Family budget survey to mitigate the impact of inflation on working-class households

The Labour department will launch a family budget survey in 2025-26 to accurately assess the cost of living of households of agricultural and industrial workers in Kerala. 

Labour Minister V. Sivankutty said the survey will provide a database for revising the State’s consumer price index based on the year-on-year inflation rate. 

The survey would provide the government with an accurate database to timely revise the basic pay of industrial and agricultural workers, ensuring a cost-of-living adjustment to basic wages to mitigate the impact of inflation on working-class people. 

Mr. Sivankutty announced the constitution of a 21-member Consumer Price Index Revision Committee, comprising workers’ representatives, employees, officials, and financial experts, to monitor the upcoming family budget survey. 

The survey would sample 7,920 working-class families in the State. The government has recruited 21 enumerators through the Employment Exchange for the survey. 

The government has trained them in market survey, including enumerating the current price of groceries and provisions. Mr. Sivankutty will inaugurate the programme at the Thycaud PWD Rest House on October 16. Antony Raju, MLA, will preside over the function.