Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday announced a 100-day ambitious developmental action plan to tide over the COVID-19-triggered economic slowdown.
He announced major public work construction projects to create more jobs. The action plan also aimed at further increasing the State’s health care, education, production and skill building capacities. The government would create a knowledge-based economy. It would eradicate extreme poverty and provide housing for the homeless. He announced massive solid waste and raw sewage management schemes for cities.
The 100-day action plan includes projects worth Rs.2,464.92 crore through the Public Works Department, Rebuild Kerala Initiative and the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board. K-DISC is completing an ambitious project of providing employment to 20 lakh educated people. All local bodies will prepare a draft plan to create employment for five persons out of 1,000 people.
Approximately 77,350 direct and indirect job opportunities will be created in 100 days. These includes 10,000 jobs in the Department of Industries, Cooperation 10,000, Kudumbashree 2,000, Kerala Financial Corporation 2,000, Kerala Stat Women Development Corporation 2,500, Backward Development Corporation 2,500, Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation 2,500, IT sector - Zone 1,000, Local Self-Government Department 7,000 (inclusive of 5,000 opportunities under the Young Women Entrepreneurship Programme and 2,000 in micro enterprises), Health Department 4,142 (indirectly), Animal Husbandry Department 350 (indirectly), and 7,500 in the Transport Department. The Revenue Department will employ 26,000 surveyors and chainman as part of the village resurvey activities.
Loans worth ₹ 5,898 crore have been sanctioned from international financial institutions such as the World Bank, German bank KFW and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for the Rebuild Kerala Initiative (RKI). “When the State share is added, ₹8,425 crore will be available for RKI projects. In the next 100 days, nine road projects worth ₹945.35 crore will be started using RKI funds.” In addition, the Public Works Department will complete projects worth ₹1,519.57 crore in these 100 days. KIIFB funded road-bridge projects worth ₹200.10 crore will be inaugurated within these 100 days.
The Agriculture Department has started the distribution of seeds for cultivating vegetables for Onam. Organic farming will be started on 25,000 hectares. Hundred Urban Street Market will be opened during this period. As many as 25 lakh fruit and vegetable saplings will be distributed and 150 Farmers Producers Associations will be set up. The Cashew Board will provide 8,000 tonnes of cashew nuts and take steps to create 100 working days.
The government also aims to distribute 12,000 land title deeds during these 100 days. Several IT initiatives will be launched for accessing government services. The Life Mission will complete 10,000 more houses. Some 50,000 laptops will be distributed under the Vidyasree scheme. The Nilav project will be started in 200 grama panchayats.
He informed that this is not a complete list of projects to be implemented within 100 days. “All the projects under the 100-day action plan and their details will be published by the respective departments”.
