VOICE & VIEWS
CBS LINE Volume 4(6) Dr. Anoop S Kumar Assistant Professor Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation 1.Kerala has often been praised for its achievements in human development, but concerns regarding rising public debt and fiscal deficits continue to attract attention. How do you assess the sustainability of Kerala’s current fiscal position, and what measures could help maintain fiscal stability without compromising social welfare commitments? Respondent:Kerala’s fiscal stress is best understood as structural rather than accidental. The very model that delivered the state’s human development outcomes , an educated, health-conscious and increasingly ageing population , now generates its own recurring costs, while the revenue base has not expanded at the same pace. Committed expenditure on salaries, pensions and interest absorbs a large share of receipts, leaving limited room for fresh capital spending. The pressures are partly external too, shaped by the te...