Thrust on IT-oriented growth, more jobs

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 31. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) promises to generate over a million jobs and push up the State's development graph over the coming five years by tapping the rich potential of information technology, biotechnology and tourism.

The manifesto, which displays a hitherto unseen readiness to accept new technologies and admits to the need for enhancing quality in governance, promises measures to take the State's annual growth rate to 9 per cent, provision of shelter for all and drinking water, power supply and sanitary latrines for all homes besides a total social security scheme. It also promises a right to information law to make governance transparent. Of the 12 lakh jobs proposed to be generated during the next five-year period, half would be for women.

The manifesto, released by the LDF convener, Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan, at a news conference here today, says that all eligible persons would be given title deeds for the land in their possession and that a workforce of nine lakh persons trained in information technology would be created. One lakh women's neighbourhood groups and two lakh self- employment ventures would be launched.

The manifesto says that the LDF is going into the next Assembly election with a sense of pride about its achievements, particularly its track record in decentralisation of power to the grassroots, augmentation of the State's power generation capabilities, unprecedented growth in the tourism sector, creation of a fibre optic network linking all taluk headquarters and preservation of the decades-old public distribution system.

The 46-page document, divided into separate sections, is also replete with criticism of the BJP-led regime at the Centre and cautionary statements on the adverse effects of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation on the Kerala economy.

The manifesto says that the effort of the LDF in spheres such as education, health care and social welfare would be on quality improvement.

The LDF, if elected to power, would revive group farming, provide insurance cover to cash crops, form labour banks in all panchayats, set up a biotechnology park and an institute and food processing units and institute a pension scheme for farmers with less than five acres of land. In the industrial sector, steps would be taken to protect public sector units, 1.20 lakh small- scale units would be set up, a textile printing complex would be started in Ernakulam, industrial parks would be set up in all the districts under the aegis of the Kerala State Infrastructure Development Corporation and a special scheme drawn up for the welfare of beedi workers.

In the sphere of information technology, the Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram would be upgraded to the status of the State's first Hi- tech Habitat and similar centres would be set up in Kozhikode and Kochi. Around one lakh internet kiosks would be set up across the State, half of these would be controlled by women.

Computer education would be introduced in all schools and computer education made mandatory for all university courses. As many as 25,000 specialised jobs, 50,000 jobs of medium specialisation and two lakh other job opportunities relating to IT would be created.

The LDF convener, Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan, talking to presspersons after releasing the manifesto of the Front, in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. Photo: S. Gopakumar

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Section  : Southern States
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