With an eye on Lok Sabha polls, the Congress-led UDF Government in
Kerala today unveiled people-friendly Budget proposals for 2013-14
enhancing the social security pension, raising the retirement age and
offering sops for farmers including an interest waiver.
It also seeks to mop-up additional revenue of Rs 1,138.33 crore, mostly
from luxury items. Cigarettes and liquor, among other things, will
attract higher taxes.
In a significant announcement, the Budget proposed to raise the
retirement age of government employees, joining the service from April
this year, to 60. The retirement age of existing staff is 56.
Interest-free loans
Announcing a set of flagship schemes for the protection of farmers,
Finance Minister K.M. Mani set apart Rs 50 crore for writing off the
interest on small farmers and announced an interest-free loan scheme for
farmers holding below one hectare of land through cooperatives.
In the Budget presented to the State Assembly, Mani also came out with a
risk insurance on farm loans guaranteeing that in the event of the
farmer’s death, the loan need not be repaid.
Goods and Service Tax
Claiming that the prices of essentials would not be affected on account
of changes in the GST on items specified in the Budget, the Minister
proposed to raise the Goods and Service Tax on products such as vehicles
and a range of consumer goods to 14.5 per cent from 13.5 per cent.
The Government expects to earn Rs 650-crore revenue through this measure.
He said this would bring the tax rate in Kerala on par with other
southern States and that the common people would not be affected as
basic items such as rice has been exempted.
Two other key sources of additional income that the Budget targeted were
increasing the tax on cigarettes from 15 to 20 per cent, anticipating a
revenue of Rs 120 crore, and that on foreign liquor from 100 to 105 per
cent expecting an extra revenue of Rs 250 crore.
Seeking to help cardamom auctioneers in Kerala, VAT has been reduced to
two per cent from five per cent. This would benefit only those who
conduct auctions in the recognised centres of the spices board.
The minister also rationalised various fees on land registration and transactions hoping to earn Rs 200 crore.
The Budget estimates for 2013-14 show revenue receipt of Rs 58,057.88 crore and a revenue expenditure of Rs 60,327.85 crore.
After taking into account factors like capital expenditure, public debt
servicing and concessions and relaxations, the Budget shows a deficit of
Rs 526.54 crore.
Budget Speech 2013-14 ( Malayalam)
Budget in Brief 2013-14
Annual Plan 2013-14
Debt Budget 2013-14
Demand for Grants Vol 1
Demand for Grants Vol 2 Pages 1 - 225
Demand for Grants Vol 2 Pages 226 - 439
Demand for Grants Vol 3 Pages 1 - 200
Demand for Grants Vol 3 Pages 200-388
Medium Term Fiscal Policy & Strategy Statement
Detailed Budget Estimates of Revenue
LSG Budget 2013-14 Part 1
LSG Budget 2013-14 Part 2
Eleventh Five Year Plan 2007-12 -Accounts-Pages 1 - 215
Eleventh Five Year Plan 2007-12- Accounts-Pages 216 - 443
Staff Appendix 2013-14
Budget for the year 2013-2014 at a Glance
Special burn treatment centres in medical colleges
Free generic medicine project in all taluk hospitals
Research Centre at Thiruvananthapuram Engineering College
Rs 55 Cr for Kollam, Alappuzha bypasses
Chemical toilets in boats of water Department
Rs 117 Cr for Vallarpadom-Kozhikode coastal Highway
Rs 100 Cr aid for KSRTC to tide over difficult situation
Roads to build cycle path with Private-Public participation
Rs 10 Cr for modern parking facility in towns
Rs 25 Cr Kumarakom-Nedumbassery State Highway
Aid to those who get patents
Research and inventions will be encouraged
Rs 20 Cr for young entrepreneurs
Agricultural product insurance scheme to cover all farm products
10 district to have units for producing Neera from coconut tree
Rs 50 Cr for new dam at Mullaperiyar
Rs 400 Cr for constructing check dams to solve water shortage
Fish malls in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kozhikode
Rs 10 Cr for fish-processing centers
Plastic to be collected for processing; Interest free loan up to Rs 20 lakhs for societies
Rs 35 Cr meat processing plant in Chalakkudy
Housing loan subsidy for journalists raised to Rs 1 lakh
Journalist pension raised to Rs 7000
Erattupetta Panchayat to become Municipality
Permanent steel bridge for Aluva Manalppuram; Rs 5 Cr allotted
KSFE to implement employment scheme for diaspora
Mangalya Nidhi for marriage of poor people; Rs 20,000 as aid
Integrated Insurance programme for all families
Vytilla model Mobility Hubs in important towns
'Thripty fair price food stalls to sell food packets for Rs 20
Solar power generation will be extended
Coastal ship transport will be encouraged; 5 ports to be developed
Rs 100 Cr for 50 modern fish markets
Rs 3 Cr for protection of fishermen
Tax rebate for houses with rain water harvest facility
Punishment to people who employ children as beggars
Shelter homes to accommodate beggars
Education loan interest discount for APL families too
Old age and farmer's pension increased
Rs 25 crore allocated for agri malls in important cities
Risk insurance for agriculture loans; confiscation to be banned
Permission to begin 10,000 integrated hi-tech agriculture centers
Individuals excluded from agriculture taxes
Rs 14 crore allocated for Supplyco to start two rice mills
Interest free loan assured to small scale farmers
14 hi-tech agriculture villages to be started. Rs 3 crore financial assistance for a village
Small scale farmers loan waived with immediate effect
Progress in the Growth sector, Rs 8,000 crore to be invested in Capital sector
Reduction in exports affects agriculture negatively
Revenue willl increase by imposing taxes to more sectors
Growth rate at 9.5%