Archbishop says youth are leaving Kerala: Change of time replies Chief Minister 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Changanassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Perumthottam said that the state government has the responsibility to prevent the youth from having the feeling of leaving Kerala to be successful. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the new generation leaving Kerala is not the state's problem but the change of times. Opposition leader VD Satheesan said that the concern shared by Perumthottam should not be taken lightly. The reactions of the three were at the meeting where the Syro-Malabar Church welcomed Mar Raphael Thattil, who was appointed as Major Archbishop.

Perumthottam, who presided over the function, said that the Syro Malabar Church is becoming a declining community in Kerala and asked to create a living environment for the youth in the state.

In response to this, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said: It is not old times. Children are asking to go to other countries along with studies. The higher education sector will be empowered. This cannot be done overnight. Students will stay here. The government will prepare conditions for the youth of other countries as well to come and study here. Even people from other countries wished to come to Kerala during the Covid period. When the Syro-Malabar Assembly faced the biggest problems, the government was impartial and efficient with its intervention. Everyone knows what would have happened otherwise," added the Chief Minister.

However, Satheesan appreciated the bishop for expressing his concern to the Chief Minister on the stage. The higher education sector in the state is still in the same state as it was years ago. 30,000 COVID deaths are being covered up to present the achievements of the COVID era. Satheesan said that while sharing concerns, try to change instead of talking about old glory.

Malankara Catholic Church Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholic Bava, Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese Archbishop Dr. Thomas Jessayyan Netto, Changanassery archdiocese auxiliary bishop Mar Thomas Tharayil, ministers VN Vasavan, Roshy Augustine, Shashi Tharoor MP and Sharmila Mary Joseph spoke.