Proved it can make Kerala a developed state
The Nava Keralam Mission that envisages a new Kerala with sustainable development initiatives is the foremost achievement of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF Government. The LIFE (Livelihood, Inclusion, Financial Empowerment) Mission that aims at housing for all is noted for its focus on plantation workers and fisherfolk who were a neglected lot before.
The government is taking efforts to convert barren land into farmland, a thoughtful exercise to raise agricultural production. PSUs are being revamped and 13 of them were made profitable after this government came to power. The education sector is becoming hi-tech with smart classrooms in government schools.
Timely distribution of textbooks and a new free handloom uniform scheme are worth mentioning. Efforts are being taken to distribute title deeds to farmers. Textbooks for the ensuing academic year have been supplied ahead of school reopening. Earlier, it was an exercise that extended up to the annual examinations.Public health institutions, from primary health centres to medical colleges, are witnessing a huge infrastructure development.
-Vaikom Viswan, LDF convener
A balancesheet riddled with breach of promise
The LDF Government has frittered away a precious year of its tenure indulging in frivolous controversies rather than hurtling ahead with development and addressing burning issues concerning the people.
The LDF Government’s balance sheet reeks of breach of promise, developmental stagnation and total breakdown of law and order.
The government which promised to wipe out corruption faced disgrace as a minister and CPM second in command bowed out following stinging nepotism charges. The government’s lip service on women safety was exposed with another minister losing his chair in the sleaze tape row. The state has so far recorded 1,75,000 criminal cases, of which 4,800 were related to sexual harassment and 3,500 pertaining to atrocities against children. Ever since the government assumed office, there have been no dearth of controversies.
The government which should have acted against the self financing college managements for exploiting students, were steadfastly protecting the same managements. Kannur continues to be a killing field. Hitherto, 19 political murders have been reported in the state. Of this, 13 victims were BJP and RSS workers.
No major development project has been initiated so far.
-Kummanam Rajasekharan, BJP state president
Blind to public sentiments
None in Kerala, including staunch Left supporters, would honestly buy the claim the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government has done anything remarkable in its one year in office, except courting controversies one after the other. Governance is at its lowest ebb, not to mention the unending spat between officers in the top brass of the government.
The chasm between the CPM and the CPI is there for all to see. The UDF Government had gifted a hard-earned legacy in the development front to the LDF. But did the government rise to the occasion? I feel it has fared below par in taking forward many initiatives of the former government.
No sensible government would have engaged in a fencing match with top officers without sufficient ground to win. After riding to power on public sentiments over the Jisha murder case, did the government prove its sincerity in checkmating the rising number of atrocities against women and children, which have gained alarming proportions? Scores of political murders have marked the Chief Minister’s home village,putting him to shame.
Even the ruling front allies are given short shrift. The induction of R Balakrishna Pillai- who had undergone a jail sentence in a corruption case- to a key post has called the government’s bluff. Veteran V S Achuthanandan’s loud talk against corruption was a sham.
- Ramesh Chennithala, Opposition Leader
LDF lived by its manifesto
True to the LDF manifesto, the government has taken steps to revive the social security sector, which was completely destroyed by the previous UDF Government. When we came to power, social security pensions for a year were pending. All the arrears were cleared during the Onam season. Minimum wages to workers, supporting the traditional industries sector and efforts to revive the traditional industry are laudable.
One of the major achievements was the effective market intervention to arrest price hike and support Public Distribution System despite challenges from the Centre following the Food Security Act.During the demonetisation drive, the government stood firmly by the cooperative sector. In a major development in the financial sector, the government initiated steps for setting up a Kerala Bank. The government has taken sincere steps to address the farmers issues.
Also, the agriculture department is hurtling ahead with a mission to make the state self-sufficient in vegetable farming and paddy cultivation. The farmers’ compensation and crop insurance schemes would definitely support Kerala’s agriculture sector. The four missions, especially the decision to revive public education and give land to the landless, will be historic. Naturally, there were some minor lapses. The government should overcome these through self-introspection.
-Kanam Rajendran, CPI state secretary
Govt never got its due credit
The government under the stewardship of Pinarayi Vijayan is doing an excellent job. It has taken some good initiatives. But I feel the government has not received its due credit. The biggest innovation is the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) and the Kerala Bank.
At a time when resources are constrained, the idea to fund infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, ports etc through an SPV (special purpose vehicle) route is commendable. The world over, a government’s performance is gauged by the condition of its roads, bridges and other basic infrastructure: the one public uses on a daily basis. The government has taken the first steps to get things in order through the KIIFB route.
