People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)


Vol. XXXII

No. 21

June 01 , 2008

 


LDF GOVT IN KERALA


Two Years Of Pro-People Governance
V S Achuthanandan


WITH a bright record of unprecedented successes in the spheres of development and welfare, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala enters into the third year. The main feature -- which makes the LDF government unique -- is the pursuit of alternative policies to render optimum solace to the common man even as all over the country they face the phenomenon of food deficiency and acute price rise due to globalisation.


At the outset itself the LDF government made it clear that the state cannot progress without increasing the production in agricultural and industrial sectors. The most essential elements for the sustainable development of the state were listed: the revitalisation of sick industries; starting of new industries; and solving the agricultural crisis as also increasing agricultural production. It is indeed a matter of pride that we could start and proceed forward in the aforesaid matters.



OVERCOMING AGRARIAN CRISIS



The threat on food security front is a matter of concern globally. The United Nations itself is in the forefront warning against the ensuing food wars. India, too, is heading towards an acute food crisis. The sky-rocketing prices, leasing out of warehouses to monopoly houses, ceasing procurement of foodgrains and the destruction of public distribution system are the main reasons behind this status of affairs in our country. It is the outcome of the conspiracy of globalisation to open up market to the foreign monopoly by destroying our agriculture sector. This situation has landed Kerala in trouble, as it is absolutely a consumer state. We have to depend on other states for everything, including rice. We had not utilised fully our possibilities in agricultural production.

The government is giving utmost emphasis on resolving this crisis. Encouraging paddy cultivation by conserving at least the remaining paddy fields is our aim. The approval of the Bill preventing reclamation of paddy fields and wetlands is as part of this effort. A comprehensive programme is in the pipeline to enhance production of foodgrains and other food materials.


When the LDF government came into power, the procurement of paddy was nominal. And the rate was just Rs 7 per kg. The LDF government enhanced the procurement rate up to Rs 10 by this year and thus the procurement has been vitalised. As a result, a 30 per cent increase in production at Kuttanad and Palakkad could be achieved. But severe damage was inflicted on paddy cultivation due to the summer rains this March. The government could render a compensation of Rs 10,000 per hectare to the affected farmers. Even though the centre turned a blind eye, the state government could console the farmers by dispersing due compensation on a war-footing.


It is worth mentioning that the various steps taken by the government from its very inception could almost wipe out the suicide tendency among farmers in the state. The progress achieved in this regard can be seen from the fact that the three districts of Kerala which were included in the central government�s list of 36 districts where severe farmer suicides were reported, have now been exempted from that list. The remaining 33 districts still report farmer suicides. Herein lies the distinctness of the LDF government from the other governments in the country.


In order to solve the raging crisis in agricultural sector, the LDF government could obtain Vidarbha-model packages from the centre for the three districts by providing accurate statistics and engaging in continuous parleys with the centre, unlike the previous government which was suppressing the facts on farmer suicides due to egoism.


The Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme has been implemented effectively in the state, which also helped in the revitalisation of the agriculture sector. Ours is a land of 7.5 million farmers and 2.5 million agricultural labourers.


A special package worth Rs 1840 crore was got approved for Alappuzha district to drive out the crisis and paralysis. Long-term scientific projects have been prepared for conserving Kuttanad, our granary, Onattukara paddy lands, and for reviving other crops in Alappuzha district and to rejuvenate the fisheries sector. But the centre is not willing to grant the amount. However, we are pressurising for the same.


The Swaminathan Commission has submitted a comprehensive package to the central government to solve the agrarian crisis in Idukki district. But the centre has not yet shown any readiness to accept this report and to grant the required amount. During the previous regime suicides were the phenomenon in plantation sector too. Many units were locked out and workers destined to starvation. The government could change that situation and reopen the plantations.


PROTECTING THE PDS



The LDF government is striving to grapple with the unprecedented price hike by strengthening the public distribution system (PDS) through �Supplyco� and �Consumerfed�. Rice shops have been opened to supply at moderate rates. The state government grants subsidy without any reservation in order to intervene and control the market.


