Harvard professor Gita Gopinath appointed financial advisor to Kerala CM, Marxists see red

Gita Gopinath, renowned economist and Harvard Professor who has been appointed as Financial Advisor to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is least bothered about the controversies circled her appointment. The 38-year-old professor who hails from Kannur, the home district of Chief Minister, told India Today that she looked forward to serving the state in her new role.

HONORARY POSITION

"Kerala has made substantial progress on social indicators like health and education and I hope to contribute towards further developing sustainable policies for the state that address its unique opportunities and challenges," she said.

According to her, she would continue as a full time professor at Harvard University and carry on her commitments including research and teaching.

"This is an honorary position, in that there is no remuneration, no expectation that I will move to Thiruvananthapuram to engage on a daily basis with the government or be involved in all its economic policy decisions.

My mandate as discussed with the Chief Minister is twofold. First, I will respond to any requests from the CM for advice on the impact on Kerala's economy of global, national and state events and policies. Second, I hope to play a convening role to connect various state departments to the knowledge leaders from around the world in sectors relevant to Kerala like public finance, management, entrepreneurship, labor and development economics," she explained.

According to her, her role is confined to advisory nature not directly involving in the policy formulations.

She thanked the Chief Minister for giving an opportunity to contribute her skills and effort to the development of Kerala and hoped that the state would make great strides in achieving its development goals under the leadership of Pianrayi Vijayan.

MARXIAN CRITICS

But her appointment and her no-liberal tag invited sharp criticism from Marxian economists like Prabhath Patnaik who was former Vice Chairman of Kerala Planning Board.

Prabhath Patnaik told media that following Modi path would not help Kerala to develop alternatives to resist liberalization.

"Kerala's Left government should not fall in the trap of neo-liberal policies. It's anti- people and anti-worker. If the Left government follows the path Modi treads, it would not Kerala to develop sustainable alternative models," Patnaik csaid criticising the Chief Minister without naming him.

ALSO READ:

ISIS recruits from Kerala: 11 out of 22 missing Keralites suspected to be in Syria