BudgetSpeech 2023 24 English - 12
BudgetSpeech 2023 24 English - 12
BudgetSpeech 2023 24 English - 12
BUDGET SPEECH
2023-2024
By
K N BALAGOPAL
FINANCE MINISTER
On
PART III 38
Agriculture 38
Fisheries 44
Rural Development 52
Co-operation 56
Information Technology 75
Tourism 81
Education 86
PART IV 136
Conclusion 150
PART-I
PREFACE
Sir,
Sir,
2
4. Sir, we never portray the achievements of Kerala Model
of Development as the sole contribution of the left.
Every Keralite has a role in building the Kerala Model.
But a group of critics try to portray Kerala as a hopeless
land and thereby destroy the expectations of our young
generation. Kerala cannot fail to disappoint these
cynics. As per various parameters like per-capita
income, per-capita consumption expenditure, human
development index, sustainable development index
etc…, the position of Kerala is on the frontline of States
in India. The performance of Kerala in post pandemic
recovery and the accolades won by the departments,
institutions and the Local Self Government Institutions
have been disappointing for ill-wishers.
3
integrated intervention. Kerala has been marked as the
State with the lowest inflation rate in India. This is a great
achievement for a State that depends on other States
for almost all daily consumer goods. An amount of
₹2000 crore is earmarked for 2023-2024 to continue
vigorous market interventions, considering that the
threat of inflation has not completely abated.
Sir,
4
budget allocation for rubber subsidy is enhanced to
₹600 crore.
5
11. The policy of treating the liability of institutions like
KIIFB, Social Security Pension Limited etc… which
raises funds from outside the budget as the liability of
the State Government is also limiting our borrowing
capacity. There will also be a shortfall of ₹3100 crore on
this account. Due to the restriction on the market
borrowing limit, there has been a shortfall of around
₹4000 crore in the resource mobilization.
6
of KSRTC including pensionary benefits. An amount
of ₹1325.77 crore has been provided in current
financial year. Unprecedented huge depletion of
resource on the one hand and the additional burden
taken up on the other. These have to be considered
together in comprehensively assessing the financial
constraints.
9
more efficient, State GST department was reorganized
comprehensively. Kerala is the first state in the country
to scientifically reorganize the Taxes department.
Efforts will be taken by the government for the maximum
participation and vigil of the public in tax administration.
We will come to tax proposals later.
19. Three: The third way to deal with the hard budget
constraint is to ensure the most efficient utilization of
resources. Kerala has a well-equipped administrative
system in terms of population. The position of the State
is better in terms of the number of employees, office
facilities, availability of vehicles and other background
facilities. The challenge of carrying out further
development - welfare activities will be taken up and the
governance will be reconstituted to suit the knowledge
society by increasing the efficiency and productivity of
this extensive system. In Kerala there are many
examples of increasing efficiency of administrative
system by the use of Information Technology. Reforms
will be extended to make government services available
online. Synergy of knowledge making centers like
10
Universities, Research Institutions will be ensured
for this.
11
in India to compare the efficiency of government
agencies. An amount of ₹1 crore is earmarked
as additional expenditure of Plan Space.
PART II
14
rate will drop to 3.6 lakh by 2031. That is, a structural
change will happen in the ratio among new generation,
senior citizens and the work force. Potential support
ratio may decrease from 4.5 to 3.4 and then to 2.3.
Kerala may become the State with the highest
dependency-population ratio. Steps will be taken to
scientifically study this unique situation and enable
policy formulation foreseeing the future.
16
30. The previous budget included several projects to link
knowledge with production and thereby augment the
revenue of the State. We were able to initiate several
vital projects incorporating the latest changes in the field
of science and technology.
Sir,
17
32. It was declared in the previous budget that three
Science Parks and one Digital Science Park would be
established with an expenditure of ₹1000 crore. Kerala
Digital University was designated as the implementing
agency of activities related to this. ₹13.65 acres of
land has been identified for Digital Science Park
at Technopark Phase-IV, Thiruvananthapuram.
