Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 30 (PTI) Senior CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday accused the UDF government in Keralam of “outsourcing” policy formulation and setting development priorities to a multinational company, terming the alleged move a “challenge to democratic governance”.
In a Facebook post, Vijayan alleged that the government had reportedly hired a London-based multinational company for Rs 50 lakh under the “Reimagining Kerala” initiative to identify its priority programmes and coordinate their implementation.
He said the reported decision to entrust policy formulation to a private multinational company was unprecedented and questioned the stance of the Congress and other UDF constituents on the matter.
“Policy formulation and the development perspective of elected governments are decided through consultations by the respective political parties or fronts. However, media reports have emerged that the UDF government has, for the first time, entrusted a private multinational company with policy formulation,” he said.
Vijayan alleged that around 40 employees of the foreign company had been tasked with coordinating the government’s strategic programmes and projects.
“This will affect the confidentiality of project details,” he said, alleging that corporate advisers had been brought in by sidelining government officials, people’s representatives and even the State Planning Board.
He said engaging agencies with specialised technical expertise as consultants was different from handing over policy formulation and decisions on priorities to a multinational company.
“This should not be viewed merely as extravagance,” Vijayan said, adding that policy priorities should be determined by the elected council of ministers or political leadership entrusted with the people’s mandate, rather than multinational consultancies.
He also criticised the government for outsourcing such decisions without giving a role to government institutions such as the State Planning Board, which, he said, were entrusted with policy formulation.
Vijayan alleged that a similar approach was seen when another committee was appointed to prepare a white paper on the state’s financial position after the UDF government assumed office.
The opposition had then warned that handing over confidential documents and government files to private individuals could have serious consequences, he said, adding that the practice was continuing in several areas.
He also alleged that foreign trips of ministers and even their vehicles were being funded by unidentified sponsors, questioning their interests.
“Entrusting various sectors to private groups without having confidence in government institutions is eroding transparency in administration,” Vijayan said.
“Yielding to private-sector interests in this manner is dangerous and undermines public accountability. The government should withdraw from such moves,” he added. PTI LGK ROH
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