First of its kind in the country the Kerala Perspective Plan 2030 aims at facilitating the state to attain developmental parameters of high-income countries.

Handing over the first document to NITI Ayog member Bibek Debroy Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that it was a major initiative for the long-term development needs of the state. “The people only give a five-year mandate for a government. The Finance Commission planning and everything is for 5 years. But we should have a prudent plan that will help the state achieve higher parameters” he said.

Though the state had several opportunities to accelerate development he said several issues had throttled growth. “We have been unable to tap the real potential of the state” he said. Debroy said that the emphasis should always be on innovations. He also welcomed the initiative and said that he would ask other states to emulate this model. Rural Development Minister K C Joseph Finance Minister K M Mani State Planning Board Vice- Chairman K M Chandrasekhar National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) fellow Barnoli Bhandari State Planning Board members Alok Sheel C P John and G Vijaraghavan among others were present.

The perspective plan prepared by NCAER envisions to make the state a prosperous knowledge-driven competitive and eco-efficient economy. Creation of a knowledge-based economy is said to be the central point of the plan. Chandrashekar said that the plan aims to achieve economic human social and environmental prosperity. Malappuram Kottayam and Thiruvananthapuram districts which came first second and third repectively in plan implementation were presented with the awards for completing the plan formulation and its implementation in 2013-14. Various departments were also presented awards for their performance in plan implementation.

Published in:  The Indian Express, July 14, 2015