The tidings from Kizhakambalam portends that it’s time for political formulations to batten down the hatches.
After decimating all political parties in the recent elections to Kizhakambalam grama panchayat, Twenty20, the corporate social responsibility venture of garment manufacturing major Kitex, is clearly looking at expanding its activities to at least 15 neighbouring panchayats in Ernakulam.
“The stupendous show of Twenty20, registered as a charitable trust, in the elections has caught the fancy of several overseas Indians who have approached me to take the development model to different parts of the State,” Sabu Jacob, managing director of Anna-Kitex group of companies and chief coordinator of Twenty20, told The Hindu .
“A U.S.-based Malayali visited us some two months ago to see for himself what we are doing. Enamoured of our success in the polls, he wrote to me the other day, asking if I could prepare a development blueprint replicating the Kizhakambalam model for at least 15 other panchayats. Many NRKs and organisations are eager to loosen their purse for the project. However, I am of the view that if I’m to moot and monitor such a plan, it should be in places in the vicinity of Kizhakambalam, as I’m a businessman primarily,” he said.
Mr. Jacob would hold parleys with the New York-based Malayalis keen to collaborate in the expansion during his U.S. visit next week. He did not rule out eventually up-scaling the localised NGO, which he said “was formed two years ago when the panchayat stalled several development initiatives” into a full-fledged political party.
“When we floated Twenty20, we never thought we would contest elections, but we were forced to do so. Now, the model is being feted the world over. I’ve had enquiries from Forbes in the U.S. There’s this NRI who said the model outshines the Singapore example. So I can’t really predict the character of the organisation tomorrow.”
‘Serious issue’
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) is gearing up to take on the challenge. “What’s happening in Kizhakambalam is corporatisation of democracy, which is a serious issue. We’ve heard several other industries in the State are now mulling similar initiatives. This is aimed at creating apolitical societies where their writ runs. They are just buying out local governments, as is evident from their announcement that they will materially equip the members elected to the grama panchayat to carry out their duties. We intend to hold sustained campaigns in the area to expose them,” said P. Rajeev, CPI(M) district secretary.