10,000 sq.ft space has been identified at
Technopark campus for the functioning of Digital
Science Park till the completion of building
construction. The Digital Science Park will be
functional by May, 2023. Digital University has signed
MoU with University of Edinburgh for establishing Digital
Science Park.
19
Make in Kerala
20
which produce agriculture value added products.
Assistance will be provided, including interest
subvention for identifying capital for enterprises.
Sir,
38. There are many factors which give the State great
confidence to move forward with ‘Make in Kerala’
project. Out of this, the most important is, the new
awakening in the manufacturing sector. Those who are
doubtful about the industrial environment in Kerala
should read ‘Below the Radar’, a book recently
published by Sri.C.Balagopal, former IAS officer and the
founder of Terumo Penpol, a globally renowned
company manufacturing blood bags. The purpose
behind writing this book is to prove the argument that
“Kerala is not a state suitable for industrial investment”
is wrong. He narrates the experience of 50 companies
started in Kerala in the last twenty years which achieved
great success. The national and international
recognition achieved by Startup Mission should be seen
along with this testimony from the industrial community.
Equally exciting is the success of ‘Year of
Entrepreneurship’ organized under aegis of Department
of Industries.
21
39. Government gets confidence to take up such a massive
initiative like ‘Make in Kerala’ from the enthusiastic
response of the young-entrepreneur community towards
the activities of Startup Mission and ‘Year of
Entrepreneurship’ scheme undertaken by the
Department of Industries. An amount of ₹1000 crore is
additionally provided for ‘Make in Kerala’ during the plan
period. An amount of ₹100 crore is earmarked for
‘Make in Kerala’ this year.
Mission 1000
23
42. The Government will take initiatives to develop industrial
parks, logistics centres and residential areas with the
involvement of the people living on either sides of the
Industrial Corridor. Development plans comprising of
Government, private entrepreneurs and property
owners will be drawn up. It is expected to implement
development plans worth ₹60,000 crore in the first
phase by making use of land pooling system and
PPP development methods.
43. The length of the west coast canal (WCC) which extends
from Bekal in the north to Kovalam in the south of the
State is 616 km. A project will be formulated aiming to
transform the West Coast Canal (WCC) into an
economic-trade corridor of Kerala. Through this,
development opportunities will be created in the sectors
like industry, renewable energy, transport, tourism,
trade and agriculture. Land for various developmental
activities along the waterways will be made available to
the investors on the basis of State’s PPP policy. A total
amount of ₹300 crore is earmarked for undertaking
this project using the pooled fund under KIIFB.
24
New Energy Parks/New Energy Policy
25
Electric Vehicle Consortium (E.V Consortium)
26
determined by the expert committee under the
Kerala State Higher Education Council. An amount
of ₹10 crore is earmarked for this.
Trade fairs
28
For the operations of such centres there will be a
partnership model formed by the State government,
private sector and Local Self Government Institutions.
KIIFB fund will be provided to LSGIs as interest-free
loan. Fund will be fully disbursed after ensuring
employment. The loan amount should be repaid by the
LSGIs in ten years after the moratorium period of one
year from the completion of construction. A total
expenditure to the tune of ₹1000 crore is expected
for creating one lakh work seats through work near
home facilities in the next three years. An amount
of ₹50 crore is earmarked in the current year for
this.
29
Nursing Education
30
association with various technical institutions of these
countries and to adopt the best practices in those
sectors suitable for our State. An amount of ₹10 crore
is earmarked additionally for this purpose to
constitute a corpus fund under Planning &
Implementation Monitoring Department.
Sir,
32
Wayanad and Kasaragod. A special purpose
company will be set up in PPP mode to establish
Airstrips throughout the State. An amount of ₹20
crore is earmarked in the budget towards equity
support of the State.
