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The State Budget presented on Monday is a meaningful and purposeful one, says Mr V.K. Mathews, Chairman, CII Kerala State Council.
He said this while taking part in a post-Budget interface with the State Government organised here on Monday.
RIGHFUL THRUST
The event was organised by The Hindu, Business Line , Gulati Institute for Finance and Taxation and telecast live by Asianet Satellite Communications.
The Budget had a rightful thrust on infrastructure in a State whose GDP drew sustenance (to the extent of 60 per cent) from the services sector.
This sector also provided employment to the extent of 67 per cent.
“The service sector corridor needs accessibility,” Mr Mathews said.
Roads were not enough to provide this, and, hence, the resort to modern transit systems such as monorail projects and the high speed rail corridor.
Mr E.M. Najeeb, Chairman and Managing Director of Air Travel Enterprises Group of Companies , also shared these sentiments about the Budget.
WELL-PLANNED
He was able to find a well-planned approach by the Finance Minister in addressing the requirements of the infrastructure and tourism sectors.
Mr Najeeb commended the Minister for making 70 per cent more in allocations for the tourism sector and another Rs 150 crore in indirect allocations.
The proposals for air strips at district headquarters and introducing seaplane services perfectly jell with the needs of the booming tourism sector.
But he was of the view that the taxation regime announced in the Budget did not go well with the intent of purpose manifested elsewhere in the document.
FRAGMENTED HOLDINGS
Dr K.N. Harilal of the Centre for Development Studies welcomed the farm initiatives enunciated but observed the finer print would need to be looked at for implications.
But he wondered if high-tech and precision farming are what the doctor ordered for fragmented holdings operated on by weather-beaten farmers.
There are also other crying needs with respect to crop insurance and extension activities that farmers would have been happier with.
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