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During his tenure as Speaker, the Assembly launched its dedicated television channel, Sabha TV, in August 2020 to broadcast proceedings.[5] He also oversaw a digitization initiative aimed at reducing paper use, with the first phase of the e-Niyamasabha project completed by January 2020.[6] In August 2018, the Assembly hosted a series of conferences under the banner "Festival on Democracy," inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind.[7]
Investigations
In April 2021, Customs officials questioned Sreeramakrishnan in connection with the Kerala gold and dollar smuggling investigations. He denied wrongdoing, and as of 2022, no charges have been reported against him.[8][9]
Sreeramakrishnan was born on 14 November 1967 in Perinthalmanna, Malappuram, Kerala, India, to Shri. P Govindan Nair and Smt. P Seetha Lakshmi. He has two siblings who reside in the United Arab Emirates. He completed primary education at Pattikad GLP school and his secondary education at Perinthalmanna G.H.S.S. and Pattikkad G.H.S.S.[10]
In 1983, he enrolled at NSS College, Ottapalam, where he completed his pre-degree coursework and earned a bachelor's degree in arts. During college, Sreeramakrishnan participated in essay writing, elocution, and drama. He won the prize for the best essay in South India at the Inter-University Youth Festival in 1988. After obtaining a BEd degree, Sreeramakrishnan worked as a teacher at the Melattur Ravivarma Mooppil Eradi Higher Secondary School before entering politics.[11]
Personal life
On 18 August 1996, Sreeramakrishnan married M Divya. They have two children, Niranjana and Priyaranjan.[12]
Political career
Sreeramakrishnan became politically active at age twelve as Secretary of the High School unit of the Students' Federation. He went from Chairman of the Calicut University Union to District President of the SFI Palakkad Committee, later becoming a youth leader in the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and eventually a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.[citation needed]
1980–1991: Early political career
Sreeramakrishnan's political career began when he became the Secretary of Deshabhimani Balasangam of Keezhattoor Panchayat in 1980. While a student in the N.S.S. College, Ottapalam, Sreeramakrishnan was an office bearer of the college union. He was also named Chairman of the Calicut University Union. He was a Senate Member and Syndicate Member of Calicut University. He served as the District President of the SFI Palakkad Committee from 1988 to 1991.[citation needed]
1991–2011: Leadership in the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI)
Sreeramakrishnan has held various positions in the DYFI from the local level to national leadership. He served as Block Secretary, Perinthalmanna from 1991 and district secretary, Malappuram from 1997. After working at the Block and District Committees of the DYFI for a decade, Sreeramakrishnan became its State joint secretary, then the State President in 2005, and then the Asia Pacific Co-Ordinator of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY).[citation needed]
He served as the Managing Editor of 'Yuvadhara' magazine. After becoming State secretary, Sreeramakrishnan was elected as the All India President of DYFI in 2007 in the national meeting held at Chennai and continued in the post until 2012. During his leadership in DYFI, he worked on issues related to youth employment in Kerala and IT professionals in Bangalore.[13]
He was Vice-Chairman of the Youth Welfare Board from 2006 to 2011.[citation needed] He was also a member of the Government Committee that prepared the draft law for the constitution of the Youth Commission. During that period, he served as the WFDY leader for the Asia-Pacific region and helped organize youth conferences. As part of the World Youth movements, he visited Nepal, Sri Lanka, Laos, China, North Korea, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, South Africa, the U.K., and Kenya, and also attended Youth Conferences in various foreign countries.[citation needed]
2011–2020: Kerala Legislative Assembly
Sreeramakrishnan contested the elections to the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2006 from the Nilambur constituency. In 2011, he contested from the Ponnani constituency, winning with a majority of 4,101 votes and becoming a member of the Thirteenth Kerala Legislative Assembly. He won the elections again in 2016, increasing his majority to 15,640 votes from the Ponnani constituency. In the formation of the Fourteenth Kerala Legislative Assembly, Sreeramakrishnan was elected as Speaker of the assembly on 3 June 2016.[14][15]
