THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At a time when the Kerala state treasury is reportedly grappling with a severe financial crunch, a new controversy has erupted over the production and broadcasting costs of ‘Nam Munnott’, the weekly interactive program featuring Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Recent data indicates that the state government has funneled approximately ₹24.91 crore into the program over the last five financial years. While the government defends the show as a vital platform to communicate policies and projects to the public, critics and opposition leaders have labeled it an expensive “PR exercise” funded by the public exchequer.
The Cost Breakdown
According to the reports, the expenditure allocated through the Information and Public Relations Department (I&PRD) remains consistently high, averaging nearly ₹5 crore annually.
Financial Year Expenditure (in Crores)
2021 – 22 ₹5.40 Cr
2022 – 23 ₹5.00 Cr
2023 – 24 ₹5.00 Cr
2024 – 25 ₹4.29 Cr
2025 – 26 ₹5.22 Cr
Total ₹24.91 Cr
Opposition Slams ‘Extravagance’
The revelation has provided fresh ammunition to the Opposition and social activists, who argue that such spending is unjustifiable given the state’s current economic climate.
"When the state is struggling to meet basic financial obligations, spending crores on a single weekly show is nothing short of daylight robbery of the taxpayer," a social activist commented.The primary criticism stems from the fact that the government already possesses multiple channels—including social media handles, official press releases, and the I&PRD infrastructure—to disseminate information. Critics argue that a dedicated, high-budget production for the Chief Minister serves more as personal branding than public service.
The Government’s Stance
The I&PRD maintains that ‘Nam Munnott’ is an essential tool for democratic engagement, allowing the Chief Minister to address the concerns of various sectors and explain the nuances of new government schemes directly to the citizens. However, with the total bill reaching nearly ₹25 crore, the debate over the line between “public information” and “political publicity” is set to intensify in the coming days.
