State to protest against Centre’s ‘economic blockade’

The CPI(M)-led LDF government in the State will lead a high-profile protest at the Martyrs’ Column here on Monday against what it terms the ‘economic blockade’ by the Centre targeting the State’s development.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Ministers and MLAs will lead the protest which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Mr. Vijayan will inaugurate the protest which will be on till 5 p.m.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Mr. Vijayan said the “economic blockade” was politically motivated. According to him, such financial curbs were meant to undermine the acceptance gained by the CPI(M)-led LDF government among the people.

“Kerala will strongly oppose such moves by the Centre that are aimed at disrupting progressive welfare programmes introduced by the State government such as the Sthree Suraksha Project, Connect-to-Work scholarship and the distribution of the social security pensions,” Mr. Vijayan said in the post.

Despite the fiscal squeeze, Kerala has managed to move forward on the path of development, riding on the precise and efficient financial management by the State government, he said.

The State’s own revenue has risen from ₹54,000 crore during 2015-16 to ₹1,03,240 crore now. The per capital income of the State has increased from ₹1,66,246 to ₹3,08,338. The State’s Debt-GSDP ratio of 24.88% is also below the national average of 26.11%, Mr. Vijayan said. In the current fiscal alone, the State has been derpived of ₹17,000 crore in borrowing space due to inimical Central policies. The Centre had also slashed ₹5900 crore from the State’s eligible borrowing limit of ₹12,000 crore for the January-March period of the fiscal, Mr. Vijayan said.