Kerala: Thumbs up for government missions

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor P. Sathasivam said that the LDF Government's four missions - Harithakeralam, Ardram, Education Support, and Life - have been firmly grounded and had registered impressive work. "The 'Harithakeralam' Mission launched its 'Freedom from Waste Campaign' in August, 2017, and waste management activities were initiated in 300 local self governments," the Governor said during his address to the Legislative Assembly on Monday. "Apart from this, a large number of ponds, wells, canals and long stretches of streams were cleaned and rejuvenated for improved water conservation," he added.

Under the Education Mission, he said a total of 370 schools have been selected for funding by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for an amount of Rs 1,392 crore, and two-thirds of the schools have been granted financial sanction. "Apart from this, 45,000 hi-tech classrooms are being created in 4775 schools for a financial outlay of Rs 494 crore," he said. As part of the ‘Aardram’ mission, the Governor said that out-patient department (OPD) transformation work had begun at eight medical colleges and 17 district hospitals. In the first phase, 170 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are being converted into Family Health Centres (FHCs) and 80 of them have been completed.

“The balance will be completed before the end of financial year (March 31, 2018),” Mr Sathasivam said. He said that the LDF government was in the process of completing 66,939 unfinished houses across the state.  “Already 2000 houses have been completed, and the Life Mission is in the process of preparing a comprehensive list of the 4.32 lakh homeless people in the State,” Mr Sathasivam said. Besides, under various departments, 12,336 new houses have been completed already. The Life Mission will provide individual houses for about 1.76 lakh persons who own land. The landless will be accommodated in vertical housing colonies.