Volume 10 Issue 07 June 2021 `50
June PINARAYI 05 VIJAYAN 2.0 with a Path Breaking
Young Face WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
he world is relieving itself from the clutches of the Covid19 pandemic. The widespread hue and cry caused by the Coronavirus are diminishing in India as well. Countries have shown a significant Tdecline in coronavirus infection rates in recent weeks. As for Kerala, it was another historic moment when the LDF government led by Pinarayi Vijayan was elected for a consecutive term in the 2021 legislative assembly polls. With plans to raise Kerala to First-world standards, the cabinet had freshers handling important portfolios. Indicating the success of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, the state of Kerala has retained the top position on the index of India’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for 2020-21. The Index for SDG evaluates the progress of states and union territories on social, economic and environmental parameters. Reeling under the strain of the pandemic, there is a huge requirement for the revival of the State’s economy and the new government is looked upon for innovative strategies for the same. Elected from Beypore, PA Mohammed Riyas is the Minister of Tourism in the newly-elected Left Democratic Front (LDF) 2.0 government in Kerala. With signs of the second wave of Covid-19 subsiding, the new government is charting measures to revive its vital tourism sector and offer tourists a wide variety of safe experiences, which will give the local economy a much-needed economic shot in the arm. The new government is expected to roll out packages that encourage domestic travellers to visit key destinations in Foreword the state. Steps, including decentralisation of destination development, to offset revenue loss caused by the decline in international tourist arrivals are on the cards. An array of tourism promotion schemes to raise domestic and foreign tourists is being initiated by the new government. It is expected that the new government will embrace measures that help boost the economic, environmental and social aspects of our well-being and take the state forward. SIJI NAIR Managing Editor & Director
June 2021 3 Contents Volume 10 - Issue 07 - March 2021
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Publisher Hari Shanker Managing Editor & Siji Nair Pinarayi Vijayan 2.0: Director [email protected] 06 with a Path Breaking Executive Director Prasad M. Young Face Executive Editor N. Vijayagopalan Council of Ministers Editor V. Viswanath 10 Editorial Assistant Ampili Nair Kerala to roll out packages Sub Editor P.J. Sam Alex 18 promoting domestic tourism Project Head Raj Nijith Business Development Ratheesh Kumar Kerala government is Manager 20 committed to far-reaching Asst Manager-Sales & Jayaprakash R. P. growth Marketing Digital Marketing Preethi J. L. KSIDC: Officer 60 A One Stop Source for Design Kiran Mohan Investors Manager- Administration Sabu C.N. Published, Edited and Printed by Hari Shanker A.G. and Owned by Haritha Media Pvt Ltd and Printed by him at Manager-Accounts Sindhu R. SB Press Private Limited, Statue, Trivandrum 695 001 and Published from Tharangam, Kodunganoor Post, Trivandrum 695 013 Corporate Office:- Metro Mart is a monthly journal published from Trivandrum, Views and opinions expressed in the journal Metro Mart, MERA 44, Eanthivila Lane, are not necessarily those of the Publishers. Murinjapalam, Medical College P.O. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695 011 Metro Mart reserves the right to use the information published here in any manner whatsoever. While every Tel: 0471 4015593 effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the M: 0091 9995139933 / 9947733339 information published in this edition, neither the Publisher email: [email protected] nor any of its employees accept any responsibilities for any errors or omissions.
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4 June 2021
SPECIAL FEATURE
6 June 2021 PINARAYI VIJAYAN 2.0 with a Path Breaking Young Face
he recently concluded Kerala Assembly polls saw the CPI(M)-led LDF government retaining Tpower in the State by winning 99 seats against 41 seats of Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) out of the total 140 seats. BJP could not win any seat. The victory of LDF is a departure from Kerala's political tradition in which the State alternates between LDF and UDF in successive terms. During the tough days of floods, cyclone and pandemic, Pinarayi Vijayan unwaveringly led the state forward and the re-election of LDF stood out as a testimony to his leadership skills. The new Council of Ministers comprising 21 Ministers was sworn in on May 20th at a low key function at Central Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. Except for Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and a few others, all ministers of the new cabinet are fresh faces. The new cabinet is indeed a blend of youngsters and veterans. By choosing 17 new faces in the 21 member Council of Ministers the
June 2021 7 Chief Minister has sent a strong signal has been constituted to suggest that the party stands for change and recommendations towards this. for young blood in administration. The Chief Minister said right to The first cabinet meeting of the housing is also a focus area of Pinarayi Vijayan government, held just the government and the last LDF a couple of hours after being sworn government had initiated several drew its roadmap for the next five processes in this regard. However, years with a focus on various promises on the other side, several people made in the LDF manifesto. are facing attachment of properties and losing their shelters. He said With the halo of returning to that it has been decided to enact a power for a historic second term, stringent legislation to prevent the the government seemed to set its loss of accommodation through sights on the distant horizon than foreclosure proceedings and a the immediate future, with the Chief committee headed by additional Minister announcing at the press chief secretary (finance) has been conference soon after the cabinet constituted to submit a report on meet that Kerala would catch up with this before July15. the developed First World in 25 years. Pinarayi Vijayan said that for The cabinet meeting noted that women, a 'Smart Kitchen' concept poverty alleviation will be a key for housewives will be promoted to objective of the new government. lessen their burden of household It decided to conduct a survey in work and a chief secretary- level the state to determine the distress committee will frame guidelines for factors and submit suggestions for the project. The Kerala Development mitigation. The Chief Minister said and Innovation Strategic Council in the press meet that the aim of the (K-DISC) has been entrusted to new government is to bring those frame guidelines for providing living in poverty above the below jobs to 20 lakh youths in the state. poverty line and that this will be The report in this regard will be achieved in the next five years, adding submitted before July15. that a secretary-level committee
8 June 2021 The government is of the view that that people reposed faith in LDF all its services are people's rights. and brought it back to power. It will undertake a massive exercise The government is committed to to make all its services available fulfilling their hopes and desires, online so that people can access the Chief Minister asserted. He them from their homes. A project announced that a single window in this regard will be commissioned system will be brought in the state on October 2, the Chief Minister to solve the various complaints said. He further said that all the related to the launch of industries 900 promises made in the LDF in the state. manifesto will be fulfilled within The State’s debt level is expected to five years. He pointed out that the rise due to increased expenditure last government had fulfilled 550 of for combating Covid-19 and there the total 600 promises it gave and might be a further decline in it was owing to this performance income by March 2022.
June 2021 9 Council of Ministers
Pinarayi Vijayan
General Administration, All India Services, Planning and Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment, Pollution Control, Scientific Institutes, Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Election, Integration, Information Technology, Sainik Welfare, Distress Relief, State Hospitality, Airports, Metro Rail, Inter - State River Waters, Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation, Kerala State Inland Navigation Corporation, Information and Public Relations, Non- Resident Keralites’ Affairs, Home, Vigilance, Administration of Civil Phone Number and Criminal Justice, Fire and Rescue Services, 0471-233241, 0471-2333812 Prisons, Printing and Stationery, Welfare 0471-2333682, 9447565656 of Minorities, All important policy matters, Subjects not mentioned elsewhere K Rajan
Minister for Land Revenue, Survey and Land Records, Land Reforms and Housing Phone Number 0471-2327068, 9400006300
Roshy Augustine
Minister for Irrigation, Command Area Development Authority, Ground Water Department, Water Supply and Sanitation Phone Number 0471-2333487, 0471-2337855, 9400099333
10 June 2021 Team Pinarayi Vijayan 2.0
K Krishnankutty
Minister for Electricity and ANEWRT
Phone Number 0471-232756, 9400055333
A K Saseendran
Minister for Forest & Wild Life
Phone Number 0471-2327561, 9495969787
Ahamed Devarkovil
Minister for Ports, Museums, Archaeology and Archives
Phone Number 9400552200
June 2021 11 Council of Ministers
Antony Raju
Minister for Road Transport, Motor Vehicles and Water Transport
Phone Number 0471-2326772, 9400088111
V Abdurahiman
Minister for Sports, Wakf and Haj Pilgrimage, Posts & Telegraphs and Railways
Phone Number 0471-2333526, 9400005600
G R Anil
Minister for Food & Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology
Phone Number 0471-233371, 9400662244
12 June 2021 Team Pinarayi Vijayan 2.0
K N Balagopal
Minister for Finance, National Savings, Stores Purchase, Commercial Taxes, Agricultural Income Tax, Treasuries, Lotteries, State Audit, Kerala State Financial Enterprises, State Insurance, Kerala Financial Corp and Stamps and Stamp Duties. Phone Number 0471-2333294, 0471-2333254, 9400887700
R Bindu
Minister for Collegiate & Technical Education, Universities, Entrance Examinations, National Cadet Corps, Additional Skill Acquisition Programme and Social Justice Phone Number 0471-2327574
J Chinchu Rani
Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Milk Co-operatives Zoos, Kerala Veterinary & Animal Sciences University Phone Number 0471-2335366, 9400008700
June 2021 13 Council of Ministers
M V Govindan
Minister for Excise, Local Self-Governments, Rural Development, Town Planning, Regional Development Authorities and KILA Phone Number 0471-2332700, 9400099111
P A Muhammad Riyas
Minister for Public Works Department and Tourism
Phone Number 0471-2333960, 9400055111
P Prasad
Minister for Agriculture, Soil Survey & Soil Conservation, Kerala Agriculture University and Warehousing Corporation Phone Number 0471-2333091, 9400553344
14 June 2021 Team Pinarayi Vijayan 2.0
K Radhakrishnan
Minister for Devaswom, Welfare of Backward Communities and Parliamentary Affairs
Phone Number 0471-2333849, 9400099555
P Rajeev
Minister for Law, Industries & Commerce, Mining & Geology, Handlooms & Textiles, Khadi & Village Industries, Coir, Cashew Industry and Plantation Directorate. Phone Number 0471-2336866, 9400077333
Saji Cheriyan
Minister for Fisheries, Youth Affairs, Culture, Harbour Engineering, Fisheries University and Cinema
Phone Number 0471-2327796, 9400003800
June 2021 15 Council of Ministers
V Sivankutty
Minister for Education, Labour, Literacy Movement, Employment and Training, Skills, Rehabilitation, Factories and Boilers, Insurance Medical Service, Industrial Tribunals and Labour Courts Phone Number 0471-2327560, 9400009100
V N Vasavan
Minister for Co-operation and Registration
Phone Number 0471-2333833, 9400008300
Veena George
Minister for Health, Family Welfare, Medical Education, Medical University, Indigenous Medicine, AYUSH, Drugs Control and Woman & Child Welfare Phone Number 0471-2337882, 9400066111
16 June 2021 Other Key Team Functionaries Pinarayi Vijayan 2.0
M B Rajesh
Speaker
Chittayam Gopakumar
Deputy Speaker
N Jarayaj
Chief Whip
June 2021 17 KERALA TO ROLL OUT PACKAGES PROMOTING DOMESTIC TOURISM
ith signs of the second tourist sector and will explore the wave of Covid-19 possibilities to train them for jobs in subsiding, Kerala is tune with world tourism standards. charting measures Today’s meeting between the Wto revive its vital tourism sector by Department of Tourism and senior rolling out packages that encourage functionaries of allied institutions domestic travellers to visit the entrusted top officials to come destinations in the state. up with drafts of projects that can A high-level meeting presided by reinvigorate the tourism sector Tourism Minister Adv Mohamed Riyas which has been in the doldrums today decided to finalize projects and owing to the pandemic. The implement them at the earliest so as proposed initiatives will start by to inspire confidence in travellers and the second week of June, by when woo them to a whole range of places authorities are hopeful of a slide across Kerala. in the graph of the present second wave of Covid-19. The initiative, which is being carried out considering that the pandemic The department has conceived will take time for authorities to strategies to hard-sell Kerala promote international tourists seeks Tourism as a formidable brand to complete select tourism projects by extending novel packages to in the districts on a time-bound basis. potential beneficiaries. Authorities Kerala Tourism will work in close are also aiming at long-term association with allied departments projects of overarching nature that by initiating sustained dialogues with can redefine the state’s tourism face. all parties. One among In a month, the various approval/ them will be classification schemes under Ease renewed of Doing Business will go online. stress in Authorities will draft new Covid-19 protocols for tourists arriving from other states. This will be done after Tourism officials hold talks with their counterparts in the Ministry of Health. The government will administer anti-Covid vaccine to deserving workers in the
18 June 2021 Adv Mohamed Riyas Minister for Public Works Department and Tourism
Responsible Tourism (RT) that will another area of focus, authorities take care of ecological conservation said, according to importance to while playing host to travellers. The better ancillary facilities for rising in measures under RT will also ensure tourist footfalls. that the local population benefits The less explored Malabar will be a from tourism even as the region’s region of special focus, according traditional lifestyle and culture find to the meeting that was attended highlight. The Department of Tourism by Tourism Principal Secretary Smt will work in association with local Rani George and Kerala Tourism administration bodies so as to initiate Director Sri V R Krishna Teja besides projects that can empower common top officials of Kerala Tourism people. Development Corporation, Eco- Kerala Tourism aims to coordinate the Tourism, Kerala State Tourism functions of the allied departments Infrastructure Limited, Muziris so as to develop a tourism circuit. Heritage Project, Adventure Tourism Infrastructure will be accorded Promotion Society, RT Mission, State renewed prominence, with a focus on Institute of Hotel Management, and the building of efficient roadways. To Kerala Institute of Travel & Tourism make sites free from pollution will be Studies, among other allied bodies.
