The Kerala State Planning Board is organizing a three-day ‘Vision 2031: An International Conference on Development and Democracy’ in Thiruvananthapuram from Sunday (February 15).
Renowned economists, planning experts and scholars from around the world will participate in the event to develop a development perspective for Kerala till 2031, Planning Board Vice-Chairman VK Ramachandran said here on Friday.
The conference will review the last 10 years of development in the state, explore national and international best practices and formulate a long-term perspective for the state’s development, Mr. Ramachandran said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the conference at 4 pm on Sunday at Sankaranarayanan Thampi Members Lounge of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Renowned economist Amartya Sen and historian Romila Thappar will participate in the inaugural session online. Among the speakers will also be the Ambassador of Palestine to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh, World Food Prize laureate Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted.
18 seminars
On February 16 (Monday), 18 thematic seminars will be held at nine different locations across the capital, said Planning Board member Jiju P. Alex. Topics include labor rights, women’s empowerment, inclusive development, mobilization of financial resources for development, environmental sustainability and climate mitigation, social empowerment, modernization of sectors such as agriculture, education, skills and health, and scientific conservation of energy and water resources.
The Chief Minister will address the closing ceremony at Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall on February 17. On this occasion, a seminar “Secularism, Democracy and Consultative Government” is planned. Speakers include former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah, Kanimozhi, MP, former Chief Justice of Delhi AP Shah, N. Ram, Director of The Hindu Group (THG), and Mr. Ramachandran.
The three-day conference follows on from 34 thematic seminars organized by the ministry in October and November. Planning board member secretary Sharmila Mary Joseph and other board members were present at the press conference.
Published – 13 Feb 2026 16:59 IST