Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar delivered a significant policy address to the Kerala Legislative Assembly on January 17, 2025, during the kickoff of the Budget session. His address emphasized the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s ongoing commitment to social welfare, fiscal responsibility amidst financial constraints, and aspirations for climate-resilient and sustainable development.
In a two-hour presentation, Governor Arlekar reaffirmed the government’s vision for ‘Nava Keralam,’ despite the challenges of limited resources. He raised urgent concerns regarding the liquidity stress experienced by the State, attributing it to a decline in Union fiscal transfers. The address called on the Union government to adopt a supportive stance on Kerala’s initiatives aimed at increasing capital investment for high-quality infrastructure development.
Highlighting a ‘citizens-first vision,’ the policy address outlined the government’s commitment to holistic development across crucial sectors, including agriculture, disaster management, healthcare, education, energy, and industry.
In response to ongoing natural disasters and human-wildlife conflicts, Governor Arlekar stated that the government plans to revamp disaster management strategies at the state, district, and local levels. Proposed initiatives for 2025-26 will introduce heat action plans to combat rising temperatures.
Key Initiatives
The policy address included plans to expand home care units and telemedicine services for the elderly, establish seven centers of excellence in higher education as part of a strategy to position Kerala as a global educational hub, and organize the Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025 in Kochi. This summit aims to promote Kerala’s investor-friendly environment.
To bolster the agricultural sector and enhance farmer incomes, the government outlined initiatives aimed at reducing post-harvest losses, fostering innovation in livestock and fisheries, and expanding dairy insurance programs for 2025-26.
As part of its commitment to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2040, the government will host the Global Green Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Summit in Kochi in March 2025. This summit seeks to establish Kerala as “India’s green energy capital and a leading hub for green energy exports.”
Additionally, the Governor expressed plans to develop a comprehensive water policy to improve integrated resource management and emphasized the need for Central funding to create multipurpose dams for flood control, drinking water supply, and power generation.
The address also detailed plans for innovative, technology-driven solutions to enhance tourism while prioritizing environmental preservation.
Regarding state finances, the address reiterated the government’s stance on Central policies and expressed a commitment to upholding promises made to the public, even amid challenges posed by the cessation of GST compensation and stringent borrowing conditions from the Central government.
Published – January 17, 2025 01:26 pm IST
