The government has accelerated its infrastructure development programmes to match the progress it has made in sectors such as education and health, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.
He was on Wednesday addressing a group of 17 students from the Kansas University School of Business and Colorado University who are visiting the Asian School of Business here as part of their study abroad programme.
“Despite out achievements in social and health sectors, we have considerable ground to cover in terms of infrastructure. So, we are now concentrating on large, economically beneficial projects such as Vizhinjam Port, SmartCity, and Kannur international airport,” a press note issued here quoted Mr. Chandy as saying during the half-hour interaction at the Cliff House, his official residence.
In response to a student’s query about the cochlear implantation project, Mr. Chandy said the State government was committed to pushing ahead with it despite the financial crisis. Till last week, 468 children had undergone this surgery, he said.
On his Mass Contact programme, the Chief Minister said the strength of a democracy was the confidence of the people. “I believe that the executive and the people must have a very close connection. And when I go to the people, I get first-hand feedback,” he said.
One of the challenges that Kerala faced was its ageing population, he said. “We are not in a position to increase the age of retirement, as there are nearly 30 lakh people waiting out there for employment,” he said. He said he believed raising the age of retirement would lower opportunities for youth.
