Sat Jan 11 15:50:31 UTC 2025: ## Puducherry Cabinet Approves Major Welfare and Revenue Boosting Measures
**Puducherry, January 11, 2025** – The Puducherry Cabinet, in a meeting on Friday, approved several key initiatives aimed at boosting revenue and expanding welfare programs. A significant focus was placed on increasing excise revenue through higher license fees for liquor outlets and the issuance of new permits for retail outlets and bottling units. The government projects an additional ₹500 crore in revenue, which will be channeled into welfare schemes and development projects.
The Cabinet also announced an expansion of the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Financial Assistance Scheme (PKFAS). The scheme, previously limited to students in MBBS, nursing, and engineering courses, will now extend financial aid to students in dental, veterinary, agriculture, law, arts, and science programs. This expansion is expected to increase government expenditure from the current ₹26 crore.
Further, the Cabinet approved the merging of existing Puducherry and central government housing schemes. This will provide ₹5 lakh to underprivileged beneficiaries for constructing homes in the Union Territory. The government also plans to revise the guideline register (GLR) value, potentially returning it to the 2013-14 levels.
Finally, the Cabinet approved the takeover of the Co-operative school in Lingareddipalayam to improve its operations. These measures represent a significant step towards improving both the financial standing and the social welfare programs of Puducherry.
First Piper 