Kerala’s per capita debt highest in south India
By IANSWednesday, March 3, 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - Kerala leads the south Indian states with a per capita debt of Rs.14,629 in 2007, according to the Economic Review 2009 tabled in the state assembly Thursday.
The figure is significantly higher than the national average of Rs.9,754. Kerala’s per capita debt has been on the rise in the past few years. It was Rs.9,512 in 2003, Rs.11,478 in 2004 and Rs.12,503 in 2005 and Rs.13,588 in 2006.
Andhra Pradesh with a per capita debt of Rs.11,912 follows Kerala. Tamil Nadu has a per capita debt of Rs.9,094 and Karnataka Rs.8,590.
The increase comes at a time when the total public debt of the state according to the 2009-10 budget estimate is Rs.67,180 crore, up from Rs.63,270 crore for 2008-09.
The break-up of the debt of the state for 2009-10 includes an internal debt of Rs.43,882 crore, small savings provident fund Rs.16,414 crore, loans and advances from the central government Rs.7,384 crore.
According to the 2001 Census, Kerala’s population stands at 318.41 lakh which includes 163.72 lakh women and 154.69 lakh men.
–Indo Asian News Service
