Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac on Wednesday slashed the tax on aviation turbine fuel for domestic flights from 28.7% to 5% hoping that it would reflect in lesser airfares for budget travellers from Kerala.
He said the one per cent flood cess on goods and services would come into effect only when the government notified it and not by default on April 1.
Dr. Isaac lent weight to the struggle for gender equality in the Malayalam cinema industry by announcing a ₹3-crore package to support initiatives by women directors.
The Minister also sanctioned funds to a galaxy of cultural organisations, including those in memory of cine actor Prem Nazir and writer Punathil Kunjuabdullah. He promised to modernise the school started by social reformer and renaissance leader Ayyankali at Venganoor in Thiruvananthapuram.
He also increased the allocation for welfare schemes for Dalit converts to Christianity from ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore. He enhanced the wages of those employed in various schemes, including ASHA workers.
Dr Isaac mooted an amendment of the store purchase rules to make it mandatory for government and State undertakings to procure at least 20% of their equipment from small and medium-scale industries in Kerala.
He also doubled the amount eligible to beneficiaries of the Group Insurance Scheme for Government employees.
