The Hindu : Front Page : UDF promises growth, social justice

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Saturday, Apr 01, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

UDF promises growth, social justice

Special Correspondent

Front manifesto adopts the slogan `Developed Kerala, no-poverty Kerala'

SETTING NEW AGENDA: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and UDF convener P.P. Thankachan releasing the front's manifesto in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram : The United Democratic Front (UDF) has promised comprehensive development and social justice in its election manifesto, mainly banking on its record during the last five years, to seek another term in office to ensure continuity in policies.

The manifesto has promised a double-digit growth rate in domestic production, focussing mainly on employment generation and industrial investments to the tune of Rs.1,00,000 crores, in the next five years. Emphasising on the policy perspectives of the UDF, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who released the election manifesto in the presence of other UDF leaders at a press conference here on Friday, said the election manifesto had been prepared on the basis of the UDF Government's five-year track record. The latest figure relating to growth rate was 9.2 per cent, but this would become double digit once the year-end figures were calculated. He said the agriculture sector which had registered negative growth had turned around, while the industrial infrastructure sector showed a positive trend.

The Rs.1,00,000-crore industrial investments would materialise on the basis of the investment climate created during the last five years. The basic thrust of the manifesto was to utilise the positive aspects of globalisation for the benefit of the State and achieve economic progress with a human face.

The manifesto promises to take forward several of its investment and development initiatives including Smart City, Vallarpadom transhipment terminal, Petronet, LNG project, Kayamkulam expansion, Kannur airport, Metro project, gas pipeline and the urban renewal project in three cities.

Poverty eradication gets a major push in the manifesto, with the promise to implement the Kerala Vision 2010 proposals. Road infrastructure is given due importance, with the promise for a four- lane high way from Majeswaram to Vizhinjam, the Nedumbassery-Kottayam highway, and the Palarivattom-Kothamangalam road to open up Munnar. It gives importance to the Thiruvanthapuram- Kottoor- Ambasamudram- Thirunelveli inter-State highway.

The Chief Minister said the coastal belt and the high ranges would benefit from various schemes meant for improving basic facilities. The high ranges would be connected with roads in areas where there were missing links. The manifesto promises various employment schemes for a cross-section of the population, including women, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. It says that seven lakh people would be provided employment through the Vikasana Shree scheme, while another five lakh would get gainful employment under the Kudumbasree.

In the field of education, the UDF election manifesto promises steps to upgrade educational institutions to international standards in order to attract foreign students, besides incurring an expenditure on education to the tune of 6 per cent of the GDP. Other proposals include upgradation courses for skilled and semi-skilled workers to help them seek employment abroad, cluster development programme for small-scale industry, special economic zones in Vizhinjam and Kochi, establishment of State civil service with provision for revision of wages once in five years.

The manifesto also promises to set up a special department for traditional industry, establishment of mangrove authority to protect the endangered mangroves, veterinary university and a separate Backward Classes directorate and tribal complex in Kochi.

The manifesto promises a 500-MW LNG project for Malabar, conversion of the Brahmapuram and Kozhikode diesel power plants to LNG to facilitate further reduction of electricity tariff. The Chief Minister said that special attention would be given to housing, especially for the poor.

He said the UDF would approach the electorate with a sense of pride on the basis of its record for the last five years. The UDF has adopted the slogan "Developed Kerala, no poverty Kerala".

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