“The public review will help our government do better”
Tough-talking Kerala chief minister
PINARAYI VIJAYAN had just finished an Ayurveda treatment session when india
today met him at his official residence, the 19th century British-era bungalow, Cliff House, in Thiruvananthapuram on the evening of July 1. He’d had a hectic day but still looked fresh. During an interview with India Today Group Editorial Director
RAJ CHENGAPPA and Associate Editor JEEMON JACOB, he listed out his priorities in government and shared his dreams of building a Kerala with the best living standards. He also talked about his past experiences, both as a senior Marxist party leader as well as a government minister. Excerpts from the interview:
Q. Kerala loves controversies and the LDF’s first year in power has been no exception. Has it affected the performance of your government?
A. (Smiles) It’s true that in the past many development projects of the state were stalled or delayed due to unnecessary controversies, and it has affected Kerala’s development. Some vested interests were behind it all, creating controversies out of nothing. We welcome reasonable criticism as a corrective measure. But the people of Kerala voted the LDF to power because they believed we could deliver. My attitude towards the controversies is very clear. If some vested interest groups try to derail the state’s development, I will deal with them firmly.
Q. You released a one-year performance report of your government for public scrutiny...
A. When our government came to power, we had declared that the performance of various departments would be open for social auditing and public scrutiny. We implemented several schemes in the past one year, and there was
criticism from some quarters. So it was appropriate that as a responsible, transparent government, we ask that our performance be reviewed. We have uploaded the progress report on the state websites. People can access it and register their opinion. It also gives us an opportunity to get real feedback on what the public thinks about us. Q. Kerala has a reputation as an ‘investment unfriendly’ state.
A. Yes, we have been stuck with that label in the past. But today, the reality is that those who have invested in Kerala have no such complaints. We are now planning to market their real experiences. When investors speak about their experience, it will have credibility. There is a new industrial policy now and a single-window clearance cell. A special cell in the CM’s office monitors grievances.
Q. Sri Lanka is giving Kerala stiff competition in the tourism sector.
A. Kerala has a geographical advantage with its long coastline, seas, rivers and mountains. Nobody can rob us of this. Our major focus in the tourism sector is to improve professionalism and offer quality services to tourists. We also plan to develop new destinations, especially in north Kerala which is still not on the tourist map. The state will develop world-class infrastructure in specific tourism zones and invite investment from big brands.
Q. What are the other priorities of the government? A. The Haritha Keralam Mission (Green Kerala), protecting our water sources, the agri sector, housing for the poor, public education, these are some of the core areas we are focusing on. But we had shortcomings in completing the cleaning operations and setting up an effective waste management system in the state before the monsoons. Part of the green mission is also protection of our water sources. We are also attempting to revive our dead rivers. I’ve sought the PM’s help on it when he visited Kerala last. His response was very positive.
In the agriculture sector, we want self-sufficiency in vegetable production. We are encouraging paddy cultivation and organic farming of vegetables as part of ensuring food security. Around 15,000 acres of waste land has been turned into paddy fields in the state. Twenty agro centres have also been set up to help farmers sell their produce.
A major challenge for the government is to provide housing for all, even the poorest with no land to their name. Community housing complexes with all facilities built in are being planned for this. The housing projects will be linked with social workers. We are also strengthening our public education system and investing huge funds for the development of infrastructure in government and aided schools. It’s a way of investing in the future. Kerala already has a good, cost-effective healthcare system, but we are on our way to making it world-class. Our vision is to develop government hospitals, right from the taluk level, as super-speciality hospitals with the best facilities, so that the poor also have access to the best medical facilities.
Q. But the Opposition says your government has failed to tackle the health crisis in Kerala. The monsoon infections have taken the lives of many across the state.
A. I admitted earlier that we had shortcomings in the premonsoon cleaning operations. The local self-government bodies failed in ensuring proper cleaning operations in their respective areas. We learnt a hard lesson from this and launched a campaign for statewide cleaning operations at the end of June. We have also identified the gaps in the waste management system operating in the state.
