Kerala - An Overview

KERALA

FOOD SECURITY Public Distribution system has already covered 100% of the population. 2.7 lakhs families are supplied 35 kgs of rice each per month at Rs.3/- K.g under Antyodaya Annayojana Scheme. Annapoorna Scheme is also being implemented in the State. Mid-day Meal Programme is also being implemented in the State. 63.89 lakhs existing ration cards were also renewed in December 2002. EDUCATION BETWEEN 6 AND 14 YEARS State has an extensive coverage of elementary schools. There are 9713 elementary schools in the State. As per All India Education Survey these are according to the norms prescribed by Government of India (LP Schools are within 1 KM/UP schools within 3 Km) except in Idukki and Wayanad Districts. There 40.191 lakhs student (6-14 years) enrolment in the State. The drop out rate is only 8.21%. Efforts undertaken through the Neighborhood Self Help Groups to identify those children who have dropped out and bring them back into education system. There are 290 Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) Centres functioning in the State and this year 381 additional EGS centres are proposed to be opened. It is expected by 31.3.2004 all the drop out children at the elementary school stage would be back in school. HEALTH AND SAFE DRINKING WATER State already has 941 Primary Health Centres, 108 Community Health Centres which cover every Panchayat in the State. In addition, there are a large number of private hospitals (around 2000) in the State. Immunization has also been provided to almost 100% of the target population. Puls Polio Immunization Programme has covered the entire targeted group. State had no reported cases of Polio during the last 2 years. The Neighbourhood Self Help Groups are closely associated with health and immunization activities. Each Self Help Group has a Health Coordinator. WOMEN'S SELF HELP There are 7863 Thrift and Credit Societies in the 58 urban areas of the State. 1,08,935 Thrift and Credit Societies are in operation in 991 Panchayats in the State. Total credit provided by these Societies as on 31.3.2003 is Rs.220.48 crore. Under NSEP programme, 13316 units have been set up. Under DWCUA 1068 groups have been set up. The following 7 anchor activities which were selected for the previous years are Ethnic Delicacies, Tender Coconuts & products, Agriculture Nurseries, Soap Making Units, Remedial Education Centres, Paper Bag Marking, Courier Services, Direct Marketing. The following sunrise sectors have also been identified : Food Processing, Dairy Products, Solar Cookers, Bio-Technology, Vidayasree (IT @ school), Integrated Coconut Processing, (Kerasree), Tissue Culture and Yathrashree (Chain Hotels). AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS State has been sanctioned an Agro Export Processing Zone for exports of fruits and vegetables at total outlay of Rs.28.897 crore. Agriculture in Kerala is highly diversified with crops ranging from Paddy Coconut, Rubber, Coffee, Tea, Pepper, Arecanut, Ginger etc. These are natural crops which have developed individually in Kerala in separate agro climatic zones. State has set up a Commission under noted Agricultural Scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan on the implications of WTO on Kerala’s Agriculture Sector. Commission has since submitted its report, which has been accepted in principle, by the State Government and is under implementation. State is confident that steps undertaken will lead to better productivity as well as strengthen agriculture sector in the context of removal of quantitative restrictions on imports and liberalized market access in the agricultural sector. Kerala Land Reforms initiated in the 1960s have already been highly acclaimed and have given land to the tenants. A new Water Policy is being drafted with emphasis on rain water harvesting with a view to save water resources of the State. Under Western Ghat Development Programme reclamation of waste land is underway. At present there is no Agriculture Produce Marketing Law in the State to facilitate Agriculture market. The State has built up rural and urban wholesale markets. State Government is awaiting the report of the Committee set up by the Government of India for drafting a model legislation on Agriculture Markets. In so far as Urban Land Ceiling Act is concerned, the same had never been notified in the State of Kerala and its provisions are therefore not applicable to Kerala. AGRO MARKETING This is being given high priority. A food processing park at a cost of Rs.19.50 crore has been set up in 60 acres of land in Malappuram. KINFRA has been sanctioned and released Rs.175 lakhs for setting up Agro and Food Processing park in the State. POWER SECTOR REFORMS The Government of Kerala signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Government of India on 20th August 2001 on Power Sector Reforms. In pursuance of this, the State Government had also set up a State Regulatory Commission in November 2002, and enacted on 1st April, 2003 an ordinance “The Indian Electricity (Kerala Amendment) Ordinance 2003” against power theft. Other salient features of the reforms undertaken by KSEB are: Restructured the generation, transmission and distribution into profit centers with a corporate office for centralized function w.e.f 1.4.2002. Of the total estimated households of about 65 lakhs, 50 lakhs households have already being electrified. Remaining households are to be electrified by 2007 AD. Energy Audit to reduce system loss by metering all 11 KV and above feeders lines has been completed. Over 8 lakh faulty meters were replaced in the last 2 years. 