Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday conducted a high-level review of the state government's progress in implementing the recommendations of the Justice JB Koshy Commission. The commission was formed to study the educational, economic, and social challenges faced by Christian minority communities in the state.
Substantial Progress Reported, More Work Pending
During the meeting, senior officials informed the Chief Minister that various government departments have already acted upon 220 recommendations and sub-recommendations. This work falls under the purview of 17 different departments. Furthermore, seven additional proposals are currently being processed by these departments for formal submission to the state cabinet.
The state government had received a total of 284 recommendations and 45 sub-recommendations from the commission when it submitted its final report in May 2023. Chief Minister Vijayan noted that departments moved swiftly on matters that could be resolved within the framework of existing laws and regulations.
CM Directs Expedited Action on Pending Items
Vijayan issued clear instructions to expedite the remaining work. He directed officials to take prompt decisions on issues that require consultations between multiple departments. The goal is to ensure the commission's comprehensive report is implemented without unnecessary delays.
The Chief Minister also instructed the bureaucracy to formally report on any recommendations that are deemed impossible to implement. Conversely, he ordered that all feasible recommendations be executed immediately. The review meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, various departmental secretaries, and other senior government officials.
Catholic Congress Voices Strong Criticism Over Delays
Earlier in Kozhikode, the Catholic Congress organization had once again pressed the state government to fully implement the commission's report. In a sharply worded editorial published in the Deepika daily on Tuesday, the global director of Catholic Congress, Fr Philip Kaviyil, termed the government's failure to act on the recommendations a 'historic injustice'.
Kaviyil argued that the outcome of the recent local self-government (LSG) elections should be interpreted as a political warning to the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). He stated that political parties must understand the message sent by voters in successive elections.
"They should recognize that the verdict reflects a strong response to the neglect faced by Christians," he wrote. He added that the results of the last parliamentary and local body polls send a clear message to those in power: 'if you do not hear us, we will not listen to you'.
Fr Kaviyil stressed that the community is not making unreasonable demands, and that denying rights guaranteed under the Constitution is objectionable. He expressed disappointment that the government has not taken positions aligned with social justice, particularly concerning education and minority rights.
"Ground-level feedback shows that Christian communities have lost political trust in the government. Upcoming elections are not merely a warning, but a last chance for political parties," he asserted. He concluded by stating that no political front would be able to regain the trust of Christian voters without a firm and demonstrable commitment to implementing the committee's recommendations. The Catholic Congress has demanded time-bound legislation and specific projects to ensure the report is fully enacted.
