Consensus crucial for state: CM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 12th Five Year Plan is crucial for the state as it is aimed at making a determined effort to offset the losses  suffered by the state over the years in various fronts and chart a new course of action, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Wednesday.Evolving a consensus on various issues is of crucial importance in a state like Kerala and Plan will be finalised only after arriving at a broad understanding, he said.  Inaugurating a seminar to mark the release of the approach plan prepared by the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of  Development Studies, functioning under the KPCC, the Chief Minister said that Kerala had changed a lot for adopting a strategic shift in the developmental trajectory. “The notable change in the state is in the trade union sector, where workers and the trade union leadership have undergone a welcome change in their mindset. People are ready to invest in the state now. If we are ready, nothing is impossible and the state will witness a quantum leap in development,” he said.Chandy said that unlike in the past, wide-ranging discussions and working out a consensus for evolving a plan of action for the State’s de velopment is being mooted. “It is an open and transparent approach. Fears about loss of jobs in any sector are misplaced. Doubts expressed on the huge size of the 12th Five Year Plan, which is pegged over `1 lakh crore, is unwarranted. In fact, we could have a much more bigger plan when the income from the GST, which will be introduced from next year is taken into account,” he claimed.  CM hinted that the plan will be fine-tuned to address emerging issues like the farm sector crisis in Wayanad.