A MEASURED TRANSFORMATION

PINARAYI VIJAYAN
Chief Minister

 

Governance is not merely the act of administration. It is the responsibility to shape the future with foresight, courage and care. Over the past nine years, under the leadership of the Left Democratic Front, Kerala has embarked on such a path. Quiet, but determined. What began in 2016 was more than a political mandate. It was a moment to redefine the relationship between the government and the people. This government placed purpose before praise. The aim was not to chase applause but to build foundations that endure. Health, education, welfare and infrastructure were not treated as isolated departments but as parts of a single, connected promise. They are meant to make life better, fairer and more secure for every citizen. Since 1957, Kerala has been guided by progressive governance that has recognised and nurtured the state’s spirit and potential. However, in the intervening years, a period of stagnation set in. It led to public disillusionment. It was at this critical juncture that our government assumed office in 2016, with a firm commitment to reversing this slowdown.

Over the past nine years, we have demonstrated that determination and dedication can lead to extraordinary results. Kerala witnessed a transformation in infrastructure development and economic growth. Several previously dropped mega projects – such as the GAIL pipeline, National Highway expansion, Kochi-Edamon power corridor, and Puthuvypin LPG terminal – were revived and successfully completed. India’s first trans-shipment terminal, Vizhinjam International Seaport, even before reaching its full operational capacity, has welcomed some of the world’s largest ships. We are confident that our state’s sail towards the development horizon will be smooth and flawless.

The government’s notion of development is not merely restricted to building infrastructure. We strive to foster our social institutions and develop our human capital. Hence, our educational institutions were elevated to international standards. Public health facilities were made more patient-friendly. Social welfare schemes were implemented effectively. Water bodies were reclaimed, crises were managed efficiently, and public confidence was restored. Kerala’s model of development is unique in many ways. While striving for economic progress, we ensure that no one is left behind. With a robust social security framework guaranteeing essentials such as food, housing, electricity, water, sanitation, waste management, livelihoods, and pensions, Kerala ensures that even the most vulnerable sections of society benefit from government initiatives.

It is this commitment to inclusive development that has enabled our administration to continue its mandate for a second term. We have introduced transformative changes in governance. We have pioneered a new democratic model by publishing an annual progress report, appraising citizens of the extent to which we have been able to implement the promises made in our manifesto—a record of sorts in the history of Indian democracy. The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has been effectively leveraged to modernise and advance the state’s infrastructure.

The Safest State

Kerala remains one of India’s safest states, with zero communal riots and a strong law enforcement record. The police force has cracked down on highprofile crimes, cyber fraud, and drug cartels, gaining public trust and national recognition for its crime detection capabilities. According to a recent Indian Police Federation Survey, Kerala Police is the least corrupt police force in the country. All police stations in Kerala are now Janamaithri police stations. The Janamaithri Suraksha scheme, implemented to handle local issues through public coordination, is now the popular face of the Kerala Police. The Pink Protection Project was formed to ensure women’s safety. Pink Police, a project to prevent violence against women, now operates in all major cities in the State. Pink Police patrol teams consist of only women officers and are provided with vehicles equipped to handle emergencies.

Under the Nirbhaya Project, Kerala Police provides free self-defence training to women and children. The Women’s Battalion was formed to increase women’s representation in the police force. The state also started its first women’s commando wing. Kerala’s Student Police Cadet programme has gained international attention. Implemented at the high school level, it aims to nurture a new generation that is law-conscious, civic-minded, and empathetic towards the weaker sections. The Union Home Ministry decided to expand this scheme nationwide. Kerala Police has implemented a system where all police services are available through a mobile app. Twenty-seven services are accessible to the public via the Pol app. Cybercrime police stations have been expanded across the state. Forensic Science Laboratories have been established in all districts. The Cyber Wing of the State Forensic Science Laboratory has been notified by the Union Ministry of Electronics and IT as an authorised institution for examining electronic evidence. The Kerala Police’s Drone Forensic Lab and Research Centre is the first of its kind in the country.

Services at Fingertips

With the policy ‘Internet Is My Right,’ Kerala has digitised 1,666 village offices and integrated over 900 online services. The E-Sevanam portal and M-Sevanam app bring government services to citizens at their fingertips, ensuring farmers, students, pensioners, and businesses have realtime access to essential services. With a fully digital land information system and revenue services available remotely, Kerala has become a national model for e-governance. Kerala was the first state in the country to make internet a basic right. The government introduced the Kerala Fibre Optic Network (KFON), a dedicated fibre-optic cable network that connects government offices, educational institutions, and homes. Through the project, free internet connections are provided to BPL families. The Digi Keralam project has been launched to make Kerala a fully digitally literate state. The project aims to equip people with the skills to use digital technology and access government services online. Ernakulam became the first fully digitally literate district.

