Insta
To Meet Its Rehabilitation Expenses, Kerala To Ask Centre For Levying 10 Per Cent Cess On GST
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (Ramesh Pathania/Mint via Getty Images)
Kerala has asked the Central government to allow it to impose a 10 per cent cess on Good and Services Tax (GST) besides introducing a special lottery to raise resources for rehabilitation and relief following floods and landslides in the aftermath of torrential rains.
PTI has reported that the Pinarayi Vijayan government in Kerala decided to opt for cess and special lottery during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday (21 August). The state government will now send the proposal to the GST council and seek its permission, the agency quoted a government press release.
Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac has said that losses are heavy besides trauma and the state will have to pay a huge social cost. The state government would approach the Centre, multi-lateral agencies and soft loan providers as part of its “unconventional response” to the natural disasters.
For the current fiscal, Isaac presented a budget with Rs 16,043 crore revenue deficit and Rs 25,776 core fiscal deficit. The Comptroller and Auditor General report for 2016-17 expressed concern over Kerala’s financial status and termed it as “not sound”.
Introducing ElectionsHQ + 50 Ground Reports Project
The 2024 elections might seem easy to guess, but there are some important questions that shouldn't be missed.
Do freebies still sway voters? Do people prioritise infrastructure when voting? How will Punjab vote?
The answers to these questions provide great insights into where we, as a country, are headed in the years to come.
Swarajya is starting a project with an aim to do 50 solid ground stories and a smart commentary service on WhatsApp, a one-of-a-kind. We'd love your support during this election season.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
