UDF to Organise Higher Education and Health Conclaves in Kerala: What to Expect

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has announced a series of conclaves in Kerala focusing on two important sectors—higher education and healthcare. These events are being planned to bring together experts, educators, students, healthcare workers, and the general public for open discussions on issues affecting these fields. The conclaves will also gather feedback from different stakeholders

I am writing about this because education and health are not just policy topics—they affect every single family in some way or the other. In Kerala, where people are deeply invested in both fields, a political front taking up the initiative to organise public conclaves is worth noting. These events are not just about speeches but are being positioned as platforms to listen, share, and plan. If you are a student, parent, teacher, doctor, nurse, or even just a citizen who is concerned about the future of public services, these conclaves will likely raise points that matter to you.

What the UDF Plans with These Conclaves

The UDF has planned separate state-level conclaves—one on higher education and another on healthcare. These will not be typical political events. Instead, the goal is to focus on public interest and gather suggestions for future governance.

The higher education conclave is expected to discuss:

Issues with university autonomy
Reforms in curriculum and exam systems
Student mental health and counselling
The future of online education
Employability after graduation
Funding gaps in public universities

Meanwhile, the healthcare conclave will likely address:

Overload on government hospitals
Gaps in rural health infrastructure
Concerns of doctors and nurses in public sector
Health insurance scheme failures or limitations
Delay in health projects due to red-tape

UDF’s Reason Behind the Move

This effort is being seen as a direct response to what the UDF calls a lack of transparency and poor governance by the ruling LDF, especially in sectors that directly affect the public. In recent years, there have been complaints from students about university delays and lack of job opportunities. Similarly, several patients and healthcare workers have raised concerns about understaffed hospitals and long waiting times in government facilities.

By conducting these conclaves, the UDF is aiming to understand what people on the ground are experiencing. Instead of only relying on expert panels, they have announced that they will listen to all stakeholders—parents, students, teachers, frontline health workers and the public.

Public Involvement and Feedback

The interesting part of these conclaves is that they are not limited to party workers or academics. The UDF has opened up participation to the general public as well. They have also announced that suggestions gathered during these events will be compiled into a public report and could shape the UDF’s future policies if elected to power.

For instance, if a teacher from a government college points out how a new rule is hurting student attendance, or if a nurse from a primary health centre highlights a basic infrastructure gap, those points will be documented and taken seriously. This method could make the UDF’s policy proposals more grounded and practical.

Why These Conclaves Could Matter

These conclaves come at a time when both education and health in Kerala are facing unique challenges:

University results are often delayed, causing stress among students and parents.
Many public colleges are short-staffed, and contract teachers struggle with poor pay and lack of job security.
The COVID pandemic exposed both the strengths and weaknesses of Kerala’s health system.
Rising costs of private healthcare have made people more dependent on government hospitals.
There is growing dissatisfaction among junior doctors and nurses over lack of career growth and long duty hours.

In this context, any platform that promotes serious discussion and feedback, especially before elections, deserves attention.

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.