THE historic Nava Kerala Sadas, during which the entire cabinet of the Government of Kerala travelled across the assembly constituencies, concluded on December 23 in Thiruvananthapuram. The journey to engage with the public from all 240 constituencies in the state began on November 18 from the Manjeshwar assembly segment in Kasargod district.

This public outreach programme, the first of its kind with the entire cabinet directly interacting with the people, aimed to apprise the public of the developmental activities of the LDF government. It also sought to understand the aspirations of the people in building a 'Modern Kerala' and shed light on the unfair attitude of the union government in denying financial rights to the state.

Public meetings were conducted in four assembly constituencies each day, preceded by breakfast meetings with farmers, academicians, freedom fighters, industrialists, and achievers from various backgrounds, including students. This initiative garnered a widespread response from stakeholders.

With thousands of people flocking to the venues of the public meetings, where the chief minister and three ministers addressed the audience, various government departments have received approximately 6.21 lakh applications on different issues. The respective departments have been instructed to resolve these complaints within 45 days.

Since assuming power in 2016, the LDF government has been credited for concentrating on public spending in health, education, infrastructure, and welfare measures, besides showing a keen interest in investing in new-generation technologies, including Graphene Parks, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Science Parks, aiming to generate employment opportunities in emerging technologies.

The road infrastructure along the coastal areas and hills has witnessed significant improvements, thanks to the state government's implementation of projects through KIIFB. The progress in the development of national highways is also noteworthy, primarily due to the substantial financial contribution made by the state government towards land acquisition.

The memorandums of understanding signed with other governments for developing the Maritime Cluster in Kochi, in collaboration with the governments of Abu Dhabi and Norway, focusing on disaster management and higher education, have garnered attention from various quarters.

Other key development projects implemented by the LDF government include K-FON, an initiative providing free Wi-Fi connections to families below the poverty line, Digital Science Parks, Industrial Corridors, and GIFT City. Under the LIFE Mission, launched by the LDF government to provide pucca houses to the homeless, 3.56 lakh houses have already been handed over to beneficiaries. The construction of 1.41 lakh houses is currently underway, with minimal support from the union government.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the union government is making multiple attempts to hinder people-centric, development-oriented projects of the LDF government by reducing the eligible share of revenue and imposing restrictions on borrowing.

"The massive participation of the people in every constituency sends a clear message about the discriminatory approach of the union government. The opposition's boycott call also exposes their attitude towards the people of Kerala," remarked Pinarayi Vijayan.

He further noted that the state has experienced a growth rate of 8 per cent since the LDF assumed power in 2016 and has successfully increased its own tax revenue by 41 per cent, thanks to the measures implemented by the LDF government. Additionally, the State Gross Domestic Product has surged to Rs 10 lakh crore in the current year from Rs 5 lakh crores in 2016-17. Pinarayi Vijayan emphasized that the per capita income has also risen from Rs 1.48 lakh in 2016 to Rs 2.28 lakh in 2022.

"There is no financial crisis in the state since we are managing the finances exceedingly well. However, the union government is denying us our rightful share," added Pinarayi Vijayan.

The LDF government is providing Rs 1,600 as welfare and social security pensions to around 60 lakh people, of which only 5.5 lakh receive minor aid from the centre under different schemes.
CENTRE’S ATTITUDE
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The recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission have resulted in a reduction in the revenue share for the government of Kerala. Both the chief minister and the finance minister of the state have held the union government responsible for withholding grants for various centrally sponsored schemes.
Finance Minister K N Balagopal asserted that the union government has denied approximately Rs 57,000 crores under different heads to Kerala over the past three years. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the denial exceeds Rs 1.07 lakh crores in total. The chief minister further criticised the union government for implementing indifferent revenue-sharing policies, which have led to a decrease in the state's income. He also accused the union government of cutting the revenue deficit grant and GST compensation, negatively impacting the state's finances.
"The union government is withholding around Rs 5,000 crores for different centrally sponsored schemes. Although we have already spent the money on implementing various schemes, the union government is not releasing the funds, constraining our expenditures," he stated.
During public gatherings, ministers accused both the UDF and BJP of jointly undermining the Nava Kerala Sadas, an initiative aimed at direct interaction with the people to gather feedback on governance. Protests by both parties were held, with some turning violent in certain locations.