June 2021 19 KERALA GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO FAR-REACHING GROWTH
20 June 2021 erala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan received a Kceremonial guard of honour and red carpet welcome as he arrived to deliver the policy address at the inaugural session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Speaker M.B. Rajesh and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs K. Radhakrishnan welcomed him. Here are the highlights from his address
June 2021 21 22 June 2021 1. It is my honour and privilege make the promises made in the to address this august body of election manifesto a reality. My representatives of the people of Government believes that pledges Kerala, marking the beginning of made to the people are to be the 1st session of the 15th Kerala redeemed continuously and are not Legislative Assembly. Before ones merely to be reiterated at five- proceeding to elaborate on the year intervals. My Government has current situation and the policies of begun its functioning by initiating my Government, let me state that my steps to implement key promises Government has come into office by made in the election manifesto. winning a renewed mandate from the I state with satisfaction that my people of Kerala. My Government will Government remains committed to continue to implement the welfare the promises made to the people. and development programmes of 4. We meet today as the spectre the previous Government and is of the COVID-19 pandemic is committed to lead the State towards still haunting countries across far reaching growth in all sectors of the world. Kerala too has been the economy benefitting all sections affected badly, but we have been of the society. The fruits of economic able to contain the case fatality growth shall bypass none. There rate. This has been made possible shall not be a divide in the society by effective and co-ordinated with some of its sections being functioning of the Departments marginalised. There shall be no divide concerned. The Health, Police, on the digital front either. The policies Disaster Management, Local Self and programmes of my Government Government, Revenue were in the will always have these goals built into lead. The people’s participation them. within the framework of 2. My Government has unflinching empowered Local Self Governments faith in democracy, secularism deserves special mention. The and welfare of the people. My administrative machinery has been Government is committed to protect working much beyond their normal the unity and integrity of the nation, call of duty. while recognising the spirit of unity 5. In the face of this unprecedented in diversity. Our strength is the challenge, a counter-cyclical underlying cord of unity in spite of fiscal policy to stimulate the linguistic, religious and ideological economy has been initiated lest differences. To strengthen this the economic slowdown should unity, we need to strive to eradicate become steeper. My Government the inequalities based on gender, is trying its level best to provide socio-economic status and physical care to the vulnerable sections disabilities. of the society. My Government 3. My Government is committed to believes that it is its first duty to
June 2021 23 foster the feeling that getting care guarantee programme. is the right of everyone and not a 5.8. Rs.14,000 crore was set aside favour or privilege. In the initial days to clear all the arrear payments of the first wave of the pandemic, by my Government till April my Government came out with a 2020, including pension, welfare comprehensive COVID-19 relief assistance to informal sector package to the tune of Rs. 20,000 workers, deferred bill payments of crore aimed at benefitting almost contractors, and scholarships for every section of the society. As part of students. this package:5.1. Payment of welfare pensions were made up-to-date 5.9. Deferment in payment of benefitting 47.2 lakh beneficiaries. various utility charges including electricity bills and water charges. 5.2. Rs. 150 crore was set aside for payment of one time relief of Rs. 6. In the current second wave of 1,000 per family for 14.7 lakh BPL the pandemic which is now raging households, which are not getting in Kerala, my Government has welfare pensions. announced Rs. 1,000/-as ex-gratia payments to all the 14.7 lakh BPL 5.3. Rs. 100 crore was set aside for families who are not in receipt providing free food grains to families of any other welfare pensions. in need, while Rs. 50 crore was set Other beneficial measures like aside for provision of subsidised meal distribution of kits of essential at Rs. 20/-through Janakeeyahotels articles and prompt payment of 5.4. Universal distribution of free social security and welfare board kits containing essential articles at pensions have also been initiated. a monthly cost of Rs. 400 crore was My Government has clearly stated done for around 90 lakh families in that it will provide preventive the State. My Government is of the vaccination against Covid-19 free view that the trauma of COVID-19 has of cost to all. This is essential for affected people irrespective of their building herd immunity against the economic status. Hence, the decision pandemic. My Government is of the to make this benefit not a targeted considered opinion that preventive one, at least initially. vaccine against COVID-19 shall be treated as a Public Good, the 5.5. Rs. 1,000 crore was set aside for a access to which shall be non- comprehensive health package, focus rivalled and non-excludible. Due of which was to improve public health to the policy of differential pricing infrastructure and toequip the State to of vaccines, the additional cost to face the pandemic. the State exchequer will be at least 5.6. Loans worth Rs. 2,000 crore Rs. 1,000 crore. Despite the fiscal were distributed through the constraints, my Government has KudumbashreeMission to women Self stepped forward to meet these Help Groups (SHGs). freshcommitments by floating a global tender for the procurement 5.7. Rs. 2,000 crore was set aside for of three crore doses of COVID-19 the expansion of the employment vaccines as well as by placing
24 June 2021 orders with domestic manufacturers Goals approach by imbibing its for one crore doses. It is pertinent essence and carving out a unique to mention that many including mission called ‘Aardram Mission’. those who are not from the well- It focuses mainly on strengthening to-do sections of the society have primary health care by invigorating come forward to donate substantial Primary Health Centres with more amounts to Chief Minister’s Distress human resources and transforming Relief Fund (CMDRF) for enabling them into Family Health Centres my Government to meet the cost of with more functional elements such procurement of vaccine. Here, the as enhanced field-level activities undaunted willpower of the people of engaging local communities. Kerala is on display again. 10. Even though over 22 lakh 7. In the health sector, the quick COVID-19 cases have been expansion of institutional capacity confirmed in Kerala till date, we by addition of ICU beds, ventilators could limit the mortality to 6,612. and enhanced oxygen supply was In the early phase of the pandemic, bolstered through the setting up of the scrupulous tracing and isolation field hospitals as COVID First Line and of persons coming into contact with Second Line Treatment Centres to infected individuals was ensured, cater to patients in a graded manner. thereby preventing the spread of The creation of this surge capacity the virus within the community. has enabled Kerala to divert some This public health strategy, of the pressure on its core hospital perfected through the effective facilities and thus ensure that some containment of the Nipah virus, was of the distressing scenes witnessed supplemented with the immensely elsewhere are avoided in Kerala. This successful ‘Break the Chain’ is combined with free treatment for campaign that urged the people COVID-19 in Government hospitals to partner in these efforts through across the State and cashless self-protection, hygiene, and social treatment coverage for 42 lakh poor distancing. As the pandemic then families under the Karunya Arogya progressed, public messaging was Suraksha Pathadhi in 584 private continuously modified to evolve hospitals in the State. with it, leading to other successful campaigns such as ‘Back to Basics’ 8. The strength and ability of Kerala’s and the recent ‘Crushthe Curve.’ health systems to withstand the unprecedented challenge posed by 11. The District administrations the COVID-19 pandemic are derived and the Local Self Governments from the decentralised people-centric of Kerala, both rural and urban, systems-building approach. This have played a critical role in the has comein for mention as a model management of the first wave of worthy of emulation in publications the COVID-19 pandemic as well as of institutions like the Reserve Bank its second surge. The Ward Level of India. Committees in all the Local Self Governments across the State, with 9. The State of Kerala also aligned the participation of community itself to the Sustainable Development volunteers, are taking a lead role in
June 2021 25 co-ordinating the field level activities Commission, the State’s GSDP is including surveillance, managing the expected to grow at 13.1 percent COVID First Line Treatment Centres in the five-year period of 2021-26. (CFLTCs),the Domiciliary Care Centres Our State has been placed in the (DCCs), and supporting people in category of highest growing States. home isolation. They also ensure that We need to achieve this projected regular supply of food and medicines growth rate to meet the emerging are made available to the households challenges. But this task has been in need. Local Self Governments are made harder by the unprecedented also running community kitchens with challenges consequent to the the aim to ensure foodsecurity and pandemic. prevent starvation. Janakeeyahotels 14. We achieved high levels of to provide meals at affordable plan and social sector spending, rates are also being run with including on health, in the last Kudumbashreetaking the lead role. financial year through higher 12. The last year was an extremely levels of borrowing which has diffcult one for the State’s economy pushed our debt to GSDP ratio and the society. It is estimated that to over 36 percent. Consequent our Gross State Domestic Product to the strident demand of the (GSDP) would decline by about 3.82 States including Kerala, the percent in 2020-21. We expected Union Government relented to a sharp recovery in the economic raise the annual borrowing limit growth to 6.60 per cent in 2021-22. from 3 to 5 percent of the GSDP. But the second wave of the COVID-19 However, only 0.5 percent of pandemic can be an impediment to this additional borrowing limit this expectation. The downturn in was unconditional. Though my the growth of GSDP would naturally Government has its considered have its adverse consequences on opinion on the imposition of the State’s revenue receipts. It has conditionalities in this as they run already witnessed a decline of 18.77 counter to the basic principles percentage in 2020-21 as against the of co-operative federalism, we original budget estimate. Though agreed to implement the reforms we expected a sharp rise of 37.87 suggested, in a manner, which did percent growth in revenue receipts not adversely affect the citizens. It in 2021-22, the consequences of is noteworthy that we have been lockdown necessitated by a surge in successful in getting the entire COVID-19 cases, is likely to constrain 1.5 percent additional borrowing this. Coupled with the additional limit based on conditionalities expenditure commitments, the State relating to the power sector, public finances is likely to witness higher distribution system (“one nation revenue deficit as well as fiscal deficit. -one ration card”), “Ease of doing Once we achieve a higher growth rate, business” and urban sector. we can grow out of the deficits and 15. Despite financial constraints, debt. my Government also implemented 13. I would like to point out that as the five-year pay revision for per the estimates of the 15th Finance Government employees as per
26 June 2021 our commitment. My Government high level of human development is committed to travel along the indicators with a low percapita path of fiscal consolidation. But income. This was made possible by the resurgence of the COVID-19 public intervention in social sectors pandemic and the consequent scissor sustained by the community based effect, that is, falling revenues and rise mass movements. This helped our in expenditure commitments, might people to migrate within the country constrain us to press the pause button and abroad and send a part of their on deficit targets. earnings as remittances to the State. This catalysed the growth of our 16. My Government remains percapita incomes. Presently, our committed to ensure that the State percapita GSDP is 60 percent higher continues on a path of growth with than the national average. equity, that has brought it to the first position in the NITI Aayog's Index on 18. As already mentioned, Kerala not the Sustainable Development Goals only ranks first in the Sustainable (SDGs), among all Indian States. My Development Goals (SDG) India Government hopes to restructure and Index of the NITI Aayog for 2019, transform the State into aknowledge it also tops the Devolution Index economy. The budget presented on across all the States with regard 15thJanuary 2021 highlighted this to devolution of Funds, Functions model and focused on providing and Functionaries to Local Self higher employment opportunities Governments. However, Kerala’s for the educated unemployed in the development experience faces two State through various new schemes key challenges which cannot be lost including a digital platform through sight of. Kerala’s capitalexpenditure K-DISC to ensure jobs for at least 20 in the areas of social and physical lakh people over a five-year period. infrastructure needs to be augmented The Budget had also proposed and more quality jobs need to be higher levels of investment in Higher created for our youth and those Education, in the digital economy and who faced career break. It is to in setting up Centres of Excellence meet these twin challenges that my in higher education in the State. It Government created a dedicated and focused on facilitating 2,500 startups, unique investment agency named setting up of an innovation fund Kerala Infrastructure Investment for the Local Self Governments and Fund Board (KIIFB), for ensuring providing higher levels of assistance adequate investment in both social to major Universities for building and physical infrastructural sectors. their infrastructure, higher levels of This has also been supplemented by investment in the digital economy attracting support from multilateral including completion of the K-Fone and bilateral donors for the Rebuild project and distribution of laptops Kerala Initiative (RKI) to create climate to students. These initiatives will resilient transform the Kerala’s economy. infrastructure in the State. Our 17. Kerala’s development experience budget has manifold schemes for has unique characteristics that make tackling the second major challenge, it distinct. In the past, we achieved a of providing employment.
