Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs K.V. Thomas said here on Saturday that the expected level of infrastructure development in Kerala, especially roads, would be possible only with the cooperation of both the LDF and the UDF.
Inaugurating the entrepreneur excellence award presentation ceremony of the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here, the Minister said Kerala was still continuing with the discussion on the required width of the proposed National Highway widening plan. “This has become an embarrassing matter for people’s representatives who visit Delhi for administrative purposes,” he remarked.
Explaining the untapped potential in the Kerala’s tourism, education and health sectors, Mr. Thomas said, it was high time the people of Kerala stopped opposing developmental ventures. “It is only in Kerala that there would be at least one hartal in one location everyday,” he said.
The Minister said the State was still dependent on primitive means of checking inter-State goods transport through check posts.
“At no place have we introduced modern scanners at check posts,” he said.
Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty said that the expected level of development would never be possible with just a tie-up of the LDF and the UDF.
“For that, the mindset of society should change first,” he observed.
According to Mr. Kunhalikutty, there were constant efforts on the part of the government to accelerate the industrial growth and investment in Kerala.
“All those failed due to the negative political mindset of the people. In the new scenario, Kerala’s development would be possible only with a younger generation without a negative mentality,” he observed.
The Minister also explained the efforts taken by his department to encourage possible industrial ventures by Keralites in foreign countries.
“The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation has opened a special window for the purpose after identifying a list of countries, where the development ventures could be undertaken,” he added.
Former Industries Minister Elamaram Karim and office-bearers of KCCI were present at the function
Awards presented
The entrepreneur excellence awards of KCCI were presented to Dr. K.G. Alexander, Chairman of Baby Memorial Hospital; P. Ramesh, president of Uralungal Labour Contract Society; and P. Sulaiman, Chairman of Hilite Builders. The new office-bearers of the organisation were also installed at the function.
