1. KERALA ONCE AGAIN PROVES PRO-FARMERS BY SETTING BASE PRICE FOR 16 VARIETIES OF VEGETABLES
Fluctuations in price make agriculture an unpredictable sector. If the price falls unexpectedly, the farmers incur huge losses forcing many of them to withdraw from investing more in the sector. In a developing country like ours where the majority of the population spends 2/3 of its expenditure on food alone, and where the majority of the population is engaged in the agricultural sector, prices affect both income and consumption of the cultivators. Like any other cultivation, vegetable farming is a big sector in which many farmers are engaged with. Price policy is instrumental in economic development. Natural calamities and climate variations badly affect the vegetable farming sector in the State. The Government of Kerala understands this reality and for the first time in the country, the State declared base price for 16 varieties of vegetables.
The base price is fixed for 16 varieties of tapioca, banana, pineapple, squash, cucumber, squash, plantain, lentils, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, beans, beetroot and garlic.
The base price is 20% above the production cost. In case, the market price falls down below the base price, the Government will procure the produce from farmers at base price. Quality will determine the grading of the produce. 16 varieties of vegetables will be covered in the first phase and there is a provision to revise the base price on a regular basis. The scheme would help a farmer with a maximum of 15 acres of vegetable cultivation per person. Agencies designated by the Government would intervene and procure the produce where there is a dearth in production of any vegetable or fruit. The price difference is credited to the accounts of farmers who sell through societies.
The scheme had received immense response from farmers even before its launch on November 1, 2020. At Wayanad, the procurement of bananas had already begun at a rate of 24/kg at a time when the market price abruptly fell to 12- 17/kg.
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2. FARMERSโ WELFARE FUND BOARD: SETTING AN EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY
Though much progress has been achieved by implementing many visionary projects, the unerring mainstay of the state remains the hard work of the farmers. But the uncertainty of a fruitful harvest and fluctuations in price prevent many farmers from venturing into novel initiatives in farming. Lack of a fixed income is also a scary thing to many. In this digital era, not many youngsters are enamoured of a career in agriculture. The government sees this as a grave situation and in order to save farmers from these fears and dangers, it has decided to take a historic decision; to form a Farmersโ Welfare Fund.
The initiative is the first of its kind in the country. Besides ensuring agricultural development, the bill protects the entire family of the farmer. The guidelines for these have been formulated. Pension for the farmer and his family, insurance cover, financial aid for treatments, aid for marriage, educational aid of children, aid for meeting expenses in case of death, etc. are the benefits covered through this great initiative.
The initiative is widely welcomed by the farmersโ community not only in Kerala but in other states as well. Thus Kerala has set up an exemplary template for the rest of the country to emulate. Through this, Kerala has once again shown to the world that even as it zips into the digital era, it is and will remain every inch, a pro-farmer government.
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3. EPOS: THE POLICY THAT BROUGHT IN 100% TRANSPARENCY IN PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
The most important department that stands in close proximity to the people is the Food & Civil Supplies Department. A number of unprecedented initiatives have totally revolutionized and strengthened the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Kerala. The last five years have seen the implementation of healthy measures that have modernized and strengthened the PDS system in Kerala. One such policy is the introduction of Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) in all ration shops across the state.
Before the installation of the EPOS, there had been many a complaint from the consumers about discrepancies in distribution. Acting on its commitment to the welfare of the people, the present government has taken stringent measures to end all irregularities associated with the PDS by fixing the problem once for all. EPOS is a great leap in this regard.
With the digitization of all the ration shops in Kerala, all irregularities have been ironed out, and the PDS system has become 100% transparent. The move is in compliance with the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The Department of Civil Supplies completed the task of installation of EPOS machines across all retail ration outlets after connecting the 3.41 crore ration beneficiaries in the state with the Ration Card Management System utilizing the Aadhaar database. All the 14,374 ration dealers and their staff received training in managing the sales through EPOS.
The installation of Epos was a huge success and was widely welcomed by the people of Kerala. The modernization and digitization was implemented so fast that it showed the governmentโs resolve to ensure the right of every citizen to get his/her due without delay or irregularity.
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4. The โMapathonโ Era
There was a time when it was hugely challenging to assess, analyse and find places which deserve consideration for specific developmental projects, especially from an โofficialโ point of view. Too many projects were implemented in the past but, for some reason, most of them did not reach the intended beneficiaries. The void in the โbeneficialโ aspects of government projects as well as others had to be filled and this government took it up as a major priority and initiated steps towards conceptualizing and implementing a comprehensive project for the same.
Mapathon came out not only as a novel beginning but as an enterprise that virtually helped in tracking all the otherwise โhiddenโ specialties of every nook and corner. Be it natural resources or basic amenities, everything is being mapped here. Local-level mapping is carried out by the State IT mission. The CM himself launched the project. The crowdsourcing initiative then on becomes a huge success.
Stream mapping has been finished with the support of Haritha Kerala Mission and 130 youth professionals in all the 14 districts. Open street mapping is moving at a swift pace, thanks to the contribution from the voluntary brigade. NSS volunteers from the Technical University has completed the mapping of around 8000 km roads and over two lakh buildings. Since every detail is being collected future projects from the government is going to โhitโ the target. All-stream mapping is over in Kollam and Kottayam districts, and rapidly progressing in all other districts.
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5. HYGENIC & SUMPTUOUS MEAL FOR JUST 20 RUPEES: THE SUCCESS SAGA OF PEOPLEโS HOTELS
In the annual budget of 2020-21, the state government took a decision to start a chain of hotels that will provide food to people at moderate rates. The plan was to start one hotel each in all panchayats and one each in every ward in all municipalities and corporations.
This was a huge challenge but the biggest women empowerment organization in the world, Kudumbashree, accepted the challenge with determination. Thus the dream got realized.
The hotel started with the extensive support and financial aid of the LSG organizations. And with the whole-hearted support of the Civil Supplies Department, Kudumbashree began the initiative as an enterprise model. We can proudly say to the whole world that THIS IS A UNIQUE KERALA MODEL. Till date, Kudumbashree has opened 849 peopleโs hotels across the state.
