Basic infrastructure works worth ₹ 12000 crore will be carried out using fund mobilisation through Kerala Infrastructure Investment Board (KIIFB), Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Saturday. Out of this, ₹ 5476 crore will be for roads, bridges and flyovers.

In a press conference convened to announce the “direction” of his government as it completed 100 days earlier this week, Vijayan said the State has amended the KIIFB Act recently through an ordinance. “Now, ₹ 50000 crore can be raised outside the budget to ensure basic infrastructure for Kerala’s overall development through the KIIFB,” he said.

He added that an additional amount of ₹ 150 crore will be provided for promotion of startups. He said the new government opened factories under the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation providing jobs for 18000 workers. He also announced that efforts are being taken to make Kerala an open defacation free State by November 1.

He also announced a new project, Livelihood, Inclusion and Financial Empowerment (LIFE), to provide houses for two lakh families within five years. “Six lakh people will benefit. Housing complexes will be built in every taluks for the homeless. The project requires 1140 acres of land for it,” he said.

He added that social security schemes will be initiated in those housing complexes, as well as skill training for adults. A universal housing scheme, he said, will cater to 4.7 lakh families without homes.

When asked about the impending crisis in the form of return of workers from West Asian countries due to the economic slowdown and mas retrenchments, he said it has to be handled by both the Centre and the States. He said the State had submitted a project to the Centre for the rehabilitation of returning expats, but the Centre did not show any keenness to take it forward.

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