It gives me immense pride and pleasure to inaugurate   “Navakeralam”, which comes as an array of comprehensive development programmes namely Harithakeralam, LIFE, Aardram and Public Education Improvement Yajnam. These schemes would address four key areas of life, namely, Agriculture and Environment, Housing, Health care and Education.

Of the areas mentioned just now, health-care and education have brought laurels to Kerala in terms of development. In housing also, Kerala has been credited with implementing one of the earliest housing schemes for the homeless. In many ways, the Kerala model in these areas have been noted as benchmarks of development at the national level.

Now, as we celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the formation of our State, it is imperative that we set new benchmarks in as many areas as possible so that we could build a new Kerala that would stand shoulder to shoulder with the most developed societies of the world.  It is common knowledge that developmental programmes will create the desired effect only with the participation of as many sections of society as possible. Kerala, which has put in place a somewhat effective system of decentralization in governance can bring about an impact through the cooperation of Local Self Government bodies and institutions.  The Navakeralam Mission, which is being launched today, is a step in that direction.

Of the programmes being launched today, Harithakeralam includes activities related to Solid waste management, rejuvenation of agriculture and water resources. In this scheme, agriculture plays the most significant part, since Kerala is now paying the price for having ignored farming by terming it a non-profitable endeavor.  Today, we depend on other States for vegetables and rice and it has become necessary to encourage every household to grow at least a portion of the vegetables they need for daily consumption. In fact, our attempts to bring a positive change in our attitude towards agriculture should start from home. Only when people begin to love the process of farming will they begin to appreciate the contribution of the farmers to society. In addition to this, agriculture should appeal to the farmers as a profitable effort. This would become a reality only when we devise effective marketing networks for agro products. The decision to set up agro-parks and eco-shops as part of Harithakeralam brings a ray of hope.

I am happy that the serious issue of solid waste management is being addressed as part of Navakeralam initiatives. The accumulation of waste and our reluctance to process it at our own homesteads have made a comprehensive scheme for waste management inevitable.   At the time when the nation moves ahead with Swatch Bharat Mission, I feel that the Kerala example should get noticed as innovative and practical.

The LIFE programme that focuses on housing, addresses a basic need of the people. As we all know, housing conditions have been proved to have a direct and positive impact on health status, attitudes, and values of a population. No wonder, we see the provision of shelter to the people as a productive activity essential for human resource development. The Housing Component of the Navakeralam initiative, which prefers the high-rise mode for dwelling units, also looks at provision of care delivery systems like childhood care centres, skill training, special training for educationally backward children, marriage assistance schemes etc. It is designed in such a way that it would empower families to attain a regular income by engaging in the work in primary or tertiary sectors. The most commendable factor in the LIFE scheme is the thrust on state-of-the- art security systems for such dwelling units.   Let us hope that Navakeralam rewrites the history that was once scripted by Kerala through the One Lakh Houses scheme of 1972.

Kerala’s achievements in the health sector have been praised as one of the best in the country, but new challenges call for stronger interventions in the sector. Though medical expenses have mounted to unimaginable levels, many people now prefer to use the services of private hospitals. It is not because they are rich, it’s only because they lack faith in the efficiency of service and facilities in the government hospitals.  At the same time, many of our government hospitals are overcrowded with patients and the doctors and staff overworked. In such a scenario, the Ardram health mission’s aim of ensuring quality health care with minimal waiting time for outpatients is a hope for millions who use our public health care system. By converting Public Health Centres as Family Health Centres with adequate supply of drugs and assured treatment protocols will ensure better health among people and enhance their trust in the public health system.  The scheme will also cover Medical Colleges and the District and Taluk hospitals.

The Comprehensive Educational Rejuvenation Programme to be launched as part of Navakeralam can be seen as a new bench mark in educational infrastructure. Our decision to transform 1000 schools to international standards and to improve the teaching and learning programme at the high school level are expected to strengthen and modernize our primary education sector. However, I would suggest that we think of a similar mission mode for higher education also along with this.  After all, it will be only fair on the part of students to expect international levels in higher classes too.

I feel that the implementation of Navakeralam Missions through the Local Self government institutions would require effective communication of the implementation schedule. The idea behind each mission needs to trickle down to the Panchayat level in the clearest manner. That would ensure better participation of people at all levels and may call for an improved system of decentralization. Let us hope that Navakeralam, will be a new model created through a people’s movement that would put the interest of the State above all other considerations.