The peopleโs hotel is a pointer. It underscores the fact that if the government is committed to peopleโs welfare, any project which is beneficial to the people can be implemented in the right spirit. It is not a trivial thing to start such projects by integrating different departments. The initiative was provided with ample space by the LSG organizations to start the hotels. Establishment permit was given to provide rice at a lower price through the Civil Supplies Department. Financial subsidy to the hotels is being given by the Finance Department.
In short, the realization of the project remains a surprise to many. Within a short period of time (eight months) it came into being with the full support of different departments. Now the project is nearing the dream number of 1000. It is estimated that around one lakh people get served at these hotels per day. We, as Malayalis, take pride in such a great initiative, because it is highly beneficial to the people.
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6. KIIFB INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ON PAR WITH GLOBAL STANDARDS
Infrastructure development acts as a springboard for any nation or state to scale greater heights in economic development. The Pinarayi Vijayan government understood this reality when it came into power in 2016. The commitment of the government to implement huge projects resulted in the formation of the unique project KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board).
The KIIFB has been conceived with the aim of providing funds for critical and large infrastructure projects. It serves as the main agency that supports the developmental projects of the government by providing physical and social infrastructure. Besides, it gives financial aid for infrastructure development for the government and other government agencies.
Till date, sanction has been granted to release Rs 43,730.88 Cr for 555 projects that involve huge capital through the KIIFB. Out of these, 318 have completed the tender process and been awarded work. The KIIFB has been bestowed with the highest international credit rating in the public sector sphere in India by two renowned international credit rating agencies. Thus the KIIFB has been engaged in the mission of giving a new facelift to the state through innovative projects.
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7. KERALA BANK
The setting up of Kerala Bank, one of the dream projects implemented during this tenure by the state government, is an eloquent example of its strong will and efficiency. The scheme was conceived with the aim of strengthening the co-operative movement and upscaling its competence to match with the demand of the times. Kerala Bank came into being on 29 November 2019 by merging the district co-operative banks of all the districts of Kerala, except Malappuram.
The district co-operative banks are built on very strong foundations. When they were brought together and made a single unit, it became the biggest bank in the state. The objective was to create a better opportunity for serving the customers.
That Kerala Bank has been plotting a chart of steady growth from its very inception is indicated by the fact that it has already garnered an investment of Rs 61,000 crores and recorded a profit of R 374 crores in the financial year of 2019-โ20.
The activities of Kerala Bank are governed by the rules of the Reserve Bank of India. Shifting from the earlier three-tier configuration, it now functions as a two-tier system with the Kerala Bank at the state level and its branches at the district level.
That Kerala Bank is selected by Malayalis residing overseas for making investments, and that it is able to render prompt service to the ordinary people constitute clear proof of the spirit of peopleโs participation it symbolizes.
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8. KEEPING DARKNESS AT BAY
All of us are familiar with the uneasiness we feel when electricity fails even for five minutes. But the steps taken by the Electricity Board indicate that it is sensitive to this kind of inconvenience we experience. For the past four-and-a-half years, Kerala has not suffered instances of either power-cut or load-shedding. One of the achievements of the Electricity Board is that it has been able to keep up a continuous supply of power, 24 x 7.
Over and above this, 16,77,302 new connections were sanctioned during the same period. Another significant feat is that it has succeeded in achieving the aim of complete electrification. Yet another is that it completed the Edamon-Kochi-Thrissur and Pugallur-Madakkathara HVDC power transmission corridors that had hit a road block earlier. With this, this entire area will be rid of power-cuts and load-shedding once and for all.
The process of applying for electric connections has been simplified, a centralized customer care number (1912) which works round the clock has been made operational in order to sort out all the problems related to the Electricity Board, an online system has been set up for customers to seek all kinds of services related to the Electricity Board, and a Green Channel system has been instituted in order to give advance information about power availability for industries, and to expedite electric connection.
A social audit system was put in place in order to make information about KSEB as a customer-friendly institution available, and also to bring about changes in it; a Peopleโs Electricity Adalat was convened for sorting out long-standing grievances of customers; electric connections were quickly restored in places that were affected by the floods and the Ockhi cyclone through Mission Reconnect โ all these achievements were made in the shortest span of time.
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9. LED LIGHTS TO BRIGHTEN KERALA
When each and every country, organization and individual is called upon to reduce their carbon footprint, and make our planet a cleaner and healthier place to live in, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) is doing what it can in this direction. Along with Energy Management Centre, Kerala, it is going to implement an ambitious project named Filament-free Kerala in a bid to light up the state and lessen the burden of pollution caused by incandescent bulbs and CFLs. The aim is to have LED bulbs in every house in the state.
The project, conceptualized by Urja Kerala Mission, has a two-pronged strategy. One, it will provide every domestic consumer with branded 9 watt LED bulbs at a reasonable discount, vis-ร -vis their open market price. Two, it will ensure a safe disposal of CFLs and incandescent bulbs collected from the consumers. The advantages of this change-over are many and very attractive. Domestic consumers will pay less hefty electricity bills. They will also enjoy the satisfaction of causing lesser consumption of fossil fuels.
LED lights that will produce light more efficiently than incandescent bulbs will be light on our pockets. Being more environment-friendly, they will be light on our conscience too.
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10. URJA KERALA MISSION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
Life in Kerala is literally bright now because load-shedding and power-cuts are a thing of the past. During the four-and-a-half years of its tenure, the state government has succeeded in implementing complete electrification of Kerala by sanctioning 17 lakh new electricity connections and offering excellent customer service. All these are the results of long-term vision and planning of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB).
The Department of Power has been able to take the electricity sector to greater heights by introducing timely reforms and undertaking expansion programmes. The most significant achievement so far has been the establishment of Urja Kerala Mission that is expected to bring about comprehensive development in the field. The Urja Kerala Mission will link five projects, namely Rooftop Solar Project, Filament-free Kerala, Dyuti 2021 that is expected to elevate the power distribution network to international standards, Transgrid, and E-Safe meant to decrease electricity-related accidents. Electricity charging machines have been set up along the national and state highways of Kerala; solar panels on rooftops have been installed in order to provide customers with alternate sources of power; LED lights are being distributed in order to make Kerala filament- and mercury-free; and steps are being taken to shift towards renewable energy sources. All these are measures taken towards adopting Green Energy strategies.
The KSEB is committed to implementing new projects that are in tune with the times so that it can serve its customers better by addressing complaints promptly. The determined activities of the government are the inspiration behind these reforms.
