Why oppose foreign tours of ministers?

Many people will come forward with criticism whenever any of the ministers go abroad. In the past, when foreign travel was rare, anyone who went abroad would be big news. That is not the case now. Now anyone who can afford the airfare and other essential expenses can travel abroad. Saying that one should not travel abroad because one became a minister can only be seen as jealousy. Even those who are now raising criticism will go abroad if they come to power. Even if there is a need or not. Such things need not be exaggerated.

Travel is always a good thing. Whether it is done by ministers or individuals, it has many advantages. Travel is not just sightseeing. One can learn many things from each trip and apply them in one's life. Especially when one becomes a minister. Good things and governance models seen while travelling abroad can be introduced at home. Examples are transportation systems, sanitation, and etiquette in public places.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and around half a dozen ministers are gearing up for a foreign tour on different dates. The Chief Minister and his team are planning to visit foreign countries to seek opportunities for more foreign investment. Apart from England, the ministers will visit countries like Finland, Norway and France. A few senior officials will also accompany the ministers.

The opposition leaders are criticizing that it is wasteful and extravagant for the ministers to travel abroad en masse when the state is facing financial difficulties. Finance Minister KN Balagopal responded to the criticism by stating that the state will not lose anything with the Chief Minister and some ministers travelling abroad. That claim is correct.

The foreign trip of ministers does not seem to be an issue that needs to be taken seriously. The question of the critics is what the ministers are going to learn from abroad in the context of the state reaching the highest level in several fields. Better governance can be showcased by realizing that there is still much to learn and replicate. Moreover, every trip, whether inside or outside the country, will bring many new experiences and models. The outcome of a trip depends on how well the new knowledge and innovations acquired during the trip are applied in one's own country. Judging by previous experiences, it may be true that there is not much to highlight. But it cannot be said that ministers should not travel abroad because of this. Let them go abroad and bring in as much foreign investment as possible. If they find new models that can be replicated in different areas, those models should be tried in the state.

The group of ministers is also reportedly interested in studying the methods of waste management in foreign countries. It would be good if we tried to copy those methods here too. Although many studies were done in the past, the state is yet to implement an acceptable waste management plan. Authorities are claiming that people are opposing the waste management plans People are opposing these plans because the authorities have not been able to introduce a flawless system. People's opposition can be resolved if the authorities introduce and operate a waste plant that is not harmful to the nearby residents.