Governor's Address: Announcements

Highlights of Governor P. Sathasivam's address to the Kerala Assembly on June 24, 2016:

10% of electricity to be from renewable sources by 2020
Smart card based driving licences and registration certificates
E-pass system to enhance transparency in issue of mining permits
Free rice to BPL-Antyodaya Anna Yojana families to continue
Film City at Chitranjali Studio Complex
Learning portal in the higher education sector
Interest free loans to small farmers of paddy and vegetables
Flagship programme to grant land to landless
Government to ensure gender equality
Integrated 24-hour one stop crisis centre to protect women
New Department for Women and Child Development
Special Tribunal for implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizen’s Act.
Government is committed to setting up Kerala Administrative Service
Zero tolerance of corruption.
25 lakh job opportunities to be created
New training policy for enhancing professionalism of employees
Mandatory induction training for employees
Corebanking in treasuries
Restructuring of town and country planning Act
Comprehensive e-health programme: electronic health records to be introduced in future
University of Health Sciences will be strengthened
Activities of Pollution Control Boards to be modernised
Kerala Kalamandalam to be developed as cultural university
Market intervention to be strengthened with more supplyco outlets
Free ration for beneficiaries of Anthyodaya Scheme
Interventions to rejuvenate textile sector
Factory at Ottapalam under Make in India programme
White paper on Environment to be published
Stringent environmental appraisal for projects
Core banking network for  cooperatives
Waste plastic to be used for road works
KSRTC to introduce CNG and electric buses
Integrated check post system linked to departments
State of art laboratory to combat substance abuse
Janamaitri Excise office to strengthen enforcement
Encumbrance certificates to be issued in a day
Government to bring comprehensive IT policy
Multi-platform mobile application to integrate citizen centric applications
Common service for different cadres under Department of Local Self Government

Governor’s address: reactions

It disappoints: the address does not set any course. It lacks direction—Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala.

Hardly any change in policy: 90 per cent of the policies announced in the Budget are those of the previous government—Muslim League leader P. K. Kunhalikutty.

No practical proposals for addressing issues like the fall in price of rubber— Kerala Congress (M) leader K. M. Mani.

Address of the Governor should be discontinued: P. Sathasivam contradicts his own address to the House made on February 5—P. C. George, Independent Member.

“It is like a sambar to which a lot of water has been added,” adds George.