LDF to revive PSUs, Agriculture and IT sectors

Thiruvananthapuram, June 16 (UNI) The Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government in Kerala today announced it would replace 'neo-liberal policies' with welfare-oriented ones for all round progress and for the revival of the public, agriculture, traditional and IT sectors.

Addressing the opening session of the 12th Assembly, Governor R L Bhatia said the neo-liberal turn in government polices, both at the Centre and the State, had damaged the welfare apparatus and the LDF government was determined to correct deviations of the recent past.

The Governor also announced the LDF Government's commitment to strengthen decentralisation and other pro-poor measures.

In the IT sector, the LDF Government promised to create two lakh direct and six lakh indirect jobs during the next five years. But it was silent on the issue of allowing Dubai Internet City to set up Smart City in Kochi, a pet project of the previous United Democratic Front Government. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan was not in favour of the conditions put forward by it.

In his nearly 90-minute address, the Governor criticised the previous UDF Government for the crisis in the sectors of agriculture, traditional industries, fisheries and finance.

Reacting, the Opposition UDF described the address as disappointing and lacking in clear policies and programmes. Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Oommen Chandy also criticised the government for making no commitment on waiving additional sales tax on petrol and diesel, and on unemployment.

The Governor said the LDF government was committed to reviving viable public sector industries by taking a series of measures like extending one-time assistance, technology upgradation, injection of fresh capital and improving the standards of corporate governance.

Recognising the need for world class and state-of-the art infrastructure as essential for rapid industrialisation of the state, he said the government proposed to float a public limited company on the model of the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL).

The government along with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and the Kerala Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) would have substantial percentage of share holdings in the proposed company.

The government also proposed to tap vast potential of Non-Resident Keralites to raise the balance share capital. The company would build quality infrastructure required to attract high-tech industires.

The government would give the highest priority to tackling the agrarian crisis in the state by taking steps to improve productivity through watershed-based planning, better provision of credit, reform of land and water management institutions and adoption of better technology for cultivation and post-harvest operations.

Adopting biotechnology, promoting organic farming and innovative farming methods would be popularised. Agri-export zones for medicinal plants, fruits and vegetables would be made fully functional.

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