Kerala   

Call for development strategy to uplift poor

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: M.V. Pylee, educationist and Padma Bhushan awardee, has called upon people to plan development strategies to ensure uplift of the poorest among the poor. He was addressing a discussion on `Kerala yesterday, tomorrow' organised by the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi here on Wednesday.

Mr. Pylee pointed out that the objective of the Five Year Plan was to provide better amenities to improve the lot of the poor. But after several plans, the rich had become richer and poor turned poorer. According to studies, at least 7 per cent of the population of Kerala was below poverty line.

Development would be meaningful only when these people numbering more than 20 lakhs benefited.

He hoped that the Vyapari Vyavasaya Ekopana Samithi, with more than five lakh members, would be able to contribute in eradicating poverty among the masses.

K.K. George, chairman of the Centre for Science and Environmental Studies, pointed out that vulnerable sections among society were on the rise.

"Though the State domestic product registers increase, the tax income to the State is not going up. Instead of hiking the tax rate, focus should be on better tax compliance," he said.

Michael Tharakan, former director of the Kerala Institute of Local Administration, said Kerala's crisis had a cultural angle as well.

He voiced concern over the widening gap between the rich and the poor. D.Rajasenan, Director, International Centre for Economic Policy and Analysis, said the SSI sector had more employment potential and hence it should be given due importance.

K.T. Damodaran, director of the School of Marine Sciences, stressed on the need for exploiting the mineral wealth. Ittoop Mampilly, retired deputy chief engineer, FACT, M.K. Das, journalist, T. Naziruddin, president of the samithi, also spoke.

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