The central government is persecuting the state for making such efforts by effecting a cut of 87 per cent of the APL rice share of Kerala. The state government is mounting strong pressure against this cut and is taking all measures possible to avoid scarcity of rice to the needy.


OTHER  ACHIEVEMENTS



A phenomenal task of recouping government land from encroachers has been going on ever since the LDF came to power. In Munnar alone, it recovered 12,000 acres of land while in the state as a whole, more than 15,000 acres of land has been recovered. This removal of encroachments is an unprecedented one in the history of Kerala. The recovered and other surplus land will be distributed to the landless. Each family should have land, home, electricity and drinking water - this is the policy of the LDF government. Towards this end 'EMS Total Housing Scheme' has been started for all the homeless people in the state. Within the next three years, Kerala will become a total housing state. In Aralam farm alone, one-acre land for each of the 1717 adivasi families has been distributed. Tribal people in the state will be given free medical treatment in all government hospitals, including in medical colleges and specialty hospitals. Thus medical treatment for tribals will be delivered absolutely free of cost.


The previous UDF governance was the personification of breakdown in law and order and prevalence of goondaism. By making police impartial and implementing innovative reforms, the LDF government could ensure a giant leap in maintaining law and order. By rooting out goondaism, crimes could be brought down to a great extent. The studies conducted by India Today magazine and others disclosed the fact that Kerala ranks first in the country in maintaining law and order. Community policing, which is being implemented in the state under the title 'Janamaithri Suraksha Project' is the embodiment of the idea of people�s police. Interaction between public and police has resulted in the reduction of crime. Union home minister Shivraj Patil has stated that the union government was planning to promote community policing across the country on the lines of the Kerala government�s Janamaithri Suraksha Project.


The government has also taken steps to open new jails, taking into account the over-crowdedness in the existing ones. Two new sub jails and a new building for the Cheemeni Open Jail have been opened. A new central jail will also be opened.

The tourism sector has seen new projects taking shape. Kerala has become one of the most important tourist destinations of the world and has become a super brand in the global tourism industry with a high rate of growth. For developing tourism at village level, �My Village Tourism Friendly Village� programme has been implemented. The state registered a hike of 20 per cent turnout in foreign tourists than in the previous year.


The UDF and other rightist forces tried to depict the Left Front as anti-developmental during the election time. The vigorous protests and agitations by the LDF against unscrupulous exploitation of land, water and nature were viewed as anti-developmental. The LDF strongly objected to the signing of the Smart City agreement between the government of Kerala and Dubai Internet City during the UDF regime. It had demanded that the government must go ahead only after ensuring fair price for the land; without handing over the Infopark; and rejecting the exclusivity condition that there should not be any other IT park in Ernakulam district. The Smart City became the central slogan of the assembly election.


Now, the Smart City is going to be a reality. Relentless attempts to materialise the project protecting the noble intentions of the state has been undertaken. Thus major modifications in favour of the state were brought about in the agreement. A quantum jump in the field of IT sector could be achieved within the past two years. The government of Kerala is in the process of acquiring 507 acres of land in Thiruvananthapuram for establishing Techno City. Technopark, one of the two major IT hubs of Kerala, is further expanding where another 100 acres of land is being acquired. In line with its plans to develop Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi as the foremost IT locations in the region, the Kerala government has commenced work on integrated townships, specifically for IT and ITeS industry. We are developing parks in all districts of Kerala through a hub-and-spoke model with the hubs in Thiruvanathapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode, and spokes in all the remaining districts. Many IT companies have already started new ventures in Technopark and Infopark. Our target is to create two lakh job opportunities in the IT sector. However, the present position reveals that the employment opportunities will be many times more than the target. 40,000 more job opportunities will be generated within the next three years at Infopark, the very institution that was decided to be handed over free of cost to the Dubai-based company by the previous government. Projects are being implemented to make the state totally computer literate. Two districts have already been declared as e-literate. Under the programme 'Akshaya', the Kerala government has launched delivery of key e-governance services like e-payment facilities, e-forms, product selling, training programmes etc. By the end of 2008, Kerala is expected to become the first e-literate state in India. More than 3000 Akshaya Kendras will be set up through out the state by the end of this year as service delivery outlets. The state�s software exports during 2006-07 totalled Rs 750 crore and this year, the figure has crossed Rs 1,200 crore.