Towards a Knowledge-driven Society

Kerala has accomplished several firsts in the country, including the first electronics production company – KELTRON, first IT park – Technopark, first Digital University, and first Digital Science Park. In 2016, IT exports amounted to Rs 34,123 crores; now, they have soared to Rs 90,000 crores. Kerala’s IT sector follows a ‘hub and spoke’ model, with Technopark (Thiruvananthapuram), Infopark (Kochi), and Cyberpark (Kozhikode) as hubs, while satellite centres in other districts serve as spokes.

Kerala has become a preferred destination for global IT companies and a hub for futuristic technologies. Kerala is a leading start-up ecosystem with over 6,000 start-ups across various sectors. With more than 10 lakh sq. ft. of space and strong support mechanisms, Kerala ranks first in Asia for affordable talent and fourth globally in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER). Start-ups in AI, robotics, healthcare, fintech,agritech, and biotech thrive in this ecosystem. The Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation & Technology (Digital University Kerala), established in 2021 reinforces the state’s commitment to a knowledge-driven future.

Kerala’s Scientific Renaissance

Kerala’s Life Sciences Park is a game-changer in biotechnology, virology, and microbiome research. The Institute of Advanced Virology focuses on emerging infectious diseases. India’s first Centre of Excellence in Microbiome has also been established here. Recognising the importance of nutraceuticals – foods with medicinal benefits – Kerala is setting up a Centre of Excellence in Nutraceuticals, leveraging its natural resources like spices, medicinal plants, seafood, and Ayurveda-based products.

The Kerala Space Park (K-Space), supported by ISRO, aims to develop the state as a hub for aerospace and space-related industries. Over 150 SMEs are collaborating to create a dynamic aerospace ecosystem. Research centres in partnership with ISRO are set to emerge, with full completion expected by 2030. The state is also investing in Science Parks in Kannur, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram, integrating government, universities, and industries to foster innovation. To position itself as a Medical Device Hub, Kerala has launched the Kerala Medical Technology Consortium.

Committed Towards the Diaspora

We have set up democratic platforms like the Loka Kerala Sabha, based on the idea that ‘Kerala is where Keralites are’. The Sabha seeks to harness the experience and skills of both returning expatriates and Malayalis living abroad. Currently, Norka Roots selects and sends doctors, nurses, medical technicians, electricians, and domestic workers to Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Kuwait, as well as to the UK, Germany, and Canada. The Triple Win project enables nursing professionals to migrate to Germany. Under the Triple Win Trainee Programme, students can study nursing in Germany for free with a stipend after 12th standard and then qualify as registered nurses. Recruitment is also underway for Austria, Greece, Portugal, Italy, Denmark, and Australia. The Norka Institute of Foreign Languages (NIFL) enhances foreign language skills and job readiness.

NIFL also functions as a migration facilitation centre. Despite setbacks – natural disasters like floods and landslides, or pandemics like Nipah and COVID-19 – Kerala’s search for progress aided by the spirit of inclusiveness and harmony, endures. Our will to outdo ourselves drives us forward. In the wake of the Mundakkai– Chooralmala landslide too, this ethos has been guiding us. We have always thought ahead of time. We identify society’s pressing needs and devise imaginative solutions. Universal literacy, high living standards, exceptional public healthcare, civic responsibility, high life expectancy, low maternal and infant mortality rates, gender equality, universal access to land, decentralised governance, participatory planning and women’s financial empowerment are some of our unique features.

Today, Kerala is fighting against the perils of these times like drug addiction and the ensuing spike in violence. Kerala has rolled out a comprehensive and multi-faceted strategy to tackle drug abuse. We have set up a specialised drug intelligence system under the Special Branch to strengthen Operation D-Hunt, the special campaign to curb drug peddling. Besides, we are taking stringent actions to cut off the supply chain and have initiated widespread public awareness campaign including a drug portal that enables anonymous reporting. Kerala has fostered a socially inclusive and egalitarian mindset rooted in secularism and has maintained a social environment free from communal strife. That is why a small state like ours has been able to set world-class benchmarks and gain international recognition.