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11. THE WATER BEARER
There is perhaps no act of goodness greater than slaking the thirst of parched throats. And that is exactly what the Government of Kerala has been involved in through the past four-and-a-half years it has been in power. Giving top priority to reaching potable water to every household, restarting drinking water projects that had run aground and completing them in a time-bound manner, expediting new water supply connections โ these have been the aims targeted and achieved jointly by the Department of Water Resources, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) and Jalanidhi.
A Rs 793.25 crore project implemented by Jalanidhi ensured the completion of 1017 small scale drinking water distribution schemes. A whopping number of consumers โ 7.76 lakh individuals in 1.76 lakh households โ have benefitted from this plan. The KWA has either completed or enhanced the production capability of more than 100 major projects. It has been able to supply more than 400 MLD of water through the production enhancement projects. A total of 20 lakh or more consumers have reaped the gains of this programme. Over 12.5ย lakh new water supply connections โ were sanctioned. The speed with which the government swung into action, supplied drinking water to flood victims, and reinstated water connections that were badly damaged in the terrible floods of 2018 and 2019 had boosted popular rating of the state government machinery and the Department of Water Resources in particular.
The havoc wreaked by the 2018 floods was phenomenal. It adversely affected 483 drinking water projects, and the production capacity was damaged by over 50 %. But 90 % of it could be reinstated within five days. That the government has been able to meet the basic needs of the people, most importantly, ensure a steady supply of good quality potable water, despite the state going through a series of calamities like flood, drought and COVID, is a telling testimony to its efficiency and people-friendly ethos.
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12. Samoohika Sannadha Sena
The floods of 2018 battered Kerala but quick response from the people and the government under the leadership of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan showed the world that in times of a disastrous event, the Keralites can rise up to the occasion, setting aside all differences. To the present generation, the flood was an unprecedented phenomenon, and they were totally unprepared to face or overcome such a challenge. The absence of a trained posse of volunteers capable of responding effectively in an emergency situation became glaringly evident at that time. In light of the lessons learned, post floods 2018, the Chief Minister directed the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) to set up a common platform for all volunteers and voluntary organizations in the state to work in tandem with government functionaries.
On 1-1-2020 the government created Samoohika Sannadha Sena and established a directorate for the purpose. The KSDMA launched the website https://sannadham.kerala.gov.in/ on 25-2-2020 soliciting registration from all civilians and organizations to join the organization. Online training has been given to the volunteers especially in pre-monsoon preparedness. A live volunteer database has also been created using Sannadha Sena portal which is shared with District Collectors and Local Self-Governing Institution (LSGI) heads for accessing and deploying volunteers on demand.
The initiative has been a huge success especially during the COVID lockdown period. Nearly 60,000 volunteers were allotted e- passes to carry out field level activities during anti-COVID 19 activities. In operating community kitchens, delivering medicines and other essential articles, donating blood, operating call centres, etc., their presence is clearly visible. Till date, 3, 67,603 volunteers have registered themselves with the organization. Out of these, 86,210 are women and 58 belong to the transgender community. Nearly 6000 volunteers are deployed for the smooth running of the Covid First Line Treatment Centres (CFLTCs).
In the long run, each district will be given specific training in disaster management.
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13. STUDY ROOMS (PADANAMURI) FOR SC STUDENTS
The Pinarayi Vijayan Government is committed to the overall uplift of the marginalized communities. The government has launched many programmes so as to raise the scheduled caste community to a much higher level. This commitment is reflected in the improved educational prospects of the SC students. As we know, about six lakh Scheduled Caste students are studying in various Pre Matric and Post Matric institutions in Kerala. It is quite unfortunate that most of the students lack proper environment in their houses because of inadequate facilities. The mean income level prevents the parents from arranging even minimum study facilities for their children. Giving due seriousness to this reality, the government has decided to implement a very novel and innovative policy - Construction of Study Rooms (Padanamuri)
As per this policy, the government is providing financial assistance for the construction of an additional room to the existing house of SC students currently studying in various institutions and whose family/ parentโs annual income comes only up to Rs 1 lakh. The area proposed for the study room is 120 sq. ft. The project envisages provision of a bookshelf, chair, table, fan, light, computer and computer table. The amount set apart for one study room is Rs 2 lakh.
The scheme was introduced in the year 2017-18. So far, 12, 500 study rooms have been constructed. This represents the government's sincere commitment to the welfare of the marginalized communities. Apart from this, many other programmes have been initiated in favour of the marginalized.
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14. GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS ARE TO BE PROTECTED; NOT CLOSED DOWN
The policy of universal public education, implemented since the time of independence, laid the foundation for a democratic, secular and progressive ethos in modern Kerala society, by providing education to all children without discriminating on the basis of caste, religion or gender. It helped create a highly skilled workforce, and enabled Malayalis to migrate to different parts of the world as skilled and semi-skilled workers. This in turn strengthened Kerala's economy through remittances.
It is a fact that some of Kerala's advances in public education took a back seat with the introduction of erroneous policies in the past. One of its effects was that students left public schools in favour of private schools, where they had to pay hefty fees for their education. And most of the government schools were on the brink of closure as they lacked basic infrastructural facilities.
One of the most important policies taken by the Pinarayi Vijayan government is reflected in the general education sector. This comes out of a deep-seated conviction that quality education is the right of every student. The government took the firm decision to protect those government schools that were about to be closed down due to shortage of students and lack of basic infrastructural amenities. The process of taking over such schools has been going on by troubleshooting, and rectifying various errors. The government, with the aid of the people, has conceived a strong action plan to revive these schools and many of them have been brought back to life from their earlier moribund state.
The change is reflected in the vastly enhanced admission rates in these schools over the past three academic years. A total of 5.05 lakh new students got enrolled in these schools during the period.
The Pinarayi Vijayan government is committed to strengthening the general education sector. Besides improving the government schools, basic infrastructural facilities have been upgraded significantly. Classes were made hi- tech and new buildings were annexed to 34 existing schools by utilizing Rs 5 Cr for each school. With newly inaugurated buildings annexed to 50 schools, Kerala is going to witness the emergence of Centers of Excellence.
