Kerala: Four Years of LDF 2.0
Sam
THE Left Democratic Front Government in Kerala completed four years in office on May 20. The current LDF government is a continuation of the one formed in 2016. Over the last nine years, Kerala has been steadily progressing towards the vision of 'Navakeralam' (New Kerala).
Navakeralam envisions a society where economic growth and social progress go hand in hand, fostering sustainability, justice and accountability. The policies implemented by the LDF government are aimed at achieving this goal. A distinctive feature of the LDF government is its practice of presenting annual progress reports on the fulfillment of promises made in its election manifesto. It is a true reflection of a democratic government being accountable to those who have elected them to office, i.e., the people.
Despite the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused severe global disruptions in health, economy, and employment, Kerala has been marching ahead, and moreover, this is amidst the discriminatory policies of the union government, which have stifled the state’s rightful entitlements. A resilient society that has overcome unparalleled natural disasters, Kerala has also been forced to resort to protests and legal battles to safeguard its rights and the Indian Constitution’s federal principles.
In the course of the last nine years, critics who once claimed that the LDF government will not be able to achieve anything, have fallen silent. Projects like the Vizhinjam International Seaport, which positions Kerala as a global maritime hub, have become a reality. Although the foundation stone was laid earlier, 100 per cent of its construction took place under the current and previous LDF governments.
During the earlier UDF regime, the National Highways Authority had issued notices that projects will be halted due to delays in land acquisition. However, when the LDF government came to office, it agreed to bear 25 per cent of the land acquisition cost (approximately Rs 6,000 crore). No other state government in the country has had to share the expenses of developing national highways. The LDF government’s resolve in ensuring fair compensation and rehabilitation paved the way for the realisation of Kerala's long cherished dream of National Highway development.
The Kochi Metro and Kannur International Airport, delayed for years, were completed by the LDF government. The GAIL pipeline project, abandoned by the UDF government and deemed impossible by critics, was executed by effectively addressing the people's concerns. Similarly, the Edamon - Kochi Power Highway was also brought back from oblivion and completed. Projects which will provide a complete facelift to Kerala, like the Kochi-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor, City Gas Distribution, IT Corridor, Puthuvype LPG Terminal, Hill Highway, Coastal Highway, Wayanad Tunnel Road, Kochi Water Metro, West Coast Canal, and Thiruvananthapuram Outer Ring Road have either been completed or are in the process of being completed.
According to the NITI Aayog, while 11.28 per cent of India’s population face multidimensional poverty, Kerala’s figure stands at a mere 0.48 per cent, the lowest in the country. The LDF government is committed to eradicating extreme poverty in Kerala. A comprehensive survey identified 64,006 families as extremely poor, and 59,707 of these (79.22 per cent) have already been lifted out of extreme poverty. Kerala is gearing up to declare itself as 'extreme poverty-free' by November 1 – Kerala Piravi Dinam – this year.
Dalits and members of OBCs have been appointed as temple priests under Kerala’s Devaswom Boards. Social welfare pensions have been increased from Rs 600 to Rs 1,600 and are now being disbursed accurately, even when the union government's paltry share is delayed. Kerala's welfare pension rates are the highest in the country, and are disbursed to the most number of people, 6 million beneficiaries every month.
The LDF government plans to eradicate homelessness and landlessness in Kerala. Under the LIFE Mission, 451,631 houses have been completed and handed over by March 2025. 400,956 land title deeds have been distributed as well. An additional 100,000 title deeds are to be distributed within the next year. Steps have also been taken to simplify land utilisation laws and regulations for the benefit of inhabitants of hilly regions.
Against the backdrop of neoliberal slogans like ‘less government, more governance’, and at a time when governments across the country are withdrawing from their responsibilities as job providers, Kerala, under the LDF government, is standing apart. According to UPSC reports, 42 per cent of the appointments made by Public Service Commissions (PSCs) all across the country are done by the Kerala PSC. Since 2016, 280,934 candidates have secured jobs through it.
The LDF government has modernised Kerala's public healthcare system. A total of 886 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) are being upgraded to Family Health Centers (FHCs), with the conversion of 674 of them, already completed. Super-speciality facilities have been introduced even in district and taluk hospitals. All district hospitals now have Cath Labs and Intensive Coronary Care Units. An additional 44 dialysis units have been set up in taluk hospitals. Initiatives like the CARE project for rare diseases and the Palliative Care Grid have been launched.
Two new Government Medical Colleges and 15 Nursing Colleges have been started. For the first time ever, Kerala’s Government Medical Colleges found mention in national rankings. Under the Karunya Scheme, insurance coverage is provided by the government to 7.3 million individuals across 4.3 million families. Over the past four years, free healthcare worth Rs 70,000 crore has been delivered. Kerala’s scientific and robust COVID-19 management helped reduce mortality rates, with the state recording pandemic-related deaths most accurately in India.
