Sweeping welfare boosts ahead of elections

ALL-ENCOMPASSING | Benefits extend to almost every socio-economic groups that are important from the election point of view

- HD Bureau

The state government announced a large-scale welfare package targeting pensioners, women, youth, government staff and frontline workers.At a press conference held after resolving the PM SHRI crisis Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presented the far-reaching social measures, which observers interpreted as an attempt to lessen the embarrassment over the setback from the CPI snub. The measures are designed to strengthen support across the state's socioeconomic groups.

The sops were originally meant to be announced in the special assembly session convened on November 1, but the circumstances seemed to have prompted an early announcement.