Minister K.C.Josph blasts Jairam Ramesh

Kerala Rural Development Minister KC Joseph of the Congress on Monday severely criticized Union Minister Jairam Ramesh for his stand that Central funds for poverty-eradication programmes and women empowerment mission in the State would not be available to any organization other than the Kudumbasree self-help group. “The Kerala Government is not a squatter at Union Ministers’ homes,” Joseph told newsmen in Kottayam referring to the Union Minister’s firm stand that funds for Centrally-sponsored programmes could not be provided any agency other than Kudumbasree, which, according to the Congress, had been hijacked by the CPI(M) despite its successful track record over the years.

Ramesh had the other day said that there could be several groups with the name “Sree” (referring indirectly to the Janasree Mission launched some time ago under Congress leadership) but Central funds would be given only to Kudumbasree, Kerala’s nodal agency for the National Rural Livelihood Mission.

Last month also, the Union Minister holding the Rural Development portfolio had clearly stated that the Centre would not allow replacement of Kudumbasree by any other organization. Coming at a time when the State Government was on a collision course with the CPI(M) over Kudumbasree, this statement had infuriated the Congress in Kerala. “I don’t know who is (mis)leading Jairam Ramesh. There are about 40,000 self-help groups in the State. It would be good if all of them are getting funds... Kudumbasree is meant for women only. So what are we going to do with men’s self-help groups?” Joseph asked, adding that Ramesh’s stand could not be accepted.

In a veiled criticism against Kudumbasree for the kind of works it undertakes, Joseph said, “Development would not happen just by cutting the grass on or removing the dirt from the roadside. What we should be considering is how resources could be used to boost production. We should also think of how we can help dairy farmers.” Responding to Joseph’s criticisms against Ramesh’s stand, CPI(M) central committee member and former Finance minister TM Thomas Isaac said that the Kerala Minister was trying to derail Centrally-sponsored schemes. This was being done to facilitate corruption, he alleged.

Kerala Opposition Leader V.S. Achuthanandan on Monday said that the statement made by Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on Kudumbashree is true. Union Minister Jairam Ramesh had taken a firm stand that the central funds for the state-level poverty eradication and women empowerment missions would be made available to Kudumbashree alone.

His strong support to Kudumbashree has disappointed sections in the state Congress who have been complaining that Kudumbashree has been hijacked by the CPI (M). Responding to Ramesh’s stance, Rural Development Minister of Kerala K.C. Joseph on Monday said “The state government is not a squatter before residences of the central ministers.”