THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, March 13: Renewing its commitment to a policy of vigorous economic growth, industrial promotion and decentralisation, the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala today promised legislation for speedy clearance of investors' proposals and an export promotion council to promote rubber-based industries and export of natural rubber, apart from welfare measures for those outside the mainstream of economic growth.Outlining the government's policy for the new year in his customary address to the state assembly, the governor, Sukhdev Singh Kang, announced that to facilitate rapid industrialisation, industrial parks would be set up in 140 assembly constituencies, with 46 of them coming up in the coming year. The government's intention to pay special attention to the industrialisation of the hilly districts of Idukki and Wayanad was also emphasised.
Welfare measures on the anvil include one to enable agricultural labourers among the SC/ST to purchase a minimum of 50 cents of land each so asto become full-fledged cultivators. Special programmes are to be taken up in collaboration with other state governments for providing security of job, health care and financial assistance to women from Kerala employed in other states. Welfare funds for washermen and workers in fisheries-related activities such as curing, peeling, processing and distribution were also outlined by the governor.
It was pointed out that with the Planning Commission agreeing to a ninth plan outlay of Rs 16,100 crore for Kerala, it had become possible for the state government to live up to its commitment to decentralisation by setting apart Rs 6000 crore as grant-in-aid to the local bodies. Consequent on decentralisation the local bodies in the state were now in command of 30-40 per cent of the state's total plan outlay. The state government intended to restructure various development departments so that the staff needed for local bodies could be deployed.
Reaffirming the government's commitment to strengthening the publicdistribution system, the governor said the universal statutory rationing system would be continued. The government's market intervention scheme launched in 1996 would also be continued in order to control the prices of commodities in the open market. Besides raising the number of authorised ration dealers for distribution of pulses, spices and condiments to 3000 from the present 2000, the government would persuade the centre to continue the open market sale of wheat and increase the allocation of food grains to Kerala.
On agriculture, the government's policy would be to strengthen agriculture, marketing and processing in the cooperative sector. Apart from observing a ponmani varsham from March 1998 to highlight the objective of doubling paddy production, a comprehensive scheme for protecting paddy lands envisaging assistance to paddy growers would be implemented.
A ``below poverty line census'' would be undertaken in order to provide the basic data base for implementing poverty alleviation programmesduring the ninth plan.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
