Resource potential should be utilized

The upcoming local body elections and the assembly elections to be held by the middle of next year can be said as the top issues that came on the minds of political Kerala as the CPM state conference concluded in Kollam on Sunday with a massive show of strength, a well-organized red volunteer march and a public conference. The preparations to prepare the party for the elections at all levels have started well with the state conference. The organizational excellence was clearly evident in the successful organization of the Kollam conference, which once again strengthened the party's unity and public support.

The conference venues were generally peaceful although there are murmurs in the party over the exclusion and the inclusion of some in the leadership committee. MV Govindan, who took over as secretary after Kodiyeri Balakrishnan vacated the post, has been re-elected as secretary for the next three years. 17 new faces have been given representation in the 89-member state committee. 17 people have been included in the state secretariat. 12 women have been included in the state committee.

The most important of the two documents discussed in detail at the Kollam conference is the ''Navakeralathe Nayikkan Puthuvazhikal' (New Ways to Lead New Kerala)" presented by the Chief Minister. The document presented by the secretary at the party state conference is usually the one that is most discussed. The development document presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan can be said to include fundamental changes in policies and approaches. This will also be a topic of discussion at the party congress to be held in Madurai in April. The Chief Minister's development document states that private capital investment is essential for the growth and progress of Kerala. Similarly, the idea of ​​privatizing loss-making public sector enterprises that are a burden on the state exchequer also indicates a policy change.

The idea of ​​collecting fees from all those who can pay is also being put forward among the proposed solutions to the financial crisis facing the state. The need to limit all freebies to only those who deserve them should have been realized long ago. Limited resources are currently being distributed as many undeserving freebies. It has only been in recent days that information has emerged that even government employees are among those who are embezzling social security pensions. Although it was said that the list of pension recipients would be subjected to a comprehensive review, nothing happened. Apart from suspending some of those who received pensions undeservedly and recovering the pension amount received, no other action was taken.

It is natural that there will be objections to the proposal to collect fees based on income. However, the government need to move forward by overcoming objections. There is no need to see those with better financial status and those without any income on the same level. It is not immoral to charge fees for education from those with income. At the same time, freebies for the weaker sections should be provided correctly and on time. The proposal in the policy document to introduce cess in some areas is not new. The fuel cess that was introduced in the past still exists. The proposal to introduce cess in the form of tolls for roads and bridges built by KIIFB is also under active consideration. When it spreads to more areas, the government will have to find ways to deal with public anger.

It is in this context that party secretary MV Govindan's statement that the LDF government will never accept policies that cause hardship to the people came out. An expert committee will study the proposals in the Chief Minister's development policy document before finalizing them. Money is needed for projects and other development activities. In a situation where the central approach is not at all favourable, the only thing left to do is to find our own ways to raise additional resources. Opposition and protests are natural when the government go ahead with this course. There is no other option but to look for new sources of income when even annual plans have to be cut due to shortage of funds. There are many suitable resources for that here itself. The disadvantage facing the state is that they are not being utilized properly.

There has been talk for years about a plan to sell sand from dams to generate income. It has not yet been possible. It has been included in the development policy document as well. It was also a topic in the assembly the other day. We can expect something to happen as the Chief Minister himself made it clear in the conference that the government would not back down from the suggestions in the policy document that new sources of income would be sought. The Chief Minister also assures that things will move forward with the cooperation of the people by convincing them. The industrial development environment is quite favourable since the investment potential is strong. It should be fully utilized. Strong interventions are essential to eliminate the difficulties faced by the people in getting government services.

Similarly, the situation where people have to pay bribes for services should also be eliminated. Such matters that are directly related to people's lives should have been discussed in the state conference. The Kollam conference is putting forward the goal of ensuring that the LDF continues to rule after the 2026 assembly elections as well. The new inclination towards liberalization and private participation can be considered part of this. The Chief Minister explains that it is the party policy itself that is reflected in the development document he presented. Another thing to note is that the party and the government are working more harmoniously.