Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, appreciated the State's efforts in human resource development and pointed out that even the noble Lauriat Dr Amartya Sen has commended the achievements of the State in the social sector. He said the State was on track to record similar achievements in the economic indicators. Efforts aimed at improving financial health of State Electricity Board through total metering and reducing losses was also appreciated.
Attention was drawn to the high unemployment among educated youth and it was pointed out that emphasis should be on service and agriculture sectors as they can help generate meaningful employment opportunities. To improve growth in manufacturing sector effort should be made to encourage private investments.
The Chief Minister Shri Chandy said the State was on a sustained path of economic development. Number of initiatives have been taken to mobilize more resources and follow prudent financial management. He said these include enactment of fiscal responsibilities act, controlling fiscal deficit, re-establishing proper budget cycle and rationalizing power tariffs. He said the State was being penalized for better performance on social, health and power indicators and requested Planning Commission to support the State in their request for not imposing and unrealistic criteria for debt stress to disallow proposal for raising external loans.
The Chief Minister sought Planning Commission's support in getting clearance of Government of India for projects like Deep Water Container
Trans-shipment Terminal at Vizhinjam, Air port at Kannur, IT techno-cities at Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram, Metro Rail Project at Kochi, low cost Airlines called Kerala Airlines, and crucial road and irrigation projects as these are urgently needed to accelerate economic growth of the State.
Shri Vakkom Purushothaman, Finance Minister of Kerala, Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar, Dr. Syeda Hameed, Prof. Abhijit Sen and Senior Official from Planning Commission and State Government participated