Kerala government's online lottery soon

The Kerala government would shortly start its own online lottery, finance minister K Sankaranarayanan told the Assembly on Wednesday.

The government would invite tenders from private parties for conducting the lottery business, he told the House during the question hour. A revenue of Rs 100 crore (Rs 1 billion) was expected through this venture, he said.

To a supplementary question, he said the government was considering banning the two-digit and instant lottery.

He also said the Kerala government would seek an additional grant from the 12th Finance Commission during its visit to the state on July 16. The present plan outlay of the state was Rs 4,400 crore (Rs 44 billion).

The state would seek the additional grant, citing the reduction in revenue deficit during the last financial year, he said.

Meanwhile, the revenue minister K M Mani said that the state would ask the Centre to write off the debt of farmers.

He said the state government's debt relief measures have benefited many farmers in the state.