33
Institutions, household micro level plans are being
prepared to emancipate the above families and
individuals from extreme poverty within the next five
years. An amount of 50 crore is set apart as gap fund
for Local Self Government Institutions not having
sufficient funds in relation to the number of
beneficiaries.
Sir,
35
IT facilities. An amount of ₹70 crore is earmarked for
this.
Sir,
37
Livelihood for Tribal Settlements Scheme
PART III
Agriculture
38
Crop Husbandry Sector
Sir,
39
through farms under Agriculture Department as part
of coconut mission.
40
78. An amount of ₹6 crore is allocated for the scheme
‘Njangalum Krishiyilekku’ (We too into agriculture).
41
Soil & Water conservation
42
Sir,
43
Dairy Development
Fisheries
Fisheries’ schemes.
45
Mariculture Development
Sir,
47
This allocation is ₹5 crore more than that of the
previous year.
48
earmarked towards immediate requirements for the
development of this campus.
49
harbours & dredging and ₹10 crore for group
insurance scheme for fishermen.
Sir,
Conservation of Bio-diversity
51
131. An amount of ₹6.70 crore is earmarked as state
share of the scheme ‘Project Tiger’ for the
conservation and management of Tiger Reserves at
Periyar and Parambikkulam.
Rural Development
52
Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. An
amount of ₹230.10 crore is provided for the scheme
as state share and ₹4066.69 crore is expected as
central share.
Local Administration
53
Fund and ₹2244 crore in General Purpose Fund are
also earmarked. This includes the allotment of ₹210
crore to the external aided projects of ‘Kerala Solid
Waste Management Project’, which is being
implemented in Municipalities and Corporations.
Sir,
55
including the Vembanad Lake, is enhanced from ₹87
crore to ₹137 crore.
Co-operation
56
to the scheme ‘Co-Operative Initiative in Technology
Driven Agriculture (CITA)’ is enhanced from the
provision of ₹23 crore to ₹34.50 crore.
57
160. An amount of ₹3.60 crore is earmarked for
‘Punarjani Project’, a scheme for revitalization of
SC/ST Co-operative Societies.
Sir,
58
development of Kerala co-operative sector. This
fund is intended to be formed by pooling a certain
percentage of reserves of co-operative societies
and contribution from the state government.
59
implemented for the utilization of water resource in
Cauvery river basin.
Pattissery Project
60
CADA canals of Mangalam, Malampuzha, Pothundi,
Chitturpuzha, and Cheramangalam projects.
61
Sir,
62
ponds, linking of ponds with irrigation projects etc.
in association with Haritha Kerala Mission.
Energy
63
192. An amount of ₹10 crore is earmarked for various
Hydro-electric projects like Idukki Golden Jubilee
Power House Project, Muzhiyar Phase-II, Letchmi,
Pooyamkutty, Peringalkuthu, which are either in
DPR stage or to be taken up on priority basis.
64
198. An amount of ₹7 crore is earmarked to KSEB for
flood resilient construction works.
Sir,
65
Industry and Minerals
66
209. An amount of ₹2 crore is earmarked for the
construction of trade promotion centres in
Handicraft Sector.
Sir,
Sir,
68
221. An amount of ₹5.50 crore is earmarked for
modernisation of handloom societies and
promotion of value-added products.
69
227. An amount of ₹38 crore is earmarked for Price
Fluctuation Fund of coir fibre and coir products.
Sir,
70
233. An amount of ₹20 crore is earmarked as state share
for various activities of Life Sciences Park,
Thiruvananthapuram.
71
240. Government have accorded sanction to establish
Rice Technology Parks in Palakkad, Thrissur and
Alappuzha Districts. An amount of ₹10 crore is
earmarked for the project.
Sir,
Meds Park
Sir,
Information Technology
Sir,
76
Transport and Communication
Sir,
78
271. An amount of ₹10.51 crore is earmarked for various
projects related to road safety works.
