Thiruvananthapuram,29 January (H.S.): Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal on Tuesday announced a series of major welfare, education and infrastructure initiatives as part of the State Budget, aimed at easing the financial burden on students, patients, workers and government employees.
One of the most significant announcements was the decision to make degree education free for students studying in Arts and Science colleges across the State. The move is expected to widen access to higher education and reduce dropouts caused by financial constraints.
In another key welfare measure, the government will provide accident insurance coverage for school students from Class I to Plus Two.
An amount of ₹15 crore has been set aside in the Budget to implement the scheme, ensuring financial protection for lakhs of children and their families.
Infrastructure development also received a major push, with ₹5,917 crore allocated for the development of the MC Road, one of Kerala’s most important arterial highways. The allocation is expected to accelerate long-pending road expansion and safety upgrades.
The Finance Minister also announced monthly financial assistance of ₹2,000 for cancer and AIDS patients, offering much-needed relief to families grappling with high treatment costs.
For government employees, Balagopal said the revised health insurance scheme, Medisep 2.0, will come into force from February 1. The upgraded version aims to address shortcomings in the existing Medisep scheme and expand coverage.
The employment guarantee sector was strengthened with an additional ₹1,000 crore allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), reinforcing livelihood support in rural areas.
To encourage youth participation at the grassroots level, the government will provide ₹10,000 in assistance to youth clubs across the State. Additionally, ₹100 crore has been earmarked for the KERA project, further underlining the government’s focus on development and social welfare.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman
