Kerala: Four challenges in four years, LDF govt proves itself in crises

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the LDF government is being acknowledged worldwide for its role in containing the Covid-19 pandemic in Kerala, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on the occasion of the government’s fourth anniversary on Monday, strove to highlight his regime’s development and welfare planks as well.
The Pinarayi government proved itself with its proactive response during the Nipah scare, later during two devastating floods and, most recently, in fighting the coronavirus and Vijayan emphasised that his govt had to fight various disasters while also trying to meet its developmental goals.
Announcing the government’s achievements as it enters the fifth and politically crucial year, the CM claimed that his government could complete the majority of its promises in four years. However, Vijayan said the government expected the expenses to go up by 15% over that for the previous year owing to adversities it faced in three years. He also alleged that the Centre was not aiding the government along expected lines in fighting the pandemic.
Citing various missions launched by the government, the chief minister said 2,19,154 families have been given homes under ‘Life’ mission. As many as 1,43,000 title deeds have already been distributed and the government would achieve its target of two lakh titles this year despite the Covid-19 challenge.
Under the Harithakeralam mission, the government could give a fresh lease of life to 390km of dried-up rivers and create 546 new green islands. The Aardram mission, under which the health sector could be upgraded, has been one of the biggest supports in fighting Covid, he said.
The chief minister said Kerala infrastructure investment fund board (KIIFB) had been able to find resources outside the budget, and till date KIIFB has given approval for development works worth Rs 54,391 crore and mobilised Rs 2,150 crore through Masala Bonds.
On the welfare side, the government has disbursed Rs 23,409 crore as welfare pensions as against Rs 9,270 crore by the previous government. In addition, to tide over the present situation, the government is also disbursing Rs 1,000 as financial assistance to those not receiving any pension.
He said the women’s representation in police force would be increased to 25% while various programmes were being implemented in other departments towards this. As many as 100 youths each from tribal communities have been appointed in police and excise.
The basic infrastructure has been enhanced in as many as 4,752 schools while broadband internet has been provided in 14,000 schools and 45,000 hi-tech classrooms formed.
‘PSUs in state now profit-making’
Vijayan announced that the GAIL pipeline project had completed 444km while it was about to be abandoned as only 39 km pipeline was laid when the LDF government took over. The Kochi-Mangaluru segment and the Koottanadu-Walayar segment will be commissioned in June and August this year.
The PSUs in the state are now profitmaking units while industrial licensing has been made easier. The number of startups have gone up from 300 in 2016 to 2,200. The government also intends to double the IT workspace, he said.
However, the opposition parties termed the claims bogus. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the government was a failure on all fronts and corruption was its hallmark. The state had still not recovered from the two devastating "manmade" floods in 2018 and 2019 while many of the government's promises remain on paper, he said.
BJP state president K Surendran asked the government to publish a white paper on industrial investment promised and realised. "Development came to a standstill in the past four years. The government could not address the economic crisis," he told a news conference.