Planning Board to be modelled after NITI Aayog; GSDP target set at Rs 28 lakh crore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first meeting of the State Planning Board, chaired by Chief Minister VD Satheesan, decided to restructure the Board's operations along the lines of the central NITI Aayog.

The objective is to increase Kerala's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) to Rs 28 lakh crore over the next five years; it currently stands at Rs 16 lakh crore. To achieve this, measures will be taken to raise the annual growth rate from five per cent to seven per cent.

Currently, the Board functions based on a 'plan-based' approach. Starting on the 15th, this will shift to a 'project-based' mode, similar to the NITI Aayog. Other states have already transitioned to this model.

The economy will transition from remittance income to one driven by investment. Private institutions, cooperative societies, and expatriates will be engaged as partners in these investments. A 'Partnership Cell' will be established within the Planning Board to design and implement projects with an investment exceeding Rs 10 crore, based on a partnership model.

A revolving fund of Rs 100 crore will be allocated for this purpose. Additionally, the Central Government’s infrastructure development fund will be sought for 'viability gap funding.'

The meeting was attended by Ministers P.K. Kunhalikutty, Sunny Joseph, Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John, and CP John, along with the Board’s Vice-Chairman K.M. Chandrasekhar and other Board members.

New Initiatives

1. District-level Project Review Committees

2. Packages for other districts, modelled after the Kuttanad package

3. District-level projects for civil society organisations

4. Expert committee for the selection of consultants and professional media agencies

5. 'Kerala Employment and Economic Opportunities Mission,' chaired by the Chief Minister

6. 'Yuva Keralam Mission,' modelled after the Kudumbashree initiative

7. Local investment and development meetings, led by MLAs

8. An action plan for the implementation of the Forest Rights Act to be prepared by the Scheduled Tribes (ST) Department