Thiruvananthapuram, June 14 (IANS). According to the statements and policy signals that came out in the initial weeks of the new UDF government, Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is going to make ‘good governance with compassion’ a key priority in the state budget to be presented on June 19 and in his administration.
As leader of the opposition, Satheesan has often spoken about the need for a governance model that blends efficiency, accountability and compassion. Since assuming the post of Chief Minister, he has repeatedly said that ‘good governance with compassion’ will be the core philosophy of his government, and hopefully this will be reflected in the upcoming state budget.
A glimpse of this thinking was seen at an event held on May 29 at Suryaprabha Auditorium in Mannanthala, where two bishops of Mar Thoma Church were honored on the occasion of their completion of 50 years as priests (Golden Jubilee).
Inaugurating the programme, CM Satheesan referred to a verse from the Bible’s ‘Book of Micah’ and said it has been a guiding principle in his public life and leadership. Quoting Micah 6:8, the Chief Minister said, “What does the Lord want from you? To behave justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
CM Satheesan told the people that these words continue to guide him in his role as Chief Minister. He said that the emphasis on justice, compassion and humility should not just remain abstract values, but should also be reflected in governance and public policy.
Political experts believe that this thinking is reflected in the recent actions of the government.
An example often cited is the case of Ruwani, a resident of Vizhinjam, who became the face of a humanitarian issue that caught people’s attention. The Chief Minister himself had announced that he would be given a house and helped find a sponsor to make this project a reality.
The move was widely seen as an example of governance responding sensitively to the plight of the people, rather than being limited to mere day-to-day administrative processes.
As the UDF government prepares to present its first full budget on June 19, expectations are rising that it will prominently feature welfare measures, social justice initiatives and citizen-centric governance reforms.
If we look at the recent statements of CM Satheesan, an attempt can be made to strike a balance between administrative efficiency and sensitivity in the budget, which will further strengthen the government’s commitment towards ‘good governance with sensitivity’.
–IANS
SCH/PM
