The Hindu : Kerala News : Isaac calls for new development agenda

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 30, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Isaac calls for new development agenda

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR, MARCH 29. T.M. Thomas Isaac, MLA, has called for formulation of a development agenda for Kerala to take it to the top place among the States within 10 years.

Delivering the Bishop Paulose Mar Paulose Memorial Lecture here today, Dr. Isaac, an economist, said such an agenda must be developed through consensus built up after an intense dialogue among various sections, including political parties, religious leaders, experts and academics. "Notwithstanding our differing perceptions, I feel it is still possible to formulate a consensus on our future developmental plans," he said.

Conceding that globalisation has imposed tremendous limitations on the potentials of the State in formulating a developmental agenda on its own, Dr Isaac said: "Even within that limitations, it is possible to evolve developmental plans that will make our life better in a democratic manner."

Decentralisation

Dr. Isaac strongly defended the decentralisation programme initiated by the previous Left Democratic Front Government in the State, and asserted that decentralisation was the `panacea' to developmental problems of the State.

Though the `childish' allegations that were levelled against the decentralisation programme had destroyed the enabling environment for its vibrant development, the very fact that it had not been destroyed showed its strength.

He said the basic objective of the new development agenda should be ensuring economic growth of the State with equity and preserving its environment. According to him, such an agenda can be implemented through decentralisation alone.

Dr. Isaac, however, defended investment by `big capital' in infrastructure sector.

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