Kerala government’s policy address lacks substance: UDF  

The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has slammed the Kerala government’s policy address as one that lacked substance. 

In a statement, the UDF claimed that the policy address lacked a coherent strategy for mitigating the State’s worsening financial crisis. 

The Governor’s address did not provide a blueprint for addressing livelihood issues, including the escalating cost-of-living crisis. The policy address was nothing more than a set of declarations. The UDF alleged an “administrative vacuum” in the State. 

Wildlife attacks

Wildlife attacks on humans and raids by wild animals on farmlands and human habitations were on the increase in the State. The government had failed to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Wildlife raids on farmlands had pushed settler-farmer communities in the State to financial ruin. Government compensation was deficient and rarely forthcoming. 

The policy address ignored the issues faced by rubber and paddy farmers. The policy statement was silent about increasing the minimum support price for the crops. 

Housing scheme

The government’s ‘housing for the poor’ programme struggled due to insufficient funds. Instead of promoting temperance, the government allowed liquor companies to set up shops in the State. The decision’s socioeconomic fallout on families might not augur well for public welfare. 

The government was misleadingly blaming the stoppage of GST compensation and slashing the State’s revenue deficit grant for the financial crisis. The State’s tax administration had failed. The Finance department is yet to explain why the Kerala Finance Corporation invested public money in a fiscally flailing Non-Banking Finance Company, causing an estimated ₹100-crore loss to the State exchequer. 

Power tariff

The government had taxed the Kerala State Electricity Board. It burdened domestic consumers with a higher tariff by annulling an advantageous power-purchase agreement authored by the UDF government to accord undue pecuniary advantage to private electricity firms.