Thiruvananthapuram: Highlighting women’s empowerment, critical infrastructure development, and strict fiscal reforms, the Governor’s policy address outlined the newly formed government’s vision and future roadmap. Aside from the free KSRTC travel scheme, the address heavily reflected a government policy centered around uplifting women. Concurrently, signaling an era of financial transparency, the government announced it will soon release a comprehensive ‘White Paper’ to address the state’s severe economic crunch.
Major Boost for Women: Menstrual Leave, Equal Pay & Dignity Schemes
Aiming to create a highly supportive and safe environment for women across educational institutions and public places, the government announced several landmark initiatives:
- Menstrual Leave: Schoolgirls will be eligible for up to 3 days of menstrual leave per month. To ensure they do not lag in their studies, the government will organize weekend “catch-up classes.”
- ‘Menstrual Dignity’ Project: Public spaces and educational institutions will be redesigned to be completely women-friendly. The government will also facilitate the seamless distribution of sanitary napkins, footwear, and other essential utilities.
- Equal Pay & Workforce Welfare: Strict measures will be implemented to ensure equal pay for equal work in workplaces. Women in the unorganized sector will receive 6 months of paid maternity leave along with special benefits.
- Women Farmer Consortiums: To discover and encourage women farmers, a specialized consortium will be set up in every panchayat. Furthermore, public comfort rooms will be constructed in all major towns.
Paradigm Shift: Central Criticism Dropped; Nehru Quoted
In a notable departure from previous policy addresses which frequently targeted the Central Government, this year’s speech completely avoided direct criticism of the Centre. Instead, it struck a cooperative tone, opening and closing with quotes by Jawaharlal Nehru. Beginning with, “It is good to work individually, but it is better to work together; working together for the common good is the best,” the address concluded on the note that “a government functions best when the people have faith in it.” The government also expressed optimism regarding receiving fair financial shares and consideration from the Centre.
Indirect Dig at the Previous Regime; White Paper to Clarify Fiscal Stress
Admitting that the state is going through an acute financial crisis, the address noted that existing liabilities and financial constraints have put heavy pressure on public finance. Taking a subtle, indirect dig at the fiscal management of the previous government, the address announced that a financial ‘White Paper’ will be published to provide absolute clarity to the citizens.
While the speech re-affirmed that the ‘Indira Guarantees’ promised during the election campaign would be fulfilled, specific operational details of the free KSRTC travel scheme were not fully disclosed. However, it confirmed that free travel for women in KSRTC buses across the state will be institutionalized as a permanent right.
Other Key Announcements at a Glance:
- Social Welfare & Security: College-going girls will receive an educational financial assistance of ₹1,000 per month. Welfare pensions will be hiked to ₹3,000 per month.
- Universal Health Insurance: Every family in Kerala will be covered under a free health insurance policy worth ₹25 lakh per year.
- Interest-Free Loans for Youth: Aspiring young entrepreneurs will be provided with interest-free loans up to ₹5 lakh to jumpstart their startups.
- Crackdown in Co-operative Sector: The government warned of a strong intervention in the co-operative department. Measures will be taken to return the money of depositors defrauded by rogue co-operative societies, and culprits will face strict legal action. The Vigilance wing will be modernized to ensure corruption-free administration.
- War on Drugs: A specialized ‘State Narcotic Enforcement Bureau’ will be established to curb the illicit drug trade.
- IT & Infrastructure Makeover: The IT Department will be rebranded as the ‘Department of IT, Future Technologies, and Startups’ under the new brand name ‘Kerala Tech’. The Kerala State IT Mission will be renamed the ‘Digital Transformation Mission’. Additionally, all major roads in the state will be upgraded to BM & BC (Bituminous Macadam and Bituminous Concrete) standards.
- Pilgrimage & Public Distribution: The ‘Malabar Temple Pilgrim Project’ will be launched to link prominent temples into a unified pilgrimage circuit. Plus Two seats will be increased across all districts based on regional demand. Select Supplyco supermarkets will be modernized, and the number of mobile Maveli and ration shops will be increased.
