THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has described Kerala as microcosm of the country and a model particularly when it came to religious harmony. In a detailed Facebook post directed at the recent anti-Kerala hate campaign carried out by certain quarters branding the state as the hotbed of political killings, Pinarayi said there was a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image in the name isolated incidents. He quoted from a 2013 speech of Prof Amartya Sen in which the Noble Laureate said; “there is a lot to learn from Kerala in delivering quality life.’’
The chief minister said Kerala was declared by the United Nations as the only state in the country in the very high Human Development Index. Over the last 15 months, Kerala was adjudged as the best state in law and order, one of the least corrupt states and Kerala Police also bagged the Police Excellence Award from Cops Today International. The state continued to lead in literacy, its first state with high population density to become Open Defecation Free, only state to achieve 100% electrification, population proportionate allocation SC/ST in state budget, lowest infant mortality rate, highest sex ratio and high socio-health indices.
The chief minister said even in gender justice and social justice, the state’s track record was unique. Apart from gender budgeting, there is an exclusive department for women. Achievements in health care are comparable to developed countries be it infant mortality rate, sex ratio, health care indices. Even in foreign remittances, modern road connectivity in villages, availability of free education and access to free health care is much better. The government has taken proactive measures to bring transgender to the main stream. Care for migrant workers by instituting a health insurance scheme.
The chief minister said there was a calculated move to tarnish the state citing isolated incidents at a time when thousands are murdered, raped and thousands of infants died annually, elsewhere. Pinarayi said while every instance of suffering of countrymen was painful, it was also equally hurting when a model state is tarnished by vested interests. The chief minister called upon the people to stand against all divisive forces and protect the microcosm of India.
