KL This Week: Assembly Passes Resolution Against Centre’s 'Neglect' of State

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the significant developments from across Kerala during the week, including the Kerala Legislative Assembly's resolution condemning the Centre's financial constraints, the Economic Review report’s indication of impressive growth for Kerala in 2023, an increased honorarium for Anganwadi and ASHA workers, the All India Kisan Sabha’s (AIKS) protests against the anti-farmer Union Budget, and a demonstration over the suspension of a student at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Calicut.

ECONOMIC REVIEW REPORT POINTS TO STEADY GROWTH RATE 

The Economic Review report, tabled in the Assembly, has shown several positive indicators of steady growth, including an increase in the state’s own tax revenue (SOTR), a reduction in revenue deficit, and a decrease in expenditure.

The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) has risen to Rs 6,16,18,850 lakh (quick estimate) from Rs 5,78,05,727 lakh in 2021-22, marking a 6.6% increase, surpassing the national average of 5.6%. Similarly, the Gross State Value Added (GSVA) has grown by 6.19% to Rs 5,32,68,632.

Encouragingly, the per capita GSDP has risen to Rs 1,74,214, a 6.06% increase compared to the previous financial year, significantly surpassing the national average of Rs 1,15,746. The primary, secondary, and service sectors have demonstrated growth of 1.45%, 7.72%, and 6.21%, respectively, in terms of the sectoral composition of the GSDP.

The revenue deficit has decreased to 0.88% of the GSDP from 2.23% in the previous fiscal, while the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GSDP has also dropped to 2.44% from 3.99%. State-owned tax revenue (SOTR) has surged by 23.36%, and state-owned non-tax revenue has exhibited a sharp increase to 44.5%, resulting in a total rise of 13.79%. Meanwhile, the share of central taxes and grants has registered a negative growth of 4.6%, as per the report.

In contrast, the livestock sector has recorded negative growth, while other sectors, including industry, agriculture and allied services, horticulture, information technology, and MSMEs, have demonstrated positive growth.

RESOLUTION AGAINST CENTRE’S FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS

The Kerala Legislative Assembly (KLA) passed a resolution against the alleged financial strangulation by the Centre on February 2. The resolution, moved by Finance Minister K N Balagopal, accused the Union government of destroying financial federalism, leaving the states at the mercy of the Centre.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has been continuously accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government of blocking various developmental and progressive activities of the state through various means, including the reduction of borrowing limits and cutting down the revenue deficit grant.

The Speaker announced that the resolution was unanimously passed by the house, although the opposition block, United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, walked out of the house. The LDF has extended an invitation to the UDF and its allies to participate in the protest scheduled on February 8 at Jantar Mantar.

The minister also accused the UDF and the Congress of betraying the interests of the state by not supporting the demands of the state government on the financial crisis, with the Centre resorting to a lower tax share for the states, increasing cess and surcharges which need not be shared with the states, and violating the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM), 2003.

HONORARIUM OF ASHA, ANGANWADI WORKERS HIKED

The honorarium for the Anganwadi workers and helpers with more than 10 years of service has been increased by Rs 1,000, while the honorarium of the workers has been hiked by Rs 500. The revision will come into effect from December 2023. A total of 60,232 workers will benefit from the revision, out of which 44,737 will get a hike of Rs 1,000, and the remaining 15,495 will see their honorarium increase by Rs 500, as announced by the LDF government.

Similarly, the honorarium paid to the Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers is being awarded a revision of Rs 1,000 in the monthly honorarium. Around 20,000 ASHA workers will benefit from the revision, which is paid completely by the state government, while the union government pays only the incentive of Rs 2,000 to the workers.

AIKS CONDEMNS 'ANTI-FARMER' BUDGET 

The Kerala Karshaka Sangham, the state unit of the AIKS, held protests against the interim Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman. The members of the AIKS burned copies of the Budget presentation accusing it of being anti-farmer. 

The AIKS has accused the Union government of failing to address the pressing issues of the farmers and the general public. The farmers' association has been demanding a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for agricultural products, a loan waiver, increase in fertiliser subsidy and subsidy.  

A Vijayakumar, former minister and state president of the AIKS, led the protest of the farmers by burning copies of the Union Budget.

PROTEST AGAINST SUSPENSION OF NIT-K STUDENT 

The suspension of a student of the NIT Calicut, who protested against the consecration of the Ram Temple, has triggered strong protests from different student unions. The action against Vysakh Prem Kumar, a fourth-year engineering student, has been put on hold after protests from different student unions including the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Kerala Students Union (KSU).

The student held the protest after a group of students under the banner of the Science and Spirituality Club drew a saffron-coloured Indian map near the gate of the campus. Vysakh and several other students registered their protest against the drawing of the saffron map of the country. A scuffle followed in which Vysakh and a few other students were attacked.

The students of the institute held protests condemning the suspension following which the institute was closed for three days from February 1. The students also claimed that those who drew the saffron map and attacked the protesting students were let off.