Addressing a joint session of the state legislature at Vidhan Bhavan today, the Governor also said that the government will take measures to cut down the non developmental expenditure, increase revenues by broadening the tax base, streamlining the tax laws and rationalising the rate structure.

The Governor said that this has been done considering the financial constraints due to the implementation of the recommendations of the fifth pay commission and the debt service obligations due to the increased debts after 1995. ``Against the backdrop of the difficult financial position of the state government, the three-point programme for financial management will economise administrative expenditure, control wasteful expenditure and bring about financial discipline,'' the governor added.

The governorin his address also pointed out that the secular government proposes to revive the State Minorities Commission and adopt policies that foster a sense of safety and belonging among the minorities. The government will also identify a suitable agency to suggest measures for the economic upliftment of minorities.

The government would also restore to the local self-governing institutions the administrative powers that had been withdrawn from them in the recent past, Alexander said adding the government would make all efforts to safeguard the autonomy of the co-operative institutions and revitalize them.

He pointed out that the present government is committed to providing a clean, transparent and result-oriented administration that will work for the benefit of the downtrodden, weaker sections, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, nomadic tribes.

The state government will give top priority to the universalisation of primary education, he said and added that efforts will be made to modernise technicaleducation.

Dr Alexander said that the overall objective of the government would be to make education employment oriented, which in turn would help tackle the unemployment problem in the state. With this objective in view, attempts would be made for development of relevant skills and upgradation of the industrial training Institutes and special importance will be given to computer education at school level.

Referring to the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute, the Governor said that the government will take all possible steps to arrive at an amicable solution. He also added that the Common Minimum Programme to be formulated by the constituent parties of the Lokshahi Aghadi based on the election manisfestoes will soon be implented by the government.

The new government would also make efforts to provide health care to the entire community in the shortest possible time and will also take effective steps to root out the AIDS problem. The Government has also promised to provide clean drinking water to thestate including the urban population within the next five years and will also try to improve the quality of life in the slums.

The Government also plans to revise minimum wages payable to labourers and will take steps to eradicate the problem of child labour. The tourism industry will be given a fillip by improving the private sector in creation and management of tourism infrastructure and the government will also extend its support to sports and youth welfare activities.