THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Away from the din and bustle of the Piravom bypoll, basic reforms and framing of policies for the all-round development of the state are on top of mind of Finance Minister K M Mani, as he was grappling with the process of making of the annual state Budget 2012-13.“It will be a pro-people and pro-development budget. Untapped sectors in the state that have immense potential for employment generation will be given prominence in this budget,’’ stressed Mani unveiling his plans to ‘Team Express.’He said that there would be a few measures to build new institutions, and in the agriculture, sector new avenues would be explored. ‘’The migration from the farm sector has to be stemmed.Especially, the educated unemployed youth should be attracted to the sector. For this, latest technologies have to be incorporated in the sector, like promoting high-tech farming, which is gaining wind in the state. Revamping the sector and making it remunerative is important,’’ Mani said.Taking a break from a brainstorming session with key officials at his suit in the Mascot Hotel here, the Finance Minister was composed and optimistic. ‘’Ways and means for funding the budget is an herculean task this time, compared to yesteryears,’’ he said, referring to the growing budgetary deficit and the constraints which led to the delay in the implementation of a few projects announced in the last budget.“But there cannot be any cut on allocation of funds for development of various areas. Funding from the Centre is expected to come down, but all steps will be taken to ensure that the state did not suffer in any manner. The size and scale of the budget will be higher than that of last year,’’ he added. ‘’The participation of private sector is important,’’ he maintained.Buoyed by the feedback of the Entrepreneurship Development Programme for Youth and the Karunya Scheme for the poor, Mani said that there was enough space in the state to court new ideas and projects. ‘’All sectors, including IT, will get due importance in the budget.’’Tackling unemployment is also an area keenly followed by the Finance Minister. “There are 42 lakh educated unemployed in the rolls of the employment exchanges in the state. If there is a concerted effort, the entire list can be wiped off in three years time. In the modern world, a government should not be looked upon to provide jobs for all. Especially, when there is no dearth of jobs in the market. Setting up an industry alone will not bring sufficient jobs,’’ Mani said.
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