The period of a ‘big transition’ in Kerala requires that the approach paper to the 12th Five-Year Plan be aimed at facilitating the cross-over in the least disruptive manner possible for both the people and the economy.
According to the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, the State has entered a crucial phase when the ‘pull’ of change dynamics is rattling the economy like no other time in the past.
He made these comments during an interaction with the media on the draft Approach Paper for the 12th Plan organised here by the State Planning Board.
The interaction was held as part of the ongoing initiative aimed at incorporating aspirations of and suggestions from various sections of the society ahead of finalising the Approach Paper.
The Chief Minister, however, made it clear that he was hardly scared by the task of financing the State’s enhanced 12th Plan size of Rs 1.05 lakh crore (against 11th Plan of Rs 40,422 crore).
Growth of the economy would by itself ensure the flow of needed resources, he told the gathering.
Non-governmental investment to the tune of around Rs 3 lakh crore was expected to flow into the economy during the period when the economic growth could ratchet up to 14.5 per cent at current prices.
While the challenge of addressing the demands of infrastructure development and supporting the primary and the secondary sectors stared the Government in its face, second-generation problems in education and health too cried for attention.
The Vice-Chairman of the State Planning Board and former Cabinet Secretary, Mr K. M. Chandrasekhar, who was also present at the interaction, said that 45 working groups had been put in place to process ideas getting thrown up during such interactions with stakeholders.
Among those who attended the interaction were the Finance Minister, Mr K.M. Mani; the Minister for Rural Development, Mr K.C. Joseph; and Planning Board members Mr C. P. John and Mr G. Vijayaraghavan.