As part of Tsunami Rehabilitation, projects to the tune of Rs 1441 crore are being implemented in the state. It is expected that the projects will ensure overall development of the costal region. The target is to complete the scheme by March 2009 and the implementation of projects is going on a war footing. On the lines of Farmers� Debt Relief Commission, the LDF government established a Fishermen�s Debt Relief Commission to extend the moratorium on repayment of loans taken by fishermen by another six months. During the ban period on trawling, free ration is being given to the fishermen.


All welfare pensions have been hiked upto Rs 200 at a stretch and the arrears are being disbursed. Hundreds of thousands of labourers have been brought under various welfare funds, including about two lakh small-scale plantation workers. The Shops and Establishments Labour Welfare Fund law gives solace to one million families in the unorganised sector. This law ensures job security, pension, family pension, leave, delivery leave etc. Likewise, a law which fixes pension and welfare fund for tens of thousands of dairy farmers has also been implemented. A new law has been introduced to save the Devaswom Board from the massive corruption engulfing it. All appointments in Devaswom Board have been handed over to Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC).


It was only through persistent efforts on the part of the state government that the centre granted projects such as the building of new international terminal and aircraft maintenance unit at Thiruvananthapuram airport; the modernisation project of Thiruvananthapuram and Kochu Veli railway stations; and the permission to establish railway coach building unit in the Auto Casting unit at Chertala. The clearances needed for the Kannur airport have also been obtained from the centre. The 2200 acres of land needed for the airport is being acquired through fast track system. ISRO�s Institute of Space Science and Technology -- the third most important space institute in the world -- has started functioning in Thiruvananthapuram. The land needed for the space institute has been allotted free of cost. A National Fashion Technology Institute has been started at Kannur. Owing to the relentless attempts by the LDF government, an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research has been allotted to Kerala. Similarly, the central government has agreed to grant a Central University, our long cherished demand.


Vallarpadam Transhipment Container Terminal Project and Vizhinjam International Transhipment Container Terminal Project are vital for comprehensive development of the state. The state government has acted to resolve the crisis regarding the rail connectivity in Vallarpadam and could obtain environmental sanction. The earlier agreement for the construction of Vizhinjam International Transhipment Container Terminal was made with a Chinese company. Raising security reasons, the union defence ministry did not give permission to it. But the state government is marching ahead with stern determination to launch the project. The LDF government could manage preliminary activities with great enthusiasm so that the construction work of the project can be started within months. The government has decided to entrust the consortium led by Hyderabad-based Lanco Kondapalli Power Private Ltd with the work on Vizhinjam Deep Sea International Transhipment Terminal. The state government would have 24 per cent stake in the Rs 5,348 crore project which would be implemented through BoT basis. The term of the BoT would be 30 years. The project would generate 5,000 direct and 1.5 lakh indirect jobs.


Preliminary works have already started for metro rail in Kochi. Also, primary steps for running of suburban train services in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode have been taken. The waterways development project between the tail ends of Kerala has been triggered off. Kollam � Kottappuram waterway, a part of the National Waterway � 3 has been commissioned and the work for Kottappuram � Neeleswaram waterway is going on. Works for Kollam � Kovalam water way project has also been launched. The LNG terminal at Kochi, which was in deep freeze, has been restored due to the relentless effort of the state government, overcoming all obstacles.


