Kerala Govt unveils welfare schemes

The newly sworn-in UDF Government in Kerala on Monday announced a series of welfare measures, including free travel for women in KSRTC buses from June 15, enhanced honorarium for ASHA and Anganwadi workers, and the creation of a dedicated department for elderly people.

Announcing the decisions taken at the first Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister VD Satheesan said the Government had decided to implement two of the five guarantees made during the election.

It was Rahul Gandhi, while launching the election campaign in March this year, who announced five guarantees-free KSRTC bus travel for women, a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 for girl students in colleges, an increase in welfare pension to Rs 3,000, health insurance coverage up to Rs 25 lakh per household, and interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for young entrepreneurs, which later became part of the poll manifesto.

He had also announced the creation of a separate department for elderly people. Populist measures were announced after the UDF alleged that the State’s finances were in dire straits.

In view of this, Satheesan said that a white paper would be issued detailing the State’s financial condition and the Government exchequer.

“The first Cabinet meeting decided to implement two Indira Guarantees offered by the UDF. First of all, free travel for women in KSRTC buses. It will be implemented from June 15 onwards. The details will be informed later,” he said.

The Cabinet also decided to constitute a separate department for elderly persons, which the CM said could be the first of its kind in the country.

Satheesan said the way a society treats elderly people determines whether it is truly civilised.

“We think the way a society respects old-age people is the measurement for checking whether that society is civilised or not. Our dream is that a day will come when Kerala can declare to the entire world that we are a civilised society and that we are looking after our old-age people decently,” he said.

“Definitely, we have to protect each and every old-age person. We will not allow them to be alone. The Government is with them. Kerala is with them. That is the message,” he said.

He said that, fulfilling a promise made during the prolonged agitation by ASHA workers in front of the Secretariat, the Cabinet approved an increase of Rs 3,000 per month in their honorarium.

Referring to the agitation by ASHA workers, Satheesan said the UDF had honoured the assurance given to them during the protest.

“When the ASHA workers were on the streets in front of the Secretariat and had started a long-term agitation, I myself went there, and many UDF leaders also visited them. We had promised to take action to resolve their problems and that the first Cabinet would take a decision in your favour. So we kept our word,” he said.

Satheesan said Anganwadi workers and helpers would receive an additional Rs 1,000 per month.