Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the Center’s approval to rename Kerala as “Keralam” has fulfilled a long-standing demand of the people of the state.
The Union Cabinet on February 24 approved the proposal to rename the state “Keralam”, following a resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in June 2024 seeking the change.
Addressing the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha in Kochi, PM Modi said the state has now received its rightful name in line with Malayali culture and identity.
“Today, as I stand among you, there is a sense of joy for the entire state. The long wait of my Malayali brothers and sisters has come to an end. You have all been demanding for years that Kerala’s name be changed to Keralam. Our BJP-led NDA government at the Centre has approved this proposal,” the Prime Minister said.
During the event, PM Modi also praised the work of the Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha, which represents members of the fishing community, and congratulated the organisation on completing 50 years.
He said the fishing community reflects Indian traditions of maintaining balance between livelihood and nature. “The world considers water, rivers and seas as resources, but the Dheevara community considers the oceans as its ‘amma’ (mother),” he said.
The Prime Minister also criticised previous governments in the state, alleging that the fishing community had been neglected for decades. He said the NDA government has taken steps to strengthen the fisheries sector and recognise its role in the blue economy.
PM Modi noted that the Centre created a separate Ministry of Fisheries and launched several initiatives to support the sector. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, around ₹1,400 crore has been allocated for fisheries development in the state, he said.
Later in the day, the Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate, dedicate to the nation, lay foundation stones and flag off multiple development projects worth around ₹10,800 crore in Ernakulam.
Among the projects, he will lay the foundation stone for a Polypropylene Unit at the Kochi Refinery of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), with an investment of over ₹5,500 crore.
He will also inaugurate two highway projects — the six-laning of the Thalapady–Chengala section of NH-66, built at a cost of more than ₹2,650 crore, and the Kozhikode Bypass six-laning project from Vengalam to Ramanattukara, constructed at an estimated ₹2,140 crore.
-ANI