The state government, through its principled struggle against the negligence of the centre, could fetch a large number of projects, which were entitled to the state. Progress could be achieved in bringing issues of Kerala to the notice of the centre. Strong protest has been registered against the formation of Salem Railway Division by bifurcating Palakkad Division. Ultimately, the railway ministry was forced to resolve the issue by reworking the jurisdiction of the Palakkad division to include 79 additional route km from the Madurai division. Ever since the inception of railway in Kerala one and half century ago, no important employment generating institution has been launched here. A coach factory assigned for Kerala a quarter century back had been shifted to Kapurthala in Punjab in the eleventh hour. Now, when we extended great pressure in the case of Salem Division issue, central government has agreed to set up a coach factory in Kerala. It has already been decided that a modern railway coach factory will be set up with an investment of around Rs 4000 crore at Kanchikkode in Palakkad. This is the first time during the past fifty years that such huge central investment has come into Kerala in the public sector. The state government has initiated primary steps for acquiring land needed for the coach factory.

REJUVENATION  OF INDUSTRY



Relentless efforts of the state government have resulted in the rejuvenation of industrial sector in the state. The government could reopen almost all the closed industries. Lock out was common in the past whenever an industry was saddled with losses. Now the number of profiteering public sector industries has gone up to 24 from the mere 12 earlier. Many new industries have been started. Titanium Sponge Factory has been launched in KMLL. Construction of Integrated Textile Park began at Palakkad. In Thiruvananthapuram, KELTEC has been handed over to the defence department for BrahMos missile unit.


Endeavour for generating additional 500 mega watt power within three years has begun. Special attention has been given to utilise non-traditional energy sources and wind energy project commissioned at Idukki.


The ban on appointments in government service has been revoked and steps have been taken to fill all vacancies. There were thousands of vacancies left unfilled in health department alone during the regime of the previous government. With such apathy they destructed public health system. The reason behind the rapid spread of of chikungunya and other infectious diseases was this. The government has taken immediate steps to appoint doctors and para medical staff. By introducing Clean Kerala project, continuous action has been launched against pollution. A new public health policy is being implemented for saving government hospitals from penury. A scheme has been adopted for upgrading community health centres to national standards. A hospital with state of the art facilities has been opened at Sabarimala.


Many projects have come into existence for the welfare of expatriate Keralites. Procedures have been made to give identity cards to non resident Keralites who comprise around 2.5 million. The share of the government in NoRKA�Roots company has been raised from 26 per cent to 51 per cent. Santhwanam project for the expatriates has been liberalised. A Bill envisaging vast welfare scheme for expatriate Malayalis has been approved.


Initial steps have been taken to establish World Malayalam Mission for coordinating Malayalam teaching among the children of expatriate Malayalis. Chief Minister�s Relief Fund has been expanded and implemented to ensure speedy and liberal assistance for the needy. Thousands of hapless and sick people got solace from this effort. Consolation money for the families of the farmers who committed suicide, endosulfan victims and those who died of chikungunya was given immediately. This could be done effectively with utmost generosity by collecting money through a special lottery.


Companies like Tata and Harrison Malayalam are exploiting the state�s wealth by holding tens of thousands of acres of land for a nominal tenant tax. There exists an allegation that they even try to sell out the land. Besides, such a few companies have encroached thousands of acres of state owned land. For the last few months, stern action has been taken to recover these lands. The Thoothampara Estate kept by Poabson Group has been taken over and is run by Plantation Corporation. The measuring process of the land possessed by Tata and others is on using modern technology. Stern action has been taken for recovering Kovalam Castle and to prevent encroachments in Kovalam in the disguise of tourism.


In the Munnar region, Kurinji Garden and Silent Valley Buffer Zone projects have been launched. Comprehensive projects have been designed for preventing the decay and pollution of rivers and water bodies including Vembanad Lake and Bharathappuzha River.


The LDF governance of 24 months could make a giant leap in the journey towards a corruption-free and prosperous Kerala that is rushing towards a comprehensive development. The foundation is set for a comprehensive development. Now is the time to build that progress.