The Hindu Business Line : Kerala to fix floor-level wages in all sectors

In his customary address to the State Assembly on Thursday marking the beginning of the Budget session, the Governor, Mr R.L. Bhatia, said this was aimed at maintaining an investor-friendly labour climate in the State without compromising on the rights and privileges of the working class.

The Government also intends to introduce new welfare schemes for the plantation workers, gold and jewellery workers, tree climbers and employees in shops and commercial establishments. A "habitat housing scheme" for plantation workers in association with local bodies and plantation managements is also on the cards.

The Government will launch a Web site with data bank of professional manpower in the State for the benefit of potential employers. A building technology institute will be set up under the Kerala Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Fund Board to impart modern training in different trades of the construction work.

The Governor said the administrative machinery plays a very critical role in translating the Government's vision into reality. Accordingly, the Government is willing to consider setting up Pay Revision Commission shortly.

The Government will launch a one-year plan, called `Kerala Fast Forward', as a continuation of the already completed 100-day programme. The top priority under the programme will be to rebuild the villages washed away by tsunami. Besides, there will be special schemes for the uplift of the downtrodden and welfare for the people at large.

The Government will also set in motion a `Sutharya Keralam' programme focusing on improving transparency in governance and promoting probity in public life. For achieving these objectives, the Government will undertake various radical measures such as simplification of procedures, cutting down delays, bringing accountability in governance and making available desired information to the public.

The service delivery project, a component of the "Modernising Government Programme", currently covers 2,605 institutions under different departments and local self-governments.

The Government will extend the coverage of the project to more than 30,000 frontline institutions in eight departments by availing itself of a loan of Rs 3,000 crore over a period of four years.

Another proposal in the pipeline is an insurance scheme for giving enhanced financial assistance to the dependents of persons who die in natural calamities and accidents. A permanent authority for disaster management will be constituted under a new Disaster Management Department.

The Government will radically restructure the Plan monitoring system that is crucial for ensuring proper implementation of development programmes. It proposes to introduce a multi-level monitoring system, which will be more systematic and scientific.

A similar system will be put in place for monitoring the implementation of the plans of the local governments. In addition, the Government has approved the introduction of a "participatory monitoring system" with special focus on tracking poverty and the implementation of anti-poverty programmes. This will become operational from the next financial year.

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