Workshop must translate into better governance

The two-day workshop attended by Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and his ministers has drawn significant news attention. The UDF cabinet had only just completed its first 100 days in office. Some may therefore have wondered why such a workshop was needed so early. Public attitudes and reactions towards the government have undergone a major change. Similarly, the government too needs a new yardstick to understand the sentiments, thoughts and interests of the general public. Artificial intelligence and the proliferation of social media have brought about major changes in the way people think. The assumption that government affairs will simply proceed as they should is changing. Gen-Z is also active, with the mindset that if government affairs do not proceed as they should, they must be made to do so. A democratic government must take every generation and their respective preferences into consideration as it moves forward with governance.

Governance becomes beneficial to the people only when its styles and perspectives are continually renewed. The Chief Minister's decision to give the green light to such a workshop should be viewed in that context, given his ability to read the public mood.
When the two-day workshop was first decided upon, there was considerable concern. The Chief Minister himself had said that, for a government that had only recently assumed office, having the Chief Minister and all the ministers away from Thiruvananthapuram for two days appeared to be a major challenge. By the end of the first day's classes, however, the value of the workshop became evident. The Chief Minister also acknowledged that the workshop would be highly beneficial to the government's progress over its five-year term. They gained insights into numerous matters, including how administrators should interact with people, what should be prioritised and how a project should be implemented. The Chief Minister also said that sessions led by experts from the UK and Japan, which introduced foreign models, were useful.

The Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, organised the two-day leadership workshop, "Reimagining Keralam", to discuss long-term development prospects and future challenges. The subjects covered at the workshop included leadership in the age of artificial intelligence, policies required to bring about sustainable changes in people's lives, climate resilience, community-based disaster management, public health, the ageing population, the silver economy, Kerala's economic and skill development, excellence in higher education, and the possibilities of elevating Kerala as a global brand.

Alongside IIM faculty, experts from Keio University in Japan and King's College London led sessions at the workshop. Everyone, including the Chief Minister, participated. The classroom, which could seat 44 people, was equipped with a projector, a display board and modern AI systems. The workshop can be expected to help modernise democratic governance and perspectives in keeping with the times. In the rush of administration, many things promised in the manifesto can be overlooked or forgotten. Such classes can help bring about a change in that regard.

Before democracy blossomed, there was monarchical rule. Many development projects in the country were initiated by benevolent and visionary maharajas, who still hold a place in history. Those who forgot their subjects and ruled solely for their own welfare and interests were cast into the dustbin of history.
For those who govern with the development of the state, public welfare and the progress of people's lives in mind, such workshops can help renew ideas and introduce new concepts of development. Many governments do things merely for applause and publicity. People will not grade a government's performance simply because its surface has been whitened. Governance must be in sound health, and its benefits must reach the people.