KERALA finance minister Thomas Isaac presented the budget for 2017-18 in the Assembly on March 5. The budget was a bold attempt to save the state’s economy and to provide maximum relief to the common people facing a crisis created by the central government’s demonetisation move and neo-liberal economic policies. The budget attracted a wide applause from every section of society. The opposition parties have not raised any objection to the budget provisions.The second budget of the LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan draws a road map for comprehensive changes in infrastructure.

AT the call of the Anganwadi Mulajam Union, Punjab CITU, a colourful public rally was held at Sirhand in Fatehgarh Sahib district on March 8. The state office of Anganwadi Mulajam Union, Punjab was inaugurated in Sirhand, a short distance from the capital Chandigarh on March 8, 2017 on the occasion of the International Women's Day. This is the first building owned by any union of anganwadi employees affiliated to All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers (AIFAWH).

GUJARAT Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Union has been on strike since February 21, 2017 against non-provisioning of anything in the state budget on their basic demands. They decided to conclude the strike on March 8 through a massive rally at Ahmedabad.  The BJP government in the state tried all repressive measures to break the strike including preemptive arrests in a big way.

THOUSANDS of farmers participated in Jaipur Kooch (march to Jaipur) on March 2, at the call of the Rajasthan state committee of the All India Kisan Sabha, which is a continuation of sustained ongoing struggle for the last six months against hike in electricity rates and other demands in the state. Groups of the farmers began to arrive at Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium in Jaipur from early morning, which continued till afternoon.

THE Modi government is determined to coerce people to join the Aadhar Unique Identification Number by making all sorts of government schemes and services available to citizens only on the basis of Aadhar. The latest instance is the notification issued by the human resource development ministry making Aadhar compulsory for children to avail the mid-day meal scheme in government schools.