KANNUR, India — Feb. 19, 2026 — Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Thursday that Kerala remains the only state in India to have effectively implemented decentralized governance structures, enabling local bodies to deliver public services efficiently and establish a strong model for waste management and grassroots administration.
“Our state has given great importance to decentralization of power. Local bodies have been empowered by providing the strongest possible support. Mission 2031 discussions were held with the participation of prominent figures on how Kerala should be in 2031, when our state completes 75 years of formation. Former Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said Kerala is effectively implementing decentralization of power, and this is recognized across the country,” Vijayan said.
Speaking at the concluding session of the state Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations at the Mangattuparamba KAP Battalion Maidan in Kannur, the chief minister highlighted improvements achieved through various initiatives, including the K-Smart digital application designed to streamline governance and public services.
Vijayan noted that over the past five years, Rs 8,867 crore has been allocated to local bodies for road construction and maintenance, while an additional Rs 1,187 crore was provided for building Anganwadi centers. The government has also extended direct financial assistance for road renovation through the Chief Minister’s Local Road Rebuild Project (CMLRRP). In its first phase, 4,912 projects were completed at a cost of Rs 980 crore, while the second phase includes projects worth Rs 939 crore.
“Our state is rapidly urbanizing. All areas from Manjeswaram to Parassala are becoming increasingly urban,” he said.
The chief minister emphasized that financial support to local bodies has grown significantly over the years. Between 2011 and 2016, more than Rs 29,500 crore was allocated to local self-government institutions. That amount rose to Rs 53,000 crore between 2016 and 2021 and has exceeded Rs 70,000 crore since 2021.
“Local bodies are providing doorstep services effectively. Our state is exemplary in waste management. If we examine the data over the past 15 years, it clearly shows Kerala’s commitment to empowering local governance. This level of support is unique to Kerala,” Vijayan said.
He also highlighted the success of the K-Smart application, which enables online service delivery for local government institutions. According to Vijayan, more than 1 million files have been processed within an hour of submission through the platform, and more than 2 million building permits have been issued within minutes.
“We are participating in this year’s Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations with pride, as Kerala has become free from extreme poverty as of November 1,” he added.
Additionally, the state government has established a special commission to formulate a comprehensive urban development policy. Based on the commission’s recommendations, Kerala has decided to establish metropolitan committees centered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode to oversee strategic regional planning and sustainable urban growth, the chief minister said.
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