THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) is drawing sharp criticism for its decision to host a lavish ₹25 crore silver jubilee celebration in Thiruvananthapuram on November 3 and 4, even as the state grapples with a severe financial crisis. Critics argue the massive expenditure is a flagrant example of wasteful spending, especially given the board’s recent legal hurdles.
The total budget allocated for the celebration is a staggering ₹25 crore. The bulk of this amount, nearly ₹10 crore, is earmarked for media advertisements alone. An additional ₹7.5 crore has been set aside for entertainment and other expenses, including a musical concert by popular playback singer Rimi Tomy.
Celebrating ‘Youth’: The Delayed 25th Anniversary
KIIFB was established on November 11, 1999. By natural progression, its 25th anniversary should be celebrated in November 2024. However, the current event is scheduled after the board has already completed 26 years of existence.
”The KIIFB celebration is akin to someone claiming to be younger as they get older. The celebration of the ’25th year’ after completing 26 years has drawn sharp criticism,” noted observers.
Legal Troubles and Postponement
The event was originally scheduled for early 2025 but was postponed following the announcement of a CBI investigation against KIIFB CEO, K.M. Abraham.
The High Court had ordered the CBI to register a case against Abraham based on a petition filed by human rights activist Jomon Puthenpurackal regarding disproportionate assets. However, the Supreme Court later stayed the order, accepting Abraham’s argument that a case could not be registered without prior prosecution sanction.
With the legal complications temporarily subsided, K.M. Abraham reportedly re-examined the file for the silver jubilee celebration. State Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal is expected to officially announce the event soon. The move, however, has intensified the debate over fiscal discipline and priority spending in the state.
