Kerala governor turns cautiously optimistic

In his first Republic Day address to the state, Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam, Monday asked the people of Kerala to be concerned about the growing number of road accidents, to improve the quality of education and be concerned about the environment.

Before delivering his speech, Sathasivam unfurled the national flag and took the salute at an impressive parade held in the state capital.

In his address, he said that the increasing number of accidents, both on the road and in water, is a matter of grave concern.

"The authorities should resort to strict implementation of traffic rules and extend safety measures to prevent such loss of life," said the governor.

He pointed out that though Kerala has made big strides in the field of education but it still remains a case of 'a little done and vast undone'.

"It's therefore with the specific aim of upgrading the quality of higher education of various universities in the state, a chancellor's council has been formed. Our efforts should be to overhaul and streamline the entire process, enabling us to be on par with the most advanced universities of the world sooner or later," said Sathasivam, who in fact had been criticised for forming the council.

In Kerala which has a lot of ecologically fragile areas, authorities should take maximum care while giving the 'green nod' for mining and quarrying operations, he said.

He also pointed out that innovative models of development should be designed to leverage the flow of funds, especially the non-resident Keralites' whose remittances to the banks in the state have gone up enormously.

He also praised the secular spirit of Keralites. As acclaimed all over the world, 'the warp and weft' of our social fabric are mutual trust and religious tolerance, added the governor.

He concluded by saying: "Time beckons us all to sink our shallow, skin deep differences of every sort, rally together with single minded determination and continue our noble task of building a much better, stronger and more prosperous India."

In the other 13 district headquarters, various cabinet ministers took the salute where parades were held.