Emerging Kerala: PM Manmohan Singh endorses green, sustainable development

KOCHI: It was as though the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was endorsing the concerns raised by the greens within the State Congress in the run up to the ' Emerging Kerala' meet.

Inaugurating the 'Emerging Kerala 2012' investor's meet here on Wednesday, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said that the development initiatives of the state should be "sustainable and mindful of environmental concerns".

Urging the state to draw maximum benefits from the central government initiatives like the National Skill Development Mission, the Prime Minister said that the state should promote labour intensive light manufacturing and micro business enterprises.

The UPA has "supported the efforts of Kerala to grow into a major investment hub", he said. "We would like the state to embark on a path of people-focused inclusive growth driven by knowledge and innovation and mindful of environmental concerns," he added.

The Government is committed to improve the industrial infrastructure and "is seriously considering" the proposal to set up an IIT in the state, Dr Singh said inaugurating the Emerging Kerala 2012 meet. Earlier, the tone of the meeting was set by Defence Minister AK Antony when he said that the state government should accommodate different shades of opinion if they are found reasonable.

While maintaining that unending debate about projects is hurting the state's interests, he expressed happiness that the state government is not taking a rigid stand. Calling for an atmosphere of give and take, he said that the people who criticise the state government should also be reasonable.

A spirit of consensus prevailed when Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy also announced that the state wanted to promote projects that are friendly to the people and the environment to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth.