The Kerala Legislative Assembly witnessed the Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar delivering the official policy address in Thiruvananthapuram during the ongoing session.The address, approved earlier by a special Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister V.D.Satheesan, laid out the government’s key policy directions for the coming year.

The speech highlighted several governance and development priorities, including a statewide anti-drug mission to be launched in the new academic year, involving coordination between the Home, Excise, Health and Education departments.

It also emphasised strengthening the public distribution system and taking steps to control the rising cost of living through improved price monitoring mechanisms aimed at curbing hoarding, black marketing and artificial price inflation.

The government also announced plans to modernise selected Supplyco supermarkets and expand the number of Maveli ration shops to improve access to essential goods.

In addition, the policy address focused on climate-resilient development in coastal areas and proposed the creation of a Blue Economy Cell to support sustainable use of marine resources.

In the education sector, the Governor announced the establishment of an Academic Syndicate to coordinate governance in higher education and improve institutional efficiency, along with efforts to make Kerala’s higher education globally competitive and reduce student migration.

Plans were also outlined to upgrade government schools and colleges with modern technologies and to set up Jawaharlal Nehru Scientific Centres to promote scientific temper among students.

Other key announcements included modernising the Excise Department with digital surveillance tools, improving financial discipline in cooperative institutions, and considering a white paper on the state’s finances to ensure transparency.

Welfare measures such as increased pensions and enhanced health insurance coverage were also highlighted as part of the government’s broader social support strategy.