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Kerala should achieve sustainable growth: President

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil said here on Thursday that Kerala should match its achievements in the social sectors with sustainable growth and enhanced productivity.

Addressing a civic reception accorded to her, the President said the State should harness its resources and focus on development of major sunrise industries such as tourism, knowledge industry, health and exports.

“Kerala should aim at developing, producing and marketing knowledge products and become a knowledge hub of the region. Facilities to establish centres for handling outsourced work and setting up of Information Technology-enabled services should be given importance.”

Earlier, Ms. Patil released the declaration and action plan for the ‘Clean Kerala Mission’ and the logo, document and text manual of the Total Physical Fitness Programme for school students. She also launched a scholarship scheme for poor students of higher secondary schools by presenting the scholarship to five students.

Recalling that the return of communicable diseases was a major challenge to the State, the President said the Clean Kerala Mission was timely and should go a long way in maintaining the health and improving the quality of life of the people. The Action Plan was required to achieve the objectives of the Mission.

Referring to the increasing percentage of elderly population, Ms. Patil said there should be focussed attention to meet the needs of the elderly.

On-site healthcare delivery could be provided to them through various measures such as provision of mobile units, home visits etc. “The needs of the elderly population should form a part of the Healthy Kerala Mission.”

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said the government would take important decisions on the development of national highways in the State soon.. Speaker K. Radhakrishnan and Ministers attended the function.

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Kerala should achieve sustainable growth: President

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