A new Avatar...as a ‘Social Entrepreneur’.

Last Saturday to Sunday afternoon I stayed at the Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ashram in Bangalore. It was a time of solitude amidst the Ashram’s blissfully peaceful surroundings.

I had the privilege of a personal one to one audience with Guruji for a half hour Guruji had taken a personal interest / liking for me the last time I visited the Ahsram as the Chief Guest alongwith Sri Vellappilly Natesan at the Malayali Sangamam on 15th August 2013. It was a joyous occasion in which about 8000 Art of Living followers from Kerala had participated.

Guruji had taken me in his car to his room after the meeting and discussed with me my life and future plans. He expressed the feeling that I am not being properly utilised by the powers that be and had advised me to be bolder and strike forth to use my capabilities for the service of the country.

The General Elections came soon afterwards; I was in the forefront of Congress candidates for the Kollam seat which I had represented three times earlier. The intervening period of my absence had made Kollam electorate sympathetic to me, my contributions had been acknowledged especially in comparison to others and the consensus of opinion among the public was that I could win the seat if chosen as the candidate. There was also at least half a dozen other aspiring candidates apart from the sitting MP.

Again a student!

My modest effort does make an interesting story. I had wanted to do a PhD during my education phase but then I joined the IAS and was continuously engaged in important assignments In the IAS. I was lucky always in getting the best possible assignments, a Keralite cadre officer could have hoped. In each of the assignments, I tried to make a mark by launching innovative projects in the implementation of which I was intensively involved. Taking a Doctorate would have involved taking a three or four years study leave (which some IAS officers in India had done). So my Doctorate effort had to wait till my later political phase in which last four years I had no worthwhile political assignment. I chose BITS Pilani, because registering in Kerala University would open me to allegations of influence peddling (a normal cynical reaction of some Keralites) and also because BITS is a Technical University suited to my technical background in education.

Again at the crossroads

I could not be active on the blog for the last few weeks because of certain unavoidable preoccupations. 

Firstly I was actively engaged in the political developments relating to the Kollam Parliamentary Constituency which ultimately ended in the allotment of the seat to the RSP and Sri Premachandran. The party took the decision in its perceived best interests in the current political scenario of the state. The aftermath of the Kasthuri Rangan Commission report adversely affected the former settlers of Idukki and Wayanad and posturing of some political outfits like the Joseph Congress put pressure on the Oommen Chandy government with its razor thin majority in the legislature. The under wrap negotiations with the RSP  led to their deserting the LDF and moving over to the UDF with their two MLAs in return for the Kollam Parliament Seat.  Well, that was that.

Back again!

I am back here on the blog scene and I intend to be as regular as possible.

Really I am not keen on commenting on the daily war of words and day-to-day tumble of state politics which essentially have no permanent value to the state or its people. I will comment only when any issue I believe in crops up where I can meaningfully contribute.

But I would my state my opinion on issues of relevance to the life of our people and which are relevant to the progress of Kerala to its rightful place in the world.

Fishermen woes

A delegation of fishermen from Thankasserry area met me with their problems. 

A significant point they make is that the Kollam Port is being developed by the Ports Department without taking into account the livelihood concerns of the fishermen and a cement unloading set up is being planned there generating high pollution. 

The Thankasserry Fisheries Harbour, a project in which I played a crucial role, had been designed for the welfare of traditional fishermen and only such commercial development should be attempted there which would not adversely affect the fishermen. Some experts also argue that the claims of the Port Department of bigger ships coming there are false as the channel has only a depth of 6.5 metres and only very light ships can enter. This whole range of issues has to be studied and I am taking up the matter and taking a scientific and principled stand. 

Mr. MK Salim a noted developmental enthusiast of Kollam suggests that Kollam Port can be a fisheries processing zone for deep sea trawlers in the high seas who can process their catches there and re-export without affecting the domestic fisheries economy but creating sizeable employment for the fisheries community.

I am studying this project in detail and would advance it, if found workable, as a project to be promoted by the Citizens for Kollam Development.

Down memory lane

Congress will bounce back...

The setback faced by the congress in the assembly elections in the 4 states will force the Congress to re-group and re-strategize for maximal performance in the 2014 general elections. 

Congress has in its political history suffered several setbacks of this nature, but it will always bounce back with massive mandates from the people. 

Congress has always been the only national political formation which has upheld the principles of secularism, development and social justice like the river Ganges whose water is considered pure in spite of the jetsam and flotsam and human and animal waste which  dirty it. 

Congress itself in its ideals and heritage is a pure organization in spite of corrupt and inefficient elements who sometimes get into positions of power and privilege in this party. It is my wish and prayer that under the leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi a real heart search will happen at all levels of the organization and worthy leaders will find their deserving roles in this grand national party and by the time of the next general elections the party will regain the dominant position in national politics. 

Another notable project...

I am launching a training for employment and placing project under a Trust “Karmanya” (from the Bhagavat Gita) for the whole state of Kerala. This project has been under preparation for some time and I will at the first stage concentrate at Kollam as part of my Kollam development efforts. The idea is to work backwards from employment opportunities and bridge the skill gap to make youth employable. My project will be in conjunction with organisations like the National Skills Commission, International agencies and major employers who require specifically trained manpower. I am determined to make this project a success and a meaningful contribution to the State.

Launching 'Citizens for Kollam Development'

I am launching a peoples’ organisation titled ‘Citizens for Kollam Development’(CKD) to articulate, mobilize the public, energise and implement projects and programmes for the comprehensive development of the Kollam region.

The Town Planning Development had a decade ago, during my tenure as MP, prepared and published a Master Plan for development of Kollam which remains largely unimplemented. SriJacob Easo, former Additional Chief Town Planner, Kerala who was earlier District Town Planner Kollam, presented at the Kollam City Development Seminar two days ago, inaugurated by me, an excellent presentation of this plan and the present state of affairs.

I want to bring under the CKD all interested public and professional organizations and concerned citizens who adore their native town of Kollam and are yearning for its deserved growth and development. 

I had as MP from Kollam tried my best to give a thrust to the area’s development and some of the achievements were – the Thankassery Fishing Harbour, NH bypass, Parvathy Mill revival as well as numerous smaller schemes. People who know still appreciate these efforts. 

CKD will push for the National Cashew Board, a Government Medical College, development of the Kollam Port as a critical auxiliary Port of Vizhinjam and Kochi, Completion of the NH Bypass, Infrastructure Development including Roads, Waterways, Water supply, Drainage & Sewage and Waste Management. Almost a hundred iconic schemes in the region have been identified for special attention. Kollam - straddling the Arabian Sea, with the gorgeous Ashtamudi Kayal and extending through the fertile middle land to the Sahya hills at Aryankavu has tremendous potential for Tourism including backwater and eco tourism. The traditional industries of Cashew, Coir and Fisheries have to be conserved, modernised and progressed. There is scope for making Kollam a hub for education, health care including medical tourism and information and Biotechnology. I am personally launching some schemes in the Private and voluntary sector like a Rajiv Gandhi Medi-City including a Cancer Hospital, an international school, an employment programme for Kollam’s youth with the help of National Skills Mission and several national and international employer groups. The CKD also hopes to promote and provide a wide spectrum of volunteer services to citizens including a Citizen Service Centre.