Social, political and financial issues that triggered intense and serious debates on gender equality, the need for conserving renaissance values and federal principles of late have resonated in the State Budget.

Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac, in his budget for 2019-20 , cautioned against vested interests attempting to destroy the unity and amity among people that helped overcome the travails of the flood and also how they saw the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala as a golden opportunity for communal polarisation.

“The determined efforts to unleash violence on the street was an attempt to sabotage renaissance values of Kerala,” he said. But it also proved to be an opportunity for an introspection on how Kerala had failed to pursue such values. It culminated in a pledge to remain steadfast to such values and the women’s wall was its outcome.

The wall was a declaration that Kerala would not compromise on such values and also on gender equality and allied issues, Dr. Isaac said and announced that the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi will create similar walls to immortalise the memories of the historical movement.

Social reformers’ role

Reminiscing the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru, Dr. Isaac said that his words “whatever be the religion, attire or language, their caste is one” are quite relevant at present. He also quoted Kumaran Asan’s `Simhanadam’ to point to the ongoing discussions on purity and impurity and untouchability.

The Minister also hailed the contributions of social reformers such as Fr. Chavara, Ayyankali, Mannath Padmanabhan and Makti Thangal in establishing schools and creating an awareness about the need for education.

He also reiterated that the government was committed to protecting the temples, developing Sabarimala, resting centres en route and also roads leading to the temple.