Rebuilding Kerala to withstand natural disaster is a colossal task: Pinarayi Vijayan | Interview
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan is not a man to mince words, nor to shirk responsibility. Over the past three years, he has led the Left Democratic Front government through triumph and adversity. Even his critics agree that the 74-year-old Communist leader’s stock would have been higher if not for the series of natural disasters that have hit the state. After the ‘flood of the century’ in 2018, the state has been hit by another deluge this year. As rescue operations continue, the chief minister talked to Jeemon Jacob about the challenges ahead. Excerpts:
Q. Kerala has been hit by floods again. Per reports, more than hundred people have been killed by landslides. How bad is the situation on the ground?
This is a difficult time. We are battling a second flood within a year. North Kerala has been hit particularly hard--I have just returned from a visit to the flood zones. The rains have broken for now, and the situation is improving in the hill areas. We have yet to take full stock of the situation, but the damage is huge. However, I'm optimistic that we will be able to overcome this too, with the support of the people. Calamities have taught us a great lesson--we have to stand together when we are in danger. We have created a model of unity while fighting disasters. It's a great model, acknowledged among the best practices in the world, but we need more. Now we need a new development culture to save the state. We will take the advice of experts on the causes of these natural calamities hitting the state with such regularity. We have to review all construction work in flood-affected regions and prepare a policy for eco-friendly development. We can't afford to lose any more lives.
Q. You have completed three years in government. What do you consider your major achievements?
We have been working toward the comprehensive development of the state with a multi-level strategy long-term infrastructure development projects, and in the short term, relief measures to provide succour to our disadvantaged sections. The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board has been restructured and in just three years we have been able to sanction projects worth over Rs 42,000 crore. The Kannur airport, the coastal highway, the hill highway, the GAIL pipeline, the Koodankulam power line, the LNG terminal, the Kochi Metro's expansion, the Kochi water metro...these are just some of our major infrastructure achievements in the past three years. We have turned around the fortunes of state PSUs and have taken over central PSUs in the state that were being shut down. Traditional industries like coir, handloom, cashew and khadi have been revived. We have set up a price-stability fund for rubber, which even the Centre has been unwilling to do. We are also investing in agro foods, petrochemicals and industrial parks to improve the job opportunities situation in the state. In the social sector, welfare pensions in Kerala are the highest in the country (Rs 1,200 per month), with over 5 million people benefitting. We'll soon have waste management plants in every district, and we have already achieved 100 per cent electrification and toilets for all. And despite the floods, we had a record yield in paddy this year. We are closing in on self-sufficiency in vegetables, milk and egg production. During the tenure of this government, Kerala has been repeatedly judged the best governed state, with the best law and order and the least corruption.
Q. There are reports that the Centre has not supported Kerala enough with fund allocation? Is this true?
The people of Kerala can judge for themselves. From our demand for a special package of Rs 7,000 crore for Kerala's coastal areas after the Ockhi cyclone, to the demands related to rebuilding the state after the floods. The Centre has not even partially met them. International agencies evaluated our losses at around Rs 31,000 crore, but the Centre has approved only a paltry assistance of Rs 3,048.4 crore. It has not even allowed us to claim foreign aid, while other states have been allowed to do so. Our demand to raise the borrowing limit has also fallen on deaf ears.
Q. How do you rate the Narendra Modi-led government?
It is not for me but for the people to rate the central government. Since 2014, we have been witnessing a concerted attack on the lives and livelihoods of our people, our Constitution and the institutions created by it. A situation has come when one fine morning you wake up and realise that one of our states is no longer a state!
Q. The Rebuild Kerala Initiative is one of your main focus areas. What is its status and how will you complete the task before the assembly polls?
Rebuilding is a colossal task after the floods of last year. It is a plan to realise a Nava Keralam (New Kerala)', built to withstand future disasters. As a first step, we have held a Development Partners Conclave to chart the road ahead and to secure specific assistance. The first instalments of assistance have been disbursed by the World Bank, the German Development Bank and the Emirates Red Crescent. Rebuilding Kerala has to do with creating climate-resilient infrastructure and realising sustainable livelihoods. It will require 2-3 years to complete. At the same time, we have done tremendous work in rescue and relief. Emergency assistance of Rs 10,000 has been given to 692,181 families; Rs 200 crore was provided as relief to farmers; of the 15,521 houses destroyed, 10,665 families are building new homes with government funding. We have various schemes to help out every one of those affected.
Q. Despite the government's directives, the state police has been beset by controversy. Are you planning to discipline the police, to make them more people-friendly?
The Kerala Police is the best law and order force and investigation agency in the country. Stray incidents are highlighted so as to create an impression that everything about our force is problematic. That isn't the case. At the same time, we have taken strict action against erring officers. This will continue.
Q. Reverse migration from the Gulf is projected to harm the state's economy. How is your government going to re-habilitate the returning NRKs (non-resident Keralites)?
We have taken a special interest in this. The Loka Kerala Sabha (Global Kerala Assembly) is a major initiative which has enabled them to have a say in the development of the state. Pravasi Chitty' is a means to utilise their resources in the infrastructural development of the state. The new Norka Business Facilitation Centres will help them decide how and where to make investments. We are encouraging returnees to start business ventures and industries in the state. We also have Santhwana', a distress relief scheme, to provide financial support to them. They can avail it for medical treatment, funeral assistance, marriage assistance, purchase of physical aids to combat disability, etc.
Q. Despite your best efforts to keep the focus on development, controversies have dogged your government...
The reality is that stray incidents are being highlighted even as major achievements are sidelined. Allegations are made and celebrated without any basis. Look at the controversy over the release of water from dams being the cause of floods last year. The Central Water Commission's own study made it clear that excess rainfall was the cause. In the current session of Parliament, the MoS for the environment, forests and climate change reiterated this, but did anyone carry the news? Certain media groups have vested interests and will continue the misinformation campaign.
Q. Some sections of the media have alleged that you are inaccessible...
Over the past three years, as chief minister, I have participated in at least a hundred press meets. Compare that to our prime minister, who hasn't spoken to the media in his past five years in office. We are meeting for our fourth interview after I became CM. I'm not averse to the media or inaccessible. When I have something to say, I do interact with them.
Q. The LDF lost heavily in the general election and critics are attributing the rout to your handling of the Sabarimala issue.
The truth is that the anti-BJP sentiment in the state worked in favour of the Congress. True, some people were misled to believe that the LDF was responsible for the Sabarimala issue. Our party leadership is directly interacting with the people to learn from them and allay their misgivings.
Q. The LDF government has focused on targeted delivery of services in improving primary healthcare, public education, and infrastructure development, but you still failed to impress voters. So is faith more deep-rooted than the politics of development in literate Kerala?
The people of Kerala felt the BJP should be defeated at the Centre, and so voted for the Congress. It was a case of misjudgement-they felt the Congress had a better chance of keeping the BJP at bay than the Left.