Kerala liquor policy to please IT sector

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The assurance given by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to the IT fraternity that the social infrastructure of the state will be enhanced to attract major IT firms has triggered fresh hopes of relaxation in the state’s liquor policy.

It may be recalled that the IT industry in 2014 earlier expressed serious concerns over the then UDF government’s new liquor policy and even stated that no IT company of consequence will plan to set up their facilities in a state which has such archaic regulations.

While addressing the IT leaders at a function organised by the Group of Technology Companies here on Thursday, the Chief Minister had said that about 70 per cent of those working in IT sector were youths and they would be expecting a much better social infrastructure like good education institutions, hospitals and recreation facilities.

He also said a metro culture need to be developed in the state. This had indeed triggered high hopes among the IT fraternity. GTech former chairman V.K. Mathews said that lifestyle changes need not be enforced by force, but through awareness. “We are expecting steps that would send a positive message across the industry,” he said.

Mr Mathews was heading GTech while the forum of IT company leaders sent a representation to then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in 2014 September expressing concerns over the liquor policy. GTech had even suggested that that the opening hours of all public bars, including those in five-star hotels, could be limited from 5 pm to midnight on all days.