Cyclone Ockhi and its economic and social impact set the tone for the budget presentation in the Assembly on Friday, with Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac announcing a ₹2,000-crore package for the development of the coastal areas.
Hailing the State’s response to the crisis, Dr. Isaac said the cyclone had underlined the need for a robust disaster mitigation and development plan for the coastal belt.
The budget allocates ₹100 crore for a satellite information system to provide early warning for fishing vessels at sea and launch emergency operations. Coastal villages would be provided with Wi-Fi facility for Internet connectivity.
An amount of ₹150 crore has been set apart to relocate families living within 50 m of the tideline and plant the area with mangroves and trees.
Dr. Isaac’s speech in Malayalam began with the word Ockhi and went on to describe the uncertainties and the misery wrought by the storm as the backdrop for the budget.
Terming the Ockhi disaster as a warning for the State, he said it highlighted the global threats posed by climate change and called for preparedness to overcome the challenges.
The Minister said the State would take up the development of fishing harbours and fish-landing centres with funds from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board and loan assistance provided by NABARD.
Cold-chain network
The establishment of a cold-chain network and the development of hospitals and schools in coastal areas are other priorities identified in the budget. A family health scheme and a health micro plan for all coastal residents are other highlights.
Invoking the plight of the women who had lost their spouses to Cyclone Ockhi while fishing at sea, Dr. Isaac said it justified the budget’s thrust on gender justice.
