Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the central government has approved a proposal to rename the state of Kerala as Keralam. The announcement was made during a public event in Kochi where the Prime Minister also spoke about development initiatives and economic opportunities for the state.
During his address the Prime Minister said the decision to approve the renaming proposal reflects the cultural and linguistic identity of the region. The name Keralam is widely used in the Malayalam language and reflects the historical and traditional identity associated with the state.
The Prime Minister also focused on development programs aimed at strengthening the fisheries sector and the coastal economy. He highlighted that the central government has provided support worth approximately 1400 crore rupees to the state under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
According to the Prime Minister the scheme is designed to boost the blue economy and support fishermen and coastal communities. The program focuses on improving fishing infrastructure expanding seafood production strengthening supply chains and creating employment opportunities in the fisheries sector.
Kerala has a long coastline and a large community dependent on fishing and related activities for their livelihood. The fisheries industry plays an important role in the state economy and contributes significantly to exports as well as domestic food supply.
The Prime Minister said that strengthening the fisheries sector will help increase income for fishermen while also improving the overall economic potential of coastal regions. Government programs under the scheme include support for modern fishing equipment cold storage facilities fish processing units and improved market access for fishermen.
During his speech the Prime Minister also spoke about the need for consistent development policies in the state. He said that Kerala has significant potential for economic growth due to its skilled workforce tourism industry and strong maritime resources.
However he stated that frequent political changes between different ruling alliances in the state have affected the pace of development. The Prime Minister said that long term planning and consistent policy implementation are necessary for achieving sustained growth.
Political leadership in Kerala has traditionally alternated between different alliances including the Left Democratic Front and the United Democratic Front. The Prime Minister argued that long term development requires a focus on infrastructure investment job creation and economic planning.
He also emphasized that the central government will continue to support development initiatives in Kerala across sectors including fisheries infrastructure tourism and coastal economy programs.
The event in Kochi was attended by government officials representatives from the fisheries sector and members of the public. Development projects and economic support programs announced during the event are expected to contribute to the state economic growth.
Observers note that initiatives related to the blue economy are increasingly important for coastal states in India. Programs that strengthen fisheries and marine industries are seen as key drivers of employment and regional economic development.
The Prime Minister said that cooperation between the central and state governments is important to fully realize the potential of Kerala resources and ensure sustainable development for the people of the state.
