Kerala Governor’s policy address: Major welfare push for SC/ST and Backward Classes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opening the state legislative assembly session, the Kerala Governor’s policy address has laid out a comprehensive roadmap focused on elevating Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and backward communities. The address highlighted targeted interventions in public sector employment, educational funding, and the tightening of tribal land laws.
An element of the policy address is the commitment to enforce population-proportionate reservation for SC/ST communities within Devaswom Board appointments. Acknowledging existing representation gaps, the address noted that special recruitment drives will be mobilised in areas where these communities remain underrepresented.

The address signalled upcoming structural changes to the state's flagship housing initiative, the LIFE Mission, aiming to reform assistance guidelines for scheduled categories and launch a dedicated housing project exclusively for tribal families.
On the legal front, the address called for robust measures to secure tribal territories. It emphasised a stricter enforcement mechanism to halt the secondary transfer of tribal lands and guaranteed punitive actions against illegal land encroachments.

To support students from marginalised backgrounds, the policy address outlined an increase in educational benefits, with a focus on ensuring swift, time-bound delivery through the digital e-grantz portal. Additionally, the state plans to scale up fellowships for researchers from backward classes and facilitate easier access to low-interest credit lines.
There will be a focus on cultural preservation, proposing the establishment of new research institutes. These bodies will be dedicated to studying and safeguarding the heritage of prominent social reformers and distinguished figures from backward communities, ensuring their contributions to Kerala's social fabric are preserved.