Nobel laureate Amartya Sen on Sunday joined the Kerala government’s ‘Vision 31’ conference through video conferencing at the Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall of the State Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
The human development gains made by Kerala are not the end of the road but the starting point for a new stage of economic and social progress, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday, calling it the “central idea” of the government’s Vision 2031 for the state.
Inaugurating the three-day ‘Vision 2031: An International Conference on Development and Democracy’ organized by the State Planning Board here, Mr. Vijayan said that Kerala is setting newer models for the world by constantly renewing itself in line with the needs of the changing times. “As Kerala approaches its 75th anniversary (in 2031), the goal is not just to celebrate past achievements. The goal is to prepare for the future: an economy that is productive and knowledge-based, a society that is inclusive and just, a state that is resilient to climate challenges, and a democracy that continues to value debate and participation,” he said.
Society’s effort
The coming five years offer the state an opportunity to combine growth and equity, technology and humanity, modernization and sustainability. “Kerala’s history shows that such a balance is possible,” he said. According to him, the success of this vision does not depend only on government action, but on the joint efforts of society.
He termed the Vision 2031 conference, which is attended by more than 120 international experts, not just a review exercise but an effort to chart the next phase of Kerala’s development journey. When Kerala completes 75 years as a state, it will also be a moment that calls for reflection and imagination, he said. “Seventy-five years is a long time, long enough to take stock of where we started, what we have achieved and what remains to be done.”
Mr. Vijayan described fiscal constraints and the Centre’s restrictions on borrowing and revenue centralization as challenges Kerala continues to face.
Economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen and historian Romila Thapar joined the inaugural session online. World Food Prize laureate Shakuntala Thilsted; Ambassador of Palestine to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh; Congress leader and former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar; Member of the Provincial Government of Havana, Cuba, Aymee Alejandra Díaz Negrin; State Planning Board Vice-Chairman VK Ramachandran; Ministers VN Vasavan, R. Bindu, P. Prasad, AK Saseendran; and Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak addressed the inaugural session. Food and Civil Supplies Minister GR Anil presided.
18 seminars
According to the Planning Board, the three-day event is intended to chart the future direction of the state. On Monday, 18 thematic seminars will take place in nine locations throughout the capital. The Chief Minister will address the closing ceremony at the Sankaranarayanan Thampi Legislative Assembly Member’s Lounge on Tuesday. On this occasion, a seminar “Secularism, democracy and consultative government” is planned.
Published – 15 Feb 2026 21:19 IST