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15. The Corporate Innovation daysโฆ
There was a time when it was a hardship to find the best suitable way to earn a living. Gone are the days since opportunities beckon aspiring minds these days. Here comes the significance of the State Governmentโs policy to involve corporates in start-ups. A corporate innovation programme is designed and is making a mark nowadays towards successfully utilizing the otherwise eluded support from โgiantsโ.
Corporate Innovation programmes are those which are developed in association with corporates. The start-ups will get hand holding as well as co-creation opportunities from the corporates. The Open innovation model as well as collaboration model for building products which best fit for the industry will be done through this programme.150 start-ups interacted with 50 corporates. 15 start-ups got business as part of this matchmaking program between corporates and start-ups which includes some international business conversions in Middle East and France.
Those Engaged
Future group - Industry challenge conducted. Two start-ups got selected.
Bosch - Reverse pitch conducted with Bosch.
GE Healthcare - Predible health got selected in their EDISON accelerator program.
Accenture Ventures - Demo day with these 17 start-ups need to be done. FFS mentors to be provided.
Microsoft - EmergeX start-ups selected from Kerala (12 start-ups) and they are given scale up support from Microsoft
Hitachi - Hitachi is very serious about sourcing start-ups from Kerala and they will get back with interested start-ups to collaborate with. They have plans to conduct more demo days with start-ups.
Talentco - French based company with whom a Kerala start-up got business collaboration.
Oppo - MoU signed with Oppo to support Mobile tech start-ups in Kerala.
UST global - Phythaeon technologies in final collaboration discussion.
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16. COMMUNITY KITCHEN โ A MODEL OF CARE
During the time of the COVID crisis, food security became a troubling issue for most families in the state. People were anxious that, with the lockdown extending interminably, there would be scarcity of food and disruption in the supply of essential goods. But the Government of Kerala conceived and implemented projects that removed those fears and infused confidence in the people. The projects that assured food security were taken up with a strong will, and implemented in a time-bound fashion.
The government took the decision of setting up community kitchens with the aim of ensuring that no person suffered starvation during the lockdown period. The plan was set into motion under the leadership of local self-governing bodies with active support and co-operation from Kudumbashree. Measures were taken to ensure availability of freshly-prepared food in the community kitchens that were opened in every panchayat, municipality and corporation.
A week after the decision was taken, more than 1,000 community kitchens were set up. This helped feed lakhs of people every day, a laudable achievement and eloquent testimony to the welfare activities of the government. With the strong support of the Department of Civil Supplies, these community kitchens worked throughout the lockdown period, and were later converted into peopleโs hotels.
Besides arranging the smooth functioning of community kitchens, the government also took measures to ensure distribution of food kits, containing 17 items of provisions, to all families, totally free of charge. The initial decision was to permit this scheme for four months from the month of April 2020. That the government could reach such kits, prepared by the Department of Civil Supplies and Supplyco, to 87 lakh families is no mean achievement. When COVID-related problems showed no signs of abating even after the initial four months, the government resolved to extend the period of distribution of kits, containing eight essential items of provisions, to December 2020 and later to April 2021.
In other words, a total of 87 lakh families benefited from this largesse for a full year. Both these projects of the Government of Kerala have earned a special place in the hearts of the people as inimitable models of care.
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17. AARDRAM MISSION โ FAMILY HEALTHCARE CENTRES
Of all the projects that highlight the visionary policies conceived and implemented by the Government of Kerala, the most significant ones are the four missions formulated for the realization of a collective dream called Nava Keralam [New Kerala]. The mission earmarked for the health sector is Aardram whose smooth functioning has helped the state make a quantum leap in providing medical care to the masses. In the last four years, the healthcare system of the state โ from sub centres to medical colleges โ has been upscaled to a significant degree.
One of the most noteworthy reforms implemented under the Aardram Mission has been the conversion of Primary Healthcare Centres into Family Healthcare Centres. The aim was to implement this in 674 PHCs in two stages, and 461 have been successfully transformed into Family Healthcare Centres already. Measures have been taken to expedite the process in the rest of them. With this upscaling, the government could create 1830 new posts and make appointments to them very quickly. Besides, 454 applicants could be recruited under the National Health Mission programme, and 648 through the Local Self-Governing Institutions.
The Out-Patient clinics of the PHCs used to function from 9 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon. With their elevation to the status as Family Healthcare Centres, the consultation time has been extended from 2 to 6 pm. With the new E-Health system functioning effectively, it is now possible to segregate and save health information details of each family from the comprehensive database. As the basic amenities offered at all centres have been enhanced considerably, there is a marked increase in the number of patients patronizing them. Simultaneously, the scientific implementation of the referral system has decreased over-crowding in medical college hospitals. A comprehensive transformation of the health sector was made possible by empowering the Family Healthcare Centres to diagnose and treat lifestyle diseases, depression, chronic lung problems and so on.
Everyone in the state is witness to the effectiveness with which the Family Healthcare Centres tackled and continues to tackle the COVID pandemic. The strong foundation laid by the Aardram Mission in these centres played a pivotal role in checking mortality rates considerably even as the numbers of COVID-infected patients in the state spiked. That the state has been able to successfully overcome two devastating floods and the infections they brought in their wake, and the outbreak of Nipah virus infection, and is effectively battling the COVID pandemic is a pointer to the long-term vision of the government and the strategies it has adopted to help its people survive all odds.
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18. THOUGHT POWER
The Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) is a think tank and advisory body created by the Government of Kerala. Its aim is to conceptualize strategic plans that will foster an ecosystem healthy and conducive enough to effect product and process innovations, cause the social shaping of technology, and inspire innovations in the state. K-DISC, which will play a major role in formulating the future of Kerala, has been sanctioned Rs 200 crores as knowledge economy fund in the budget.
One of the major programmes formulated by K-DISC is the โYoung Innovators Programmeโ intended to promote school- and college students, between 12 and 35 years of age, who have innovative ideas, and help them implement their plans. In the first phase of this programme in 2020, a total of 2,168 innovative ideas were received. The preliminary examination and screening of those ideas are going on at present. Registration for the programme is into its second phase right now. For more details and registration, visit yip.kerala.gov.in. The last date for registration is 30 January 2021.
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19. FOOD SECURITY THROUGH RICH HARVESTS
With its eyes set unwaveringly on ensuring food security for the people, through the last four years, the state government has taken decisions that have led to rich harvests. With bumper crops in vegetable and fruit farming, it has been able to take Kerala towards food self-sufficiency.
