Consensus approach necessary for development:Antony

It was necessary to evolve a consensus on long-term and short-term development of Kerala acknowledging the fact that the right to rule was not the monopoly of any single party here, Antony said. He was inaugurating the valedictory of the 'Vikasana (development) Yatra'  of 'Janasree Sustainable Development Mission' led by Congress leader M M Hassan here.

"Let there be many self-help groups like Janasree and Kutumbasree. Let them engage in a healthy competition for grass root level development, especially the empowerment of women and uplift of the downtrodden," Antony said addressing the well-attended meeting. "Governments will change. The colour of flags will change. But the initiatives for development should go on. It is important to evolve consensus and spirit of competition to achieve the targets of development", he said.

Since women's empowerment was vital for the social and economic progress, self-help movements and NGOs had a major role to play in the development process, he said. "No party or social movement can go forward ignoring women, especially since the enactment of the panchayati raj act by former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, which envisaged a key role for women in governance", he said.