Kerala's Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan unveiled an anthology of essays Wednesday,addressing state's pressing demographic and developmental challenges . Titled The Kerala Club: Keepers of the Flame,the collection features contributions from 29 retired civil servants, including names like Shivshankar Menon, Vinod Rai,and Amitabh Kant.
The book,published by Bloomsbury India and edited by former Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar and former diplomat T.P. Sreenivasan,aims to encapsulate decades of knowledge and experience from senior civil servants who have served both domestically and internationally . During launch,first copy was presented to Ashok Lahiri,Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog.
In his remarks,Satheesan emphasized significant demographic shifts in Kerala,including a declining youth population and rising life expectancy. These trends require rethinking policies. He called for aligning education and skill development with global job markets,highlighting initiatives like proposed Global Job Watch Tower and Kerala Knowledge Valley,which aim to make state hub for higher education and knowledge-driven industries.
Satheesan also urged shift from remittance-dependent economy to one focused on investments. He argued NRI funds should be used more effectively to spur economic growth and create jobs . Insights from anthology,he noted,could shape discussions about Kerala's future.
Dr. Lahiri described anthology as a significant reflection of Kerala's strengths and challenges. He remarked on paradox of state's highly educated workforce facing substantial outmigration of skilled individuals. Retaining talent,he stated,remains a critical issue for Kerala's development.
The anthology includes essays from various retired officers,such as E.K. Bharat Bhushan,S.M. Vijayanand,T . Balakrishnan,K. Mohandas,Alphons Kannanthanam,K.B. Valsalakumari, B. Sandhya,and Brandson Corrie. S.N. Raghuchandran Nair,president of Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry,ended event with a vote of thanks.
