More job avenues, UDF's main poll plank: PM

Kozhikode, Apr 20 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said Kerala needed more investment paving the way for rapid industrialisation and thus creating more job avenues in the state.

Addressing a largely-attended election meeting at Payyoli, near here, he said the main poll plank of the Congress-led UDF in the state was more job for the unemployed youth preventing them from going elsewhere looking for vocation.

Dr Singh said the UDF was committed to this goal by attracting more investment in various sectors for all-round development of the state.

Assuring that the Centre would sympathetically consider the state's request for Central aid, he said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had cleared many projects such as the Ezhymala Naval Academy and the Kannur airport.

Dr Singh said his government had the credit of formulating separate ministries for overseas Indians and minorities to look after their interests.

Hailing the Keralites employed in the Middle-East, he said they needed special appreciation for contributing the precious foreign exchange to the excheuqer by their hardwork.

The newly created ministry under Mr Vayalar Ravi from Kerala had been entrusted with the task of drawing up plans to look after the welfare of the Non-Resident Indians, particularly Malayalees, working abroad he said.

Dr Singh said his government was committed to improve bilateral relations with the Gulf nations in order to provide a conducive working condition in the Gulf countries.

As part of this policy King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia had attended the Republic Day celebrations at New Delhi as chief guest this year on India's invitation.

He said UPA government was the first in history to set up a separate ministry for minorities in the country.

Claiming that UDF government in Kerala during the last five years had initiated many progressive schemes aimed at creating more job avenues, eradicate poverty and ensure the rapid economic development of the state.

Another milestone of the government was the sanctioning of 80 new engineering colleges providing higher education to as many as 12,000 students.

This step enabled students, who earlier went to other states, to continue higher education in the state itself, Dr Singh said.

The Prime Minister said Kerala, which excelled in education and health sector, had the potential of becoming the 'knowledge' capital of the country.

The UDF government was also able to save the state from financial bankruptcy by adopting forward looking policies and was committed to provide world class infrastructure paving the way for industrialisation and to create job opportunities.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Union Minister C H Muniappa, Congress Working Committee member M Veerappa Moily and KPCC President Ramesh Chennithala were also present.

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