This term's focus on upliftment of poor, revamping higher education: CM Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Pinarayi Vijayan who was sworn in as the Kerala Chief Minister on Thursday said that the party's prime focus in the successive term would be on the upliftment of the poorest of the poor.

Beginning his historic second consecutive term as Chief Minister, Vijayan in the first cabinet meeting said that the biggest advantage is that it is for the first time, the Left government is getting a successive term which also means that it can continue its policies.

"The policies of the Left when in office were diluted when a new government assumed office in every election. This time we are back and we will build on our first five-year term and give prime importance to ensure that the weaker sections are integrated into our development scheme.," he said.

In order to ensure total development, the CM assured that a survey will be conducted soon to identify the weaker section of people so that proper programmes can be formulated for them.

"Another area where a lot of significance would be given would be for a revamp of the higher education sector and it would be made one which will be able to find employment for our youths. IT sector is one which is expected to propel the job market and we plan to double the output from the IT sector," he added.

Vijayan said that their manifesto has 50 segments and 900 promises and "we will be following that as we did in our first term when we were able to achieve 580 of the 600 promises that were made then".

He said that a Smart Kitchen Programme to ease the burden of women will be taken up besides ensuring a package for domestic help.

The new ministry, for the first time, includes three women Ministers -- R. Bindhu and Veena George from the CPI-M and J.Chinchurani from the CPI.