Kerala Budget 2016: LDF government goes all out on sops, promises free housing, water and power

The LDF has promised free housing, water and electricity for all. Plus, it has other sops like free uniforms for students of aided schools, pension for all labourers after the age of 60, pension for transgenders and advance salary for employees during the state festival of Onam.

One of the thrust areas seems to be education and the government wants to make Kerala a knowledge centre. The Finance Minister has set aside Rs 1,000 crore to set up at least one school of “international standards” in each of the 140 constituencies of the state. Plus, another Rs 500 crore has been promised for hi-tech education in secondary and higher secondary schools.

The state has also promised to look at a policy for workers coming from outside the state, with Isaac saying the focus will be on welfare and not regulation. He said this welfare fund will get some money from the construction cess.

In what is being called a ‘Fat Tax’, the government has also proposed a 14.5 per cent tax on fast food chains. Also, packaged wheat products have also got a 5 per cent tax hike.

In the first major push for green fuels in the state, Isaac cleared 1,000 CNG buses for Kochi. KSRTC, the state transporter, will also start converting its buses into the cleaner fuel.