The steps taken under the leadership of the Department of Agriculture have been bringing about significant changes in the farming sector. The first major policy of the government has been to plant one crore fruit tree saplings every year for the next ten years. This came into effect from the financial year of 2020-21, with the distribution of 1.31 crore fruit tree saplings. Needless to say, with the continuation of this project, the state will undergo a noticeable transformation.
Another noteworthy achievement is that unrelenting efforts were made for increasing vegetable production in the state. Within the last five years, the area under vegetable cultivation has increased from 52, 829.99 to 96, 313.17 hectares. The area under farming has almost doubled. Vegetable production has increased correspondingly from 7. 25 to 14. 93 lakh metric tonnes within the last five years. This is tangible evidence of the success of the state governmentโs determination to ensure increase in domestic cultivation of vegetables and fruits.
It was as an extension of these policies, that the state government fixed the base price for 16 varieties of vegetables and fruits last November. An unprecedented measure taken by any state government in India, it was intended to lend effective assistance to farmers in times of crises.
It is hoped that with the conceptualization of visionary policies and their effective implementation, the state will be able to further enhance the production of vegetables and fruits, lead the land to food surplus, and ensure the welfare of the farmers.
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20. USHERING IN A NEW GREEN REVOLUTION
One of the greatest anxieties that gripped us during the initial days of the lockdown following the outbreak of COVID was regarding food security. It became the great responsibility of the state government to assure the people of uninterrupted food supply as they faced a lockdown that was threatening to stretch endlessly and confronted problems at the financial and social fronts. However, the state government came up with the Subhiksha Keralam Project to overcome the stasis precipitated by the lockdown and to ensure food security, and in the process succeeded in lifting agricultural production to exemplary heights.
The agricultural revolution was kickstarted by the Subhiksha Keralam Project under the leadership of the Department of Agriculture and with the co-operation of the local self-governing bodies. As a result, a total of 19, 555 hectares of fallow land was brought under cultivation, and 14,ooo new, co-ordinated agricultural units were developed through which more than 10,000 people gained employment.
But the Subhiksha Keralam Project is not merely about increasing production quickly, bringing fallow land under cultivation and ensuring food security. The government aims higher. It wishes to revive the farming culture of the state. In order to realize this aim, it has established Block Level Knowledge Centres at the block level throughout the state, that will give proper guidelines and technical support to farmers as well as youngsters and non-resident Keralites who turn to farming.
Further, the Project will work towards opening weekly markets in villages in order to strengthen sales, and the services of Karshaka Mitra Sena will be made available to ensure it. The people of Kerala have been able to survive a very challenging phase only because of the strong and determined interventions made by the government. That the state government with its actions, powered by far-sightedness, could take the farming sector to greater strength and pave a new way towards a great change is indeed very admirable.
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21. THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR GETS A FRESH LEASE OF LIFE
During the last four-and-a-half years, the government has been taking special measures to create an industry-friendly image for the state by arranging and promoting the infusion of more investments in the industrial sector and simplifying the procedures related to it. It has evolved policies and formulated laws suited to fulfilling this aim.
In 2017, in a bid to expedite the issuance of licences and permits for the setting up of industrial enterprises, the state government promulgated the Kerala Investment Promotion and Facilitation Ordinance, which later became a law. As a result, on 11 February 2019, under the leadership of the Department of Industries, a single online portal named K-Swift was inaugurated that would issue all the licences and permits sanctioned by the various departments. Now, all the procedures related to sanctioning permits for industries are progressing in a transparent and time-bound manner. That a total of 511 permits could be issued to industrial entrepreneurs by December 2020 is evidence of the excellent work done by the department.
The policies were formulated as much to start Micro-, Small- and Medium Enterprises (MSME) as to launch Mega industries, without hassles.
In 2019, the Kerala Micro-, Small- and Medium Enterprises Facilitation Act came into force. The most significant clause it contained was that industrial enterprises with a capital investment of up to Rs 10 crores, which did not come under the Red Category of the Pollution Control Board, did not require licence for three years.
The New Law
The industrial sector of the state is showing signs of vitality. Using a receipt that an entrepreneur gets on submitting all the required information against a self-attested certificate at the K-Swift portal, it is now possible to start an industry with a capital investment of below Rs 10 crores. This receipt will serve as a licence for a period of three years. The rest of the licences may be procured within this span of time.
There has been no policy ever formulated in recent history that has sought to incentivize small industries so effectively. Between January and December 2020, no less than 6945 entrepreneurs took possession of receipts issued through K-Swift. This phenomenon is an eloquent testimony to the popular acknowledgement of the Department of Industries and the Government of Kerala. Let us hope more entrepreneurs will make use of these systems in the coming days, and make huge investments in the sector.
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22. WORKER-FRIENDLY LEGISLATIONS
The Kerala government has adopted policies that ensure workersโ welfare and strengthen the employment sector in the state. The Right to Sit was a significant milestone in the history of labour laws in Kerala. The legislation passed in 2018 instructs that all shops and commercial establishments mandatorily provide seats for their women employees. This law was made to ensure safety for women employees and protect their dignity.
Another effective step taken in the employment sector was the creation of the draft labour policy that aimed at financial and social growth of the state. It was a long-term welfare measure that purported to cultivate a women employee-friendly atmosphere, protect the rights of women in their place of work, guarantee decent salary and offer job security.
Kerala was the first state in India to adopt and implement the Maternity Benefit Amendment Act that sought to bring educational institutions in the private sector within the ambit of the law. As per the law, women employees in private schools are entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave with full salary benefits and a one-time grant of Rs 3,500 to cover treatment expenses. This policy, aimed at facilitating womenโs empowerment and social justice, was subsequently adopted by the central government and implemented all over India.
In the last four years, the government under the leadership of the Department of Labour brought into effect several new ideas like introducing a system of grading institutions, granting excellence awards to high-performing employees and so on. The aim of the government was to formulate policies that were not only in tune with the times but would also energize the employment sector, and ensure workersโ welfare as well as job security.
