Kerala govt spent ₹13 crore on Nava Kerala Survey; ₹1.45 crore on travel expenses

New Delhi: The Kerala government has informed the Supreme Court of India that it spent ₹13.04 crore on the Nava Kerala Survey, out of the ₹20 crore sanctioned for the exercise.

In an affidavit submitted before the court, the state detailed the expenditure, stating that ₹5.54 crore was spent on brochures alone, while ₹1 crore went towards printing letters. Additionally, ₹1.45 crore was spent on travel expenses for volunteers involved in the survey.

The survey, conducted ahead of the Assembly elections, had triggered a political controversy, with critics alleging misuse of public funds and terming it an unnecessary expense.

Petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the survey on grounds of financial impropriety. However, the court observed that there was nothing wrong with the government conducting a survey to assess the reach of its welfare schemes among the public.

The apex court had also directed the state government to submit a detailed affidavit on the expenditure incurred, following which the government furnished the financial breakdown.