Interim budget pro-poor: Mani

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K M Mani on Sunday emphasised that the interim budget which he presented on July 8 was a ‘budget for the poor man’. Mani was speaking after inaugurating the one-year-long platinum jubilee celebrations of the Latin Catholic Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram. Stressing the pro-poor angle of his budget, Mani said that the budget may have its shortcomings, but then, an interim budget offers little space for large-scale manoeuvres.The budget nevertheless contributes to the general aim of inclusive growth targeted by the UDF. “Some people said I ignored the coastal areas. But I have provided Rs 68 crore in my budget than T M Thomas Isaac, a fact that has silenced critics. For farmers, a pension scheme and this budget also promises rice at Rs 1 a kilo to all,” he said. “If there are 30 lotteries, four are meant for the poor,” Mani said, stressing that budget reflected the essence of New Evangelisation, which is based on love for all.The Finance Minister, in fact, was responding to a comment by Archbishop M Soosai Pakiam who spoke before him that the Latin Catholic community of Thiruvananthapuram pinned great hopes on the UDF.‘Charity begins at home’ Drawing attention to the criticism drawn by Mani’s interim budget that it offered ample sops to Kottayam at the expense of other districts, Soosai Pakiam, who presided over the function, said he would not blame Mani.“I, in fact, felt respect for him. He showed the courage to provide for his people. Charity begins at home,” the Archbishop said, adding that Thiruvananthapuram expected much from the UDF Government. Soosai Pakiam urged the Latin Catholic community to effectively utilise its resources for moving ahead.Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal gave away the the Bishop Peter Bernard Pereira Excellence Award to Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust, Thiruvananthapuram director Ananda Kumar and Matsyafed board member P Felix Puthukurichi. Mayor K Chandrika; Chief Information Commissioner, Kerala, Sibi Mathews; Palayam Imam Jamaludeen Mankada; vicar-general Monsignor Eugene Pereira; Archdiocese Pastoral Council vice president Prof S Varghese also spoke.