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23. ISSUANCE OF NEW RATION CARDS & SIMPLIFICATION OF THE PROCESSES AND LAWS ASSOCIATED WITH RATION CARDS
People of Kerala have suffered too much from complicated rules associated with the services rendered through ration cards. Before this government assumed power, applicants had to wait for days and even months to get their new ration cards. Most of them were caught in a vicious circle of endless procedural formalities once they applied for it. The government realized these difficulties and decided to put an end to the troubles faced by the people in the state.
The government decided to issue ration cards within 24 hours of submission of valid application forms. Also, it decided to distribute free ration to those who lacked ration cards, on the basis of their Aadhaar cards. A priority list was made in order to serve people better on the basis of their eligibility. The process of submitting applications for new ration cards was made online. This move not only simplified the procedure but also saved time to a great extent.
A total of 80 lakh ration cards have been renewed during these last 4 years, and 10 lakh new ration cards issued to families, including the homeless. Mobile ration shops were introduced in the remote hamlets of the Adivasis. The State Food Commission has been formed and by introducing e-governance and m-governance, unparalleled and unprecedented progress has been achieved in the sphere of the Public Distribution System
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24. FILLING A LACUNA FOR FILLING MORE STOMACHS: AYYANKALI URBAN EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) was able to give employment to unskilled manual labourers in the villages of India. But there are no central schemes that guarantee employment to impoverished, unskilled labourers in the cities of Kerala, a state that is undergoing rapid urbanization. It was to address this lacuna that the state government came up with the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme.
The Government of Kerala hiked the budget share to the Ayyankali Employment Guarantee Scheme by 500 %. It is now pegged at Rs 75 crores, and the wages under the scheme has been increased to Rs 291. This is part of the governmentโs policy to strengthen the people-oriented welfare scheme, and create more employment opportunities in cities.
What the government has striven to achieve is link the Ayyankali Employment Guarantee Scheme to the other existing schemes in order to increase the number of days of employment. Through its link with the Life Mission Project, that undertakes construction of houses for the homeless, this scheme was able to offer 90 days of employment in cities. The implementation of the scheme made it possible to gain an additional sum of Rs 26,190 over and above Rs four lakhs for the construction of each house.
The state government has taken a policy decision to include dairy farmers too in the Ayyankali Employment Guarantee Scheme. A total of 26.5 lakh man-days of work was generated in the financial year of 2019-2020. This contributed hugely towards alleviating urban poverty. The government is totally committed to its aim of securing more than 25 lakh man-days of work every year in order to strengthen the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme, and thus implement peopleโs welfare schemes in the best possible manner.
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25. Barrier-free Tourism Policy
The contribution of the Tourism Sector in garnering precious revenue for the state has been stupendous. In 2019-2020 alone, it is estimated to have earned Rs 45010.69 crores, directly and otherwise. Over the last four years, in a bid to further enhance its turnover, the Government of Kerala adopted certain new and well-timed ideas, and implemented several excellent policies to help raise the sector to an international level.
The Barrier- free Tourism Policy was conceived in 2017 and, accordingly, various tourist centres were made to comply with international barrier-free norms in order to make them differently-abled friendly. The project is slated to be completed by March 2021, by which time 120 tourist centres will be differently-abled friendly. Already, work on 69 of them has been completed as part of the first phase of the project. The remaining 51, which form part of the second phase, will be ready on time
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26. Responsible Tourism Policy
This policy was drafted in order to give importance to the concept of responsible tourism, and take it forward as a mission. Implementation began in 2008 in four centres and, by 2011, three more centres were covered under the scheme. In 2017, the state government took steps to revitalize the missionโs activities by initiating more programmes. As a result, by November 2020, a total of 20, 098 tourist centres registered themselves as part of the Responsible Tourism Project. This move benefitted 36,815 individuals directly, and 63, 915 others indirectly. In other words, more than one lakh people were able to find employment and a means of livelihood locally.
Of a total of 16,915 units, 80 % are managed exclusively by women. Thus, through Responsible Tourism, the government has been able to ensure that the benefits of its policy go directly to women, and contribute to the financial development of specific regions. According to available accounts, a total of nearly Rs 36 crores was generated in three years at the regional level. As part of popularizing the project, Aymanam grama panchayat in Kottayam district was declared as the first model Responsible Tourism village
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27. HEALTHY PRACTICES
At first glance, Kerala seems to have all factors working in its favour to create and sustain a healthy populace. It is a highly literate state which not only boasts of an enviable infrastructure in healthcare โ an intricate network of Anganawadis, healthcare centres, trained and highly experienced medical personnel โ but has consistently notched a top position at the national level in health indicators like IMR, MMR and institutional delivery as well. Therefore, it may appear paradoxical that most of the women and children in the state suffer from various health anomalies like anaemia, stunted growth, muscle wasting and so on. What is even more ironical is that such a condition is precipitated by a combination of sheer ignorance and traditional outlook.
Rarely do Malayalis make a distinction between โfoodโ and โnutritionโ. Most of the time, the concept of a balanced diet is neglected. In many households, quantity of intake takes priority over quality, due to either ignorance, negligence, snobbery or force of circumstances. Traditional meals, known for their nutritional richness, are slowly being replaced by fast food or health supplements that are projected through advertisements. Frequent dining-outs also constitute an aggravating factor. In more than 80 % of families, when meals are taken at home, gender bias comes into play as a result of which the woman of the house, usually the last member to eat her meal, gets the least nutritional food. This as well as menstruation contributes hugely towards high incidence of anaemia among women in Kerala. In the case of working women, this problem is seen to be alarmingly acute. Needless to say, the effect that such a condition has on the health of infants and children is very disturbing.
However, help is at hand as the state government is all set to put in motion CAMPAIGN 12, a health drive that aims to combat anaemia among women and children in Kerala. Implemented under the aegis of ICDS and Sampushta Keralam (the state version of Poshan Abhiyaan) of the Women and Child Development Department, and supported by the Department of Health, it will attempt to spread awareness about anaemia in women and children, the need to monitor haemoglobin levels, the importance of nutrition and so on. These measures, it is hoped, will help improve the vibrancy of the state.