Road Transport
Sir,
79
276. The use of Pre-fab technology has resulted in huge
reduction of construction cost of KSRTC bus station at
Kottayam. KSRTC will construct cost effective bus
station complexes at Vizhinjam, Attingal, Kottarakkara,
Kayamkulam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kannur and
Kasaragod. An amount of ₹20 crore is additionally
provided for the same.
80
281. An amount of ₹4.51 crore is earmarked for the
project to set up airstrips in Idukki, Wayanad and
Kasaragod districts.
Tourism
81
287. An amount of ₹10 crore is earmarked as electricity
subsidy in tourism sector; ₹3.70 crore as subsidy for
Caravan tourism initiatives and ₹3 crore for
continuing revolving fund scheme.
Sir,
82
an Oceanarium will be established at Thankassery in
Kollam. The Oceanarium will be established in PPP
mode. An amount of ₹ 10 crore is earmarked for this
scheme which would benefit the tourism sector.
83
296. A total amount of ₹90.77 crore is earmarked for
Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and
Environment.
K-DISC
84
experiment will be set up. An amount of ₹50 crore is
earmarked for the Institute.
85
Education
86
Higher Education
Sir,
87
knowledge sectors in Kerala as proposed by Higher
Education Commissions.
Sir,
88
318. An Inter University academic festival will be launched
this year to showcase the academic excellence of
universities.
89
Centres at Chalakkudy, Parappanangadi and
Science City - Kottayam.
Sir,
90
329. As part of increasing assistance to artistes, the number
of fellowships provided under the auspices of Kerala
Lalitha Kala Academy will be enhanced.
91
AKG Museum
Sir,
93
341. An amount of ₹35 lakh is earmarked for Sree
Narayana International Study Centre at
Chempazhanthy, Thiruvananthapuram.
94
Public Health Sector
Sir,
95
possible through this scheme. An amount of ₹10
crore earmarked for the next year for large scale
development of the portal for this and further
extension of the scheme.
Sir,
356. Kerala has a large labour force with skill and expertise
in health care sector. Malayalees constitute a
considerable percentage of health workers around the
96
world. Cost for health care is very high in developed
countries. Kerala should be able to utilize this as an
opportunity. We have the human resources that can
transform Kerala into global health care capital; and a
health network that can be developed further.
Foreigners can be attracted to the state to provide
treatment and health care at low cost. Activities will be
extended to transform the state into a health hub by
providing better services in areas such as health care
and health tourism. Existing facilities can be expanded
and modernized. An amount of ₹30 crore is
earmarked for the initial activities to formulate,
implement and facilitate Care Policy in accordance
with this prospect.
Sir,
97
Sciences University. An amount of ₹5 crore is
earmarked for this scheme.
358. An amount of ₹1.50 crore is provided for continuing
activities of the programme ‘New Born Screening’.
98
363. An amount of ₹7.50 crore is set apart for
strengthening Analytical laboratories in Food Safety
sector.
Safe Food
Sir,
99
368. An amount of ₹15 crore is earmarked for the
purchase of PET CT Scanner for the Oncology Wing
in Thiruvananthapuram Medical College.
100
373. An amount of ₹24 crore is provided to take up
various activities for the strengthening and
modernization of institutions under Indian Systems
of Medicine Department.
Sir,
101
Water Supply and Sewerage
102
385. An amount of ₹100 crore is set apart for the scheme
‘Urban Water Supply Improvement Projects’
implemented in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi
Corporations.
Sir,
103
390. An amount of ₹4 crore is earmarked for ‘ASWAS
Rental Housing Scheme’ to construct buildings in
the premises of Medical Colleges facilitating to
accommodate patients/bystanders.
Urban Development
104
Capacity Building, Project Management and
establishing regional solid waste management facilities
as part of the externally aided ‘Kerala Solid Waste
Management Project’ being implemented in urban
sector.
105
accommodation facilities (Layams) of estate
workers.
