THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K M Mani, whose 'alteration budget' was branded 'provincial' by even ruling party MLAs, on Thursday announced an additional expenditure of nearly Rs 100 crore by way of relief measures for low income groups and increase in allocations towards areas he was accused of ignoring in his budget speech on July 8.Despite the extra expenditure, the Finance Minister said that the budget deficit was lower by Rs 280 crore than the budget presented by his predecessor. The Finance Minister made the additional relief announcements while replying to the general discussion on the Revised Budget for the financial year 2011-12.Among the two new relief measures announced by the Finance Minister on Thursday are increasing: the honorarium of local body representatives from panchayat members to Corporation mayors by Rs 1,000 and allocation of Rs 5 crore for setting up of a Forward Community Development Corporation which will look into ways to uplift the financially distressed among the forward classes. Mani brought back two measures taken out of Isaac's 2011-12 budget. The monthly allowance for anganwadi workers and helpers has been increased from Rs 550 to Rs 1,000. The allowance of Asha workers, too, has been raised from Rs 300 to Rs 500.Capital gainsK M Mani, to dispel the perception that he was 'Palacentric', upped the allocations for the capital city. He increased the allocation for Capital Road Improvement Project by Rs 30 crore. Consequently, the money earmarked for CRIP for this fiscal is now Rs 60 crore. The Attukal Development Project, which was ignored by Mani in his budget speech, has now got Rs 12 crore, Rs 2 crore more than the amount kept in Isaac's 2011-12 budget. The Finance Minister said that the State Government would grant additional authorisation for the second phase of the Trivandrum International Airport. He also assured the Assembly that the KaramanaKaliyakkavila fourlaning work would not be affected. The charge was that Mani had taken away the Rs 100 crore earmarked for the four laning in Isaac's budget.As for the protection of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, the Finance Minister said the State Government was willing to meet all expenses over and above the Rs 1 crore announced in the budget.Besides the Sabarimalarelated development projects announced in the Budget, Mani said money would also be set apart for a 'comprehensive health package' for the pilgrim centre.Tourism The Finance Minister's mention of grants for Aranmula and Neeretupuram boat festivals had provoked criticism that he was apathetic towards other more popular boat festivals. Mani sought to put the record straight. "Just because I used the name Neeretupuram does not mean I am against other boat festivals like Nehru Boat Race. I have already kept Rs 5 crore for boat festivals. I intend to keep an additional Rs 1 crore for the purpose,'' Mani said.He announced new tourism ventures. He set apart Rs 25 lakh for the preliminary works of a unique project titled 'Journey Along the Bharathapuzha
Mani announces alteration budget
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K M Mani, whose 'alteration budget' was branded 'provincial' by even ruling party MLAs, on Thursday announced an additional expenditure of nearly Rs 100 crore by way of relief measures for low income groups and increase in allocations towards areas he was accused of ignoring in his budget speech on July 8.Despite the extra expenditure, the Finance Minister said that the budget deficit was lower by Rs 280 crore than the budget presented by his predecessor. The Finance Minister made the additional relief announcements while replying to the general discussion on the Revised Budget for the financial year 2011-12.Among the two new relief measures announced by the Finance Minister on Thursday are increasing: the honorarium of local body representatives from panchayat members to Corporation mayors by Rs 1,000 and allocation of Rs 5 crore for setting up of a Forward Community Development Corporation which will look into ways to uplift the financially distressed among the forward classes. Mani brought back two measures taken out of Isaac's 2011-12 budget. The monthly allowance for anganwadi workers and helpers has been increased from Rs 550 to Rs 1,000. The allowance of Asha workers, too, has been raised from Rs 300 to Rs 500.Capital gainsK M Mani, to dispel the perception that he was 'Palacentric', upped the allocations for the capital city. He increased the allocation for Capital Road Improvement Project by Rs 30 crore. Consequently, the money earmarked for CRIP for this fiscal is now Rs 60 crore. The Attukal Development Project, which was ignored by Mani in his budget speech, has now got Rs 12 crore, Rs 2 crore more than the amount kept in Isaac's 2011-12 budget. The Finance Minister said that the State Government would grant additional authorisation for the second phase of the Trivandrum International Airport. He also assured the Assembly that the KaramanaKaliyakkavila fourlaning work would not be affected. The charge was that Mani had taken away the Rs 100 crore earmarked for the four laning in Isaac's budget.As for the protection of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, the Finance Minister said the State Government was willing to meet all expenses over and above the Rs 1 crore announced in the budget.Besides the Sabarimalarelated development projects announced in the Budget, Mani said money would also be set apart for a 'comprehensive health package' for the pilgrim centre.Tourism The Finance Minister's mention of grants for Aranmula and Neeretupuram boat festivals had provoked criticism that he was apathetic towards other more popular boat festivals. Mani sought to put the record straight. "Just because I used the name Neeretupuram does not mean I am against other boat festivals like Nehru Boat Race. I have already kept Rs 5 crore for boat festivals. I intend to keep an additional Rs 1 crore for the purpose,'' Mani said.He announced new tourism ventures. He set apart Rs 25 lakh for the preliminary works of a unique project titled 'Journey Along the Bharathapuzha
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