Thiruvananthapuram The Governor, Arif Muhammad, began the government’s policy announcement speech at the 15th Legislative Assembly on Friday. The session began 9 am morning. The Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Speaker MB Rajesh together welcomed governor to the House.
The governor began his address with felicitations for the new government saying the continued rule of Pinarayi government is an extraordinary mandate from the people. This government is goaled to stand firm on democratic values, secularism and development of the state and to further make good on all its promises stated in the manifesto, the governor said.
It has been possible to rein in Covid spread and also to reduce the death rates. Welfare activities have reduced economic slowdown too.
During the second wave too, the government has tided over financial crisis and supplied its people with free food kits. It has spent Rs. 1000 crores for BPL families who might not be members to any welfare scheme. The local self-government bodies have played a crucial role in controlling Covid.
It is government’s policy to provide free vaccination for all, which would mean an added expenditure of Rs. 1000 crores. Steps have been initiated to call global tender for vaccines. The public backing it secured via Vaccine Challenge is exemplary.
K-fon project will be completed within set timeframe. Projects including K-fon will spell new direction for the state. Infopark and Technopark will see expansion. Multinational IT companies are arriving into the state’s IT sector.
18 lakh families have been supplied with free ration kits worth Rs 400 crores. A amount of Rs 1000 crore was set aside for comprehensive package for the Health sector.
Loans worth Rs 2000 crore were disbursed via Kudumbasree. Rs 14,000 was set aside for clearing arrears including those related to pension remittances.
Salaries of government employees were raised even amid financial distress. Skill Excellence centres will be started for 20 lakh people in the coming five years, the governor announce.
The House will discuss the resolution of thanks for the governor’s speech on 31 May, June 1 and 2. Government affairs will get done on the 3rd. The Finance Minister KN Balagopal will present the revised Budget and Vote on Account on the 4th. General discussions on the Budget will be held on the 7th, 8th and 9th. Vote on Account will be held on the 10th. Governmental and informal affairs will be carried out on the 11th. The 2nd funds utilization bill will be presented on the 14th, after which the House will adjourn for an indefinite period.
The first session of the 15th Legislative Assembly began on the 24th with swearing-in ceremony of the MLAs following which, the Speaker was elected on the 25th.