106
406. New Career Development Centres will be started in
Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Idukki
and Pathanamthitta Districts in 2023-24.
107
provision is ₹104 crore more than that of the year
2022-23.
Sir,
108
415. An amount of ₹180 crore is provided for purchase of
land for construction of houses for the poor and landless
scheduled caste families. Around 5000 landless
families are intended to be benefited.
Sir,
109
420. An amount of ₹53 crore is provided to the Health
Care schemes for giving medical care to the
deserving patients and oldsters.
110
425. An amount of ₹10 crore is provided for the scheme
‘Assistance for Self-Employment and Skill
Development Training to ST Youths’.
111
429. An amount of ₹6 crore is set apart for the scheme
‘Assistance for the Marriage of ST Girls’.
113
Other Backward Classes
114
446. An amount of ₹70 lakh is provided as share capital to
Kerala State Pottery Manufacturing Marketing and
Welfare Development Corporation Limited.
Minority Welfare
115
451. An amount of ₹5 crore is earmarked for the
comprehensive projects, aiming at skill development,
vocational rehabilitation and employment & financial
security of differently abled persons.
Geriatric Care
116
Kerala Social Security Mission
Sir,
117
463. An amount of ₹13 crore is earmarked for various
programmes including ‘Subhayathra’, ‘Ashwasam’ and
‘Hasthadanam’ implemented by Kerala State Physically
Handicapped Person’s Welfare Corporation.
Jails
Police
118
Policing and ₹4 crore for Cyber Security. An amount of
₹5 crore is earmarked to strengthen the facilities of
Forensic Wing.
Menstrual Cup
119
and work places. An amount of ₹10 crore is earmarked
for this.
Sir,
120
476. An amount of ₹8.50 crore is provided as state share
for the scheme aiming for the continuous
functioning of existing 28 POCSO Fast Track
Special Courts and for setting up of another 28 new
courts.
121
480. An amount of ₹1.40 crore is earmarked as state share
for the scheme ‘Smart PDS’ in order to address the
deficiencies in technology based service delivery of
public distribution system and make it sustainable.
Registration
NORKA
122
484. An amount of ₹25 crore is provided to various activities
for the rehabilitation of returnee migrants through the
scheme “Norka Department Project for Returned
Emigrants - (NDPREM)”.
123
487. An amount of ₹15 crore is earmarked for the welfare
schemes of ‘Kerala Non Resident Keralites Welfare
Fund Board’.
124
₹6 crore is provided for constructing buildings for district
offices.
Vigilance
Courts
Excise
Sir,
126
missions viz Haritha Keralam, Ardram, LIFE & Vidya
Kiranam.
Finance Department
Sir,
128
Treasury Department
MEDISEP
129
for members is ₹500 per month. Oriental Insurance
Company Ltd. is the insurance service provider. Claims
worth ₹405 crore have already been approved through
MEDISEP in six months. A corpus fund of ₹30 crore has
also been setup as part of MEDISEP for the treatment
of critical illness and organ transplants.
KIIFB
Sir,
130
₹3842.89 crore has been expended for KIIFB projects
from the year 2017-2018 to 2022-2023 respectively.
KIIFB has already disbursed more than ₹22801 crore for
various project till date.
513. KIIFB has given approval for the projects worth ₹2870
crore for General education sector of Kerala alone. As
part of ‘Pothu Vidyabhyasa Samrakshana Yajnam’,
Construction of 860 shool buildings have been taken up
through KIIFB and 288 were completed. A total of 44705
hightech classrooms and 11257 hightech laboratories
were arranged at public schools through KIIFB.
131
Corridor project, GIFT city project etc… are also being
executed with the assistance of KIIFB.
Sir,
132
ordinary people of Kerala, forward with the support of
general public. The social welfare scheme needs to be
expanded and misuse should be avoided by eliminating
undeserved.
