Takeaways from Kerala Budget 2025

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The budget speech was held on 7th February by the Financial Minister of Kerala K N Balagopal in the Kerala Legislative Assembly. The Economic Review report was presented in the Assembly on February 7, 2023. This is Mr Balagopal’s fifth Budget after taking over as Kerala’s Finance Minister. Budget National Budget Article  Major Announcements from the Budget Speech  GSDP rate- 2024-25 -  11.77%  GSDP- ₹ 13,11,437 crore Public Debt- ₹40,848.21 crore Revenue Deficit- 2.1% ₹750 Crore for Wayanad Relief Package Expected  growth rate Local Self-Government-  ₹ 15,980.41 crore  LSG General Purpose-  ₹ 2,577 crore Kerala Climate Resilient Agri Value Chain Modernisation Project:  ₹ 2,365 crore Removal of river sand from the Bharatapuzha, Chaliyar, and Kadalundi rivers will be resumed Six-lane highway construction to be completed by December 31, 2025 Pilgrimage tourism in Kozhenchery-  ₹ 3 crore Sabarimala Master Plan-  ₹ 1033.62crore KSEB...
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Afghanistan, Taliban, the US and some questions to ponder

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 Everything happened in less than a week. It was unfortunate!

Afghanistan is a Religious Conservative country, the support for the Taliban and hatred for the US is overwhelming in Rural areas especially among the Pashtuns. That's why the Taliban took the country sooner than expected. Most regions saw grant welcome from the locals. Both these locals and the Taliban reject democracy. The situation in cities is exactly the opposite, they want to oust the Taliban and want a free society. They're angry with the local govt as they abandoned them. 
Both have a feeling that the local govt was a US puppet. 


US withdrawal
  • The US wanted to take revenge against Al Qaeda for 9/11 (Accomplished). 
  • It already killed Osama Bin Laden.
  • Gave moral and financial support to local government. 
  • Trained and funded the Afghan military, modernised it. 
  • Tried to install a democratically elected govt despite not everyone in the country accepted it.
  • Believes that Nation-building of Afghanistan and taking decisions on behalf of its people was never on the table. 
Afghanistan military vs Taliban 
  • 300,000 vs 80,000
  • Modern army vs Archaic terrorist militia
  • Trained and fully funded by the US vs Was hiding in the mountains (Past two decades)
  • Has airforce vs No air power

Then why did the military fall so low in less than a week. Where did all the US funds and weapons go? Where is the might and willpower of the military in protecting its people?

Questions to Ponder
  • What else could the US have done?
  • Should the US continue to stay here sine die?
  • How many US lives are needed for this failed mission? 
  • If not the US, then who?
  • Who gave the US the first right to do everything? 
  • Why didn't other countries step up?
  • Why should the US fight for a war which even the govt and Afghan forces should themselves don't want? (- Pres. Biden )
Lessons and Implications
  • Democracy imposed by force is bound to fail. It takes time and effort. Democracy is built by institutions that balance power. 
  • The importance of liberalism is more important than ever. 
  • Importance of education, democracy, political awareness and human rights.
  • West lost its balance in understanding the East is different.
  • Failure of US and NATO intelligence in understanding the onground situation.
  • Overstatement and overestimation of the ability of the Afghanistan Military.
  • Even the local government and military showed a lack of coordination and lack of enthusiasm. in fighting the terrorists and protecting its people.
  • China and Russia will have a bigger share of the pie. 
  • Puts more pressure on India and democratic countries in the region.
  • The condition of Journalists and officials on the ground will be in danger. 
  • What can the International Community do in this regard needs to be thought of. 
  • Failing to understand the history, politics and geography of Afghanistan. 
Here is a book that you can check on amazon and buy if you are more interested in the topic. Just click on the same to get redirected to the same. 



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Comments

  1. Unknown23 September 2021 at 19:47

    reading this felt like watching a season of homeland

    ReplyDelete

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