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28. K-FON
Kerala is a state with a 100 percent mobile density and 80 percent e-literacy and was declared as Indiaโs first digital state. This enabled the state to easily adapt to the Covid pandemic situation, through digital platforms such as online transactions, online classes, etc, without many gulfs. Still, it requires a stable IT infrastructure that can cater the services at every nook and corners of the state so that the fruits of the governance reach everyone without discrimination. The Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON) project envisages such an infrastructure, an IT back born of the state, stretching throughout Kerala. On completion, KFON will connect more than 30,000 Govt and Educational Institutions with high-speed Optical Fiber Connectivity. It is also planned to provide free internet services to about 20 Lakhs economically backward households through the project.
This flagship program intends to transform Kerala into an intelligent, innovative, and inclusive society.A Special Purpose Vehicle company was formed with the partnership of Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd., Kerala State IT Infrastructure Ltd., and Government of Kerala.
The main purpose of having a state-owned network is to enable all the Government offices at state/district/block/GP level access the Government applications hosted at the state data centre through a secured intranet. Definitely, it will reduce the cost of internet data.
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29. KERALA ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE (KAS) - THE HISTORIC STEP
The notification for KAS ensured better prospects to the youth of the State. By overcoming many hurdles, the Government was able to implement the decision which will promise a more efficient and prompt service to the general public.
Objectives of the KAS are
(a) To build a cadre of public servants as a second line of managerial talent for Government for effective implementation of Government policies and programmes.
(b) To provide opportunities for growth for bright, talented and committed officers in Government Service and prepare them for senior level administrative and managerial positions in public service.
(c) To constitute the feeder category for the recruitment of Indian Administrative Service officers in Kerala Cadre through appointment by promotion from State Civil Service (SCS) category supersending the existing rules in this regard.
The KAS opens the doors to a huge avenue to youngsters of Kerala who are talented and educated. Those who are preparing themselves for examinations like those of the Civil Services will get opportunities to reach high posts in the administrative set-up very quickly. So the KAS is an inspiration to members of the younger generation who are prepared to work really hard.
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30. Labour policy
The draft policy was chalked out by the Labour Department foreseeing a development charter involving both the working class and industrialists which will bolster the socio-economic growth of the state. And this can only assure socio-economic security to the self-help groups and workers in the unorganized sector resulting in a new vigor to the labour force.
A high point of the draft policy is simplifying the procedures relating to labour force. Taking this into account, the policy has given emphasis to create a women-friendly working environment in the service sector. It will also ensure gender equality and protection of womenโs rights in the workplace.
The draft policy will initiate the process to revise work timings, wage structure and job security, among others as per the current requirements. It will open a glorious chapter in labour policy by doing away with the wrong practices in the job sector and creating a healthy work environment. Another pertinent point in the draft is to ensure reasonable pay and social security to workers across all sectors. Online payment of wages tops the list and the Government has already implemented the Wage Protectorsโ System.
The government has extended the scheme across the state, whereby wages will be deposited in Aadhaar-linked bank account of the workers. Aadhaar-based online registration of unorganized workers and headload workers, job security through the periodical renewal of registration, and a labour bank for domestic workers are other key features of the draft policy
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31. Right to sit act
By implementing the right to sit act, the government of Kerala has achieved a milestone in the labour history of the state. All shops and establishments in the State will now have to mandatorily provide seating arrangements at workplaces for women workers, especially for the saleswomen. This is the era in which the labour has witnessed drastic changes in every phase.
The draft bill brought out by the government proposing amendments includes several provisions that shop owners are bound to make for the safety of women workers. It also includes other women-friendly initiatives, including providing seating arrangements for saleswomen during working hours as well as arrangements to ensure womenโs safety during night shifts. The amendments proposed by the government make sure of the safety and dignity of women labourers. It was one of the long dreams of the workers to sit properly in the workplaces and the government has taken glorious initiatives to fulfil their dreams.
Following the amendment in act, the employers are obliged to ensure the security of women workers who works after 7 pm in the respective shops. They are also instructed to provide transportation facilities to the workers to their place of accommodation. The government has given instructions to take strict actions against those who break this act and they are liable to pay the penalty. The officials of labour department are instructed to ensure that all shops and establishments, including restaurants, are implementing the amendments, now that these had become the law.
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32. INDUSTRIAL PARKS
Six industrial parks are being set up under the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and 10 under the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA).
The Bio 360 Life Science Park is one of the most important parks situated in Thonakkal, Thiruvananthapuram. It is the first industrial park dedicated to Life Sciences.
A Medical Devices Park (Meds Park) is being set up on 9 acres adjacent to the Life Science Park. The park includes an incubation center, a knowledge resource center and an animal house.
The Mega Marine Food Park at Cherthala, Alappuzha is being established with the aim of providing impetus to the seafood processing and distribution sector.
Work is in progress for an electronic hardware park at Ambalur in Ernakulam district. Nearly 100 acres of land has been acquired for the facility. A light engineering park is being set up on 34.5 acres at Ottapalam, Palakkad. The center will be responsible for the manufacture and distribution of forging, fasteners, electronics and steel.
The state Government has begun the first phase of the Global Ayurveda Village Project. The project covers an area of 39.45 acres and includes a therapy center, research center and a medicinal garden. 32 acres of land has been acquired in Varkala for the second phase of the project.
Muttam Food and Spices Park in Idukki is being set up on 15 acres. Facilities, including processing cluster and storage and processing centers, will strengthen the spice sector in Idukki.
The KINFRA Defence Park at Ottapalam in Palakkad district has been set up on 60 acres at a cost of Rs.130.94 crore.
The Mega Food Park at Elappully, Palakkad is now operational. An SDF building complex, along with the construction of a centralised processing centre has been completed on 79.42 acres of land.
An Industrial Park with International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Export Enclave and Container Freight Station is being set up at Mattannur in the Kannur district.
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33. Aawaz
The government of Kerala implemented Aawaz scheme to provide the interstate migrant workers a unique health insurance coverage. It was inaugurated on 2017 November. The state government had decided to implement the aforementioned health insurance scheme worth Rs 25000 and 2 lakh accident death insurance claim for each insured person.
It will also enable the creation of a systematic database of the migrant workers there by enabling the government to provide them with id card. About 500113 interstate migrant workers have been already registered under the scheme. About 26 lakhs has been issued to the dependants of 13 interstate migrant workers as death claim. Maternity treatments of the migrant workers have also been included in the insurance scheme.