June 2021 27 19. I now turn to the details of 25. New nursery law will be enacted the Schemes and Programs of the to ensure the quality of planting different Departments, their notable materials supplied to farmers. achievements and their plans for the 26. The base price of the crops future. included in the base price Agriculture Develop- programme will be enhanced every year and more crops will be ment and Farmers’ included in the programme. Welfare Department 27. For improving and creating 20. All Krishi Bhavans in the State will awareness among the public be converted to Smart Krishi Bhavans. about public health new ‘Nutrition Garden’ will be established. 21. Research findings of Scientists from the Kerala Agricultural University and 28. For enhancing the paddy allied sector institutions will be fully cultivation, block level monitoring utilized for increasing the production committee will be formed. potential of crops in the State. 29. New Block level call centres will 22. My Government is committed to be established. raise farmers’ incomes by 50 percent 30. Opportunity of urban farming in the next five years. Value addition will be explored. will be strengthened for this purpose by agro-processing and marketing, Animal Husbandry and establishing new small scale food processing industries and agro-parks. and Dairy Develop- 23. The production of vegetables in ment Department Kerala will be increased to attain self- 31. As part of the comprehensive sufficiency in vegetables during the reorganisation of Animal next five years. Husbandry Department in a farmer friendly manner, round the clock 24. The production of planting veterinary services will be extended materials will be doubled during the to all the 77 Taluks. next five years and the availability and distribution to farmers will be done 32. A new Centre of Excellence through online portal. in Goat will be made functional
28 June 2021 at Parassala in Thiruvananthapuram have been covered under the District under the National Livestock Ayurvedic Prevention Strategy Mission. as on 20thMay 2021. Bheshajam, the Ayurvedic Management 33. To ensure optimum milk Programme for Category A production and reproductive capacity, COVID-19 patients has reached the calf rearing scheme will be out to about 1,57,000 COVID-19 expanded in scope and coverage. positive patients, while Punarjani, 34. The employment opportunity the Ayurvedic Convalescent Care in animal husbandry and dairy Programme for post-COVID sectors will be increased by 50 patients covered around 1,53,000 percent by providing assistance to people as on 20thMay 2021. In farmers through Animal Resource the current second wave of the Development Scheme. Value addition COVID-19 pandemic, the Ayush to make milk-based products will be Department has workedout a focused upon. detailed plan to expand the scope and reach of the Ayurvedic and 35. Ambulances will be provided in Homoeopathic prevention strategy. all 152 Block Panchayats for doorstep veterinary services to farmers. 38. The proposed International Research Institute for Ayurveda 36. Kerala State Dairy Management at Kannur, once established, will Information Centre will be facilitate the scientific validation established as a repository for and systematic documentation of accessing information and data by all Ayurvedic therapies. stakeholders. Ayush Department Backward Commu- 37. Through 1,206 specialised Ayur- nities Development Raksha clinics under the Departments Department of Indian Systems of Medicine 39. My Government is committed and Ayurveda Medical Education, to fiscally empower the Backward Ayurvedic preventive medicines were Classes Development Corporation. distributed to quarantined people, My Government has given those at high risk and senior citizens. additional guarantee for an amount The data compiled by the Department of Rs. 300 crore to the Corporation. shows that more than 23 lakh people The issues facedby the converted Christians will also be addressed in adequate measure. Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation Department 40. The main arterial waterway of the State is the West Coast Canal (WCC), which connects Kovalam
June 2021 29 in the South to Bakel in the North existence on 29thNovember 2020. extending to a length of 616 KM. The My Government made an equity development of West Coast Canal and infusion of Rs. 400 crore in the the proposed new canal formation are Kerala Bank. The Bank will be able envisaged in three stages. Improving to provide all modern banking the basic amenities and enhancing facilities such as Internet Banking, the standards of the State Waterways Mobile Banking, IMPS, RTGS/ commensurate with the standards of NEFT, ATM, Wallet/ UPI services National Waterways and improving to Member societies and the the cargo movement by facilitating general public at affordable rate. up to 500 tonnes are the targets Core Banking Solution (CBS) will envisaged in the third stage by the be introduced among all Primary end of 2025. Agricultural Co-operative Societies (PACS) in the State. Co-Operation Depart- 47. Co-operative Markets will start ment functioning in all Districts in the 41. The recent policies of the Central year 2021-22. An e-marketing Government have been retrogressive platform under COOP MART as far as the co-operative sector is Scheme will be developed and concerned. However, my Government made operational. The Scheduled will continue its efforts to strengthen Castes/Scheduled Tribes co-operative sector. Development Co-operativesof the State will be revamped 42. Twentyfive co-operative societies under PunarjaniScheme out will be formed in the State for young of assistance under State Plan entrepreneurs and service providers to Funds for ensuring employment attract more youth to cooperation. opportunities to the Scheduled 43. A paddy co-operative society with Castes/Scheduled Tribes Statewide jurisdiction will be formed population. PAPCOS, the modern and two modern rice mills in the rice mill at Palakkad, under the model of Palakkad rice mill will be co-operative sector, implemented established. with the consultancy support of NABARD will start commercial 44. A society for artists-musicians, production during this financial performing artists, dramatists etc. year. will be formed in the model of Sahithya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Devaswom Depart- Sangham(SPCS). ment 45. The integrated software for the 48. My Government is Kerala Bank will be putin place during implementing the Sabarimala this year and State will continue its IdathavalamProject with the efforts to include Malappuram District assistance of KIIFB to provide also in the service network of Kerala better facilities for Sabarimala Bank. pilgrims to meet their primary requirements of rest and comfort. 46. The Kerala Bank came into
30 June 2021 Culture Department launched an internet radio service called ‘Radio Malayalam’, which is a notable achievement. 53. During this Financial Year 2021- 22, a Kerala Culture Museum will be setup to showcase the unique culture of Kerala. The proposed museum will throw light on Kerala’s past ethnic and community life. 54. Local cultural centres would be 49. In order to extend livelihood setup as Cultural Activity Hubs to support to the Kerala traditional create a venue for the local artists and rural craftsmen, and to create and promote literary discourses. stable market avenues for them, a The Rural Art Hub Scheme would new project called the Rural Art Hub be extended as Rural Art and Craft Scheme is being implemented in 14 Hubs to include more art and craft heritage art /craft villages in the State. villages. Around two thousand craftsmen are targeted to receive benefits under the 55. In the wake of the second Scheme. wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, an online cultural festival will be 50. A financial assistance to the tune organised to create a platform for of Rs. 10.25 crore has been disbursed the performance of the artists and to around 66,000 artists and cultural extend support to them. activists as COVID assistance during the first wave of the pandemic in Electronics and Infor- 2020. mation Technology 51. Construction of 14 major cultural Department complexes in the name of Kerala’s Renaissance leaders, one each in 56. The focus of Kerala State IT every district, is a landmark project Mission (KSITM) in 2021-22 will undertaken under the Cultural Affairs be to upgrade the Data Centres Department. forming the backbone of the IT infrastructure, setting up of an 52. The Malayalam Mission was able Aadhaar Data Vault, Unified State to setup Chapters in 32 Foreign Portal, Centre of Excellence for Data Countries and 22 Indian States. It Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
June 2021 31 and Implementation of Single Sign 1,100 employment opportunities in On. a semi urban location. 57. Currently 2,000 public Wi-Fi 59. Infrastructure buildup of the hotspots have been set up in the Projects viz. Technology Innovation State to provide free Internet in public Zone (TIZ), Kalamassery and Village places; this will be expanded. K-FON Knowledge Centre, Kannur will project with a vision to ensure lastmile be commissioned by the Kerala connectivity to Government offices in State IT Infrastructure Limited. the State and to provide free high- Kalamassery will become the speed internet to the poor families will biggest hardware ecosystem in the be expanded. State Service Delivery country with the launching ofTIZ. Gateway(SSDG) portal and m-keralam 60. The Kerala Startup Mission app will bring e-Governance facilities executes major Programs such as to the common people. Electronic ‘Youth Entrepreneurship Program’ file processing system will be and ‘Technology Innovation implemented in all the Government Project’, for the establishment establishments to ensure timely action and growth of technology startup and more transparency. ecosystem in Kerala. 3,900 Startups, 58. By the end of the FinancialYear 4 Accelerators, 40 Incubators and 2020-21, Technopark had built around 280 Mini Incubators and 30,000 10.27 million square feet and Infopark aspiring entrepreneurs have been had built around 9 Million square feet created so far by the Kerala Startup space for the IT Industry. 450 and 425 Mission (KSUM). The ongoing IT/ ITES companies are established in schemes of Kerala Startup Mission Technopark and Infopark respectively will continue in 2021-22 too. and they provide direct employment K-WINS, a Program focused on opportunities to 1.2 lakh IT staff. tapping the capacity of educated unemployed women initiated in My Government supported the 2020-21 will continue. technology companiesoperating from the Government owned IT 61. My Government has buildings, by way of providing 3 promulgated an Ordinance for months’ rent waver schemes and restructuring Indian Institute rent-free period scheme in the light of Information Technology and of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Management Kerala (IIITMK) into multinational companies are in the a University named “The Kerala process of functioning/ expanding University of Digital Sciences, their establishments in the IT parks Innovation and Technology”. The of the State. TCS is expected to University would focus mainly on start the construction work of TCS Research, Education, Outreach Aerospace Hub in the 97 acres programs and thereby develop allotted at the Technocity Campus, itself as a Centre of Excellence Thiruvananthapuram during 2020-21. in Digital Technology and allied Infopark, Thrissur with 39 companies areas. Maker Village, Kochi is the is functioning across different verticals country's largest hardware deep and categories and has created over tech incubator and is implemented
32 June 2021 by the Indian Institute of Information on 2ndOctober, 2021, the birthday Technology and Management Kerala of Mahatma Gandhi. (IIITMK) and with Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) as the partner. The Environment Depart- University will be encouraged to ment reachout to support Government in 65. As per Coastal Regulation theskilling of youth to tap the new Zone Notification, 2019, the age digital jobs. draft Coastal Zone Management 62. International Centre for Free and Plan (CZMP) for all the coastal Open-Source Software (ICFOSS) is districts was prepared by the working in collaboration with free Kerala Coastal Zone Management software organizations in India Authority (KCZMA) and is pending and abroad for the promotion, finalization. propagation and application of free 66. Under the Plan Scheme ‘Climate software. ICFOSS, designated as the Resilient Farming’, development State Nodal Agency for Malayalam of a Model Climate Resilient Computing has developed and Agriculture Practice in Munro Island released ten software solutions for in Kollam Districtis in progress. public use as part of the localisation of technology and aims to setup a 67. In the current year, State Action research centre to make effective use Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) of Malayalam language in the field of shall be revised in accordance e-governance. with the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) to 63. The Centre for Development of support the State in responding to Imaging Technology (C-DIT) has been global climate change by building functioning as a technology solution capacities forclimate change provider in the Government sector actions (mitigation and adaptation) for more than three decades now. and tomake Kerala a climate In the coming year C-DIT’s focus is resilient State through improved in strengthening Managed Security climate change governance and Services, Augmented Reality, Virtual services linking climate science, Reality facilities, Augmentation of policies and people. Research and Development activities, upgradation of Security Document 68. Online processing of Forensics Lab, augmentation of Video applications for Coastal Regulation Production facility for Web Channel, Zone (CRZ) clearance for residential augmentation ofinfrastructure facilities buildings shall also commence by of Digital Archiving Centre in C-DIT Financial Year 2021-22. and the completion of ICT building for C-DIT at Thiruvananthapuram. 64. My Government is committed to provide all Government Services online to citizens without any applicant having to visit a Government Office. The project will be inaugurated
