New avenues of economic growth, employment generation needed: PM

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 1 (UNI) Kerala, which has progressed a great deal in the fifty years of its formation, needs new avenues of economic growth and employment generation and must invest more in skill- based education to increase the employability of its youth even as ''some feel that the Kerala model is unable to generate growth to build its excellent record in welfare and human development,'' Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today.

''The time has come for Kerala to look ahead and think anew. I call upon the youth of this state to show how we can combine the struggle for social justice and equality with a drive to be more creative and productive,'' he said while inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of Kerala's formation.

He also called for a new political culture for the socio-economic development of the state.

Promising all possible assistance from the United Progressive Alliance government for the state's development, the Prime Minister said the proposals made by the Kerala Chief Minister would be considered.

He said the establishment of educational institutions like IIT and an Institute of Science would be further examined and would be taken up with the concerned Ministry.

Noting that the state had excelled in the social sectors, Dr Singh said there was a need to upgrade the quality of public services and make them more efficient, more relevant to the times and more focussed on meeting the current needs.

He also pointed out that the state needed new investment in horticulture, dairy farming, agri-business, Information Technology and the service sector.

On the problems faced by the plantation sector, he said ''many feel that this has been caused by the winds of globalisation and the threat of imports. The problem may lie elsewhere-- in poor productivity. We must tackle the problems of these crops, not by shutting the doors, but by applying modern science and technology to improve yields and productivity.'' Making it clear that the UPA government was drawing up an integrated plan for resolving the problems in this sector, he said '' we will design supportive policies for traditional industries like coir and cashew. I assure you that our government will do whatever is needed and possible to sustain and revitalise the plantation economy in Kerala.'' Hoping that the next century would be '' Kerala's century,'' Dr Singh said the state in its fifty years of existence had made India proud in all spheres. ''The people of Kerala have made India proud.

Your creativity, your enterprise, your skills and hard work have won you laurels across the world. Among Indian states, it is by far the best in regard and its record compares favourably with advanced countries in the world.'' Also greeting the non-resident Keralities living abroad, he said that their remittance had helped in India's economy and had contributed to he national resources.

In his address, Chief minister V S Achuthanandan said during the golden jubilee celebrations, a Debt Relief Commission would be constituted in the state and also urged the Centre to constitute such a Commission. He also said that a complete housing programme would also be launched in the state with the aim that every family in the state had a house.

State Governor R L Bhatia, Defence Minister A K Antony, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Opposition leader Oommen Chandy were present among others.

UN PN1942