Kerala hikes liquor prices by 10 to 35 percent to boost revenue amid COVID-19 lockdown

Approving a proposal on increasing sales tax on liquor to boost revenue amid lockdown, Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday raised 10 per cent tax on beer and wine and 35 per cent on all or categories of liquor. state government said it will recommend Goverr to issue an ordinance to increase sales tax on liquor, in order to find a new source of income during lockdown.

"Due to lockdown, all major revenue sources of state have been affected. re was a huge fall in revenues. In this case, an attempt is being me to find a new source of income," Chief Minister's office stated.

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As Kerala faces severe ecomic hardships due to Coronavirus-induced lockdown Cabinet also decided to set up an expert committee to submit proposals on reducing expenses incurred by government departments, corporations and boards. Centre for Development Studies (CDS) Chairperson Sunil Mani is set to he panel.

Cabinet has also approved a special pack for revival of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Kerala. industries will receive total assistance of Rs 3,434 crore through this pack.  

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Kerala FM terms Centre's financial pack 'disappointing'

After Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday anunced  15 measures of ecomic pack, Kerala's Finance Minister Thomas Issac has termed ecomic pack as disappointing. FM Sitharaman anunced a Rs 3 lakh crore collateral-free automatic loan schemes for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises along with five or major boosters aimed to revive sector most hit with ecomic woes. 

Speaking to a leing news daily, Thomas Issac said that with  world tre going haywire, it appears Centre is trying to create a ''self-reliant India'' and ded that pack will t benefit or help country. He ded that it is disappointing as re is thing for workers in pack anunced.

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(With inputs from ANI)

(Im credits: PTI File photo)