KN Balagopal | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Thiruvananthapuram: Commenting on the Union Budget 2022, Kerala finance minister K N Balagopal here on Tuesday said that the state’s needs are not addressed. Terming the Budget “completely disappointing’”, the minister said he is sad that the budget does not provide any solace from the pandemic troubles.
"There is a mention of the agrarian sector getting a big allocation, so is the MGNREGA, but the fact of the matter is the allocation to these two sectors is less than what was there in the last budget. Likewise for vaccines just Rs 5,000 crore has been set aside, which was Rs 39,000 crore in the last budget. This year's allocation is too less. Meanwhile, from the first look, the budget is very cleverly wrapped as what is for the state and the state's demands are yet to surface as it will be in the supplementary papers," said Balagopal.
The minister pointed out that the state had high expectations, but its needs are not addressed. Further, he cited that the centre neglected the needs of the states. Kerala’s demand for AIIMS was not considered, he said.
Similarly, the minister criticised that the budget neither included any interventions to strengthen the cooperative sector nor projects to create more job opportunities.
(With added inputs from IANS)
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