In the education sector, the LDF government has made unparalleled interventions. Over Rs 5,000 crore has been allocated for school infrastructure development. So far, 513 out of 973 proposed school buildings have been renovated. Over 50,000 classrooms have been upgraded to high-tech standards. Tinkering labs, robotics labs, and AI training for teachers and students have been introduced, making Kerala the first state to provide AI education in government schools.
Kerala is being transformed into a hub of higher education, with eight universities and 359 colleges receiving NAAC accreditation. In the NIRF rankings, four Government Colleges are among the 16 institutions from Kerala in India’s top 100 colleges. The state also hosts 42 of the country’s top 200 colleges. The LDF government established translational labs to utilise university research for societal needs, introduced postdoctoral fellowships, and formed the Higher Education Commission to guide reforms in the sector, which are instrumental in transforming Kerala into a knowledge economy and innovation society.
In science and technology too, Kerala has achieved major milestones under the LDF government. Digital University, Digital Science Park, Graphene Innovation Centre, Institute of Advanced Virology, International Ayurveda Research Institute, and Genome Data Centre have been or are being set up, some of which are firsts in India. The K-FON project which provides broadband internet to households and offices, is nearing 1 million connections.
Kerala’s IT exports have surged from Rs 34,123 crore in 2016 to Rs 90,000 crore now, while built-up space has expanded from 15.59 million sq. ft. to 22.3 million sq. ft. The Startup Genome Report notes a 254 per cent growth in Kerala’s Startup ecosystem valuation from 2019-2021 to 2021-2023. From just 300 Startups in 2016, Kerala now hosts 6,400 Startups. Investments have skyrocketed from Rs 50 crore in 2016 to Rs 5,800 crore in 2024.
Under the Year of Enterprises scheme, 353,133 new ventures raising Rs 22,688.47 crore as investments have been set up since 2022-23, creating 749,712 jobs. The MSME Export Promotion Council's report states that Kerala has attracted investments worth Rs 92,000 crore over the last FIVE years, generating five lakh employment opportunities. Kerala topped the Union Government's Business Reforms Action Plan ranking, aided by reforms like K-SWIFT (single-window clearance) and K-CIS (online inspections).
Kerala became India’s first state to implement a minimum support price for fruits and vegetables. Agriculture has seen growth, with paddy productivity rising to 4.56 tonnes per hectare and vegetable production increasing to 1.72 million metric tonnes. The Public Distribution System (PDS) has been strengthened, with Rs 14,000 crore spent on market intervention since 2016. As a result, Kerala has the lowest inflation rate in India, according to NSO data. Tourism is thriving, with 25 million domestic and 750,000 international visitors last year.
In response to the landslides in Chooralmala and Mundakkai in Wayanad last year, swift rescue operations and rehabilitation efforts were taken up. The LDF government announced a township project for displaced families. Despite no special assistance from the union government, the state government has allocated Rs 351 for the same, and construction is progressing rapidly. Additional funds were allocated for roadworks within the township (Rs 87 crore), disaster debris removal (Rs 65 crore), and rebuilding the Churulimala-Attamala road (Rs 38 crore).
Despite the discontinuation of Five Year Plans at the national level, Kerala continues with their successful implementation. Allegations about the stagnation of Annual Plans under the 14th Five Year Plan due to financial constraints were widely raised last year. However, in 2024-25, the actual expenditure for local self government institutions’ annual plans reached 110 per cent. Also, 96 per cent of the total State Plan outlay was utilised. Despite fiscal pressures due to the union government's discriminatory policies, Kerala enhanced its own revenue and adopted effective measures to ensure efficient plan implementation.
Kerala’s own tax revenue growth surged by 71.66 per cent from 2020-21 to 2024-25, overcoming the severe economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As per audited figures for 2023-24, Kerala’s own revenue now constitutes 72.84 per cent of its total revenue, up from 68.69 per cent in 2015-16, reflecting the efficiency of the LDF governments' revenue mobilisation efforts. Since 2021-22, Kerala has reduced its debt-to-GSDP ratio from 38 per cent to 34 per cent, by boosting own revenue and rationalising expenditures. Critics ignore this progress, spreading false narratives about the state’s fiscal health.
The successive LDF governments' unwavering resolve to stand firm even amidst adversities, has enabled Kerala to present a record of achievements. The only state in the country without a single communal clash over the last nine years, Kerala ensures peace and harmony, with a robust law and order system. On the fourth anniversary of the second consecutive LDF government, Kerala is marching ahead towards Navakeralam, united against all divisive forces.
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