Thiruvananthapuram:
Those in Kerala who do not fall in the income tax category can from now on get free medicines.
The government will subsidize this scheme by levying a one per cent tax on all liquor purchased in the state.
This is one of the steps announced on Monday by Chief Minister Oomen Chandy on the completion of one year of his Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government.
His government also hopes to unveil an e-governance project to make Kerala the first state to go 100 per cent digital.
"Very soon all government applications would be made through e-mail. By the end of 2013 all local bodies will be connected through 4G and will have optical fibre broad band connectivity.
"By the end of this fiscal, all the files in the state secretariat will be in digital form," said Mr Chandy, while making his presentation at a public hall here.
It was on May 18 last year that Mr Chandy took office. On account of the Neyattinkara by-election Saturday, the first anniversary celebrations were delayed till Monday.
Among the other novel schemes is the provision for residents to lodge complaints to police over telephone. Once this is done, the responsible official will come home to take the complaint in writing.
"The Right to Services Act will be passed in the next assembly session. All those who build a home under 1,000 sq ft will get facilities like water, electricity and ration cards on demand," said Oommen Chandy.
A "bullet train" will be launched from Mangalore to Thiruvananthapuram.