The Kerala State Planning Board is organising a three-day ‘Vision 2031: An International Conference on Development and Democracy’ in Thiruvananthapuram from Sunday (February 15).
Renowned economists, planning experts and scholars from across the globe will participate in the event which aims to evolve a development perspective for Kerala for the period up to 2031, planning board Vice-Chairperson V.K. Ramachandran said here on Friday.
The conference will review the past 10 years of development in the State, examine national and international best practices and formulate a long-term perspective for the State’s development, Mr. Ramachandran said.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the conference at 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Sankaranarayanan Thampi Members’ Lounge of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. Renowned economist Amartya Sen and historian Romila Thappar will join the inaugural session online. Ambassador of Palestine to India Abdullah Abu Shawesh, World Food Prize laureate Shakuntala Haraksingh Thilsted also will be among the speakers.
18 seminars
On February 16 (Monday), 18 thematic seminars will be held across nine different venues across the capital city, planning board expert member Jiju P. Alex said. Themes include labour rights, women empowerment, inclusive development, mobilisation of financial resources for development, environmental sustainability and climate mitigation, social empowerment, modernisation of sectors such as agriculture, education, skilling and health and scientific conservation of energy and water resources.
The Chief Minister will address the closing ceremony at the Sankaranarayanan Thampi Hall on February 17. A seminar, ‘Secularism, Democracy and Consultative Government,’ is planned on the occasion. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Kanimozhi, MP, former Delhi High Court Chief Justice A.P. Shah, N. Ram, Director of The Hindu Group (THG), and Mr. Ramachandran are among the speakers.
The three-day conference follows 34 thematic seminars organised by government departments in October and November. Planning board member secretary Sharmila Mary Joseph and other board members were present at the press conference.
Published – February 13, 2026 04:59 pm IST
