PROGRESS REPORT OF PINARAYI VIJAYAN GOVERNMENT May 2016-May 2019 Progress of Implementation of Programmes Promised by the Government Information-Public Relations Department Government of Kerala English PROGRESS REPORT OF PINARAYI VIJAYAN GOVERNMENT (Progress of Implementation of Programmes Promised by the Government) Chief Editor: U.V. Jose IAS Director, I&PRD Coordinating Editor: K.Santhosh Kumar Additional Director, I&PRD Deputy Chief Editor: K.P. Saritha Deputy Director (Publications) Editor: C. Rajesh Assistant Editor: P.K. Velayudhan Assistant Information Offficer: A. Anchitha Cover: Godfrey's Graphics Layout & Design: Maya Santhosh Distribution: Unnikrishnan Kunnath Information Officer, (Circulation & Distribution) Printing: Government Press, Mannathala,Thiruvananthapuram Printer & Publisher: Director, I&PRD, Govt. of Kerala Copies: 500 For free distribution 2019 August 14 FOREWORD he LDF Election Manifesto had given word to the people of Kerala that every year they would be provided an account of the extent to which the promises made during the time of elections have been kept. The publication of this TProgress Report seeks to fulfil that assurance. The Government has been publishing such Annual Progress Reports every year. People have the right to know how many of the election promises have been implemented. The Progress Report upholds and justifies such a democratic viewpoint. And with this act, the state of Kerala, which has served as a model to the rest of India in several fields, has taken another step forward. The formulation of an Election Manifesto on the basis of opinions solicited from the people was itself a progressive initiative. Needless to say, it was influenced largely by the views and needs that had crystallized during those circumstances. With the passage of time, many new problems came up. As a result, some of the plans had to be changed or expanded according to necessity before they were implemented. The Government has had to face many unprecedented challenges during this span of time. The Ockhi disaster that decimated the coastal regions of Kerala and the outbreak of Nipah viral infection occurred last year. But it was during the third year that the state suffered the most devastating flood of the century. The same period witnessed the foisting of demonetization and GST, regressive acts that delivered a body blow to the process of resource-mobilization in the state. Even amidst these crises, the Government was involved in activities aimed towards fulfilling its promises to the people. An examination of this Progress Report will make it amply clear. The Election Manifesto contained a Plan of Action geared towards creating a secular, corruption-free and developed Kerala. The Government has taken sincere steps to implement it, made interventions to move forward by preserving the State’s Renaissance values and secular tradition, and attempted to enhance production and productivity by harnessing information from all around the world. It has also worked to improve the lives of people by ensuring a just distribution of resources. The Progress Report has evaluated the advancements made in the implementation of 600 promises spelt out in the Election Manifesto. Precisely for that reason, only those issues that have been included in the Election Manifesto have been broadly mentioned in this document. The Government has done much more. Mention has PROGRESS REPORT OF PINARAYI VIJAYAN GOVERNMENT 3 been made of a few of those actions in the course of this report. This Government has two more years to complete its tenure. It is hopeful of fulfilling the promises made to the people within this span, and making further progress. Plans of Action have been prepared for the purpose, and nearly all the preparations are in place. The Progress Report is a document that the people of Kerala should read. For that reason, its online version will be published in the Government website. If opinions regarding the Progress Report are conveyed via email or post, it will be possible for the Government to examine and implement them also more effectively. I am hopeful of full co-operation in this regard. Affectionately yours Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister 24.05.2019 4 PROGRESS REPORT OF PINARAYI VIJAYAN GOVERNMENT CONTENTS Agriculture 7 Plantation crops 16 Animal husbandry 18 Fisheries 21 Environment 26 Traditional industries 33 Coir 33 Cashew 34 Handloom 36 Khadi and Village industries 38 Traditional industries 38 Modern industries 41 Construction sector 45 Commercial sector 46 Public Sector 47 Information Technology based Industries 48 Bio-technology related industries 53 Nanotechnology 54 Tourism 54 Development of Cities 58 Development of Malabar 59 Electricity 61 Transport 64 Irrigation 71 Drinking water 75 Waste disposal 