Thiruvananthapuram |Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Friday said the policy address read out by the Governor in the State Assembly showed that the UDF government would fulfil the promises it had made to the people and implement the projects announced before the polls.

Speaking at a press conference here, Satheesan said that his government has plans and projects to transform Kerala into a port and aviation hub.

He said that the government is launching a major project centered around two international ports, integrating 17 mini ports to make Kerala a port city through a coordinated network.

"Our aim is to transform Kerala into one of India's most important aviation hubs. Since the state has four international airports within a relatively small geographical area, we already possess the necessary foundation for major aviation projects. The government is envisioning a long-term plan to make Kerala the largest aviation hub in South Asia," he said.

His response comes in the wake of Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan claiming that the policy address shows that the UDF government was trying to run away from the promises made in its election manifesto and avoid its financial responsibilities.

Vijayan also claimed that it was lacking in many aspects, including criticism of the Centre's economic policies and its stand on the West Asia conflict.

He had also said the policy address was silent on various projects and welfare measures initiated by the previous LDF government, the comprehensive development blueprint for Kerala till 2035 of the Left administration and a route map to achieve the UDF's goal of a 'Puthuyugam' (new age) Kerala.

In response to this, Satheesan said that the Marxist veteran may feel that the UDF government was not implementing his policies.

"We are implementing the policy of the new government. There is a significant difference in the stand of the new government from the earlier one. The projects that are already going on since the previous administration need not be announced as they are continuing," the CM said.

He said that the policy address contained the projects the government was going to implement after coming to power and which it had promised to the public.

Reacting to the Opposition allegations that the address was silent on the policies of the BJP-led Centre, he said, "When the time comes to criticise the Centre, we will do so. Why criticise it right from the start? Right now we are just entering into interactions with the Centre."

Regarding Vijayan's remark that there was nothing about the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) in the policy address, the CM said that it was considering setting up a panel to study the status of the organisation and its working before taking a decision on it.

Satheesan also said that despite the financial challenges being faced by the government, the five Indira guarantees will be implemented, welfare measures for the poor and vulnerable will not be compromised, and the growing substance abuse of both drugs and alcohol in the state would be addressed.

He said that the government will be bringing out a 'White Paper' on the fiscal condition of the state, adopt a three-pronged strategy of enforcement, awareness and rehabilitation to curb drug abuse, and support Kerala's movie industry through a comprehensive film policy.

Besides these, the government was also committed to modernising the education sector, encouraging higher education institutions to become genuine centres of excellence, developing globally competitive higher education institutions in Kerala to reduce academic migration and strengthening the Cooperative Vigilance Wing to ensure cooperative societies' operations are corruption-free and transparent, he said.

The CM further said that the healthcare institutions at every level will be modernised with improved infrastructure, equipment, medicine availability and human-resource support.

Satheesan also referred to the various schemes being envisioned for the SC/ST communities and the dedicated department created for the welfare of elderly persons in the state.

He said that the financial aspects in relation to all these initiatives would be announced in the budget.

He further said that all the challenges before the government will be surmounted in a democratic manner as it takes the state forward to a 'Puthuyugam' (new age).

The government's policy address was read out in the House by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar earlier in the day.