Q. Political violence has escalated since the LDF came to power. You are in charge of home affairs, how do you respond?
A. The law and order situation in the state is still the best in the country. Political violence is not sponsored or engineered by my government. It happens in the state due to situations beyond our control. I have taken personal initiatives to convene all-party meetings and discuss issues with the leaders. I’ve also given clear directions that it be dealt with sternly.
Q. What about corruption in public office?
A. We will not tolerate corruption at any level. In the earlier regime, corruption was the hallmark of the government. But during the past one year, we have managed to minimise it. I don’t claim that Kerala society is free of
corruption. But there is a visible change—no government official will dare to demand a bribe openly. Which is also why Kerala was rated as the state with the lowest corruption. Now the attempt is to make it a corruption-free zone. It’ll be a radical change, but we are confident we can do it.
Q. More than the Congress, your coalition partner, the CPI, has taken up the role of the major Opposition?
A. I don’t think so. The CPI is a major partner in our government. There may be differences of opinion within the LDF and some may express their opinions on public platforms. But our government implements programmes adopted in the LDF election manifesto. If there is an issue, the coalition partners can always discuss it within the LDF. I don’t meddle in such issues.
Q. Many of your coalition party leaders are said to be scared to open up before you on issues.
A. (Laughs) It’s not true, this is a wrong perception. We discuss all issues in a friendly environment. Every leader is free to express his views at our meetings.
Q. How do you manage the conflict of interests or ideological dilemmas in your roles as chief minister and as a Communist leader?
A. We are working in a capital-oriented system, it’s the way governments are run. We are no exception. The system of government is not designed or executed by proletarian ideology. Kerala is a tiny state, we can’t decide on national policies. We know our limitations and our strengths. Our attempt is to make use of all available opportunities and function as an effective government of the people. We are clear about the roles and what we have to do to be a winner in such a situation. Our only focus is to rebuild Kerala as the most developed state. So conflicts of interest or ideological dilemmas do not haunt me or my government.
Q. What’s your view on GST and its impact on Kerala? A. I could not attend the midnight function as I was undergoing treatment. Politically, we oppose the attempt of the Union government to meddle with the federal structure. But as a consumer state, we welcome GST as it will bring in more revenues for the state.
Q. Sourcing land for development is a major challenge in densely populated Kerala.
A.Yes, it is a major challenge. We don’t have lands vested with the government for developmental projects. Those who are coming to invest in Kerala too know this fact. We can offer only limited land for projects. But I’ve taken a decision that we will give market value for the land acquired for development projects. So the land owner too benefits when he cooperates for the state’s development.
Q. State revenues are not in a comfortable position. How will you find resources for development?
A. It’s true, Kerala’s finances are not in a comfortable position. Which is why we are raising funds from outside budgetary provisions to invest for development. We have floated the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board for mega infrastructure investments.
Q. What is your impression of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his style of governance?
A. He has kicked off a dangerous trend with his policies while in government. The guiding principle of our Constitution is unity in diversity. The Modi government is undermining this basic principle by creating fear among a section of the people. The killings in the name of the beef ban continue to rock the nation even after the prime minister denounced it. It’s a tragic situation the country is facing. Everyone knows it’s the Sangh outfits that are behind the attacks but the PM fails to control them. Again, the Dalits are insecure, the farmers are protesting. Do you think such a situation is good for the country?
Q. How has the beef ban impacted Kerala?
A. What right do they have to interfere with the eating habits of people? It’s a personal choice. I believe that no one has the right to tell other people what they should eat or drink. No political party has the right to decide your menu at the dining hall. But PM Modi and his party have stooped to a new low. It’s a national tragedy.
Q. There have been comments that Pinarayi is in reality a dhoti-wearing Modi. What’s your view on this? A. (Smiles) Everyone has their style of functioning. There have been CMs in Kerala who loved the crowds. I’m not like that. I schedule my time for people who have things to discuss. I’ve been like this for a long time, and I won’t change. But after becoming CM, I have started laughing more. Some people criticise me for that too now.