Kerala on Tuesday solicited Central support for its Navakeralam action plan and for the proposed Kovalam-Kasaragod National Waterway at a meeting with NITI Aayog officials in New Delhi.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac, and Chief Secretary Nalini Netto were among those who argued Kerala’s case. Mr. Vijayan pointed out that the Centre owed Kerala ₹700 crore under an employment guarantee scheme.
On the health front, it was the aim of the government to tackle lifestyle diseases. Along with that efforts were also on to raise the standards on the public health front. Huge investment was required for this, a press note issued here said.
Under the Harithakeralam mission, waterbodies were being sought to be rejuvenated. Under the Life Mission, five-lakh houses were proposed to be built for the homeless. Compared to other States, Kerala was facing next generation problems. Therefore, the Centre should be liberal in helping Kerala, the press note said.
Once the national waterway was in place, it was expected that congestion on the State’s roads would come down as would atmospheric pollution. NITI Aayog member V.K. Saraswath told the meeting that Kerala’s request for funds was genuine and that he would take up the matter with the Centre.
Mr. Vijayan wanted the Centre to set up a Coimbatore-Kochi industrial corridor. Now the Centre had okayed the Chennai-Bengaluru corridor. Mr. Vijayan told the meeting that Kerala had decided to construct a petrochemical complex in Kochi on completion of the expansion of the Kochi refinary.
Central aid was required for this scheme also. It was also on the basis of the Prime Minister’s advise that Kerala decided to set up an international Ayurveda institute in Kannur. The State also planned to put in place three electronic hardware parks, including one in Kochi.
The Chief Minister registered his opposition to the granting of project under the Atal Innovation Mission to private schools. Aid should be given to the public sector and not to the private sector.
Kerala had made whatever progress it had with the help of government and aided schools, Mr. Vijayan told the meeting. Mr. Saraswath said he would consider Kerala’s demand on this front.
Even though Kerala had been able to keep starvation at bay, lack of nutrition was a problem faced by Kerala’s children. Central aid was needed to tackle this too, Mr. Vijayan said.
Aayog member in charge of Kerala Yogeswari and Aayog director Neeraj Singhal were present.
