The Hindu : National : Our goal is self-sufficiency on the food front: VS

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Our goal is self-sufficiency on the food front: VS

C. Gouridasan Nair

Loan waiver scheme for farmers, better tax mobilisation are some of the achievements of the government

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan going ahead with development schemes.

It is two years since the fourth Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala assumed office and, as the person heading it, veteran CPI(M) leader V.S. Achuthanandan is a happy man. He feels that whatever the LDF’s detractors might say, his government could do much for the people and for the development of the State and that it intends to pursue a single major agenda during the coming three years: a major initiative to ensure food security for Kerala. “We wish to bring down Kerala’s dependence on rice and vegetable-surplus States for our needs. We are embarking on a major mission to make Kerala as self-reliant in food items as possible. I am confident that we will able to achieve our goal with the wholehearted involvement of the people and enthusiastic participation of the various departments concerned,” the 84-year-old Chief Minister said in an exclusive interview to mark the second anniversary of his government.

Excerpts from the interview:

What are the major achievements of your government during the last two years?

We came to power at the time of a major agrarian crisis and farmer suicides. We announced a loan waiver scheme and constituted a Debt Relief Commission. We have received the report of the commission pertaining to the worst- affected Wayanad district. The government has decided to waive farm loans up to Rs.25,000 incurred by farmers with not more than 1 acre land. Around 70,000 farmers would get relief totalling Rs.70 crore as a result of this decision.

Our finances have improved with better tax mobilisation and plugging of loopholes. We could revive several ailing public sector industrial units and turn many of them profitable. We tied up with Central public sector units such as SAIL to revive our ailing units. We could improve the quality of general education and bring the principles of social justice and merit in the sphere of higher and professional education. In the healthcare sector, we took several steps to revive and strengthen the public healthcare system, filled hundreds of vacancies of doctors and nurses in government hospitals and addressed the long-pending grievances of doctors.

In the transport sector, we have completed the tender formalities relating to the Rs.5,348-crore Vizhinjam International Container Transhipment Terminal in the most transparent manner without any complaint from any quarter. We will complete work on the first phase costing Rs.2,390 crore in three years. We have initiated work on the Kochi Metro Rail Project. The KSRTC has been revived and was able to induct into service 606 new buses built at its own workshops. The Water Resources Department has begun steps to implement 41 long-pending drinking water schemes with NABARD assistance. In the power sector, 9 lakh new connections have been given by this government and we have been able to avert power cut despite reduction in the State’s share from the Central pool.

We have succeeded in keeping Kerala insulated from the kind of communal tension that most other parts of the country have witnessed. The State is relatively free from the activities of majority and minority fundamentalism. We could also introduce innovative policing strategies and check the activities of criminal and anti-social elements with prompt action. We could provide employment to 5,000 persons through the Public Service Commission and provide social security cover to the needy by clearing all welfare pension arrears and implementing pension schemes for around 10 lakh persons employed in shops and commercial establishments and for dairy farmers.

What are the major schemes on the anvil?

Work on the first phase of the National Waterway Kollam and Kottappuram had started on the first anniversary of this government and the waterway has already become operational. The second phase between Kottappuram and Neeleswaram would begin with the launch of the work to widen the Sulthan Canal in Kannur on May 23 as part of the second anniversary celebrations.

Beginning with the drive in Munnar and various other parts of the State, the government could resume around 15,000 acres of alienated land. The government would distribute part of the resumed land to 10,000 landless families in Kannur as part of the second anniversary. The drive for distribution of land to landless Adivasis would also continue with provision of land to 300 more tribal families as part of the anniversary celebrations.

We have been focusing on the IT sector for employment generation and the Smart City project is a major achievement. A new IT hub by name ‘Technocity’ is being set up in Thiruvananthapuram and Technopark is being expanded by acquiring 507 acres of land. As many as 41 new companies have begun operations at Technopark and Infopark, together bringing in Rs.1,200 crore in fresh investment. Infopark would generate 40,000 new job opportunities in the coming three years. The State IT Mission’s project to popularise Malayalam computing would be launched on May 23.

What is the single major challenge that your government faces?

Food security. We cannot depend entirely on the Centre or surplus States to meet our foodgrain and vegetable needs. We must try to become self-reliant in vegetable production and raise our rice production to the maximum possible level. We should also try to produce more milk, meat and eggs. We have chalked out the food security scheme with this end in view. The plan is to bring at least 10 acres of land under paddy cultivation additionally every year in all the 1,000-odd panchayats in the State. This would help produce around 15,000 tonnes of rice additionally every year. The same should be done in the case of vegetables because we cannot depend on surplus States to meet our entire requirement.

The local bodies are supposed to earmark 40 per cent of their Plan allocation for agriculture. This means that more than Rs.600 crore would be available from the local bodies alone. Water Resources, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and other departments would also pool in their resources for the purpose. So, fund availability will not be a problem for the scheme. Of course, we may still have to buy rice from outside to meet the demand, but the quantity required will be less. We will continue to do so as and when necessary and supply it to the people at Rs.1 or 2 less than the open market price.

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