Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said his government had succeeded in creating a healthy political culture since it came to power a year ago.
At a special press conference organised here to commemorate the first anniversary of the government, the Chief Minister said the biggest achievement was corruption free governance. However, in his one-hour long opening statement the Chief Minister didn’t refer to government’s failures or major controversies during this period.
He said the previous five years of UDF regime was ridden with corruption, sleaze, chaos and blatant misuse of power vitiating the entire political atmosphere. Despite serious corruption cases ministers continued to cling to power shamelessly.
Unlike the previous government’s tenure when corrupt were protected, there would be no guardians for such wrongdoers in the LDF rule. “During last one year the focus has been on purifying the political state of affairs,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the traditional sectors including coir and cashew had been revived. Opening of KAPEX brought back jobs for over 18,000 workers. Handicraft sector got a major boost after being asked to supply 2.30 lakh school uniforms. More uniforms could not be stitched because of limited raw material. However, uniforms of UP students will be taken up from next year. Pinarayi said the government gave top priority to welfare activities. Welfare pension dues worth Rs 1,900 crore were sent to the beneficiaries.
During the UDF tenure, work on NH widening and GAIL gas pipeline had come to a standstill because of land acquisition issues. However, the LDF government has taken a practical stand on these projects which are now moving fast. There is a qualitative change in government’s attitude.
Mr Pinarayi lauded KIIFB saying it was significant decision for resource mobilisation for the infra projects.
The government has set aside Rs 6,500 crore for coastal highway and Rs 3,500 for high range highway. Under the Education Mission, classrooms from first to 12th would be converted into smart classrooms both in government and aided sector.
The Chief Minister said under Ardram Mission PHCs will be converted into family health centres, family doctor concept will be promoted and all taluk, district and general hospitals will have super specialty facilities making health care affordable to poor sections.
Pinarayi said Life Mission would ensure roofs over the heads of homeless people. Housing complexes being planned under the mission include livelihood programmes, elderly care, palliative care and employment for at least one member of the family.
He said Kochi Metro project and Kannur Airport were on track. Kerala will soon become country’s first state with total electrification.
Mr Pinarayi said the hike in honorarium of nursery teachers, mid-day meal workers and ayahs, of up to 600 per cent, has primarily been beneficial to women. “Transgenders have also received justice under our government. We have constituted reservation for them in positions under the Kochi Metro,” he said.
He said undeclared recruitment ban was lifted by the LDF government. Wthin the first 100 days itself, close to 10,000 vacant posts were announced.
Over the last one year the PSC has filled over 36,000 vacant positions, which were pending due to the earlier government’s ban. Simultaneously, around 3,500 new jobs have been created in the health sector, home department and education sector.
