Kerala people to soon get right to services

HYDERABAD: Kerala will soon have a law that will give people the right to government services within a time-frame, Chief Minister Oomen Chandy said today.The Kerala Cabinet has already approved the draft Right to Services legislation which is now being discussed with officers and government employees, Chandy told reporters at the Hyderabad Press Club.He said, "Government services are a right of the people, and not a mercy. We will take the officers and government employees into confidence and seek suggestions from the public as well before enacting the law."A time-limit would also be fixed for delivery of each service. "People are expecting many things from the government and we have to deliver quality services," he said.He cited delivery of ration cards as an example wherein the system of advance verification was done away with."Now, any applicant will be issued the ration card the same day and the verification process will be completed subsequently. If anything wrong is found during verification, the card will be cancelled," Chandy pointed out.The Kerala Chief Minister said his government would soon announce a one-year programme for delivering various services to people. A new health insurance scheme was one of the programmes on the anvil.Asserting that he was "fully satisfied" with his governance in the last four months, Chandy said he was getting co-operation from all sides."The joint responsibility of the Cabinet is very clear.There is no complaint even against the opposition which is extending maximum possible co-operation. We don't want any controversies. We want results," he said. Stressing that he was seeking to establish a "transparent and open" government, Chandy said a pre-social and financial audit would be conducted for all projects costing over Rs 250 crore."We have decided to upload all government orders on the Internet. Similarly, details about all (development) projects will also be put on the web. We are seeking public opinion on what else can be done for greater transparency," the Chief Minister said."People are very much against corruption. Confidence of the people is the strength of a government in a democracy.We have to win confidence of the people. If they have doubts about the credibility of the set up, everything will collapse," he cautioned.The Kerala Chief Minister was in Hyderabad on a day-long visit today to take part in a conference organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and a felicitation by the Kerala Association here.High-speed rail corridor plan to be completed in 5 yrsThe proposed high-speed rail corridor project, connecting Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod and Mangalore, is expected to be completed in five years, said Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today.In his address at `Suminfra 2011''s special session on Kerala organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here, he said Delhi Metro Rail Corp has completed the pre- feasibility study for the proposed Rs 77,000-crore project."The Delhi Metro Rail Corp has completed the pre- feasibility study on the proposed 550-km high-speed rail corridor, and we are currently working on the business models.We will initiate the bidding process for the project shortly.It is expected to complete in five years," Chandy said.The Kerala CM said his Government had also proposed to set up a 1,200 mw gas-based thermal power station at Cheemeni, Kasaragod district, with an estimated cost of Rs 4,500 crore.Chandy suggested that CII organise the next year's Suminfra, a summit on infrastructure, in Kerala. "By hosting the event next year, we want to give a message to the world that Kerala welcomes investors and new models of development."Meanwhile, speaking at the summit, S K Goel, Chairman and Managing Director, India Infrastructure Finance Corp Ltd, said, private sector investments in infrastructure projects in the 12th Plan (2012-17) will reach about 50 per cent of the projected USD 1 trillion.Goel, in his keynote address at Suminfra, said the important factors in infrastructure projects are quality and adherence to environmental and social issues. "During the 12th Plan period, of the total infrastructure investment estimated at USD 1 trillion, 50 per cent of it would be coming from the private sector."