THE newly-sworn-in UDF Government in Keralam 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 V D 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.