It is a rare experience for the government to go directly to the people. In ancient times, kings and emperors used to walk among the people to listen to their grievances and complaints. Some even performed this task in disguise. The main objective of such initiatives was to provide immediate redressal to the grievances and demands of the people.

Governments generally began to distance themselves from the people after the monarchy was replaced by democratic rule. If the people want to fulfil any demands from the government, they have to cross many hurdles. The Secretariat, which is the centre of administration, is becoming inaccessible to common people. Files are piling up in the secretariat. Separate file settlement yajnas have to be done to settle them. It is in this context that the Navakerala sadas, the new initiative of the Left Front government, is to be seen.

The sadas, which will be inaugurated today by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Manjeshwar in the northern tip of the state, will reach all 140 assembly constituencies and interact with the people and civic leaders before concluding on December 24. Grievances will be settled by ministers in person. Elaborate mechanisms are in place everywhere to submit complaints in writing before initiation of sadas. A special feature to mention is that all the ministers will participate in the Navakerala sadas along with the Chief Minister. Even though the administration is moving out of the capital, arrangements have been made to ensure that day-to-day affairs do not get disrupted. There will be no change in the weekly cabinet meetings only that they will be held in the respective constituencies.

This will be the first time that the governance system is completely coming down to the people's grassroots for one and a half months. Therefore common people are waiting with great curiosity and enthusiasm to be a part of Navakerala sadas. Opposition is staying away from Navakerala sadas for political reasons. There is no political obstacle to present the needs of the state and people in Navakerala sadas and find solutions. In every land, there will be many problems that need to be solved immediately. It will be a relief if at least a few of them are solved. That is the purpose of mass gatherings like this. It is narrow political interests that always stand in the way of the progress of the state.
The state will progress only when that is put aside and the politicians join hands. Meetings will be held in three or four constituencies every day. Therefore, only less time will be available. People will not run out of complaints even if the meeting lasts the whole day. However, there is no doubt that Navakerala sadas will go down in the history of state administration as an opportunity for the people to interact directly with the administration.