THE fourth edition of International Congress on Kerala Studies organised by AKG Padana Gaveshana Kendram (AKG Study and Research Centre) has been successfully held, culminating in the drawing up of a master plan to create a new Kerala. The two day conference held at seven venues in Thiruvananthapuram amidst the presence of a galaxy of leaders from Left and Democratic parties and experts in respective fields has given a hope to foresee the revival of Kerala model of development which changed the socio-economic status of the state. More than three thousand delegates participated in the Congress. Kerala Padana (Study) Congress began in 1994 as a result of an inspiring initiative of EMS Namboodiripad and his comrades. It has helped in designing new developmental schemes pursued by the governments led by the Left and Democratic Front. Internationally acclaimed People’s Plan Campaign was debated in the first Congress and this was implemented by the LDF government led by E K Nayanar which came into power in 1996. This decentralisation programme had become a model that was accepted by various states in India. The fourth edition of the International Congress was held in the run-up to the forthcoming assembly elections which are due in April this year. As the state as a whole is preparing for a change of command, the debates attracted an impressive attention from the common people and the media. The Congress resolved that Kerala model has to be revived according to the needs of the changed world. Speakers argued that a massive struggle should be waged against the central government’s attitude of accumulating revenue as well as centralising power in its hands by weakening that of the states. While inaugurating the two day conference, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury underlined the need for a political uprising against the centre’s attitude of centralising power and money. All states face the crisis of resource crunch. Modi government which has dismantled the Planning Commission, has reduced the plan allocation for the states. This is nothing but an attack on federalism, he said. While presenting the perspective for a new Kerala, CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan who presided over the inaugural session said that a new development agenda should be designed for the future of Kerala. A cordial atmosphere should be created to attract industries which are environment-friendly. Kerala needs industries which create no harm to the environment. Social Security measures and social welfare projects should be strengthened and an atmosphere of equal opportunities should be created. Various service sectors must be revamped in favour of the common people, he said. V S Achuthanandan, leader of the opposition, Dr T M Thomas Issac, CPI(M) Central Committee member and director of the AKG Padana Gaveshana Kendram, and Prof Prabhat Patnaik, noted economist spoke in the inaugural session. CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Polit Bureau member S Ramachandran Pillai, Polit Bureau member M A Baby, CPI(M) Central Committee member P K Sreemati MP, Cuban Ambassador designate Oscar J Martinex, eminent historian Prof K N Panikkar, economists Prof Jayati Ghosh, Venkatesh Athreya, AIDWA leader Sudha Sundararaman, were present in the inaugural session. Four symposia – Left Alternative, Secular Kerala - A Historical View, Secularism and Development, Labor Relations in Globalised System were also held. Deliberations in various sessions underlined the need for public investment of Rs 50,000 crores for the development of Kerala and check the leakage of revenue. Another suggestion made in the sessions is the creation of Kerala’s own bank by co-coordinating all cooperative banks in the state. The financial crunch should not be a problem for creating infrastructure facilities. It is also decided that seminars on development must be organised in all the 140 assembly constituencies in the state to collect suggestions from the people in order to ensure people’s participation in formulating the election manifesto of the Left and Democratic Front. People can send the suggestions through online as well. The second phase of People’s Plan Campaign, organic farming and waste management with the participation of Kudumbasree units is on the anvil. Inaugurating the concluding session on the second day, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat said that the alternative proposal for the future development of Kerala should be drafted by considering the global and national scenario and the limitations, the neo-liberal policies had imposed on us.