78 Health 81 General education 94 Higher education 100 Social security 104 Child care 106 Housing 107 Public distribution 108 Immigrant labour 111 Senior citizens 112 Transgender Issue 113 PROGRESS REPORT OF PINARAYI VIJAYAN GOVERNMENT 5 Differently-abled 113 Welfare of the Scheduled Caste 115 Welfare of the Scheduled Tribe 118 Converted Christian 122 Welfare of Backward classes 122 Welfare of the minorities 122 Forward communities development corporation 123 Women’s status and development 123 Kudumbasree 127 Co-operative sector 129 Welfare of youth 131 Democratic Decentralization 132 Welfare of expatriates 136 Arts, Culture, Media 140 Malayalam and language terminology 144 Sports 146 Corruption-free Kerala 150 Police & maintenance of law and order 151 Abkari policy 154 Finance 156 Labour policy 161 Reservation policy 161 Administrative reforms 162 The policies proclaimed by the Government 165 Beyond the promises Post-flood rescue operations and rebuild 166 Emergency Assistance 166 Rebuild Kerala World Reconstruction Conference – Chief Minister’s Speech 171 KIIFB for resource mobilization 174 Firm steps 175 Other major projects, activities 175 Awards and accolades 177 Epilogue 178 6 PROGRESS REPORT OF PINARAYI VIJAYAN GOVERNMENT PROGRESS REPORT OF THE PINARAYI VIJAYAN GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURE Special agricultural regions were set apart in 1 A. Attainment of self-sufficiency in veg- etable production. Launch of People’s Kanthalloor and Vattavada, the major vegetable campaign with focus on organic vegeta- producing centres of the state. Incentives were bles. devised to encourage production. A Kerala Gramin Bank branch was opened at Vattava- The Department of Agriculture and Green Ker- da. “Harita Card” was instituted to make loans ala Mission are conducting a People’s Campaign available to farmers at low interest rates. In in a bid to encourage organic farming. Success 2018-’19, two crore seed packets and vegetable has been achieved in introducing vegetable saplings were distributed. farming in barren lands, and implementing spe- cial projects to make organic vegetables avail- B. Introduction of Organic Vegetable able during festival seasons. Vegetable markets Farming in 50,000 hectares. Assurance named “Onathinu Oru Muram Pachakkari” [A of Floor Price for Vegetables procured Winnowful of Vegetables for Onam] and “Vi- through Farmers’ Producer Company shukkani” [Vishu Spectacle] were organized ex- and Horticulture Corporation. tensively. Vegetable production increased from Cultivation of vegetables and bananas is flour- 6.5 lakh metric tonnes to 10.12 lakh metric ishing in more than 50,000 hectares, following tonnes. In comparison with 2015-’16, farming organic farming principles and the best agri- was extended to 22,500 acres, recording an in- cultural protocols. More than 460 eco-shops crease of 3.5 lakh tonnes of vegetables. were opened for encouraging organic farming. PROGRESS REPORT OF PINARAYI VIJAYAN GOVERNMENT 7 Vegetables, cultivated exclusively along organic and 1.5 crore seed packets were distributed in farming lines in the state, were procured at high 2018-’19. prices and distributed under the “Kerala Or- B. Encouragement of Urban Farming. ganic” brand. As part of that scheme, four lakh metric tonnes of vegetables were additionally “Harita Nagari” [Green City] Project was im- produced. Under the Comprehensive Vegeta- plemented in cities. Terrace gardens were en- ble Farming Development Project, a field sur- couraged and popularized. A total of 74 “Har- vey was undertaken and a Preliminary Proposal ita Groups” were formed among residential drafted in order to establish vegetable produc- associations, and 4859 domestic waste disposal tion companies. units installed. As part of this project, 63 lakh families were given vegetable packets, and 1, 20, A project named “Onasamrdhi” [Onam Pros- 918 grow bag units (one unit = 25 grow bags) perity] was launched during Onam season in the distributed at subsidized rates. Seeds, saplings past three years, under the joint auspices of the and production facilities were offered so that 1, Department of Agriculture, Horticorp and V. F. 12, 271 grow bag units distributed in the pre- P. C. K., to ensure just price for vegetables. Be- vious years could be used to restart cultivation. sides this, fruit and vegetable markets under the A project was implemented for treating of waste label “Vishukkani’ [Vishu Spectacle] was orga- water (Rs 10 lakhs) for vegetable farming in nized during Vishu season. Farmers were paid apartment blocks and houses. 10 % and 20 % more than prevailing rates for procuring native vegetables and organic vegeta- 3 A. Increase of area of paddy fields to 3 bles respectively. In a bid to control high pric- lakh hectares, Enhancement of Produc- ing,