Why is it important to pay for Institutional Quarantine

Kerala is a consumer state, that means, the indirect tax revenues come predominantly from end consumers, or otherwise there are not many high indirect tax revenue generating industries in Kerala. Due to lockdown all indirect tax receipts are postponed as due dates for filing/paying GST has been extended to June 30, that means there is a serious finance issue in our state, everyone knows about this. And also no excise duty from liquor sales.

At the beginning of lockdown, the Government mooted for salary challenge, and they might have planned lockdown activities on such savings, unfortunately the salary challenge has become piece-meal, and has been spread across months. We should also remember, that Kerala State pays major of its budget expense as salary and pension

Combining the two situations above, it can be inferred that, the financial crunch the Government facing right now is severely serious. Again we should also remember, amidst these financial issues, the Kerala State Government has successfully distributed free rations to more than 7 million citizens of the state, and was also in the forefront of testing and treatment, we shouldnt forget our state was the topping the positive cases list for sometime.

The state Government had the policy for free institutional quarantine initially, which was revised yesterday. I fully agree to it. (Salary dates for the month of May are approaching, as it is month end.)

At present state Government is providing free treatment to all positive patients as well as for isolation patients including free testing . The focus of the state at present should only be on treatment and testing, and not diverting attention for free quarantine. The Government should charge only for room, and let the qurantined person pay for the consumbles they use, it can be done through opening kiosks of consumerfed at all qurantine centres and for the food as well, there are 100s of caterers acroas our state who will he able to provide good food at minimum rate the Government fix.

And also to all my brothers and sisters who have utilised free institutional qurantine facilities of the Government, kindly pay a lumpsum amount whatever possible to our CMDRF.

Let us help our state Government fight this war, always remember unless everyone is UNITED, fight against COvid will not be successful !