Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to revive the state’s fragile finances, boost investment, tackle brain drain and prepare Kerala for demographic change, while also advocating stronger regulation of social media to curb online abuse against women.
In an exclusive interview on Jab We Met with India Today TV’s Marya Shakeel, Satheesan said the state government inherited a difficult fiscal situation but was determined to improve financial discipline, accelerate project execution and attract private investment without compromising welfare.
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Calling Kerala’s financial position “very vulnerable”, Satheesan said nearly 77 to 80 per cent of the state’s revenue is spent on committed expenditure such as salaries, pensions and debt servicing, leaving only around one-fifth of the revenue available for development and welfare schemes.
“When we are getting Rs 100, we can use only Rs 20 or Rs 22 for development as well as welfare activities,” he said, adding that the government would soon release a white paper detailing the state’s fiscal health. According to him, Kerala’s immediate debt stands at around Rs 87,000 crore, while the overall debt burden exceeds Rs 5 lakh crore.
PORT CITY VISION AND DIASPORA INVESTMENT
Satheesan said improving fiscal management would be among his government’s biggest priorities. He argued that delayed infrastructure projects significantly increase costs and burden the exchequer.
“When a Rs 100-crore project takes five or ten years to complete, it eventually costs Rs 1,000 crore. That is leakage from the exchequer,” he said, adding that the government plans to introduce strict timelines and protocols for project implementation.
The Chief Minister also laid out his vision of transforming Kerala into a logistics and investment hub by leveraging its 600-km coastline, international ports and airports.
“We are planning to integrate all the ports and make the entire Kerala into a port city,” he said. The government also plans to encourage greater private investment in airport infrastructure, saying the state’s role should increasingly be that of a facilitator rather than an operator.
Another key pillar of Satheesan’s economic strategy is converting Kerala’s remittance-dependent economy into an investment-led one.
“Remittance is the backbone of our economy. But it is not being used for state development. We want to make the remittance economy an investment economy,” he said.
TACKLING BRAIN DRAIN AND AN AGEING POPULATION
Satheesan expressed concern over Kerala’s rapidly changing demographics, warning that the state is ageing faster than most parts of India while simultaneously witnessing large-scale migration of young people.
He said projections indicate that senior citizens could account for nearly 38 per cent of Kerala’s population by 2036, prompting the government to establish what he described as India’s first dedicated department for senior citizens.
To address youth migration, the government plans to overhaul higher education. He said nearly 80 per cent of existing academic programmes have become outdated and no longer match global employment requirements.
The government plans to establish a “Global Job Watchtower”, bringing together experts from India and abroad to track global employment trends and recommend curriculum reforms and new academic programmes.
“We have to start good academic programmes here. According to their report, we will restructure the curriculum,” he said.
CALLS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA REGULATION
The Chief Minister also voiced concern over the misuse of social media, particularly targeting women. While acknowledging that criticism of political leaders was part of democracy, he said abusive online behaviour had crossed acceptable limits.
“Trolling of women, bad language being used… somebody is committing suicide. We want to control it,” he said, suggesting that stronger legal mechanisms may be needed to regulate the misuse of social media platforms.
CONCERNS OVER DELIMITATION AND CENTRE-STATE RELATIONS
On Centre-state relations, Satheesan criticised the declining share of tax devolution allocated to Kerala and expressed reservations over the proposed delimitation exercise.
He argued that southern states should not be disadvantaged for successfully implementing family planning measures and controlling population growth.
“When they increase the number of MPs, it should not be disproportionate to the south and north,” he said, warning that Kerala’s representation in Parliament could diminish if the exercise is not handled fairly.
TRANSPARENT GOVERNANCE AND DIRECT PUBLIC OUTREACH
Responding to political questions, Satheesan dismissed suggestions that central investigative agencies were acting at the behest of his government, saying his administration would not interfere in investigations monitored by the courts.
“We will never put pressure on the members of the SIT,” he said.
He also highlighted his daily public grievance sessions, saying they provide direct feedback from citizens and help the government distinguish between individual complaints and systemic issues requiring policy intervention.
Reflecting on his transition from Leader of the Opposition to Chief Minister, Satheesan said his government’s focus would remain on transparent governance, financial discipline and building a “New Age Kerala” driven by investment, employment and efficient administration.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
