Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister V D Satheesan on Saturday said the state govt was putting in place a scientific system to deal with flood-related disasters, while pledging to build a “new-era Kerala” rooted in inclusive development, secularism and constitutional values.In his Independence Day address, Satheesan paid tribute to those who had died in the recent disasters. “Nothing can truly make up for these losses. Govt will stand firmly with the affected families,” he said, calling upon people to confront crises collectively. He said the proposed disaster-management system would require public support to be carried forward successfully.Invoking Jawaharlal Nehru’s historic address on the eve of Independence, Satheesan said the fight against hunger, illness, unemployment and inequality remained unfinished even after 79 years of freedom.He called for a Kerala shaped by “compassion, service and tolerance”, with development policies that account for climate change and remain in harmony with nature. The state’s progress must be guided by democracy, equality, justice and constitutional principles, he said.“Shoulder to shoulder, free from caste and religious prejudice, gender discrimination, political blindness and hatred, we must move forward as one,” he said.Describing Kerala as a reflection of India’s diversity, Satheesan said the state had emerged as a national model in education, healthcare, literacy, secularism, tolerance and political awareness. These achievements should form the foundation of its next phase of development, he added.Satheesan said that Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, minorities, senior citizens, transgender people and other vulnerable sections continued to face insecurity and hardship. Young people were struggling with examination-related problems and inadequate employment opportunities, while farmers, workers and coastal communities were facing serious challenges, he said.Calling democracy a continuous process of engagement, Satheesan said dissent, questioning, dialogue and correction were essential to its renewal. Democracy couldn’t be reduced to imposing “one language, one belief and one lifestyle” or fostering communal division, he said.He urged citizens to defend a democratic system founded on openness, tolerance and reform, describing such a commitment as a fitting tribute to India’s freedom fighters.Satheesan also stressed the need to accelerate economic growth, generate employment and strengthen foundational sectors such as agriculture. The benefits of development must reach all sections of society instead of being confined to a few, he said.“Welfare measures are not acts of charity in a democracy; they are matters of right,” he said.Listing govt’s priorities, Satheesan said Kerala must create opportunities for young people to study and work in the state, improve public education and healthcare, ensure the welfare of senior citizens, protect vulnerable groups and eliminate the threat posed by narcotics.Satheesan expressed concern over what he described as growing challenges to constitutional guarantees, including secularism, equality, freedom of expression and safeguards for minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.Referring to a senior national figure who allegedly faced humiliation rooted in caste prejudice, Satheesan said India must not be allowed to return to the “darkness” of untouchability. Citizens must remain vigilant in defending liberty, equality, socialism, secularism and democratic rights, he added.He said young people were politically aware and capable of becoming a force for democratic correction and future leadership. Describing youths as the country’s ‘true wealth’, he said their concerns couldn’t be ignored.“A new-era Kerala is not just a slogan; it is an idea to be made real,” Satheesan said, urging people to work together for development that embraces everyone and respects both nature and humanity.
