Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan strikes in tech-savvy avatar

Thiruvananthapuram: Pinarayi Vijayan is proving to be a true radical. Here is a Chief Minister from a party that was historically opposed to the introduction of modern technology – be it computers or farm mechanisation pivoting his entire development strategy around the adoption of modern technology. He was replying to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s address in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Mr Vijayan was even heard making fun of an opposition member who seems to have misunderstood the term ‘robotics’. “It is not about using robots to man traffic but about automating our traffic systems using the robotics technology,” he said. It was barely a decade ago that CPM’s farmers’ union Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union (KSKTU) had stridently opposed mechanisation. Mr Vijayan, however, sees modern technology as the panacea to solve the state’s agricultural woes.

“By now it is clear that we have to shift from traditional ways of farming,” Mr Vijayan said in the Assembly. “We have to achieve high productivity employing less land, water and fertilisers. This can be achieved by adopting modern technology tools. And only this can attract youth to farming,” he added. When there was a snide remark from the opposition side, a smiling Vijayan said: “Don’t get me wrong. I was not talking about genetic seeds.”

He also called for technology-driven projects to create value-added products for coconut, rubber and prices.  “Modern technology is now available to help us realise these targets. We should be able to use them for our benefit,” the Chief Minister said. He lamented the fact that the state lagged behind in biotechnology. “It is one area where we have not taken much strides,” he said.

The Chief Minister also served a stern warning to those he termed “development blockers”. “There are certain groups who are out to sabotage the state’s development. They are against the interests of the state and so their stand is unacceptable,” he said.