Kerala to earmark Rs 337 crore for essential items

The Kerala government will earmark Rs 337 crore for the distribution of 13 essential items through the public distribution system during next financial year.

Addressing the Budget session of the legislative Assembly on Friday, Governor RS Gavai said the Budget, scheduled to be presented on February 10, would focus more on controlling the prices of essential items and for minimising suicides among the farmers. This is the last session of the 12th Assembly of the state.

Good quality rice would be distributed through the Civil Supplies Corporation outlets at Rs 16 a kg.

The Governor announced that the construction work on the new dam at Mullaperiyar in Idukki district would commence this year itself.

The government would also provide Rs 4,000 crore as loan to weaker sections through cooperative societies for constructing houses through the EMS Housing Scheme. The master plan for the Sabarimala pilgrim centre would also be implemented shortly.

To promote paddy cultivation in the state, a new promotional scheme, Arishree, would be launched soon. A new modern rice mill would be commissioned at Pathanamthitta during this year. The government would appoint an expert committee to study the impact of the recent changes in climate on the agriculture sector.

It would also take action to avoid tragic incidents like the recent  stampede at Pullumedu, near Sabarimala temple. The health insurance programme for the weaker sections would be extended to other sections too, making this as a complete health insurance scheme for the entire state.

The Governor said the Centre had failed in controlling the steep hike in the prices of essential commodities. Large scale corruption at the national level was a serious concern, he added.

Discussion on the address of the Governor would take place on February 7 and 8 while discussion on the Budget would be on February 14, 16 and 17.

Opposition leader Oommen Chandy said the Governor's address was a mere political statement of the Left Democratic Front and was more or less like the opening speech of the front for the next Assembly polls.