In Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today address a combined commanders' conference in Kochi. He will chair the Conference at high seas off Kochi coast. It is being organised on board INS Vikramaditya. The Combined Commanders Conference is an annual tri services event which is happening for the first time outside New Delhi. <br/><br/>It is a one day event in which three service chiefs and other senior officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force brief the Prime Minister about military issues and put up suggestions as necessary. The Conference, also known as the Unified Commanders' Conference, is crucial as national defence policy, doctrine and operational challenges are discussed in detail. <br/><br/>Defence sources said, the conference is being organised outside the national capital after the Prime Minister's suggestion last year that they may be shifted from New Delhi to field areas of the three services. <br/>Mr Modi will also unveil former Chief Minister R. Sanker's statue at Kollam and pay floral tributes to Sree Narayana Guru Mahasamadhi at Sivagiri, Varkala before returning to Delhi today.<br/><br/>Earlier, addressing a public rally at Thrissur yesterday, the Prime Minister emphasized on providing employment and educational opportunities to the youth of Kerala. Mr. Modi said, efforts are being made for making India a manufacturing hub for the entire world. He also lauded the contribution of Keralites in IT field. <br/><br/>The Prime Minister said, BJP has emerged as the third force in Kerala that will replace the two fronts led by Congress and CPI(M) in the next year's Assembly elections. He said, in the last local body elections, the people of Kerala has proved it. He said, Congress-led UDF and CPI(M)-led Left Front in the state are competing with each other to outsmart in corruption and other malpractices. <br/><br/>Mr. Modi said, his government has launched a number of programmes for the welfare of dalits in the country. The Prime Minister said, it has benefited 2.25 lakh people in Kerala and around 2,100 crore rupees have been distributed in the state itself.<br/>The Prime Minister reached Kochi yesterday on his first visit to Kerala after assuming office.