Kerala Cabinet Approves ‘CM With Me’ to Boost Public Engagement

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Cabinet has approved the launch of a new initiative, “CM With Me,” aimed at ensuring active citizen participation in governance and strengthening communication between the government and the public. The comprehensive Citizen Connect Center will serve as a platform for citizens to provide feedback, raise concerns, and directly engage with government programs.

The initiative seeks to provide easy access to information on major government schemes, welfare programs, sectoral projects, and the Chief Minister’s relief fund. Citizen feedback will be collected and analysed to improve project quality, accountability, and timely service delivery in areas including housing, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. The program will ensure prompt responses to public grievances and maintain transparency through a structured citizen engagement system.

Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board will provide technical, infrastructure, and human resources support. KAS officers and other government staff will be appointed under a working arrangement, with oversight by the Chief Secretary and redeployment of All India Service officers where necessary. The Information & Public Relations Department has been allocated Rs 20 crore for content creation, development, and publicity to communicate government actions and gather public feedback. The Citizen Connect Center will operate from the former Air India building in Vellayambalam, with the Revenue Department tasked with necessary arrangements.

The Cabinet also declared Vizhinjam International Seaport a public utility service under the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, approved the draft Malayalam Language Bill, 2025, and sanctioned a daily allowance hike for Kerala State Beverages Corporation staff. Salary revisions and long-term contracts for Steel Industrials Kerala Limited employees were approved, along with appointments of S Biju and S Harikumar as Managing Directors of Steel Industrials Kerala Limited and Metal Industries Limited, respectively.

Additionally, 15 cents of Fisheries Department land in Parappanangadi village, Malappuram, was allocated to Kerala Water Authority for constructing a 16 lakh liter overhead tank and clear water pumping main under Amrut 2.0. A bid of Rs 5.12 crore was approved for WSS Package II in Arakkulam and Velliyamattom Panchayath for water supply infrastructure works.