The budget presented by the Finance Minister today emphasises Kerala's development: CITU

3 February 2023

The central government's policies continue to obstruct the state's development. Standing in the middle of that, Finance Minister K N Balagopal has presented a far-sighted budget that continues the last one and emphasises all-round development. The CITU welcomes it.

While the central government's budget cut allocations for welfare schemes and agriculture, the Kerala government has announced schemes that bring relief to these sections despite its financial squeeze. The budget contains announcements suited to increasing job opportunities and bringing about an industrial leap. This is welcome. A higher allocation has been ensured in the budget to protect the employment sector, especially the traditional sectors such as handloom and cashew. The budget envisages large schemes, through local self-government institutions, to identify the extremely poor and lift them out of poverty. The budget gives emphasis to protecting the interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The schemes announced to make the government's achievements accessible to the people, and the steps being taken to remedy people's visual impairment, are welcome. The CITU welcomes the Kerala government's 2023-2024 budget, which raises an alternative to the central government's policy of protecting corporate interests and takes welfare measures standing with the people.