Financial Institutions
133
Kerala Financial Corporation
135
PART IV
Resource Mobilisation
136
revising the penal rates as part of making stringent steps
to curb the clandestine mining and related activities;
Fifth, Royalty payment to be based on actual usage and
not based on the tonnage or carrying capacity of the
vehicle; Sixth, the lease rent of the Government land to
be based as a function of the fair value of the land;
Seven, Compounding system will be discontinued, and
royalty will be based on quantity.
LSGD
137
528. If these measures are implemented, at least 1,000 Cr is
expected as additional Own Fund of Local Bodies which
can be productively used by them.
Irrigation
Electricity Duty
531. The Court Fee stamp charges have not been revised for
the past few decades. The Kerala Court Fees and Suits
Valuation Act, 1959 and the rules thereunder will be
amended to enhance the Court Fee stamp charges.
533. The Kerala Court Fees and Suit Valuation Act, 1959 will
be amended extending the collection of 1 % additional
court fee to more areas. The Court Fee will be
introduced within the ambit of e-stamping to facilitate
ease of use of citizens.
139
An additional income of Rs. 92 crore is expected
through this.
140
minimize air pollution and to promote public transport.
Since one-time tax on all types of electric vehicles is
fixed as 5% of the purchase value for a period of 15
years, the existing 50% tax exemption for such vehicles
for the first 5 years is dispensed with.
141
542. The one-time settlement scheme which was introduced
in previous years to settle tax arrears in motor vehicles
will be continued this year also.
Excise
143
State GST
144
b. Presently, under the Kerala Value Added Tax Act,
2003, if an assessee pays 20% of the disputed
amount while filing the appeal, the recovery of the
demand will be automatically stayed till the
disposal of the appeal. To grant relief to tax
litigants, the Kerala General Sales Tax Act, 1963,
the Kerala Tax on Luxuries Act, 1976, and the
Kerala Value Added Tax Act, 2003, will be
amended to reduce the pre-deposit for first appeal
and consequent stay at 10% of the disputed
amount of tax, subject to a maximum amount of
Rs 5 crores. Similar facility will be made applicable
for the second appeal also, with the condition that
the pre-deposit amount for second appeal need
not be paid if equivalent amount is already paid for
first appeal. Other than the 10% pre-deposit
mentioned previously, no other amount will be
required to be paid by persons opting under this
scheme for filing an appeal. This facility shall not
enable any person to avail refunds of pre-deposits
already paid or reverse any arrears recovery
proceeding that has already resulted in the
recovery of any amount to the exchequer,
including by way of attachment of property. In
145
case of disputes under Kerala General Sales Tax
Act, 1963, this facility is limited to those cases
where the assessment is for a period up to March
31, 2005. In cases where the time limit for filing
an appeal has expired and all those cases where
the appeal has not been admitted due to any
reason shall be eligible for filing appeals till
September 30th, 2023 as a one-time concession.
Enabling provisions will be made in the Acts.
Registration
551. Fair value of land came into force in the State in 2010.
There after this has been revised five times. To bridge
the gap between the market value and the fair value, the
existing fair value will be increased by 20 percent.
146
552. Finance Act, 2020 has incorporated provisions to
increase the fair value of land up to 30% in areas where
the market value has increased due to various reasons;
a detailed study will be conducted to determine the
guidelines to identify the areas that need to be notified.
147
556. A service charge of Rs.100 will be imposed for filing and
release of Gehans.
Revenue
560. The annual Basic Land Tax levied on the Patta land
shall be considered for revision based on usage for
commercial and industrial occupation.
148
Social Security Seed Fund
149
additional revenue of Rs. 750 Cr to the Social Security
Seed Fund.
CONCLUSION
Sir,
emerged.
such a crisis that they are even unable to buy diesel fuel
global scenario.
everyone.
2023-2024.
152
Revised Budget Estimate for 2022-23
(Rs. In crore)
153
Budget Estimate for 2023-24
(Rs. In crore)
154