State budget updates: GST, demonetization affected economy, says state FM

Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister Thomas Isaac on Friday said Goods and Services Tax (GST) was highly disappointing and that it benefited only corporates.

The minister, in his budget speech, said the main issue with GST is lack of a full-fledged administrative system.

"Demonetisation was an ‘Ockhi’ (cyclone) on the economy. End consumers are not getting the actual benefits of GST as corporates are making the most out of this," he added. He also alleged that the GST and other policies adversely affected state’s development.

The highlights of the State budget:

* Gas connections to be made available in every town through which GAIL pipeline passes.

* Pensions for every KSRTC employee to be paid by March - BIG!

* Special package for KSRTC to be announced by March.

* 52 railway over-bridges will be built. Thalassery-Mysuru rail line will be deliberated with the help of Railways

* Kozhikode to get a mobility hub on the lines of Vyttila in Ernakulam.

* Rs 144 crore for the field of culture.

* Rs 46 crore for Ayurveda education and Rs 23 crore for homeopathy education.

* Rs 2859 crore allocated for the empowerment of the SC/ST communities. Rs 150 crore for coir industry and Rs 10 crore for Bamboo industry will be allocated. Rs 54.45 crore for cashew industry is also being set aside.

*Rs 2000 hike for ASHA workers

*Rs 1267 crores for women's welfare. 'She-lodge', temporary housing for working women, will be thrown open in Kochi.

* Monetary aid for marriages increased from Rs 10,000 to rs 40,000.

* Endosulfan package will be fully-implemented. Rs 50 crore in first installment will be disbursed soon.

* Rs 43 crore for renovation of bud schools.

* Rs 300 crore for computer labs.

* Rs 33 crore for digitisation of schools in the state.

* Rs 200 crore allocation for Kudumbashree

* Rs 2500 crore for Life Housing scheme

* Rs 1685 crore for public health services. An ambulance service on the model of Uber will be launched soon.

* Malabar Cancer Centre will be upgraded to the status of Regional Cancer Centre (RCC).

* Through the self-help group of Kudumbashree, poultry farming will be popularised in every village panchayat. Good-quality chicken meat will be available.

* Operation Sulaimani in Kozhikode and the recently-launched 'Numma Oonu' in Kochi to be replicated across the State

* FM allocates Rs 20 crore for a project to alleviate hunger in urban and rural areas.

* Health protection scheme for each and everyone. Lottery will fund healthcare initiatives

* Selected Public Distribution Centre Ration Shops will be converted into Margin Free Shops.

* A package of Rs 2000 crore for coastal areas.

* Fishing sector will get Rs 6 billion development.

* International agency will develop DPR for coastal development projects.

* Revenue growth was 7.4 per cent.