100% metering of all Consumers completed by December 2001. Computerisation of accounting and billing in 8 sections completed. Full computerization would be completed by 31st December, 2004. Securitisation of dues with Central Public Sector Undertakings to the tune of Rs.1172 crores has been completed.Securitisation of dues with Central Public Sector Undertakings to the tune of Rs.1172 crores has been completed. Government of India have sanctioned APDRP schemes worth Rs.350.12 crores. Energy Audit in selected areas under way. Captive power policy on small hydro units was announced in January 2003. KSEB would be filing its first tariff petitions before the State Electricity Regulatory Commission very soon. State Government has also a proposal to obtain loan from the ADB for rehabilitation and strengthening of the power sector in the State. Issues like enacting a new State Electricity Reforms Act, unbundling and corporatisation of the sector etc. would be examined at this stage. We hope to finalise the Power Sector Loans by December 2003. In the light of the Electricity Bill having been passed by both the Houses of Parliament, we shall be examining the further steps to be taken in Power Sector reforms PANCHAYTI RAJ One-third of the Plan funds has been devolved to Local Self Governments. State Government in 1995 itself had devolved all the 29 subjects listed in Article 243 (G) to the three tier Panchayats. Officers and officers related to all the 29 subjects expect Water Supply, Electricity and Civil Supplies, PWD and Irrigation (partly) have already been transferred to the three tier Panchayats. Government have evolved an Asset Renewal Policy and instituted an Asset Renewal Fund. The Local bodies are empowered to give administrative sanction to the development works formulated by them without any monitory ceilings subject to the budget provision. The last elections were held in September 2000 as per schedule. Resolutions of the local bodies cannot be cancelled by Government. They have to be referred to Ombudsman for cancellation. Similarly before dissolving a Panchayat a Memo of Charges has to be given, the replies obtained from the Panchayat concerned, and refer to the opinion of the ombudsman before a final decision can be taken. Village Panchayats can raise revenue through various taxes and fees. All anti poverty programmes, rural wage employment and self employment programmes including welfare pensions are implemented through PRIs. More than 2 lakhs employees of the State Government have been transferred to local bodies. State Government noted that while carrying out re-deployment, recruitment process, appointment system, placement system and the terms and conditions of State and District cadres of the employees were not disturbed. State Government is in the process of preparing and developing personnel policy for local government with special reference to issues indicated above. This is expected to be finalised by January 2004 after extensive discussions with Service Organisations. FISCAL REFORMS When the UDF Government assumed office on 17th May 2001, Kerala was an impoverished State. The treasuries had almost ceased to function. The economy was stagnant. The first priority of the UDF Government was to save the State from this vicious state of affairs and further economic ruin. A White paper on State Finances was brought out, a Reform Agenda adopted and measures initiated to restore confidence in the economy and attract private investment to create employment opportunities in the State. Despite an increase in cash expenditure for development purpose, the revenue deficit could be reduced substantially. The revenue deficit, which stood at Rs.3167 crores in 2000-01, came down to Rs.2605crores in 2001-02. In the Revised Estimate for 2002-03, the anticipated Revenue Deficit is Rs.1898.67crores. During the first year of this Govt. the Fiscal deficit could be brought down by 16% is a significant achievement. In the Second year, it was further reduced by 13%. SOCIAL SECTOR, RURAL AND URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE During 2002-03 Rs.784 crore was spent by Government in various social sectors viz; Education, Health, Water Supply, Housing and Nutrition. Apart from this investment to the tune of Rs.800 crores from private sector was also made in these sectors. During the current financial year the allocation to these sectors have been stepped up to Rs.964 crores by Government. It is expected that an increased investment to the tune of Rs.50 crore in Social Sectors would be made by the private sector during the current year in view of the current policy of Government E-GOVERNANCE State Government will accelerate e-governance to all departments. Computerisation of all treasuries would be completed by 30.9.2003. Computerisation of land records at Taluk level will be completed by 31.10.2003. Motor Vehicles Department would be completely computerized by 31.3.2004. 104 Registration offices have already been computerized. Information Kerala Mission have been set up to introduce e-governance in all Local Self Government institutions. Software has been developed and it is expected that through BOLT basis this exercise will be completed in all panchayats by 31.3.2004. In Agriculture Department a new KISAN Information system is being introduced from grass root level to support Agriculture development at the Panchayat level. FRIENDS the flagship people oriented project initiated by the Government of Kerala will take the benefits of information technology to the common man. It is a single window ‘no queue’ IT enabled bills payment and integrated service centre in which the consumer is given the option of paying the bill, taxes and other dues to Government/Universities. BSNL etc. Total collection through FRIENDS centre during 2001-02 was Rs.52.39 crores and during 2002-03 it has risen to Rs.153 crores. Overall the satisfaction level of clients at Friends was 97.4%, which is unique amongst Government departments. An independent evaluation estimated an average time saving of about 43 minutes, and cost savings of about Rs.46/- per transaction. Most of the departments are also being computerized in phases. Rs.67.72 crores has been provided for the current financial year on e-governance. State Information Infrastructure (Diamond Project) is envisaged for the establishment of a Common Data Communication Network for the e-governance requirements of departments with main center at Thiruvananthapuram and two satellite centers at Kochi and Kozhikode. The project prepared by ER&DC at a total cost of Rs.14 crores has been approved by the department of Information Technolgoy, Government of India. PEOPLES PARTICIPATION All activities in rural development poverty alleviation and income generation scheme etc. have been transferred to Panchayats. In addition Government has announced a draft Social Audit Policy whereby social audit would be undertaken on large number of poverty alleviation activities. LAW AND ORDER, COMMUNAL HARMONY Government is committed to strictly maintain law and order. Police Department has been given freedom to act according to rule of law. A major programme of modernizing the Police Force is underway. Outlay of Rs.20 crores during 2001-02 has been stepped up to Rs.80 crores in 2002-03. This allocation continues for the current year also. The overall Law and Order situation in the State is satisfactory.