The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has announced the anxiously awaited Plan-of-Action for the financial year. In his address to the state assembly marking the beginning of the budget session, Kerala Governor R.L. Bhatia announced a slew of programs intended by his government to set right the chaotic situation of the state. 

The announced plan-of-action was the most awaited event both by the government and the public. The leftists came to power riding the trust of the people. Public genuinely expected that the party of the common men led by V.S. Achudanandan would bring relief to the poverty stricken people from the agricultural and allied sector. However, contrary to the rhetoric against the previous Govt, LDF rule couldn’t do much in its past ten months of governing and were evidently drifting away from their proclaimed goal of overall development. 

It was not that the King and his ministers were sleeping on their concerned thrones but actually they had no time left after solving their internal and external problems arising one after another due to their and the former governments inefficiency such as the KSTP mess up (Kerala state transport project), Mullaperiyar issue, clash with self-financing colleges, internal group wars and the latest the ADB (Asian development bank) issue. 

The Plan-of-action was drawn up to reassure the public of the commitment of the government towards its proclaimed goals. On that front, plan has undoubtedly achieved its aim by earning the applause both from common men and the economic and political experts. The plan includes many programmes to address all the major problems of the state right from the grass root level. Some of the major plans are as below;
 

The agricultural and allied sector which has been at the brink of a major disaster is rightly identified as areas that need urgent attention.  
 

Wayanad is planned to be developed into a major center of milk production with NRI participation. A scheme to create Poultry villages to step-up egg production is also on track. Interest-free loans will be provided to 40000 fishermen and hundred model fish markets to be set up at selected centers. ’MATSYA DHENU’, a comprehensive insurance scheme is announced to benefit the fisher folk and families. Among the above, ‘HARITHASHREE’ can be the most influential if implemented effectively. Kerala is right now very much depended on Tamil Nadu for its vegetables which means a strike there will make malayalees to resort to ‘chatney’. 

Considering the plight of the agricultural sector, number of programmes announced for this sector is never too much. The schemes are planned to give equal importance both to agricultural activity and farmers. The re-christening of Department of Agriculture to Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare says it all. Governor attributed the current price rise to the central polices. He also assured the public that necessary steps will be taken including direct purchase of essentials right from the production centers outside the state to tackle the situation. 

Industrial Sector to be developed:

The industrial sector also has got their due with a lot new projects planned to be implemented in the coming year. The government plans to set up an Electronic Hub at Kochi and a Spices Park in Idukki. A Biotechnology Park and an Electronics Corridor would be established in Kochi and a health and Textile Corridor at Palakkad. A Telecom city capable of providing 6000 new employment opportunities will be set up by the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO). A Knowledge park with world class facilities is planned for Calicut by the Kerala Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA).

Government proves its commitment towards the youth and children by a set of schemes such as setting up a Medical University and a Open University. The State Youth Welfare Board would launch a ‘Planned Self-Employment’ scheme by operating ‘Self-Employment Exchanges’ at the Grama Panchayat level. A chain of youth hostels would be built in the districts. 

A youth brigade named “Yuva-Sena’ constituted to deal with disaster Management and a scheme named ‘Sanaadha Balyam’ implemented for the deprived and destitute adolescents including street children, orphans, inmates of care homes, and Juvenile homes. Governor also promised that the government would soon come out with a Public Health Policy, State Womens Policy and IT Policy.

In words, all these things looks good and in fact politicians are great in planning things. They will make you believe that they will bring heaven down in their tenure but mostly it all ends up in Hell. The plans are great. Implementing at least a 50% of them successfully, will bring new hope to all the sectors of the state. Let’s wait and watch.