Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrives at the Kerala Assembly on the first day of the Budget session, in Thiruvananthapuram
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Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal on Thursday presented the budget for the financial year 2026-27, announcing allocation of Rs 14,500 crore for social security pensions and hiking honorariums for ASHA and Anganwadi workers.
Presenting the second Pinarayi Vijayan-led government’s sixth budget in the Legislative Assembly, Balagopal announced that the honorarium of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and Anganwadi workers has been hiked by ₹1,000 per month and that of Anganwadi helpers by ₹500.
The pay of pre-primary teachers and literacy mission motivators has been increased by ₹1,000 per month and the daily wages of school cooking staff have been raised by Rs 25 per day, he said.
The budget also announced ₹3,700 crore for the Chief Minister’s Stree Suraksha Scheme.
Published on January 29, 2026
