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Thiruvananthapuram: Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy demanded in the Assembly on Tuesday that the support price for paddy should be increased.
Participating in the general discussion on the revised Budget for the current year, Mr. Chandy said that increasing the rubber subsidy for farmers with holdings of up to two hectares should also be considered.
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Thiruvananthapuram: The opening day of the three-day general discussion on the revised Budget for the current year on Monday was a tame affair.
Opposition members stuck to the stand that the Budget proposals were utopian while the ruling front members reiterated that the Budget was development and welfare oriented. There was hardly any deeper analysis of the budget or the white paper on State finances.
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Revised Budget: Overall deficit: Rs. 711.38 cr.
Additional Resource Mobilisation: Rs. 805 cr.
Additional expenditure announced: Rs. 730.10 cr. Concessions: Rs. 5 cr.
Cumulative deficit: Rs. 746.69 cr.
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Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac announced an economic revival package of Rs. 12000 crore in his revised Budget for the current year presented to the Assembly on Friday, with view to face the current and emerging challenges to growth.
The investment package will be used solely for capital expenditure in building of major roads, bridges, buildings and parks. Of this, Rs. 2500 crore is to be expended this financial year itself. An additional Rs. 8000 will be required by the end of the year for land acquisition and thus about Rs. 20000 crore will have to be mobilised.
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The financial position of the State will take three years to stabilise, Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac said here on Friday.
Addressing the media immediately after presentation of the revised Budget in the Assembly, the Finance Minister expressed confidence that revenues could be increased through modernisation of accounting procedures and strict tax collection initiatives.
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