Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 12 (ANI): Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the 35th General Body meeting of the Kerala Grama Panchayat Association and said that the state government has decided to transform Kerala into an 'elderly-friendly state.'

The Kerala Chief Minister also underscored the vital role of local self-government institutions in the state's development trajectory.

Chief Minister Vijayan said, 'In the last financial year, local self-government institutions in the state were able to utilise 90 per cent of their plan allocation - a significant contribution to the state's development. The Association must further strengthen this efficiency.'

'We have decided to transform Kerala into an elderly-friendly state. Currently, 138 gram panchayats have initiated steps in this direction. This must be expanded to all panchayats. In the field of palliative care, effective and active interventions are being made. Alongside government initiatives, many NGOs also work in this sector. These palliative care services must be integrated, and panchayats should take the lead in this effort,' said Vijayan.

The Kerala Chief Minister also said that the state government aims to implement a coordinated approach involving everyone.

'We've also achieved agricultural growth above the national average. This is a testament to the grassroots strength of Kerala's development model,' he said.

Earlier, the Election Commission of India released the schedule for the bye-elections which are to be held to fill vacancies in Assembly constituencies of Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab and West Bengal.

Polling for the constituencies will be held on June 19, and votes will be counted on June 23.

In Kerala, the bye-election will be held in Nilambur to fill the post of PV Anvar, an LDF-backed MLA who resigned in January this year. He was appointed convenor of the Kerala unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Bye-election will be held in Gujarat's constituencies Kadi and Visavadar to fill the posts of Karsanbhai Punjabhai Solanki, who passed away in February this year and the resignation of Bhayani Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai.

In Punjab, the bye-election will be held in Ludhiana West to fill the post of Gurpreet Bassi Gogi after his demise their January.

The bypolls will be held in West Bengal's Kaliganj to fill the post of Nasiruddin Ahamed, who passed away from a cardiac arrest in February this year. (ANI)