June 2021 33 Excise Department families residing within 50 m of high tide line will be expedited. 69. The “Vimukthi”Mission has been launched by my Government to achieve 73. Inland fish production shall the goal of "Drug Free Kerala". The be doubled by focusing on VimukthiMission in collaboration with new technologies like Biofloc Government hospitals has set up 14 Aquaculture Systems, Re-circulatory Vimukthi De-Addiction Centres to Aquaculture Systems and intensive provide treatment to persons who aquaculture. got into the habit of drug abuse. Till 74. In the present COVID-19 date 44,673 people have been treated situation, door to door delivery of through these de-addiction centres. fresh fish at reasonable price will be 70. A Vimukthi Jagratha Samithiwill promoted. This will be channelized be formed with the Ward Member through selected fish marts of or Councillor of the respective Local Matysafed in all Districts. Self Governments as its convenor to 75. Several fishing harbours traceout the illicit use and consumption including the Muthalapozhy, of drugs. This Samithi will intimate the Chellanam, Thanur, Koyilandy, Excise Department in case any further Vellayil and Manjeshwaram were follow up is required on this issue. commissioned in 2020-21. Further, 71. My Government aims to make extension works of breakwaters at school and college campuses drug-free. Tanur and Vellayil Fishing Harbours There are currently 5,741 anti-drug and berthing jetties at Beypore, clubs functioning at school and college and Chombal Fishing Harbours levels. Anti-drug clubs will be extended were completed. The Thalai–Chalil to all schools, public and private, Gopalapetta Finger Jetty in Kannur and the "AwakeningProject" will be District is nearing completion. implemented in selected schools in all 76. In the modernisation of fishing Districts. harbours Shakthikulangara, Neendakara,Thangasseri and Fisheries and Harbour Kayamkulam harbours will be Engineering Depart- takenup in the first phase. ment 77. New fishing harbours at 72. The “Punargeham” Project with Parappanangadi and Chethi will be an outlay of Rs.2,450 crore for the constructed. The works under Ockhi rehabilitation of 18,685 fisherfolk Package will be completed.
34 June 2021 Food and Civil Supplies employment to the youth. Department 81. The dehydration plant for advancing the shelf life of 78. The Food and Civil Supplies agricultural produce would be Department effectively implemented operationalised for livelihood the policy of my Government that no security of farmers of perishables. one in the State will suffer hunger during the pandemic. The needs of 82. The new Consumer Protection Guest Workers were specially taken Act, 2019 encompassing the care of. Vigilant market intervention e-commerce sector would be was done by the Department to implemented in letter and spirit to avoid the price hike and shortage prevent consumer exploitation. of foodgrains, vegetables etc. My 83. An ERP solution would be put in Government distributed free grocery place to streamline and consolidate kits to all 90 lakhs families with 10 the activities of Supplyco so as to 14 essential items, as well as free to ensure that the PSU operates ration to all families in the State profitably. including to those persons who had no ration card based on Aadhaar Card. 84. Paddy procurement would Free food kit and food grains were be made more farmer centric. issued to members of orphanage and Agricultural produce, especially welfare institutions also. edible cash crops, of Kerala will be procured and marketed through 79. The launch of e-ration card was a Supplyco outlets after converting historical change and has ensured that them into value added products. the concept of ‘one nation–one ration The online home delivery network card’with portability of ration card under Supplyco would be further across States was implemented. These extended across the State. initiatives also enabled the State to access an additional borrowing limit of 85. A new technical lab would be 0.25% of the GSDP in the last financial operationalized under the aegis of year withrespectto the performance Legal Metrology Department targets mandated by Government of towards making the system India thus leveraging critical resources more people and business for the State. friendly. Gold assaying and testing labs will be set up by the 80. The Department envisages the Legal Metrology Department at distribution of fortified rice through Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam the Public Distribution System and Kozhikode. to realise the goal of nutritional security. Mobile ration shops would be extended to all inaccessible tribal Forest and Wild Life and settlement areas. The Centre for Department Food Research and Development 86. The largest state of the art would be strengthened with new Elephant Rehabilitation Centre courses and new facilities to open project in India spanning new avenues for the State in the Food 176 Hectares at Kotoor, Processing sector and provide gainful
June 2021 35 General Administration Department Kerala State Welfare Corporation for For- ward Communities Ltd 90. The Corporation has launched a project for farming for the uplift of the economically backward classes in the forward communities. 91. The Corporation has already given financial support to 178 Joint Liability Groups and 23 individuals across Keralaamounting to Rs. 1,61,38,350/-in Thiruvananthapuram, was the Financial Year 2020-21. inaugurated on 16thFebruary 2021. 92. As part of economic intervention 87. A Zoological Park of in Women’s Empowerment, KSWCFC international standards at Puthur in had launched a new project named Thrissur District, the first phase of ‘Samunnathi Thoosanila Mini Cafe’, which has been inaugurated, shall which is intended to prepare and be completed by 2022. serve quality food to the common 88. The field units of the Forest people at lower cost. For this, the Department will be reorganized Corporation has implemented the on landscape basis, so that the project in collaboration with the forests and adjoining areas come Commissionerate of Food Safety and under holistic and coordinated Dhanalaxmi Bank. This programme management which will improve will also increase the employment their hydrological planning. opportunities among the women Appropriate training and Joint Liability Groups among equipment will be given to Forest economically backward sections in staff and Forest Stations will be forward communities. As a first step, established in a phased manner. the Corporation had given support to 4 women JLG’s across the State 89. My Government also intends amounting to Rs. 6,00,000/-. Three to establish 500 demonstrative Thoosanila Mini Cafe at Kottarakara, green plots or miniature forests Alappuzha and Thalavady have already in school /college premises called opened and in this financial year, the "Vidyavanam", which will inculcate KSWCFC is planning to open 96 more love and belonging towards nature cafes across the State. and forests among the students. Nagara Vanamwill be established Kerala Youth Leader- in collaboration with the Local Self ship Academy Government Institutions, Residence Asociations and other agencies. 93. Kerala Youth Leadership Academy
36 June 2021 (KYLA) is a first of its kind unique entrusted to NBCC and the work is institution in the country, incubated to start soon. by my Government, to empower the Youth across the State to integrate General Education their potential and commitment Department towards social development and governance in Kerala. 96. The infrastructural standards have been enhanced in all levels Samoohika Sann- of schools. As a consequence, the enrolment of students in adhasena (Community Government and Aided Schools in Volunteer Corps) the State has gone up considerably. 94. Samoohika Sannadhasenais the 97. Despite the pandemic situation, unique volunteer communitytaskforce the Department continued to under my Government to create conduct classes through the or develop a disaster resilient onlinemode. community. There are around 3.8 Lakh registered Sannadhasena Volunteers 98. My Government aims to across the State. Around 10,000 enhance the quality of school Volunteers are active on ground as education so as to make it more Police Volunteers. 7,000 Volunteers oriented to development of life have been deployed in various skills. CFLTCs for COVID duty. Around 6,000 volunteers are currently active under Health and Family various LSGIs for COVID-19 related Welfare Department activities. Sannadhasena Volunteers 99. The Health Department have ensured adequate intervention successfully handled the problem during all crisis in the State, assisting of massive surges in COVID- the State Governance and District 19incidence with the co-operation Administrations to help contain and co-ordination with other disasters more effectively. frontline Departments. Major 95. The renovation of the Travancore government healthcare facilities Palace in New Delhi has been in the State were expanded on a
June 2021 37 real time basis. A total of 148 CFLTCs Hospitals, and one Taluk Hospital (19,093 beds), 88 CSLTCs (8,470 has been completed. beds), and 608 domiciliary care 104. The ‘Karunya Arogya Suraksha centres (26,679 beds) are arranged Padhathi’ (KASP), implemented for admitting patients in addition to by the State Health Agency (SHA), the hospital facilities. The lab network, provides health care cover and too, was strengthened from a single cashless treatment of Rs. 5 lakh testing lab at the beginning to 2,667 per family per year for secondary labs at present for COVID-19 testing and tertiary care hospitalization to in Kerala. over 42 Lakhs poor and vulnerable 100. Our Health Department has families in the State. received widespread acclaim for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher Education De- Continuous training programmes partment and volunteer recruitment through the ‘COVID Brigade’ and utilising 105. The academic quality the services of the 3.8 lakh strong and physical infrastructure of Community Volunteer Corps ensured higher education institutions a steady flow of trained human will be enhanced to national resources to these centres. and international standards so as to ensure Kerala’s steady 101. My Government also took transformation into a modern proactive steps to empanel private knowledge society. healthcare institutions in its Mission through the ‘Kerala Arogya Suraksha 106. The quality of self-financed Padhathi’ health insurance scheme. Higher Education Institutions will A treatment package for COVID-19 be ensured through a State-level walk-in patients into private hospitals accreditation mechanism. was also declared for bringing fairness 107. To cater to the increasing in treatment costs across various demand for higher education, hospitals. there will be an increase in the 102. Kerala has also performed number of seats, new courses and exceptionally well in rolling out its research facilities. It is expected COVID-19 vaccination drive across the that 3 to 4 lakh more students State, with 65,92,745 people having will get an opportunity to pursue been administered the first dose of higher education as a result of this vaccine and 20,19,936 people having initiative. being administered both doses of 108. The 'Eminent Scholars Online vaccines. Kerala’s vaccination program Programme’, an online interactive has been lauded for its efficiency and lecture series given by world class zero wastage of vaccines. eminent Professors in various fields 103. Under the ‘Aardram Mission’, for graduate and postgraduate Out Patient Department (OPD) students of our colleges/ transformation work in eight Medical Universities is being implemented. Colleges, nine District /General 109. My Government started the
38 June 2021 Digital and the Sree Narayana Guru 2021, the KSHB has launched the Open Universities during 2020-21. ‘Souhrudam Parpida Padhathi’ , an innovative self-financing housing 110. University Departments and loan scheme with the participation Centres will be elevated as centres of of the people for the home security excellence. of the community. Home Department 117. KSHB has also invited 111. The State has always been a expression of interest to select pioneer in adopting technology Consultant/ Developer to in policing. Artificial Intelligence implement the International Projects in the Police Department Exhibition Nagar Project through will be initiated in the year 2021-22. PPP mode in the 17.9 acres of land Cyberdomes at Thiruvananthapuram, owned by KSHBat Marine Drive, Kochi and Kozhikode will be Kochi. strengthened. It is proposed to setup 118. Pravasi Housing Scheme a High Tech Cyber Security Centre at started in last financial year will Thiruvananthapuram. be continued more effectively to 112. It is proposed to constitute a fulfil the housing needs of the low Coastal Police Division and a Counter income group of Pravasis. Intelligence Cell (CIC) for neutralizing activities of foreign agencies. Starting Industries Depart- of Cyber Crime Investigation Division ment and settingup of Economic Offence Wing are also proposed. 119. Kerala has witnessed a perceptible growth in industrial 113. An initiative to provide enhanced investments in the last five years. security for senior citizens, women Close to 48 percent of the MSME and children will be implemented with establishments (68,419) in the the aid of technology. State were formed during the same period. An estimated 3,00,000 Housing Department employment opportunities were 114. The Housing Board will created in the MSME sector. The implement ‘Grihasree Housing reform process in the Industrial Scheme’ by disbursing subsidy to area encapsulated in the online 1,000 beneficiaries with an outlay of platform K-SWIFT, provides 79 Rs.20 crore. 115. An Aswas Rental Schemefor providing rental accommodation for the patients who require constant medical attention and who are undergoing treatment in Medical Colleges of the State will be taken up. 116. As part of the Kerala State Housing Board’s (KSHB) Golden Jubilee Celebrations in the year
