The State Cabinet has decided to go ahead with its proposals for preparing a Vision 2030 plan aimed at Kerala’s comprehensive development.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that a draft plan on Vision 2030 would be prepared by the National Council of Allied Economic Research, which had given a presentation to the Cabinet members and other senior government officials and Planning Board members on Wednesday morning.
He said that the attempt would be to change the current practice of focusing on development based on the Five-Year Plans. Vision 2030 would cover the duration of the next four Five-Year Plans. He said that the draft plan would be put on public domain, online government web sites and in the social media to enable all sections to express their opinions on it.
A special presentation would be made for the members of the Legislature during the up-coming Assembly session. Students, youths, and college youth forums would get an opportunity to express their views.
The draft plan would be circulated among political parties to elicit their views. The main focus would be on taking the next generation into confidence, he said. When asked about the thrust areas, he said that the draft plan which would be ready by May would be able to throw more light on it, but the idea was to ensure all-round development.
The Cabinet decided to convert the Forward Community Welfare Commission into a permanent statutory body and directed the Law Department to prepare the law to achieve this purpose.
It also approved salary revision for the employees of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Welfare Corporation.
Land for Metro Rail
Another major decision related to the release of 17.315 acres of the 33 acres of land under the possession of the Public Works Department in Kakkanad in Kochi to the Kochi Metro Rail Corporation. The land would be given at a market rate which was estimated to be Rs.83 crore.
The Cabinet sanctioned the creation of 96 posts in 11 VHSE schools and the Special School at Jagathy under the Health Department.
In order to facilitate better utilisation of MLAs’ and MPs’ local area development funds, the Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak Yojana funds and the Rural Infrastructure Development fund, it had been decided to create one post of assistant engineer in each development block through which these schemes were being implemented.
Science City
The Cabinet also decided to release 20 acres of land belonging to the Kuruvilangad Agriculture Farm for establishing a Science City.
The government would also take over the late Sukumar Azhikode’s house and property at a cost of Rs.51.25 lakh. This would be converted into a memorial and would house his collection of books, the Chief Minister said.
Package for RTC
With regard to the crisis in the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Mr. Chandy said that the results of his Delhi visit would be known only in a few days’ time.
The State government had announced a bail out package for the KSRTC.
The Chief Secretary had been asked to submit a proposal in this regard.
When asked whether the government felt that the KSRTC should be restructured, he said that the government wanted to take suitable steps to ensure efficient services of the RTC which was an important public utility servicing lakhs of people.
