Kerala Govt offers budget support to young entrepreneurs

Seeking to promote youth entrepreneurship in a big way, the Kerala government today offered to provide budgetary support to young entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and setting up new enterprises.
This was announced by Governor Nikhil Kumar in his policy address to the assembly, laying down the broad framework of developmental and welfare schemes to be taken up by the Congress-led UDF Government headed by Oommen Chandy in 2014.
In an apparent dig at the opposition LDF over persistent agitations launched against the government, the Governor said while constructive criticism was always welcome, on many occasions such agitations had "grossly breached the bounds of dignity and order..."

The Government proposed to set up Industrial Development Zones in the state capital as well as Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur and a manufacturing cluster in Kochi for high priority electronic products with the Central assistance.
The address also laid thrust on improving the quality of education and healthcare sectors to meet the emerging challenges.
On the social security front, an initiative called "we care" will be launched for mobilising funds and develop a corps of voluntary care workers.

Considering the high rate of growth of cancer in the state, the surgical oncology, radio therapy and radiation departments of all government medical colleges would be merged and upgraded into mini Regional Cancer Centres for extending tertiary cancer care.

A special force would be set up in the police to deal with extremist activities and 250 women Sub Inspectors and 1000 women constables would be recruited through a special drive.
The Opposition, which raised slogans against the government over the LPG price hike and solar issues at the outset, described the address as "disappointing."
Talking to reporters, Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan said the address did not take into account live issues like price rise.