Apart from that, an insurance amount of up to one lakh is given to the workers who have become handicap due to the accident. The government will meet the expense to send the corpses of the workers who die during the work time. Every migrant worker aged between 18 and 60 years can be enrolled in the scheme. Medical treatment is available from all government hospitals as well as from empanelled private hospitals across kerala.
About 56 hospitals are included in the insurance scheme including medical colleges and RCC. Facilitation centers will be opened in all districts for migrant workmen from where services related to Aawaz scheme will be made available on working days. This is the free insurance scheme for inter state migrant workers,pioneering in India by government of kerala.
As noted, the government of Kerala has concerns regarding the health condition of migrant workers in the state. Improving the health of migrant workers is also expected to improve the health condition of other local residents
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34. ERASING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT
Protection of the environment requires that people shift from the use of fossil fuels to safe, renewable sources of energy. And it is an undeniable fact that the measures taken in this direction should not only be of proven merit but urgently executed as well. With such an aim in view, the Government of Kerala has initiated steps to encourage more research in the fields of non-traditional forms of energy, and inspire the people of the state to shift to newer and progressive technology. The Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) is leading the way, with the help and co-operation of various institutions in the state, by implementing many projects.
One of them is the Carbon Neutral Governance Project floated by ANERT, with support from Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL). This will provide electricity-powered vehicles to the various offices and departments of the government. The project seeks to set up Charging Stations in all districts of the state. With one cycle of full charge, a vehicle will be able to cover anywhere between 120 to 450 km. As soon as the project attains success, the facility will reach the masses, and this will bring to fruition the governmentโs dream of eliminating fossil fuels completely.
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35. ERASING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT
Protection of the environment requires that people shift from the use of fossil fuels to safe, renewable sources of energy. And it is an undeniable fact that the measures taken in this direction should not only be of proven merit but urgently executed as well. With such an aim in view, the Government of Kerala has initiated steps to encourage more research in the fields of non-traditional forms of energy, and inspire the people of the state to shift to newer and progressive technology. The Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT) is leading the way, with the help and co-operation of various institutions in the state, by implementing many projects.
One of them is the Carbon Neutral Governance Project floated by ANERT, with support from Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL). This will provide electricity-powered vehicles to the various offices and departments of the government. The project seeks to set up Charging Stations in all districts of the state. With one cycle of full charge, a vehicle will be able to cover anywhere between 120 to 450 km. As soon as the project attains success, the facility will reach the masses, and this will bring to fruition the governmentโs dream of eliminating fossil fuels completely.
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36. ELECTRIFYING MOVES TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT
Through the course of the last four-and-a-half years, the government has done its best to put Kerala on the path towards becoming a Green Energy State by propagating the use of renewable sources of energy in more and more areas. It has adopted many policies and implemented many environment-friendly projects as much to reduce dependence on and continued use of fossil fuels as to promote a shift to non-conventional sources of energy.
One such project is the E-Market Platform named www.buymysun.com, for promoting the use of solar equipment. It began functioning under the leadership of ANERT from June 2018. As the E-Market Platform provides a list of quality-assured equipment and authorized service providers on demand, it facilitates the purchase of environment-friendly consumer durables by domestic users from their homes. As per records, various pieces of solar-powered equipment worth over Rs 33 crores have been sold to date.
Besides promoting such new ideas, the government has implemented many projects in the power sector. Keralaโs first independent solar power plant has started functioning at Kuzhalmannam in Palakkad district. With the two mega-watt power unit, ANERT will produce electricity through safe means while simultaneously sparing us from the emission of 2827 tonnes of carbon dioxide, had traditional sources of energy been used. This is an indication of the importance the government accords to saving our natural environment.
Over and above all these, 321 kilo watts of electricity is produced by solar plants installed in 96 public institutions. It is used in various sectors, for instance, to activate the Micro Grid Project in Adivasi colonies, to operate solar-powered refrigerators, to run coir ratt machines and so on.
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37. Bhavanam Housing scheme in plantation sector
The plantations covering 27 % cultivated area is a major source of employment for workers in Kerala. It also contributes substantially towards the balanced regional development in the country due to its concentration in backward regions and environmentally sustainable development since the sector is concentrated mostly in ecologically fragile regions.The Plantation Labour Act governs the conditions under which workers can be employed in the plantations. An important provision in the Act is the stipulation cast upon the plantation employer to provide housing for the workers so long as they are working in the Plantations. However, the housing conditions of plantation workers are poor with most workers staying in dilapidated labour lines or houses. In addition, the low wage level and the seasonal engagement of workers in the plantation sector make it difficult for the workers to build or buy a house on their own.
Considering the serious threat to the lives and well-being of the plantation workers and their families living in these dilapidated labour lines, the Government has decided to assist plantation workers by providing safe housing in the form of either independent houses or apartments. Thus, the scheme is envisaged to resolve the housing crisis in the plantation sector by providing plantation workers and their families with good quality decent accommodation in or near their plantations under two categories viz. Independent houses (for those who own land) and Apartments (for those who do not own land).
The scheme proposes to construct housing units of about 400 square feet with two bedrooms, a drawing cum dining hall, kitchen, inbuilt toilet and bathroom. To assess the demand, a survey was conducted and it was found that 22,679 plantation worker families do not own land or a house, and 8,208 families own land but no house. It is found that Idukki and Wayanad districts top the list of landless homeless plantation workers. Since around 19500 plantation workers are in Munnar &Peerumeduarea and 3500 plantation workers in Wayanad area, it is proposed to implement the housing project in those areas in the first phase.
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37. Maternity Benefit
In a major move to ensure equal justice, Kerala has become the first state to bring the private education sector under maternity benefit. The Union government had earlier issued its nod for the state government decided to bring them under maternity benefits. Earlier, people working with private educational institutions are not covered under the maternity benefits act. However, the state has thousands of women including teachers working with the private education sector.
Considering this the state cabinet decided to extend all provisions of the Maternity benefit Act to private educational institutions including unaided schools. As part of the maternity benefit legislation, the employees will get paid leave for 26 weeks. Also, the employer should give Rs 3500 for medical purposes.
With the new notification, these benefits will become applicable to those in the unaided sector also. Now employees with private educational institutions including those in the unaided sector, will also be eligible for maternity benefits. They can now take six months of paid leave as part of maternity benefits. The state government issued the notification including them under the maternity benefit norms
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