Kerala Budget 2021: 8 Lakh Jobs, Free Treatment For Accident Victims | Key Highlights

Kerala Budget 2021: Eight lakhs jobs will be created in Kerala and 20 lakh people would be given employment in five years through digital platforms, Finance Minister TM Thomas Isaac said while presenting the last budget of the current LDF government. Also Read – Kerala to Object to SLBC’s Recovery Procedures on Farmer Loans

Issac also announced that the Vijayan government’s laptop distribution project will be expanded in such a way that every household in the state will have access to a laptop. Wooing people at the grass-root level, various welfare pensions were raised to Rs 1,600 (which is Rs 1,500 at present) from this April. Also Read – Kerala Floods: FM Thomas Issac Slams Centre For Rs 100 Crore Relief Fund, Says It’s a Drop in Ocean

The budget announcements assume significance this time as the Assembly polls are just months away. Also Read – Federal Bank launches Payment Gateway for remittances to Ker govt depts

Here are the highlights of this year’s Kerala Budget

Education sector

1000 new vacancies to be created in universities.

800 vacancies in the higher education sector to be filled immediately.

30 centres of excellence to be set up among existing universities.

Rs 1000-crs outlay for affiliated colleges.

Tourism Sector

Rs 100 crores to be allocated for tourism marketing.

Interest-free loans for entrepreneurs in tourism sector.

Health  Sector

4000 posts would be created in the Health Department

Free treatment for the first 48 hours for people who meet with road accidents.

The Finance Minister has termed the budget a ‘vision document of the development and priorities’ in the post-COVID Kerala. He said the Left government, which had fought two consecutive floods and novel coronavirus pandemic effectively, considered each challenge and crisis it confronted as new opportunities.

“The Left government ensured that no one sleeps hungry during the time of pandemic. it also instilled confidence in the minds of people,” the minister said.