Earlier this year, the Ernakulam district panchayat office was renamed the Palace of Emperor Mahabali when it was renovated and bestowed with ISO certification.
Incumbent district panchayat president Eldhose Kunnappillil of the United Democratic Front (UDF) claimed that the name was chosen not randomly but on being convinced that the governing committee had elevated it to a corruption-free administrative system exemplified by the legendary demon king.
One of the youngest to helm the panchayat, Mr. Kunnappillil lines up a slew of achievements of his tenure.
“We were able to declare the district differently-abled friendly after giving three-wheelers to all the differently-abled persons who applied,” he said.
The project to sent eligible students from Scheduled Caste communities for higher studies to foreign universities bearing all their educational expenses, completing the first Nirbhaya centre in the State, upgrading school infrastructure at an investment of Rs.13 crore, building vocational training centre for the aged, and setting up of the State’s first haemophilia centre were cited among the major feats.
However, district panchayat Opposition leader M.B. Syamanthabhadran of the Left Democratic Front said he regarded the last five years as propagandist, driven more by postures than actual work on the ground.
“Despite being an industrial hub, no significant industrial project was undertaken. Agriculture and productive sectors also came to a halt and hence the comprehensive development of the district suffered,” he said.
No new project could be introduced in the education sector, while the school infrastructure was upgraded using the funds set apart by the previous LDF governing committee.
The much publicised school-at-fingertip project proved to be a non-starter.
