Give priority to needs of the poor: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan to ministers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ministers should give priority to the needs of the poor as some of the documents that come to the ministers would be relating to the needs of the poorest of the poor, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told his cabinet colleagues on Monday.
Inaugurating the three-day training programme for the ministers being organized at the Institute of Management in Government (IMG), the chief minister said that giving priority to the requirements of the poor should be considered as the speciality of the LDF government.
He said that during elections, people would be of two categories those who had tried to support the government and re-elect it and those who would have opposed it. But once in power, there are no supporters or opponents before the government but there are only people, he added.
He said that the ministers should not behave in a partisan manner to anyone. The ministers might be having the experience of working among the public, but in administrative matters, the role of the officials are also equally important.
If the opinions of the officials are found to be suitable, they should not hesitate to agree to those, the CM said, citing the example of the Life project, which was suggested by an official.
He said that when there are several suggestions from several corners, there may be confusion on which one to agree to, and for this, it is very important to know the law and rules. “The ministers should work within the contours of law and rules.
There may be outdated laws that will have to be replaced with new ones. For these, the ministers should take the necessary initiative,” he said. The hindrances coming in the way of administration should be dealt with lucidity, he added.
On the first day of the training, former cabinet secretary K M Chandrasekhar explained the administrative system of the government. Chief of disaster risk reduction at UNEP Muralee Thummarukudy handled the online session on challenges in disaster management.
Former IIM professor and managerial communication consultant Mathukkutty M Monippally spoke regarding leading a team. The training will conclude on Wednesday.