Kozhikode: local tie-ups hold the key

By Maleeha Raghaviah

KOZHIKODE, AUG. 29. Even as the CPI(M)-dominated LDF seems to have an upper hand in the elections to the local bodies in Kozhikode District, the exact tally would to a fair measure, rely on the regional-level political tie-ups which are likely to be cobbled up in the next couple of days.

For all practical purposes the LDF has been holding the key to the failure or success of the People's Plan Campaign in the district for the last four years. This is true of the Kozhikode corporation, the majority of the 77 grama panchayats, 12 block panchayats and the two municipalities of Vadakara and Koyilandi.

An overall evaluation gives the picture of the LDF having showcased a reasonably good effort in implementing the campaign in its initial run in the State. This could be said especially with regard to the 25-member district panchayat where the LDF holds sway in 16 and the UDF in 9 divisions. Here, the Congress(I) dominates in five and the League in four divisions.

At the grama panchayat level, the LDF rules in 44 while in the block panchayats the front leads in eight and the UDF in four- Kunnummal, Meladi, Perambra and Koduvally.

Following a High Court directive, elections will be held only in November to nine seats in the district panchayat. These are Nadapuram, Kunnummal, Perambra, Thamarasserry, Thiruvambady, Mukkom, Kunnamangalam, Kakkodi and Viliyapalli.

Also, elections will not be held in the grama panchayats of Thiruvambady, Kodiyathur, Omasseri, Kunnamangalam, Chelannur, Ayyancherry, Chakkitampara, and Vanimel where the voters' list is being renewed. While the draft voters' list will be ready on August 30, the final list will be published on September 30.

As much as the euphoria that the new experiment has managed to generate among the LDF cadres, vis-a-vis grassroots level participation and initiative, the criticism that the People's Plan Campaign received more than its share of publicity and the gains were being blown out of proportion cannot be brushed aside lightly. The major drawback cited was that tangible results of the process were yet to be experienced, that many projects still remained only on paper.

Here again, the counter argument was that for any form of planning to percolate to the lower level it needed a minimum period, and three years were too short a term to evaluate the gains. On the flip side, more than a dozen panchayats in the district made headlines through their innovative projects. Topping the list is the Olavanna panchayat, cited as a model in implementing drinking water and agriculture schemes, while the others included Peruvayal, Mavoor, Cheruvannur Nallalam and Balusserry to name a few.

The district panchayat president time would be a woman. Ten divisions are reserved - one for Scheduled Caste woman, eight for women and one for SC.

What was also commendable about the entire exercise was the amicability with which the district panchayat has been able to carry forward the people's planning process with the cooperation of the department employees, panchayat staff and the general public irrespective of party affiliations. As the president himself points out, it was only a fraction of the department staff who did not fall in line.

The panchayat has been able to make a foray into areas which were hitherto earmarked for the service sectors especially housing for the Adivasis, SCs and STs, and other backward sections besides the `Grameena Vydyuthikarana project' under which 10,000 houses in backward colonies were electrified. Another area where there has been good progress is in the infrastructure area where work on 600 km of roads was completed.

The People's Plan Campaign also seemed to have made its impact in the construction of small bridges, a general improvement in the standard of Government schools under its `Nadappu Varshika Padhadhi', drinking water schemes and the improvement of the agriculture farms at Kootali, Perambra, Thikkodi and Puthuppadi besides the animal husbandry farm at Chathamangalm.

The ten-acre industrial estate at Feroke is expected to give employment to 1,000 workers in the 50 units and the self- employment schemes for women taken up by many panchayats especially in garment making are instances when the People's Plan Campaign has made an impact. Another endeavour under the people's planning in the district has been the conversion of `Laksham veedu' houses into single dwellings.

In contrast, the performance of the LDF-ruled Corporation Council has been lackluster, to the extent of being rated as poor considering the state of the city roads and other civic amenities. The council accounts for 38 LDF members (32 CPI(M), three JD, one CPI, two NCP and 12 others (10 UDF and two BJP).

The undue delay of the civic body in doing up one of the arterial roads in the city -the Mavoor Road (now renamed I.G.Road) -was an irritant for the public for months together. The council also failed to take adequate measures for the upkeep of the Mavoor crematorium.

On the flip side, the minor achievements included the building of a public hall at Kandamkulam besides a couple of drinking water schemes going into stream. The construction of the Corporation complex was completed, besides pressing into service a set of vehicles for garbage collection.

The construction of the temporary fish market stall at the beach was one instance where the Corporation invited undue allegations. Another was the demolition and reconstruction of the Stadium. Also, the Corporation has drawn flak for its inefficient management of the Nediamparambhu incinerator plant.

Contrary to the purported view that the performance of the UDF dominated grama panchayats has not been up to the mark, panchayats such as Changaroth, Chekkiad and Thamarasserry have registered commendable progress.

The situation in the district appears to be fluid at this juncture with permutations and combinations likely to emerge shortly. A decisive factor would be the extent to which the brokering of talks by the INL between the CPI(M) and IUML would progress.

Another notable aspect was the stand being taken by both the UDF constituents - the Congress(I) and the IUML- on the seat sharing issue. In fact, the League leadership demand for some of the traditional Congress(I) bastions for itself had led to the shelving of agreements reached earlier between the two.

The focus now is on alliances which would earn the maximum number of seats. This was besides the seat allocation tangles which had to be sorted out by the Congress(I) in its own stables. A lot would depend on how amicably the party can tackle the group strife which has been plaguing it for some time and which is likely to come to a logical conclusion soon.

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Section  : Southern States
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