The raw deal reveals the yawning gap between the preaching and the practice of the Modi Government, which is on record that there would be no discrimination on the basis of political leanings of the states. But the double standards of the government is evident from both

Just one example will exemplify the Modi Government’s indifference bordering on callousness to Kerala. The Railway budget has set aside a paltry sum of Rs 10 lakh for the Kanjikode coach factory estimated to cost Rs 512 crores - project which has been hanging fire for years! Party leaders cutting across the political spectrum say it would have been better, perhaps, had the government failed to allot any sum for the project. But to actually earmark Rs 10 lakh for a project, whose estimated cost is over Rs 500 crore is an unwarranted and deliberate insult to the people of the State, they unanimously agree.

Much is being made by the state BJP leaders of the fact that the State gets Rs 413 crore for track doubling. But it is cold comfort considering that the doubling work needs more than Rs 1000 crore. Congress and CPI(M) leaders counter the BJP argument by pointing out that it is not at all proportionate to the all-India allocation of Rs 98,000 crore for track doubling.

Equally shocking has been the short shrift given to the Angamali-Sabari rail project. One would have thought that a BJP government would be more generous in allotting funds for ensuring a rail link to Sabarimala, one of the top 10 Hindu pilgrim centres in the country. Actually, the rail budget has set apart only a measly Rs 5 crore for the project estimated to cost over Rs 1559 crore!

Last but not the least, the hike in freight rates for select items will hit Kerala the hardest. Because Kerala gets rice and wheat from Punjab and UP respectively. Needless to say, transportation of the grains from far-away states will burn a big hole in Kerala’s pocket.

The story of deliberate indifference is no different in respect of the Union Budget either.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has maintained a deafening silence on three of the main items in Kerala’s wish list. First and foremost, the FM is silent on Kerala’s long-standing demand for an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Besides, he has been unresponsive to the State’s request for an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) as well despite the State indicating four sites in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Ernakulam and Kozhikode for the same.

No less apathetic has been the Modi Government’s response to the state’s plea to bail out the distressed rubber farmers by raising the import duty from 20 to 30 per cent.

The only silver lining has been the decision to allot Rs 598 crore for the Kochi metro project and upgrade the National Institute for Speech and Hearing (NISH) as a University. But that is cold comfort given the pressing demands of the State, lamented both Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Leader of the Opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan.

In view of the unrelenting indifference of successive governments at the Centre, irrespective of their political complexion, it is high time the State mulled other options of ensuring the speedy development of its rail and road development. The State must give serious thought to sharing the cost of both the road and rail projects or raising funds from other sources

A beginning must be made by convening an all-party meeting to cope with the situation arising out of Central neglect and take remedial steps to counter it. Kerala must make an earnest appeal to the Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) without further loss of time to contribute its mite to the road and rail development of the State. Remember, the NRK businessmen had responded handsomely when the Kerala Government mooted the proposal to have an airline of its own – Air Kerala a few years ago yo counter the apathy and indifference of Air India to the interests of air passengers in Kerala and the Malayalis in Gulf countries. There is no reason why they would not be equally responsive to the plea for development of road and rail infrastructure in Kerala. After all, they also have an equal stake in the infrastructural development of the state. The time for the State to act is now. (IPA Service)