The contribution of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to preserving the secular fabric of the State is significant. It is the strong presence of the LDF in Kerala that makes it different from other States, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 45th annual conference of the Kerala Secretariat Employees’ Association here on Tuesday.
Mr. Vijayan said the outrage over the Kathua incident was sought to be used by a few to call a hartal over WhatsApp recently. They belonged to the Sangh Parivar, which was on the side of those arrested for the incident. This call was taken up by some others. Quick police action helped prevent the situation from spiralling out of control. This incident showed that attempts to destroy secularism, of which the people of the State were proud of, were under way. “There is need to be alert to such attempts to vitiate the peace,” he said.
Praise for staff
The Chief Minister said there had been a significant improvement in the functioning of the Secretariat staff, but they needed to introspect if it was enough. The practice of avoiding heavy workload was still prevalent, and the power of staff organisations was often used to protect them.
He asked them if all their actions were guided by their responsibility to society. Those who were extremely dissatisfied would not be able to do good. Those in positions of responsibility, especially, should exercise due care, he said.
He also urged them to be open to change and be eager to embrace it.
The past two years of LDF rule had helped change the mindset that nothing would happen in the State. People were hopeful, and it was important that those in administration show that it was possible, and their faith would not be in vain. “The work done by any government employee was a service to the people, and that responsibility should be discharged at the earliest,” he reminded them.
Though Kerala had little contribution, the aim of the government was to eliminate all corruption related to administration, he said.
Mentioning demonetisation and GST, Mr. Vijayan said the policies of the Union government, in the past two years had severely affected the financial position of the State. However, the State decided to take up infrastructure development by raising ₹50,000 crore in five years through KIIFB.
It was also tapping investment from the expatriate community. National Highway development, GAIL pipeline work, Kudankulam project, and the national waterway project, and the four missions launched by the government were being emphasised by the State.
Along with that, labour practices such as ‘nokkukooli’ were being done away with and a single-window system for getting clearances to start new ventures was being made effective through legislation, the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister also gave away various awards to Secretariat staff, including to National Award winner Sajeev Pazhoor.
