States » SouthPosted at: Nov 5 2026 8:17PM

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 5 (UNI) Kerala has set a target of increasing its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) from the present ₹16 lakh crore to ₹28 lakh crore under the 15th Five-Year Plan, while raising the annual economic growth rate from five to seven per cent.
The State Planning Board has approved the approach paper for the 15th Five-Year Plan at the first meeting of the reconstituted board, chaired by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan at the Planning Board headquarters here.
Ministers P.K. Kunhalikutty, Sunny Joseph, Mons Joseph, Shibu Baby John and C.P. John, Planning Board Vice-Chairman K.M. Chandrasekhar and other board members attended the meeting.
Departing from the conventional approach, the 15th Five-Year Plan will be implemented in a project-based mode, with a major focus on shifting Kerala from a remittance-dependent economy to an investment-driven economy. The approach paper envisages a participatory economic model involving private institutions, cooperative societies and non-resident Keralites in investment and development activities.
The board approved the establishment of a Participatory Cell within the State Planning Board to design projects and prepare guidelines, rules and institutional frameworks for partnership-based projects involving investments exceeding ₹10 crore. It also sanctioned a revolving fund of ₹100 crore for project preparation and studies.
The state will seek support from the India Infrastructure Development Fund scheme of the Finance Department for viability gap funding.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan stressed the need to expedite development projects, eliminate delays in implementation and ensure the effective utilisation of available resources, including those under Central government schemes, for the state's benefit.
Planning Board Vice-Chairman K.M. Chandrasekhar said the state would pursue a participatory economy by bringing local self-government institutions, cooperative societies, banks, the private sector and other agencies together to supplement government resources and achieve the development targets.
The Planning Board has already held seven district-level consultations to involve local bodies and experts from different sectors. It is also working to strengthen coordination with state government departments and Central ministries to maximise resource mobilisation. Monthly joint meetings involving the Vice-Chairman, board members, Chief Secretary and senior officials will be held to review development initiatives, he said.
The board also approved a proposal to seek annual assistance of up to ₹2.44 crore from NITI Aayog to strengthen its functioning, build institutional capacity and improve its evaluation and data analysis divisions. The meeting noted that other states had already availed themselves of financial assistance under the scheme.
Among other decisions, the board approved the formation of district-level project review committees, jointly led by a designated Planning Board member and the respective District Collector, to monitor the progress of development projects. The committees will meet once every three months.
Development assistance will be extended to all districts to implement special development packages on the lines of the existing initiatives in Kasaragod, Wayanad, Idukki and Kuttanad.
A new scheme will also be introduced in every district to support eligible civil society organisations undertaking development projects. The District Collectors will identify the organisations and projects, subject to approval by the State Planning Board. The assistance will be limited to 50 per cent of the total project cost.
The board further decided to constitute an expert committee under the Vice-Chairman to finalise the selection and empanelment of consultants and professional media agencies based on the expressions of interest received.
A Kerala Labour and Economic Opportunities Mission will be launched with the Chief Minister as its Chairman. The Planning Board will initially incubate the mission and transfer it to the government after two years.
A separate Yuvakeralam Mission, on the lines of Kudumbashree, will also be established to expand opportunities for young people. The Local Self-Government, Higher Education, Youth Affairs and SC/ST departments, along with Planning Board members, will jointly prepare its framework.
The board also decided to organise local investment and development meets under the leadership of MLAs, bringing together local investors and expatriate Keralites. The initiative will be implemented with the support of NORKA, with the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) serving as the nodal agency.
The Scheduled Tribes Department will prepare an action plan for implementing the Forest Rights Act, with the programme to be carried out in mission mode over five years in coordination with other concerned departments.
UNI DS