June 2021 39 online services spread across 14 activity, my Government has Departments. All new and renewal offered to takeover three process of licensing are delivered on loss making central PSUs viz. this portal, which has changed the Instrumentation Ltd in Palakkad, landscape of industrial licensing in the Hindustan Newsprint Ltd in State. Kottayam and BHEL-EML in Kasaragod. 120. Automatic approvals for MSMEs highlight the change in 125. The number of PSUs making my Government’s approach from profit has increased from 14 to 16 investigation or enquiries to issuance in the last year. of approvals on self-declarations. 126. An open-source platform is Close to 11,878 MSME Acknowledge being developed by the Electronics Certificates (instant approvals) for and Information Technology starting MSMEs have been issued Department which will soon link all in the State. On the other hand, the the stakeholders. This is in addition Innovation Index ranking made by to the already existing e-market NITI Aayog has ranked Kerala at platform. This programme is 10thplace and the National Council of expected to create at least 1,00,000 Applied Economic Research (NCAER) jobs every year and in a period of have placed Kerala in 6thposition five years the State could add up to under the Investment Potential Index. 5,00,000 jobs on a sustained basis. 121. My Government has taken the 127. My Government is committed policy decision to form a State Level to developing the Kochi-Palakkad Complaints Redressal Committee Industrial Corridor to overcome the for dealing with complaints and logistic cost and hurdles of bringing grievances from investors. A goods from outside the State. Committee has been formed to suggest draft legislation for this. 128. Fast-track development of 481 acres of KINFRA Petrochemical Park 122. The industrial model of MSME in Ambalamugal with all supporting based industrial growth is further infrastructure for the anchor strengthened by adopting a strategy investor BPCL and 13 other units to attract large scale investors or will be ensured. anchor investors. The State is one of the better performing States under 129. Fasttrack development the Government of India’s Cluster ofKochi-Bengaluru Industrial Development Programme (CDP). Corridor (KBIC) by developing Palakkad as a Node and GIFT 123. My Government while (Global Industrial Finance formulating projects has taken andTrade) City as the hub inKochi. care to handhold and develop This initiative is likely to generate traditional sectors like Textiles, Khadi, investments of Rs.20,000 crore and Handicrafts, Handloom, Coir and has an employment potential of Rubber. 15,000. 124. In order to safeguard 130. A Spices Park is proposed employment and revive industrial
40 June 2021 to be developed by KINFRA at 134. KIIFB has also become a Thodupuzha. pioneer in adopting the green building agenda in the State by 131. Integrated Rice Technology mandating that all KIIFB funded Parks (IRTP) areplanned by KINFRA at buildings above a certain size shall Palakkad and Alappuzha Districts. be certified as Green Buildings. KIIFB Kerala Infrastruc- has also recently entered into a MOU with the International Finance ture Investment Fund Corporation (IFC) to help structure Board (KIIFB) some KIIFB projects as PPP projects. 132. In 2016, my Government set Information and Pub- for itself the ambitious target of transforming the infrastructural lic Relations Depart- landscape in the State. Kerala ment Infrastructure Investment Fund 135. The Department was Board (KIIFB) was designated as the instrumental in ensuring effective agency for achieving this ambitious communication to the public during objective through a unique and the crisis of COVID-19. In addition, innovative model. After 4 years of its the ‘Break the chain’ campaign of relentless services to the State, KIIFB’s my Government to arrest COVID-19 achievements speak for themselves. was successfully disseminated to all 133. KIIFB has so far approved sections of the society through the 903 projects with an outlay of Rs. Department. 63,224.42 crore. These projects 136. ‘Iniyum Munnottu’, the flagship comprise both physical and social campaign led by the Department infrastructure across a range of sectors effectively communicated the including hospitals and health centres, policies of my Government to schools and colleges, roads and people and it helped to raise bridges, water supply and sanitation, awareness of Government electricity and communication schemes and programs, so that networks, industrial parks and cultural they can approach or apply as complexes etc. Out of these, 488 per eligibility. In the last year, projects worth Rs. 21,309.68 crore the Department took many novel have been tendered and 27 projects initiatives and implemented worth Rs. 732 croreand 160 project programs like completing the components worth Rs. 560.29 Crore visual history of Kerala, starting of have been commissioned. a new Fact Check Division in the Department for fighting fake news, strengthening communication to the public through Public Relations Information Service Management (PRISM) project and developing a new strategy and campaign for effective communication through social media.
June 2021 41 137. Following the completion of in Kottayam, Bengal Colony initial works of Visual History project, in Ernakulam and Pattambi in I&PRD would now embark on setting Palakkad Districts. up a digital museum, online library 140. A unique Health Insurance and digital replication of the content Scheme namely,AAWAZ has to maximise sharing of the content to been implemented for the Guest a variety of users. In 2021-22, as part Workers in Kerala with Rs. 2 lakh as of the Integrated News Grid (PRISM) Accidental Death Insurance Claim Project, I&PRD intends to enhance the for each insured person. 5,09,451 penetration of information gathering guestworkers have already been and dissemination by additional registered under the Scheme. deployment of trained personnel, who would closely work with Local 141. Minimum rates of wages Self Government institutions. An have been revised in 9 scheduled Info-Cultural Hub would be set up employment categories. by incorporating some of the best in 142. More Employability Centres multimedia technologies to showcase, will be established to promote learn, share, experience and enjoy the employment opportunities. An many facets of the State’s art, culture e-employment exchange with and theatre and the Department a digital database of 37.9 lakh would set up a well-equipped IEC job seekers, training and self division that would undertake IEC employment programs for different interventions on behalf of various sections of society, a mobile Government Departments. app for registration of migrant Labour and Skills De- workers, an online taxi service on an aggregator model, are just some partment of the other major initiatives being 138. My Government has decided implemented by the Department. to award 'Thozhilalishreshta' in 15 employment sectors in order to Land Revenue De- promote the productivity and upgrade partment professional skills of the workers. 143. My Government’s aim is 139. The Phase I of the Guest to ensure that there will be Worker's Friendly Residence in “no landless people in Kerala”. Kerala Project, AALAY will be started Pattayam will be issued to all the in three localities namely, Payppad entitled landless people during the period of my Government. All necessary steps will be initiated to recover and protect Government land under the unauthorised possession of encroachers. 144. Village Offices are the basic units to render services to the public. Hence, strengthening Village Offices is another goal of
42 June 2021 my Government. Out of 1,666 villages Local Self Govern- in the State, 126 Village Offices have been converted to Smart Village Offices ment Department and the rest of the villages shall also 147. My Government will move to be made smart. All Village Offices in new horizons of outcome-based the State will be converted to Smart planning, disaster resilient urban Village Offices during the period of planning and resource mobilisation my Government. E-Office has been with advanced Geographic implemented in 155 offices. This Information System (GIS) and other system will be implemented in all the technology support. offices under the Revenue Department. Websites for village offices, mobile 148. Improving citizen interface by applications for issuing of certificates simplifying and reducing burden of and payment of land tax will be compliances will be an important implemented in this year. thrust area. Issuance of online building permits in urban and rural 145. My Government has already started local bodies will be fast-tracked. the digitization of the revenue records. This process will be completed in a time 149. The digitisation of the local bound manner. A Unique Thandapper Biodiversity Registers, will be an System’ will be implemented so that the important digital intervention details of property owned by a single going forward. The Integrated Local person can be easily assessed. This will Governance Management System help to control Benami transactions (ILGMS) will be extended to all the and to find out the excess land under Grama Panchayats. the Land Reforms Act. Thus, excess 150. Kudumbashree, the poverty lands can be effectively recovered and eradication mission of Kerala, also distributed among the entitled landless played a vital role in providing persons. welfare measures to people in 146. Integrated Land Record their fight against the COVID-19 Information System implemented in pandemic through operation Vanchiyoor in Thiruvananthapuram of Community Kitchens and District and Kaduthuruthy village in running of Janakeeya hotels. Kottayam District to deliver prompt 1,017 Janakeeya hotels have been and effcient services to the citizens, is established in the State and they proposed to be extended to all villages. provide meals to people at Rs. 20/-. A common platform will be developed 151. The Chief Minister’s Helping by integrating the services of Revenue, Hand Loan Scheme, implemented Registration and Survey Departments. through Kudumbashree provided A comprehensiveRevenuePortal will interest free loans amounting also be implemented. Citizenfriendly to Rs. 1,917.55 crore to 25.17 interfaces for payment system and lakh families. This scheme will be certificate services, and end-to-end extended to the current year also. computerization to deliver services to citizens in a speedy and efficient 152. The elections to the Local Self manner are envisaged. Governments in the State have been held smoothly following
June 2021 43 COVID-19 protocol. My Government Facilities, with the support of through the Kerala Institute of Local Haritha Karma Senas, started Administration (KILA) has organised functioning in the State to address training programmes for all the newly door-to-door collection of waste. elected representatives. 158. Repair of 5,296 rural roads 153. The project‘NILAAVU’, targeting damaged during the floods of replacement of all conventional street 2018 and 2019 (approximate lights with energy efficient LED lights length of 12,000 KM) amounting with longer life expectancy is being to Rs.1,000crores have been taken implemented in a phased manner. up under the Chief Minister’s Local Road Rebuild Project (CMLRRP). 154. ‘Risk Informed Master Plans’ In addition to this, development tomake cities disaster resilient and of 408 roads have been taken up safe have been initiated for two towns worth Rs. 469 crores under Rebuild in the State (Mananthavady and Kerala initiative (RKI). Chengannur) bythe Town and Country Planning Department under Rebuild 159. The Cochin Smart Mission Kerala Initiative. Preparation of Master Limited (CSML) completed Projects Plans for 86 out of 93 cities in the such as Integrated Command State are in an advanced stage. Control and Communication Centre, Integrated Traffic 155. In the context of Ease of Doing Management System (ITMS), Roof Business and online processing of Top Solar Project of 1,000 KW building applications, the building in the public buildings in Kochi rules were amended and the new Municipal Corporation area and Kerala Municipality Building Rules, E-health solutions at General 2019 and Kerala Panchayat Building Hospital Ernakulam. “Online Rules, 2019 were enacted. e-health solutions” Project has 156. TheTotal Housing Programme received the “Best Smart Health LIFE (The Livelihood Inclusion Project” award from the Ministry andFinancial Empowerment) Mission of Housing and Urban Affairs, in the State has completed 2,62,402 Government of India. houses. Out of these, 2,50,547 160. The Local Self Government houses have been provided with free will take up the following insurance coverage and an amount of initiatives during 2021-22;160.1. All Rs. 8,823.20 crores have been spent by agricultural development activities my Government for providing houses would be based on watershed. to eligible houseless families. 160.2. Longterm institutional 157. “Suchitwa Padavi” status was capability will be developed for obtained by 711 out of 1,034 Local waste management, especially in Self Governments in the State.The liquid waste management including Clean Kerala Company Ltd entered sewage and septage. The newly into agreements with 424 Local Self approved World Bank supported Governments for waste transportation Kerala Solid Waste Management and recovery. 968 Material Collection Project will be taken up on priority Facilities and 175 Resource Recovery
