Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 (IANS): Noted innovator, tech evangelist and policymaker Sam Pitroda has drawn up some 10 major projects for Kerala's resurgence that promise to change the face of the state, says Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
"We are confident that given Pitroda's acumen in projects that he will present, this is certainly going to change the face of the state in the near future," Chandy, currently in Mumbai to promote investments to the state through an "Emerging Kerala" campaign, told IANS.
The chief minister said Pitroda, who is also advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on public information, infrastructure and innovation, will formally present these projects here May 28.
In January, Pitroda was invited by the Kerala government for a brainstorming session with Chandy and his cabinet colleagues. After that he had promised to be back in 90 days with a slew of proposals to drive Kerala.
According to Chandy, the projects would include a coastal waterway, building a full-fledged knowledge city, strengthening of the vocational educations using information technology and a new health insurance scheme.
"Funding is not going to be a problem because funds are going to come through public-private partnerships. Moreover, with 'Emerging Kerala' being promoted vigoursly by us across the globe, there could be many who would be interested in the projects," he said.
"The projects are being proposed by Pitroda after detailed cost-benefit analysis."