Kerala Finance Minister K.N Balagopal on Friday announced a Rs 20,000 crores Covid 19 package for the states. Under the package, money has already been set aside for various Covid 19 related situations.
Netizens To Get Free Covid 19 Vaccines
Kerala Finance Minister announced that vaccination will be provided for free for all the netizens above 18 years of age. And for the same, the government has already set aside Rs 1000 crores from the Covid 19 package.
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In the first budget speech, he also said that the Covid 19 package will also include Rs 2800 crores for emergency Covid situations. Along with Rs 8,900 crores for those whose livelihoods have been seriously affected. And Rs 8300 crores for interest subsidiaries.
This comes after the state saw nearly 26 lakh cases and over 9,200 deaths so far.
Balagopal’s Budget Papers To Tackle Pandemic
This is the second Covid package that has been announced by the Pinarayi Vijayan government, the first came in March last year which was also to the tune of Rs 20,000 crores.
Before leaving his residence with the budget papers, Balagopal said that his budget is based on handling the Covid 19 situation in the state. He said that the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on the economy. Following which they have decided that the health is of the prime importance.
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In the speech, he said that the Centre’s vaccination policy was not done in a professional way. However, he said that under his budget, Rs 635 crore has already been set aside to strengthen the health centres across the states and new blocks will be built in Medical colleges.
Furthermore, Rs 50 lakh has been set aside to start the preliminary studies for setting up a centre here similar to the US-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Balagopal said.