44 June 2021 for the waste management in ULBs in the State. 160.3. At least one regional land fill will be developed in the State for closure of historic waste dumps through capping or bioremediation. 160.4. The ‘Naipunya Karmasena’ was formed by the Department to rectify electrical, plumbing, carpentry works of the damaged houses that emerged subsequent to the 2018 floods. In the present scenario of repeated natural hazards, my Government aims to stepup Naipunya Karmasenaas a permanent setup during the Financial Year 2021-22. Tribal households. Women Person 160.5. As part of the environmental Days out of Total Person Days friendly initiatives, my Government generated is 90.49 percentage. has put in place a Green Rebate in property tax levied by the Minority Welfare De- Local Governments for buildings partment constructed in eco-sustainable 163. My Government is committed manner. to address the problems faced by the minority communities in right Mahatma Gandhi earnest. A Commission headed by National Rural Em- a retired judge of the Kerala High ployment Guarantee Court has been appointed to study the issues faced by the Christian Scheme minority. It's report is awaited. 161. For the first time in the history 164. My Government has started of the implementation of Mahatma a Coaching Centre for youth Gandhi NREGS, the Scheme has belonging to the minority generated more than 10 crore Person communities in Thalassery in the Days. The State achieved 102.3 last financial year. Scholarships per cent of the Labour Budget and worth Rs. 15.81 crore for students generated 1,023 lakh Person Days, undergoing courses in various against the approved Labour Budget stages and streams have been of 1,000 lakh Person Days. disbursed. Under ‘Pradhan Mantri 162. Average Person Days for Jan Vikas Karyakram’ (PMJVK), households under the Scheme in the sanction has been accorded for year was 63.25. 4,70,412 households the constructionof Buds Schools, completed 100 days of employment Dialysis Centres, Common Service under the Scheme in Financial Year Centres, Women facilitation and 2020-21, out of which 33,951 are skill development centre. COVID
June 2021 45 relief at Rs. 2,000/-each has been Planning and Eco- provided to 12,500 Madarasa teachers. nomic Affairs De- NORKA Department partment 170. My Government will prepare 165. The COVID –19 pandemic has ‘Vision Document 2030’ during the affected the Pravasi(Non-Resident year 2021-22 which is aligned with Keralities) in diverse ways. From its policies and programmes and March 2020 to May 2021, an in tune with the Goals set in the estimated 14.01 Lakh NRKs have United Nations' SDGs. returned to Kerala. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered the return, with Ports Department over 60% of them losing their job 171. My Government has overseas. completed construction of 101 166. As a result, my Government metre length (first phase) of the has implemented rescue, relief, and Passenger cum Multipurpose Berth rehabilitative measures to reduce at Kollam Port as partof enabling the impact of the pandemic on the port to facilitate commercial the lives of the returnee migrants. shipping operations. My Government established 172. My Government through the helpdesks in 16 countries for Maritime Board has also provided providing information and help in all facilities for implementation of evacuation measures initiated by the crew change to the international Government of India and Kerala. ships at Vizhinjam. In the year 167. The existing Schemes of 2020-21, 67 international ships Santhwnaand NDPREM (Norka used the facilities at Vizhinjam Department Programme for Returnee Port for crew change and the Migrant) were strengthened to Department could earn more than extend financial assistance to the Rs. 50 lakh from this activity. Pravasi community. 173. Beypore is the busiest minor 168. NORKA Department is port in the State catering to the implementing 24 plan programs needs of Lakshadweep Islands through its four organisations. The also. In the 1stphase, it is proposed Pravasi Welfare Board implements to undertake capital dredging several welfare programs like Pension amounting to Rs. 60 crore to Schemes and Pravasi Dividend increase the depth of the port to 6 Scheme. Pravasi Dividend Scheme has meters. so far collected a deposit of Rs. 181.1 174. It is expected that the crore. foundation stone for the green field 169. My Government proposes port at Azhikkal can be laid in the to facilitate safer, ethical, and second half of the year 2021. economically advantageous migration to new markets with additional skill Power Department training in language and other skills. 175. My Government has ensured
46 June 2021 24x7 power supply to its consumers, intensified efforts to provide without imposing any load shedding electrical connections to the or powercut during the last 5 years. remotest areas which are not yet covered under the distribution 176. The technical loss in power networks, within a definite time transmission was brought down to frame, by adopting appropriate an all-time low of 9.86 percent from technology. 14.37 percent in 2015-16. 181. Focused programmes will 177. The ‘Transgrid-2.0’ Project, be designed and implemented to with a project outlay of Rs. 10,000 smoothen out the hurdles faced crore is transforming the power by agro-processing units under transmission infrastructure to meet MSME sector in effecting electrical the requirements of the State for the connection, including financial next two decades. assistance, subject to sector specific 178. The construction of 400KV norms. substations in Wayanad and 182. Projects will be developed and Kasaragod and interconnecting line implemented for commissioning from Kozhikode to Udupi in the projects under “PM-KUSUM”, next phase will complete the 400 KV enabling farmers to have a transmission corridor of the State, sustainable support in meeting the eliminating chance of powercuts in energy needs. future. 183. Whole hearted efforts will 179. My Government has also be undertaken for augmenting made substantial strides in tapping the domestic generating capacity renewable energy. Till date 290 MW of the State, so that import of of solar power has been added. It is power through power purchase projected that 900 MW of solar power agreements are regulated with capacity will be added in the next 2 a long term perspective, leading years. the State to self-sufficiency in 180. My Government will undertake power. The second stage of the
June 2021 47 Idukki Power Project with an installed and 115 are under evaluation. generating capacity of 780 MW and 186. Administrative Sanction an outlay of Rs. 7,000 crore will be has also been accorded for the commenced. The progress of various Alappuzha-Changanassery road for hydro electrical projects under an amount of Rs.671.66 crore. Out construction totalling a generation of the 29 RKI projects, agreement capacity of 170 MW will be closely has been executed for 24 works monitored and commissioned. The for Rs.3,712crore. These will be present power purchase agreements disaster resilient roads with long may be relooked, in the background term maintenance contracts and a of present energy supply/ demand design life of 15 years. scenario at the national level. 187. National Highway-66 184. All avenues will be explored to widening for a length of 644 provide electricity at affordable rates KM has achieved remarkable to the poorest of the poor, subject to progress in the last year. Awards the norms applicable to the power for acquisition of 1,028 Hectare sector. land with approved amount of Rs. Public Works Depart- 16,388 crores including 25 percent funding by the State through KIIFB ment were passed last year, which is 185. The Department is implementing one of the highest in any State Rs. 20,000 crore worth of works under for NH development. The award KIIFB funding. Out of 320 projects for the land acquisition would be approved, 184 projects are in progress completed during first half of this year. Theentire NH-66 in Kerala State consists of 24 projects, out of which 2 projects are already completed and others are under implementation. 188. An enhanced and userfriendly Web-based Road Maintenance Management System (RMMS) is being established covering 7,000 KM of Core Road Network with a Mobile App for registering complaints and field data collection apps for the use of field engineers of the Road Maintenance Wing. The new RMMS system will be functional by the end of June 2021 and maintenance plans for Core Road Network can be generated. 189. Output and Performance Based Road Management Contracts (OPBRC) have been introduced
48 June 2021 in Kerala. This novel contract for the Scheduled Caste/ maintenance of road will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Road Scheduled Tribes Asset Management. Development Depart- Rebuild Kerala Initia- ment tive (RKI) 195. In order to ensure placements in private and public sectors, my 190. The State of Kerala was Government will setup a ‘Virtual designated as a Development Partner Tribal Employment Exchange’ by by the World Bank and provided a bringing potential employers, Development Policy Loan (DPL) of industry leaders, line departments US$ 250 million (Rs.1,779.58 crore) and unemployed tribal youth on a as its first tranche for the project for common platform. rebuilding the infrastructure in Kerala after the devastating floods of 2018. 196. In order to eliminate the linguistic barriers in education 191. Recently, the negotiation and learning of tribal children, the meetings with the Government of Scheduled Tribes Development India, World Bank and the AIIB for an Department had formulated additional amount of US$ 250 million an innovative program called for RKI-2 are over, and the project is ‘Gothrabandhu’ (Tribal Mentor likely to be approved soon. Teacher). Under this program, 192. The total external assistance educated tribal youth preferably tiedup from World Bank, KFW and with TTC/ B.Ed. qualification with AIIB towards the RKDP project knowledge in tribal dialect and implementation so far is Rs. 5,898 Malayalam are being selected crore, and this when added to the and trained to function as mentor State share of 30 percent, comes to a teacher / education facilitator in total of Rs. 8,425 crore. selected Primary Schools throughout the State. 193. Against this, Administrative Sanctions have been issued for 197. 500 new community study Rs. 7,405 crore for projects under centres will be established during 12 Departments, which are now in 2021-22 thereby helping at least various stages of implementation. 15,000 tribal children in achieving Rs.4,677crore worth projects have academic excellence. already been tendered and are under 198. Under the ‘Gothrajeevika’ implementation. Program, the Scheduled Tribes Development Department has Sainik Welfare Depart- trained 1,170 tribal youth so far ment in skills related to construction industry viz., masonry, plumbing, 194. The initial work on the long electrification, carpentry, etc. and awaited War Memorial at Akkulam constituted 54 Self Help Groups. It is near Southern Air Command will intended to expand this program in be undertaken during the current 2021-22 and train 2,000 tribal youth. financial year.
June 2021 49 199. It is also proposed to set up Science and Technol- Tribal Village Markets (Apna Mandi) in required locations to help in the ogy Department marketing of tribal products. 206. My Government had 200. Special Scheme to support envisioned establishing a research Tribal Startups will be implemented institute exclusively for virology by the Department during 2021-22. research given the fact that the It is proposed to ensure internet State had been severely hit by connectivity in all tribal hamlets in different viral infections in recent the State wherever it is not available years. Consequently, the Institute at present, through a special of Advanced Virology (IAV) has program thereby improving service formally started functioning at delivery. Life Science Park, Thonnakal, Thiruvananthapuram on 201. Through LIFE Mission, 4,000 15thOctober 2020. Infrastructure, houses will be constructed under including laboratory equipment Phase II and Phase III during 2021- and manpower, has been 22. established for the IAV. The IAV is 202. ‘Gothravalsalya Nidhi’ is expected to conduct cutting edge another flagship Program of my research in the field of virology. Government which is an insurance based endowment scheme aimed Social Justice Depart- at the overall development of every ment tribal girl child. About 1,000 girl 207. With the establishment of the children are expected to be brought Women and Child Development under the protection of this Scheme Department, the Social Justice during 2021-22. Department could focus its 203. 18,690 Scheduled Caste families attention more to the needs of benefitted from the Scheme for the marginalised sections of the provision of land to landless families society such as persons with for construction of houses. disabilities, senior citizens and transgenders. The State will 204. Dr.Ambedkar Village Development Scheme for Scheduled Caste colonies, foreign employment subsidy and facilitating startup dreams of Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs, are other notable schemes of the Department which will be continued with renewed vigour in the current financial year. 205. The Integrated Institute of Medical Sciences (IIMS), Palakkad will be made fully functional in the year 2021-22.
