the Chief Minister replied that the matter could be considered in the next budget.

Amnesty scheme

The Minister said the amnesty scheme announced to collect tax arrears would not be extended to arrears in value-added tax. The work on hill highway could be taken up even though there was no specific budget provision for that. The recommendation of the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management would be implemented for conservation of the Sasthamcotta Lake.

He said the budget proposed welfare measures on an unprecedented scale and investment proposals aimed at long-term growth of economy. Capital expenditure had been doubled. The stimulus package proposed last year was to be carried out in two years and the money needed in the current year had been sought through supplementary demands.

He denied the Opposition contention that his programmes were Central schemes in new bottle.


The Hindu, 11 March, 2010, http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/11/stories/2010031153820100.htm
 

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