Highlights of Governor's policy speech in Assembly on Jan 22

Governor P. Sathasivam on Monday addressed the Assembly on the opening day of the Budget session, outlining the policy of the CPI(M)-led LDF government in the State.

Highlights of his 89-minute speech:

- Kerala Model Achievements: Kerala has been rated high in Human Development indices by UN, India Today, Centre for Media Studies, Public Affairs Centre, Kerala. Kerala Police bagged the Police Excellence Award from 'Cops Today lnternational'. Declared 'Open Defecation Free', 100% electrification, Population-proportionate allocation for SC/ST in the budget.

- Internet access was declared a right in Kerala; lowest infant mortality rates, highest sex ratio, highest health and life indices, one of the highest foreign remittances, presence of modern roads in villages, availability of free education, access to free health.

- Women's domains: reintroduced gender budgeting with a share of 16% in the State's previous budget. Also moving towards increasing the strength of women in our police force to 25%. A dedicated battalion consisting of only women; police stations entirely run by women.

- Labour: Highest minimum wage in the country.Migrant labour from other states; innovative health insurance scheme fo them. Treated on a par with those from home state.

- GST has 'resulted in serious abridgement of the fiscal powers of the state government... The demonetisation and the inlrcduction of GST in an inappropriate manner and time has resulted in serious deceleration in theeconomy and mounting unempbyment."

- The Harithakeralam mission aims to promote cultivation of safe bod, sanitation, waste management and sustainable developmenl of water resources.

- ICT infrastrure in schools will be upgraded.

- Livelihood Inclusion and Financial Empowement to provide 4.32 people with safe housing. Will complete 66,939 unfinished houses across Kerala. Already 2000 completed. Besides, 12336 completed under various departments.

- 'Freedom fromWaste Campaign' launched in August 2017, in 300 local self-governments.

- Will focus on social stewardship, with a philosophy of investing in people. Will work in sectors such as food and civil supplies, education, health law & order and security.

- Will introduce a 'Teachers Minimum Wages Act' to ensurebasic remuneration and attracl the best minds to the teaching profession.

- Government actively considedng establishing a 'World Skills Lyceum' under the Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), with a view to tap the state's 'Democratic Dividend.'

- Health: targeting eradication of leprosy by 2020 and tuberculosis by 2025. Establish the first 'Child and Adolesc€nt Cars Centre' in the Ayurveda ssctor in Kozhikode and ophthalmic and ENT super speciatty hospital in Kannur.

- Sports: A Special Purpose Vehicle (SpV) called 'sports Infrastructure Management Services Company' for creating quality sports infrastructure and operating the same in a sustainable mode.

- Tourism: 'The New Tourism Policy' 2Ol7 focuses on achieving a 100% increase in foreign tourists as also 50% increase in domestic tourists. -

- ICT: 1000 public Wi-Fi hotspots are planned during 2018-19.

- Electricity: Will promote electrical vehicles in the state.

- Revenue: Proposes to complele digital survey in all 1664 villages in the state by outsourcing the digital survey to competent agencies. Mutation, or 'Pokkuvaravu', will be 100% online in all villages of lhe State by March, 2018. Remittance of the tax by the public shall algo be made online. All certiticates issued by the Village Ofiicer will be digital and linked together through digital locker.