50 June 2021 ensure reservation in jobs as per the Taxes Department RPWD Act in a time bound manner. My Government recognises the 210. There has been significant needs of the aging population. The increase in GST collections in the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents last quarter (January-March) of and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 will be the Financial Year 2020-21. This implemented with renewed vigour. has been the combined result The last five years have witnessed of various compliance measures the mainstreaming of the voiceless introduced in the GST portal transgenders. They will be brought and intense technologybased to the forefront of civil society and interventions introduced for empowered to climb up to reach risk-based scrutiny of returns and the heights of societal ladder. The meticulous follow up of compliance last five years also witnessed the at the State level. importance of probation system. This 211. The focus of the Department will be further strengthened. is to use information technology tools thereby enabling data- Survey and Land Re- driven decisions for revenue cords augmentation. The installation of 208. My Government has taken ANPR system (Automatic Number steps regarding establishment of Plate Recognition System) was Continuously Operating Reference implemented last year and is Stations (CORS) in the State to already in operation in 22 locations facilitate the Survey activities of the of the State. This facilitates State by introducing and establishing intelligence-based vehicle checking modern technologies. Administrative system based on risk parameters Sanction was issued for Rs. 12 crore provided through analysis of e-way for the procurement, installation and bills and returns. commissioning of CORS system and 212. The entire VAT arrears have MoU was executed withthe Survey been made available online for of India on 18thJanuary 2021 for the the first time. This has made the purpose. The Survey of India has arrear position more transparent started the work and along with the and helped in the management of surveyors of Department of Survey arrear reconciliation. This year, the and Land Records have identified 3 Department would focus entirely on locations each for 28 stations on the GST as majority of VAT assessments ground for conducting Signal Tests have already been completed. and the work is in progress. 213. My Government has decided Sports and Youth Af- to provide the facility of online remittance of sales proceeds and fairs Department GST to lottery agents through an 209. This Department proposes “Agents Portal”. It is also proposed to establish G. V. Raja Centre of to track lottery ticket sales and Excellence in Menamkulam with KIIFB prize payment seamlessly starting assistance. from Lottery offices to the final
June 2021 51 point of sales to eliminate leakages bestowed with PATA Gold award and to arrest malpractices. All the during 2020-21. The Print Campaign lottery agents in the State will be and Film Campaign of ‘Human by provided with shop registration in Nature’ won two DAS GOLDENE aid of their employment. STADTTOR awards 2020 as well. 214. Registration Department has 217. In order to extend support implemented a series of reforms to the tourism stakeholders, to improve service deliveries to a COVID-19 Relief Assistance the citizens. The main focus is to Package has been sanctioned in eliminate the outdated procedures 2020-21 through Tourism Working and to embrace modern Capital Support Scheme, Tourism technologies and improve effective Employment Support Scheme, and efficient service delivery to Tourism House Boat Support the common man. "Anywhere Scheme, and Tourism Guides registration" Programme permits Support Scheme. document registration in any of 218. The ongoing Projects of the Sub Registry Offices within the Malanad Malabar River Cruise, Revenue District. Miyawaki model afforestation in 12 215. My Government will Districts, waste management at 79 implement the Digital document destinations, Thalassery Heritage execution for digital execution Project–Phase 2, projects at Veli, of contracts from citizens’ own Kovalam, and Shanghumukham, premises. Digitization of the Travancore Heritage Project, registered documents will be Muziris Heritage Projects–Phase 2, completed shortly. Standard and Travancore-Anchuthengu Heritage simplified document templates Corridor Project and Vinodasanchara will be published and integrated Bhavan at Thiruvananthapuram are into the property registration worth mentioning. system for enabling template- 219. My Government proposes to based registration process. The take up 12 more World ClassToilets document registration process will projects at selected tourism be automated and the registered destinations in the coming year also. deed will be delivered on the same day of registration and E-stamping 220. Kerala Tourism would focus for all the denominations will be on extending Responsible Tourism implemented by engaging with all in all the destinations in Kerala the stakeholders. and to promote Rural Tourism and create employment to the local Tourism Department community. 216. ‘Human by Nature’ –the 221. ASpecialMarketing Campaign marketing strategy adopted would be initiated to revive Kerala byKerala Tourism during 2019-20 Tourism which has again suffered a to tide over the crisis due to the setback due to the second wave of massive floods in 2018 has been COVID-19 pandemic. recognized by PATA, and was
52 June 2021 Transport Department 225. The systems and procedures of the Motor Vehicles Department 222. The policy of my Government will will be made more transparent be to incentivise the public transport and citizen friendly through the system including road transport, elaborate use of information taxis and auto rickshaws. At the same technology and identifying areas of time, the private transport modes will red-tapism and corruption. be disincentivized, to reduce traffic blocks, environmental pollution, 226. My Government will ensure accidents and time delays. All the multi-modal connectivity at all main heavy vehicles and public transport bus depots and boat jetties as well vehicles will be encouraged to switch as Railway stations and airports. over to green fuels-CNG, LNG, Walking and use of bicycles will Electricity and Hydrogen. be encouraged in major cities and towns. My Government will 223. Installation of GPS devices will be encourage investment in the public made compulsory for all public service transport and cargo/logistics sector vehicles and the data will be shared to create more job opportunities. with all law enforcement agencies– Police, Excise, GST etc. Kerala State Road 224. Kerala with its high density of Transport Corpora- vehicles and narrow roads witnesses tion (KSRTC) about 4,000 accidents every year during the pre-pandemic times. My 227. The management of KSRTC Government will strictly implement will be made professional and measures for ensuring the policy of several cost-cutting and efficiency “footpath for pedestrians and road for enhancing measures will be vehicles” as part of its drive to reduce implemented through “KSRTC accidents in urban areas. The number Restructure 2.0”. As part of this, my of accidents will be brought down in Government will go ahead with a the next five years of my Government. separate company for long distance
June 2021 53 service operations, namely, KSRTC information on arrival and Swift Ltd. KSRTC will be transformed departure of buses, online booking into a reliable, affordable, commuter etc. My Government will ensure friendly, and clean transport system first mile and last mile connectivity for the Kerala. to KSRTC buses though operation of feeder services. Seamless 228. KSRTC will switch over to green integration with Rail, Air and Water fuel for 80% of its buses in the next transport systems will also be three years. A paradigm shift in the takenup as a policy. operation of buses will be brought in by classifying the routes into 232. KSRTC cannot sustain through trunk road, radial road, circular road revenues from fare collection alone. and a hub and spoke model will The huge potential of non-fare be implemented in all depots with revenue avenues will be tapped. Puthukkad in Thrissur District as the The idle assets and capacity of the central hub of its operations. Corporation will be put to better utilization by venturing into new 229. In the Thiruvananthapuram areas like logistics, fuel retail, District, KSRTC services will be advertisements, tourism etc.–areas revamped to ensure connectivity in of non-fare collection -will reduce all the bus pliable routes connecting the burden tothe exchequer. major offices and establishments through intersecting services such State Water Trans- as core city circular, radial and Outer Ring services. port Department 230. My Government is poised to 233. The entire fleet of water revamp the bus depots and other transport boats will be switched facilities by providing hygienic toilets, over to CNG or Solar power. resting places for both commuters The Department has decided to and operating crew and entertainment introduce India's first Solar Electric facilities, grocery shops, restaurants, RO-RO Service and Kerala's first etc. for the travelling public. One of amphibious type water bus during the priority areas is to ensure safety the year 2021-2022. and convenience of the travelling 234. The modernization of the women and every depot of KSRTC will water transport will be undertaken have women friendly accommodation to dovetail with other public on hourly basis. Better wages, safety, transport systems. The potential for health and welfare facilities will be cargo movement, tourism avenues provided to employees. and ferry services will be utilized 231. Every operation/activity of fully. KSRTC will bemade efficient through 235. The Department has extensive use of Information introduced a high-speed A/C technology for providing passengers Vessel Vega 2, a passenger -cum- with facilities for trip planning, tourist service along Kottayam
54 June 2021 -Alappuzha Kumarakom route and approved by my Government. was inaugurated on 10-03-2020. NITI Aayog, Railway Board and Department of Expenditure have 236. India's first Solar powered boat already recommended the project named Aditya on the Vaikkom- to Department of Economic Thavanakadavu route won the Affairs, Ministry of Finance for Goustave-trove award-2020 and has proposing the project to Bilateral been successfully ferrying passengers and Multilateral funding agencies for the last 4 years. for an amount of Rs. Kerala Rail Develop- 33,700 crore. Formal sanction of this project from the Central ment Corporation Government is expectedshortly. Limited Kochi Metro Rail 237. The ambitious Silver Line project envisaged by my Government will Limited introduce cost effective Semi High- 239. Kochi Metro Rail has achieved Speed Rail travel for thefirst time in completion of the Phase I of Kerala. The Silver Line will be a game- the project from Aluva to Petta changer providing a convenient mode (25.612 KM with 22 stations) with of transport to the people of Kerala inauguration of the last stretch on by reducing the travel time from 7thSeptember 2020. Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod to 4 hours from existing 12 hours. 240. The work of Phase IA of Kochi Metro Project, (Petta to SN Junction 238. The project is planned to be with 2 KM and 2 stations) is completed at an approximate cost progressing well and it is expected of Rs. 63,900 crore. The Detailed to be commissioned by March Project Report and alignment of 2022. As of now 47 per cent has this flagship project had been been completed.
