Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 8 ( IANS) The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to launch an ambitious public outreach and feedback initiative titled Nava Keralam - Citizen Response Programme to assess and strengthen welfare and development schemes across the State.
In a statement from the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, it said the programme will run from January 1 to February 28, 2026, and aims to build a structured dialogue between citizens and the administration.
The initiative will focus on gathering development suggestions, identifying local needs, evaluating welfare programmes, and collecting feedback to improve their efficiency.
Inputs will also be sought on the performance of other government schemes and infrastructure projects.
The programme will be carried out through the State's social volunteer network, ensuring broad participation from communities at the grassroots level.
Necessary preparatory work, including training sessions and awareness drives, will be conducted before the launch.
To guide and oversee implementation, the government has decided to constitute a four-member State Advisory Committee and a State Executive Committee.
Committees will also be formed at the panchayat, municipality, corporation, assembly constituency and district levels, comprising officials and subject experts.
The Director of the Information and Public Relations Department has been tasked with coordinating this effort.
The State Advisory Committee includes Chief Secretary E. Jayathilak, Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister K.M. Abraham, IMG Director K. Jayakumar, and IIM Kozhikode Professor Saji Gopinath.
Officials said the exercise is designed to produce a comprehensive study report capturing regional development priorities, identifying gaps in existing projects, and collating actionable recommendations from the public.
The report will serve as a reference document to shape future development planning and fine-tune welfare delivery.
By integrating citizen feedback with administrative planning, the government hopes to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in welfare governance - turning development programmes into more participatory and locally responsive initiatives.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good concept but I'm skeptical. We've seen many such programs before where nothing concrete happens. The real test will be whether they actually act on the feedback received. Still, worth participating and giving it a chance.
As someone who moved to Kerala recently, I'm impressed by this approach. The state's focus on grassroots participation is commendable. Looking forward to contributing my suggestions for better infrastructure in my area.
Finally! We can talk about the real issues in our panchayat. The roads need immediate attention and the healthcare facilities are inadequate. Hope this program brings some positive change ðŸ™
The inclusion of IIM professor and experts in the committee gives me confidence that this will be professionally managed. Hope they use technology effectively to gather and process the feedback from all sections of society.
While I appreciate the intent, I hope this doesn't become another bureaucratic exercise. The success depends on how seriously they take the common man's suggestions. The two-month timeline seems adequate if implemented properly.
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