Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary Kanam Rajendran on Thursday called for a pro-people development approach which was a combination of grass-roots realities and academic know-how.
He was speaking after inaugurating a development seminar organised jointly by the CPI district council and C. Achutha Menon Foundation here. He said it was better to keep the separation between planned vision from the top and that generated at the grass- roots levels.
“Globalisation was driven by profit motives where capital assumed precedence over human beings. Our policy should be focussed on human beings and nature. Development meant the emancipation of the marginalised and not the construction of skyscrapers. The focus should be on primary needs like shelter, health and drinking water,” he said.
Civil Supplies Minister P. Thilothaman offered felicitations. CPI district secretary P. Raju presided.
Infrastructure development
Addressing the seminar, Greater Cochin Development Authority Chairman C.N. Mohanan said infrastructure development should be given priority. “This will materialise only with the development of the Mamangalam-Goshree Road, coastal and bund roads, and roads connecting the high range areas,” he said. He called for addressing the housing woes of youngsters depending on the city for their livelihood. “Ernakulam accounts for 70 per cent of the State’s revenue,” he said.
13 sectors
Development papers on 13 different sectors were presented at the seminar. They were agriculture and allied industries, IT and tourism, traditional sectors, social welfare and women’s welfare, cooperative and banking sectors, water disposal, education and health, drinking water, revenue, housing, and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe development, infrastructure and industries.
A committee of experts prepared the papers to which the suggestions thrown up by the seminar will be added.
