CPI(M) to bolster party machinery

The CPI(M) State committee which met here on Wednesday decided to strengthen the party machinery from the grassroots-level and reach out to the different sections with a slew of social welfare activities.

Briefing the media about the decisions of the committee here on Thursday, State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the effort to galvanise the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year would focus on strengthening the branch committees and activating the cadres. Non-functional party members would be weeded out by local committees.

Local units to get full-time members

All local units would have full-time party members entitled to a minimum retainership fee of ₹7,500. The State committee would mobilise the funds required for the purpose.

Members of the district and area committees would participate in branch-level meetings and report on their functioning. Booth-level units would be constituted wherever they did not exist.

Mr. Balakrishnan said the party had launched a programme to construct 2,000 houses for the homeless. The work on 200 houses was progressing and efforts were on to begin the construction of the remaining ones. Besides, he said, the CPI(M) would spearhead the State-wide programme launched by the Haritha Kerala Mission to clean up water bodies.

It would ensure public participation in the tree planting drive to be held on June 5 as part of the World Environment Day celebrations and help to mobilise funds to develop goverment hospitals and schools.

Mr. Balakrishnan said party workers would fan out across the State in a door-to-door campaign to collect feedback from the public on the performance of the LDF government, ahead of its second anniversary. The campaign would focus on SC/ST colonies and areas inhabited by the weaker sections.