Latest news with #Pinarayi2.0
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Hmm... can do better: Four years in, Pinarayi 2.0 cabinet gets a lukewarm report card
With the LDF government completing four years in office today, it is time for appraisal of Pinarayi 2.0 cabinet. To ensure a fair and in-depth evaluation, TNIE engaged an independent panel of experts to review all 21 ministers. Each minister was rated on a scale of 0 to 10 across five key parameters: proficiency, responsiveness, accessibility, professionalism, and image and credibility. Here are the results. Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister, Home & Vigilance The commissioning of the Vizhinjam Port well before the deadline has reinforced his image as an able administrator who delivers. But the SFIO probe against his daughter in the CMRL case and LDF's poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls were a personal setback. His handling of the home ministry, this year too, came under criticism. The chief minister, apparently, expects a smooth sail in the final lap as more developmental initiatives are nearing completion. Proficiency: 7 Responsiveness: 6.67 Accessibility: 4.17 Professionalism: 5.83 Image & credibility: 5.5 2024 Score: 4.34 2025 score: 5.83 / 10 R Bindu Higher Education, Social Justice The Private Universities Bill, a major shift in LDF policy, is aimed at providing more educational opportunities for students to plug large-scale migration. With a new governor at the helm as chancellor, the minister hopes to have a smooth sail in the last year of her tenure. On the social justice front, Bindu, however, is yet to make a mark. Proficiency: 4.17 Responsiveness: 4.42 Accessibility: 4.67 Professionalism: 4.08 Image & credibility: 4.53 2024 Score: 4.66 2025 score: 4.37 / 10 M B Rajesh Local Self-government, Excise Implementation of K-SMART has significantly enhanced the service efficiency of local self-government institutions. He has succeeded in laying the groundwork for making Kerala garbage-free, but more sustained efforts are needed to meet the deadline of March 2026 for going garbage-free. As excise minister, he is not bold enough, which is reflected in the new liquor policy, which lacks punch. Proficiency: 5.58 Responsiveness: 5.67 Accessibility: 5.83 Professionalism: 5.33 Image & credibility: 5.67 2024 Score: 5.6 2025 score: 5.62 / 10 P Rajeeve Industries, Law and Coir His efforts to improve the business climate and to project an investment-friendly image have largely paid off. But the state is yet to attract significant investments. Initiatives like the Draft Logistics Policy and the Campus Industrial Park Programme are promising. He could also turn some PSUs profitable. But traditional sectors like cashew and coir are still under stress. Proficiency: 6.75 Responsiveness: 6.67 Accessibility: 6.67 Professionalism: 6.17 Image & credibility: 6.33 2024 Score: 5.6 2025 score: 6.52 / 10
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala govt's ‘Jyoti' to guide children of migrant workers from streets to school
KOCHI: If everything goes to plan, you won't see any children of migrant workers wandering the streets or engaged in work in the state from the new academic year. This follows the launch of a comprehensive initiative by the state government on Wednesday to bring the children of migrant workers here to the schools to support their progress and welfare. The programme 'Jyoti', which will be implemented by the local bodies along with the schools in the respective regions, will see an aggressive door-to-door campaign by the officials to ensure that no children of school-going age wander in the streets of the state, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. It is estimated that around 35 lakh migrants are working across various sectors in the state, and they have become integral part of Kerala. 'This initiative marks a significant step towards cultural and educational integration, reaffirming Kerala's commitment to inclusive development,' said the chief minister. 'Jyoti' was launched at the 'face-to-face' programme with the chief minister held at Kinfra Convention Centre at Kakkanad, as part of the fourth anniversary of the Pinarayi 2.0 government. 'The local bodies need to play an important role in ensuring the success of the programme. The teachers of the schools in an area, along with the local bodies need to visit the families of the migrant workers to convince them of the importance of sending their children to the schools,' said the chief minister. The launch of 'Jyoti' programme follows the success of similar initiatives by the Left government in recent years. While the 'Roshni' scheme is assisting the children of migrant workers to overcome the language barrier and learn Malayalam, English and Hindi, the 'Changathi' project launched by Kerala Literacy Mission aims to help migrant labourers with enough knowledge of Malayalam. Both projects have seen tremendous response, especially in Ernakulam, which is a key hub for migrant workers in Kerala.