June 2021 55 241. The work of Phase IB of Kochi micro-irrigation techniques. This Metro Project (SN junction to shall empower the farmers especially Thripunithura with 1.2 KM and 1 in the “irrigation-neglected” cash station) is also progressing well with crop (Pepper, Cardamom, Coconut, an intention to commission by June Arecanut, Nutmeg, Coffee etc), fruit 2022. tree crop and vegetable segments attain enhanced productivity. 242. The Phase II of Kochi Metro Rail Project from JLN stadium to Infopark 246. My Government has achieved via Kakkanad, at a cost of Rs. 1,957.05 significant progress in providing crores, with a length of 11.17 KM and functional tap connections to the 11 stations has been approved by my rural households in the State as Government. Government of India’s part of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). A approval is expected in the current total of 4,04,464 individual water financial year. The project would supply connections were provided be completed within 4 years from to the rural households during commencement of works. 2020-21 despite the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. Urban JJM 243. Kochi Metropolitan Transport has been rolled out by the Central Authority has been constituted on Government in this year’s budget. 30thOctober 2020. It is the first State shall gear up for ensuring authority of its kind in India to 100% Functional Household integrate, plan and regulate different TapConnection (FHTC) to all Urban commuting modes of the city. households over the next 4 years. Water Resources De- 247. Water Resources Department partment will commission ‘Kerala Water Resources Information System’ 244. The Water Resources Department (K-WRIS), which is a single has resolved to constitute a River authoritative web–based platform Basin Conservation and Management for all water resources related Authority (RBCMA) for co-ordinating information especially weather all water related activities at the river forecasts, flood forecasts, water basin. A draft bill has been finalised management at reservoir, water and my Government will enact the quality, irrigated area, surface water legislation for the constitution of and ground water etc. RBCMA in this year. 248. Highly vulnerable stretches 245. Specific thrust shall be given of coastline prone to sea erosion towards Community Based Micro- as in Chellanam, Kaipamangalam, Irrigation Systems for the benefit Cherthala and Poonthura shall be of farmers co-operatives as well as given focused attention to ensure farming clusters. My Government security to life and property of intends to bring out a ‘Community inhabitants. Based Micro Irrigation Project’ in memory of the late Sri. K. M. Mani. 249. Proper functionality auditing Focus shall be on assimilation of of already installed rainwater lift irrigation potential coupled with harvesting and open well
56 June 2021 recharge system structures and their effectiveness shall be ensuredbefore formulating future policies. 250. The Department shall strive to bring in Engineering Start-ups in Water Resources Sector to ensure captive capacity building within the State and provide a fertile ecosystem for technology startups in the State. InterState Waters 251. The major inter-State river water sharing agreement called the discrimination against women and Parambikulam-Aliyar agreement is children concerted action of the long due for revision. My Government Departments and the civil society is will look into the various aspects and the requirement to eliminate them. will try to reach a mutually agreeable 253. My Government, as a settlement with Tamil Nadu and policy, is committed to ensure enforce the new agreements. Also the freedom of movement for it will be ensured that the new women throughout the State. agreements shall not adversely affect Mainstreaming women, developing the interests of the State. All necessary a gender sensitive legal system, steps will be initiated to ensure the identifying the vulnerable groups, ecological balances in the river basins. menstrual hygiene, fight against Adequate projects will be initiated non-communicable diseases like to utilize the Kerala share of 30 TMC cancer, HIV Aids among women, water from Kavery basin like Attappady etc. will get focused attention. Valley Irrigation Project. Kerala has a larger number of single women especially in their Women and Child De- old ages. Special emphasis will be velopment Department given to their active engagement 252. The comprehensive development in the programmes of my and empowerment of women Government. Women collectives and children has always been a will be encouraged further. My priority area for the State. Much Government, as a policy will impetus will be given to nutrition, ensure basic minimum facilities safety, equality and several other for child care institutions, hostels, realms of interaction of women and including those for the working children. The Anganwadi system, women, shelter homes, creches etc. which play a foremost role in the The benefits of Maternity Benefit overall development of women Act and Prevention of Sexual and children, has tobe reformed to Harassment in Workplaces Act suit the requirements of a modern will reach all sectors especially the State. In issues like child marriage, private and unorganised sector. dowry system, gender bias, violence/
June 2021 57 Vigilance and Anti-Cor- Kozhikkode, Alappuzha, Idukki and Kottayam. It has also planned for ruption Department the complete automation, Video 254. The Vigilance and Anti- Conferencing and digitisation of Corruption Bureau has initiated VACB Units and their linkage with the several innovative measures in Courts. supportof my Government’s Policy 258. In conclusion, let me state that of “Zero Tolerance to Corruption” my Government strongly believes in in the administration and the principles of cooperative federalism implementation of the projects. in which Centre, State and Local 255. Accordingly, Vigilance and Anti- Governments are equal partners in Corruption Bureau, is enforcing the the development efforts. The State anti-corruption laws and efficiently has recently celebrated 25 years of redressing the complaints of the democratic decentralisation. This is public. The Vigilance and Anti- an example of tiers of Government corruption Bureau is adopting the functioning in co-operation and latest technology, modernizing its harmony and not as parts of a offices and improving its intelligence pyramidal structure. It is this vision surveillance mechanism. that has led my Government to advocate restructuring of Centre- 256. During 2020-21, the Vigilance and State relations. My Government Anti-Corruption Bureau has completed believes in fostering the spirit of the digitization of administration, new constitutional ethos and uphold the office buildings at Idukki, Palakkad values of the freedom movement like and Kannur Districts, and established democracy, secularism, and right to the Cyber Cell at the Vigilance fruits of development by everyone Headquarters. in our society. My Government is 257. During the financial year 2021- committed to transform them into 22, the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption reality. Bureau is envisaging to complete the JAI HIND construction of Training Centres at
58 June 2021
Industry
KSIDC: A ONE STOP SOURCE FOR INVESTORS
he Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has played a key role in promoting, facilitating and Tfinancing large and medium scale industries in Kerala since its inception in 1961. KSIDC was incorporated with an aim to accelerate the physical and social infrastructure development of the State through industry and investment promotion and has been widely lauded as the premier nodal agency for any investment into the State. KSIDC is a one-stop source for investors looking for opportunities in the state as it offers a wide array of services including support for developing business ideas into
M.G. RAJAMANICKAM IAS Managing Director, KSIDC
60 June 2021 Business Incubation Centres is an innovative project of KSIDC to develop a fertile environment for the development of Start-ups which is further supported by mentoring sessions & seed funding.
June 2021 61 viable projects, assistance in KIMS Hospital, Le-Meridien Hotel, conducting feasibility studies, Crown Plaza, Apollo Tyres and many financial products tailor made for others. different types of investments, SERVICES AND STATUS infrastructure facilities, facilitating timely approvals & clearances KSIDC has always taken the lead to handholding the investor as the all-weather partner for from project conceptualization industrialists with a target of to commissioning. Business achieving key objectives of ensuring Incubation Centres is an innovative a balanced and sustainable economic project of KSIDC to develop a fertile growth of the state and enabling environment for the development a thriving business community. of Start-ups which is further The plethora of services offered by supported by mentoring sessions & KSIDC has always ensured timely seed funding. empowerment and assistance to the entrepreneurs in the State towards The corporation has so far ensuring business prosperity. A birds promoted more than 750 projects eye view of KSIDC is given below: in the State and has played a vital role in the setting up of pioneering a) Financial Performance: KSIDC organizations such as Cochin has consistently been one among International Airport Limited, Kerala the best performers among the Minerals & Metals Ltd, Nitta Gelatin various Public Sector Undertakings India Ltd., Geojit BNP Paribas of the State Government, in terms of Financial Services Ltd., Lakeshore its revenue generation, profitability, Hospital& Research Centre Ltd, sustainable operations etc.
62 June 2021 Projects sanctions, Disbursement and Recovery achieved for the past six years: Rs in Crores Financial Operating Number of Investment Sanction Disbursement Recovery year Profit units 2015 – ‘16 49.87 15 2093.12**** 86.65 63.22 118.17
2016 – ‘17 34.17 13 191.71 85.82 64.07 75.58
2017 – ‘18 33.61 20 194.41 149.47 71.70 81.41
2018 – ‘19 42.65 14 309.31 120.66 64.18 85.47
2019 – ‘20 41.79* 24 334.70 304.51 85.78 90.50
2020 – ‘21 12.77** 25 422.00 349.36 311.83 80.57
b) Seed fund sanction and disbursement:
Financial Year Sanction (Rs.) Disbursement (Rs.) No. of Companies 2015-16 6,22,50,000 2,35,25,000 31 2016-17 3,20,00,000 1,93,90,692 14 2017-18 8,81,00,000 3,66,88,381 40 2018-19 1,63,00,000 2,90,60,942 8 2019-20 2,95,96,000 1,89,23,720 16 2020-21* -- 22,28,000 -- Total 22,82,46,000 12,16,78,777 109
c) Project Infrastructure: Medical Devices Park: KSIDC, as a joint initiative with the 1) Life Sciences Park: A Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for dedicated park for the Life Medical Sciences and Technology Sciences sector is being set (SCTIMST), has conceived a Rs. up by KSIDC in 206 acres of 260 Crore project for setting up a land (Phase I: 75 acres & Phase Medical Devices Park (MedSpark) in II: 131 acres) at Thonnakkal, 9 acres of land in the Life Sciences Thiruvananthapuram. Park (Phase-I). Foundation stone Infrastructure development work was laid on September 2020 and for Phase-1 has been completed the project would be completed by and 18 acres has been allotted March 2022. in Phase-1 for various projects. The Phase-1A of Institute of 2) Mega Food Park, Cherthala: Advanced Virology project has KSIDC has established a Mega become operational in Life Food Park at Pallipuram, Cherthala. Sciences Park. The major thrust is on processing
June 2021 63 and export of sea food items standard design factory building of & pre-processing centers (PPC) 20000 sq.ft, Common facility centre, at Thoppumpady, Vypeen, & and a Ware House building of 9000 Munambam. A total of 5 units are in sq.feet have been constructed at operation and land has been allotted Mega Food Park. to another 22 units.
3) Industrial Growth Centers
Specification IGC, Kannur IGC, Kozhikode IGC, Alappuzha KIZ, Palakkad
Number of units 59 72 53 6
d) Investment Promotion: the Act will issue the clearances for the enterprises. The licenses 1) Ease of Doing Business: granted will have a validity of 5 a) Kerala Investment Promotion years provided the units submit and Facilitation Act, 2018- Omnibus a certificate intimating the CEO legislation for eliminating redundant of the Bureau, the compliance of regulations, simplification of all provisions of the Acts & Rules, clearance procedures, reduction in within one year. timelines for clearances, established d) Kerala Single Window Interface Standard Operating Procedures. for Fast and Transparent clearance b) Kerala Micro Small Medium (KSWIFT) portal: Online single Enterprises Facilitation Act, 2019- window clearance portal for Legislation permitting units, with an enterprises / entrepreneurs to investment of less than Rs. 10 crores obtain requisite clearances from and not falling under Red category, 18 Departments / Agencies in the to establish and function in the State State. without taking any licenses under e) Invest Kerala Portal: This portal State Rules for a period of 3 years, acts as a single touch point for all based on self- declaration. The units investment needs of an investor may obtain licences within a period viz., designated Sector leads, all of 3 years and 6 months. fiscal incentives, land bank details, c) Kerala Micro Small Medium SOPs, guidelines etc. Enterprises Facilitation (Amendment) f) IBPMS: Intelligent Building Plan Ordinance, 2020 – a legislation Management System is a software permitting enterprises other than portal for submitting application MSMEs and not falling under RED for building plan approval, before category, to establish and function LSGIs. There is provision for in the State without taking any remitting fees and getting the licenses under State Rules for a approval online. period of 1 year. The Investment Facilitation Bureau constituted under g) Call Center: Invest Kerala
64 June 2021 Helpdesk is a one stop place where 2017. The summit titled “YES-3D” an entrepreneur can get clarifications with the theme Disrupt, Discover on all aspects related to setting up an and Develop. The summit provided industry. Queries related to funding, an ideal platform for Start Up infrastructure and clearances. Entrepreneurs and selected student innovators from across the state to h) Other initiatives: Investor Konnect learn and understand the various monthly newsletter covers industry stages of enterprise development related news, entrepreneur profiles, and to interact with successful facts and figures related to industry, start-up entrepreneurs across the etc. country. 2) Single Window Clearance: e) Kannur Natural Rubber The State level, the Board is chaired by Products Private Limited: Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala, Government of Kerala and Managing Director, Kerala State had proposed to set up a Industrial Development Corporation manufacturing unit at Kannur for Ltd. (KSIDC) is the Convenor. A total rubber based products including of 12 meetings of the Kerala State gloves, with a view to promote Single Window Clearance Board have rubber based industry. The said been held during the tenure of this manufacturing unit was envisaged Government. In the past five years, to be set up in 3 acres of land in clearances have been issued to 29 KINFRA Industrial Park, Mattanur. projects with an investment outlay of KSIDC has established a company over Rs. 3,600 Crores. named ‘Kannur Natural Rubber Products Private Limited’ (KNRPPL). 3) Events: The foundation stone has been Two editions of ASCEND: laid and further necessary works are being completed in a timely ASCEND KERALA 2019 was aimed at manner . propagating the earnest and proactive steps taken by the State Government f) Development of Integrated in creating a hassle free environment Solid Waste Management for doing business for both existing Projects with Waste to Energy & potential entrepreneurs. ASCEND Plants: Govt. of Kerala accorded KERALA 2019 was held on 11.02.2019. sanction to set up Integrated Solid ‘ASCEND KERALA 2020’ was held waste Management Projects with on 09.01.2020 and 10.01.2020 Waste to Energy Plants at identified showcasing 100-plus projects across locations in Trivandrum, Kollam, various sectors. The event witnessed Trichur, Palakkad, Malappuram, expressions of interest by way of Kozhikode and Kannur districts MOUs and LOIs to the tune of Rs. 1 through DBFOT basis under Public lakh crores. Private Partnership mode. Work awarded for setting up projects in Young Entrepreneur Summit Kozhikode, Palakkad, Kollam and The third edition of Young Kannur districts. Entrepreneurs Summit was held in
June 2021 65