Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan: Modi government has least regard for states  

In the two years since the LDF government has come to power, the Central government had to assist the state government in many sectors, especially when it has decided to take a pro-corporate stance in the wake of globalisation. If the central government continues with this step-motherly treatment, it will affect the employees and public sector undertakings in Kerala, said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

“This attitude will be detrimental to Kerala as it has worked hard to revive PSUs in the state, making 13 of them profitable and reducing the losses of others. The total profits of PSUs in the state has surpassed Rs 104 crores,” said Vijayan, while speaking to the media in the Capital, while detailing the report card of the state on the second anniversary of this government.

CM Vijayan said they had sought an appointment with the government a couple of times, but recently it was regarding the allocation of ration to all citizens in the state. Kerala provides rice through ration shops to all its citizens. “The PMO asked us to meet Ram Vilas Paswan, whom we had met earlier, and he had said he would not be able to do anything as the PM has to intervene. Hence, a meeting was sought. According to the recent government directive, we are not able to provide all the citizens with rice. That is why recently we had requested twice for an appointment and it was declined,” pointed out Vijayan, who refused to address how the Left would counter the growth of BJP in Kerala.

“Denial of such requests is a privilege accorded only to Kerala. Repeated denial of such requests is not good for Centre-state relationships, especially when it was meant to be an all-party delegation from Kerala. This is nothing but politics,” stressed Vijayan.

“The strength of the country is the strength and health of the states in the country. In a federal country like ours, the Modi government should listen to the concerns of the states and not ignore certain states because of opposing ideologies and politics. A health state and a strong centre is what should define a federal country like ours. The Centre should adopt policies that aid states and is not detrimental to them. That forms the backbone of a federal system. Unfortunately, this government refuses to be in favour of a healthy centre-state relationship. All the governments until now, at least, paid heed to such relationships. No government was this antagonistic,” emphasised Vijayan.

“That doesn’t mean that I don’t speak to the PM at all. At the recently-held Niti Aayog meeting, we had requested his intervention regarding the Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) in September. We believe he had intervened and that is why airport will be operational from September.

Countering Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal’s claim that Kerala government wasn’t giving land to Railways for a network of railway lines to be laid, Vijayan said that it wasn’t right. “He was wrong in stating that; there have been several meetings with railway officials in this regard. We have a special officer appointed for this. It is our requirement and we have taken steps to acquire land,” said the Kerala Chief Minister.

2 years of LDF Govt: A progress report

It has been two years of the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government. Here are 10 pointers on what the government has claimed to have achieved in these two years.

1. Kerala has the highest minimum wages in the country. Wage revision has been effected in over 80% of the employment sectors over the last two years.
2. Pink patrol has been introduced to ensure women’s safety and a women’s battalion has been set up. Women’s representation in the police force is being increased in a phased manner. Women police officers have been appointed as SHOs to make police stations women friendly.
3. Kerala has set a new precedent by appointing those from disadvantaged sections, including Dalits, as priests in Devaswom Board Temples.
4. Kerala is the only state with universal social security pension for all those above the age of 60. Kerala is paying pension, at rates ( ₹ 1,100) that are unmatched by any state of Central government, said Vijayan.
5. Through Aardram Mission, the Kerala government is making hospitals people-friendly and has provided super-speciality services even at the Taluk level. Primary Health Centres are being upgraded to Family Health Centres.
6. Including Varattar, Kanampuzha and Meenachil, around dozen rivers have been revived in Kerala through the Haritha Keralam Mission. More than 45,000 water bodies, including wells and ponds, have been rejuvenated in Kerala.
7. Kerala is moving towards self-sufficiency in milk production. Now,we are producing around 85% of the milk that is required for our daily consumption.
8. Over 2.2 lakh hectares of paddy has been cultivated in Kerala by reclaiming waste land and initiating cultivation in lands lying uncultivated for decades. Kerala is moving towards self sufficiency in vegetables.
9. More than 2 lakh students have sought fresh admissions in public schools. It only shows that the public has started reposing their faith in government schools once again.
10. Kerala has taken over PSUs like Palakkad Instrumentation and Hindustan Organic Chemicals, which were being sold by the Central Government. Kerala has revived PSUs in the state, making them profitable and reducing the losses of others. The total profits of PSUs in the state have surpassed ₹ 104 crore under this government, stated the Kerala Chief Minister.