The only problem is, it’s too early to decide on the outcome. In the absence of a bank like State Bank of Travancore (now merged with the State Bank of India), the Kerala Bank makes a lot of sense. And this is not some alien idea. European countries such as The Netherlands, France etc have vibrant cooperative banks. However, the government, many a time, played into the hands of mainstream media- be it the Law Academy issue or the Jishnu case.
-C J George, managing director, Geojit Financial Services
Damage largely self-inflicted
This government’s intentions seem very good. Unfortunately, they have gotten into several unnecessary controversies over the course of the year, and the damage has been largely self-inflicted. The high-pitched campaign through which the LDF came to power created a lot of expectations among the people and the first two-three months were positive too. Since then, they got into trouble and their way of handling these issues has been very strange.
Issues like the government action against the bureaucracy were uncalled for. Vigilance raids and inquiries against very honest officers and the way the government responded to them have put the entire IAS cadre in the state on the back foot. There have been positives like the introduction of certain schemes in health and education as well the government’s decision to follow through on projects like Vizhinjam Seaport, Kannur Airport and Kochi Metro.
If the Chief Minister and his government can go back to how they functioned in their first few months in office, they can make amends and recover their lost image.
-G Vijayaraghavan, former Planning Board member
Making Malayalam mandatory a big feat
Among the big achievements of the Pinarayi Government is the promulgation of an ordinance to make Malayalam mandatory in all schools in the state. But it’s a shame a literate state needs an ordinance to save its mother tongue.
Though the government has taken a slew of measures to improve the standard of government schools, it has to ensure proper control and monitoring of the pre-primary schools and playschools which often flout rules in their attempts to make money.
Instead of going after hydel projects like Athirappilly, the state government should make use of natural solar resources for its energy requirements.The resumption of paddy cultivation in Aranmula and other barren fields is praiseworthy.
The government should emphasise on saving the state’s 44 rivers which have been dying over the years due to pollution and over-exploitation. The Munnar eviction, which came to a halt after hitting a ‘cross’, has to be resumed.
-Sugathakumari , poet-activist
‘Administration better, but promise remains’
The administration has been more efficient than how it was earlier. But there seems to be a lack of collective responsibility within the government. While there is an improvement in the efforts to eradicate corruption, the promise remains.
There are quite a lot of well-meaning ministers and all of them are honest and efficient people. The administration of cultural affairs has got a new life. But law and order does not seem to be up to the mark. Not much effort is visible to improve infrastructure or human resources.
-C Radhakrishnan, writer
‘Govt doing fairly well for women’
The government seems to be doing the right things for women at times. Pinarayi Vijayan’s support for the rape victim who chopped off the genitals of a godman is a welcome one. Such support sends out a message to society. I say this in the light of the party’s disappointing stand on the Walayar sexual abuse of minor sisters. In the Jisha murder case or in the actor assault case, the government has taken the right actions. In the first year of this government, we cannot say women are entirely safe.
-Mala Parvathi, actress and rights activist
Govt not up to expectations
The first year has been unsatisfactory and never came up to the expectations of the people who voted LDF to power. Right from handling the Police Department to sensitive issues like the Munnar encroachment, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has put up a miserable performance.
The DGP T P Senkumar issue has spoiled the image of the government and it was the result of the inflated ego of the Chief Minister. Policing has gone for a toss with the Police Department taking a biased stand on several issues, giving a negative image.
Even the CPM-led government failed to control its cadre in Kannur where political killings have become the order of the day. The differences in opinion between the CPM and the CPI on issues like Munnar encroachment and Athirappilly project have put the government in bad light.
While the CPI is trying hard to put up an image of a progressive left party, the CPM has been going after certain issues to protect the interests of a few.I don’t think the CPI’s stance on the Munnar issue is genuine but the political differences between the two LDF constituents have made the people a confused lot. The only positive aspect of the LDF Government has been its decision to give prominence to Malayalam language.
-M N Karassery, writer and social activist
Govt has taken steps for the long haul
The government has taken a lot of steps with a long-term view. It’s impressive how the task of developing the highways has been taken up. The coming year will see the results of this work on the ground. Another commendable thing is the progress made towards completing the LNG pipeline from Puthuvype to Mangaluru and Bengaluru. . The government will provide low-cost loans too. KIIFB is another initiative that deserves praise. The government should bring in private participation at KIIFB’s organisation level.
-Navas Meeran, chairman, Eastern Group
The govt a failure on all fronts
]The government was a failure on all fronts in its first year in office, except for some cosmetic changes introduced for the welfare of the people like hike in pensions to farmers, elder citizens and destitute women.
How could a government think of accommodating R Balakrishna Pillai, who was convicted in a corruption case, and K M Mani under its fold after seeking vote against corruption? Under the Pinarayi regime, the addressing of environmental issues, fight against corruption and the mobilisation of resources came to a halt while controversies became acute.
-C R Neelakandan, AAP convener and activist