Sreeramakrishnan was elected Speaker with 92 votes, against 46 votes for Shri V.P Sajeendran. It was noted that the BJP's lone member in the Kerala Legislative Assembly, Shri O Rajagopal, voted in favor of Sreeramakrishnan. Rajagopal stated that one of the reasons was that UDF had openly stated they did not want the BJP MLA's vote, adding, "It's my vote for Sreeramakrishnan who is a good public worker and also a friend of mine."[16]
Books
Sreeramakrishnan has written two books. In addition he compiled and published 17 books relating to the rules that determine the practice and procedures of the Kerala Legislative Assembly.[citation needed]
His 2017 pamphlet Janadhipathyam samskaram samakaleena lokam includes articles that analyse the image of contemporary Kerala.[citation needed]
In Navodhanam Navi Janadhipathya Nava Keralam he described Kerala after the 2018 floods and the government's response. The book also touches on topics such as how the new democracy has changed the face of Kerala, NRI and Adivasi welfare, discrimination suffered by lower castes, and the new outlook observed by citizens today. The book was released in Sharjah by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.[citation needed]
Career as Speaker
As the Speaker of the 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly, Sreeramakrishnan oversaw reforms that included rendering the Legislative Assembly premises a model in biodiverse ecosystems, a declaration of a green protocol, setting up a plantain grove with a collection of more than 30 endemic varieties, and setting up a bio-waste treatment plant.[citation needed]
Introduced new and novel ways of involving citizens in making amendments to bills
Sreeramakrishnan enabled the public to directly contact the Speaker's office with any amendments, changes, or additions they would like to voice on a drafted bill, after which the Speaker's office would contact the concerned minister. A 2019 bill on clinical establishments attracted almost 450 suggested amendments to the Speaker's office, out of which around 140 amendments were enacted.
The Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, P. Sreeramakrishnan meeting the Minister of State for Tourism (IC) and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Alphons Kannanthanam, in New Delhi on 31 October 2017
Recognised for "Festival on Democracy", a first-of-its kind, recurring event that includes youth participation
As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the first Kerala Legislative Assembly (1957–2017), P Sreeramakrishnan conceived of the 'Festival on Democracy', a thematic concept that included multiple national-level conferences aimed at strengthening democracy and developing a love for democratic values in younger citizens. It was inaugurated by Shri. Ram Nath Kovind, Hon'ble President of India, on 6 Aug 2018.
Credited with the digitalization of the Kerala Legislative Assembly and moving it closer to becoming a paperless establishment
The software "E-Niyamasabha" was developed as the first phase in digitalizing the Kerala Legislative Assembly project to make the assembly paper-free, and was completed in January 2020. Sreeramakrishnan first spoke of the move to digitalization in May 2019.[17][18]
Initiated various critical projects that have significantly impacted the lifestyles and livelihoods of the people
A Rs 74.4 crore fresh water project, initiated by Sreeramakrishnan, which aims to supply fresh water to Ponnani taluk, has been sanctioned and completed at Rs. 60 crore. The water treatment plant treats 50 million litres of water per day and aids the Thrikkanapuram Danida project, andis currently pumping a maximum of 65 lakh litres of water.
Known for bringing about 'Sabha TV' aimed at showcasing the functioning of the KLA and its activities
A channel named Sabha TV and an O.T.T. platform (over the top platform, also known as streaming) were launched under the guidance of Sreeramakrishnan to shed light on the history of KLA, the impact of laws passed by it, and to initiate debates and discourses in the public arena. The inauguration celebrating Kerala Sabha TV was conducted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Thiruvananthapuram via videoconference on 17 August 2020. The Chief Minister, Pinrayi Vijayan, also joined the programme via videoconference. The OTT platform, Sabha TV, is the first of its kind by a Legislative Assembly in India.[19]
Demonstrated commitment to minority sections by formulating special committees for their welfare
Sreeramakrishnan nominated and pushed for establishing a separate Committee for the Welfare of Members of Transgender Community in the Assembly.[20]
Gained international praise for an innovative model of flood relief work that leveraged technology and the involvement of the public
The Ponnani Legislative Assembly, led by Sreeramakrishnan, developed a mechanism to calculate the intensity of damages caused by the Kerala Floods in 2018. The Ponnani model of flood relief work gained international acclaim and was listed as a topic of discussion at a key United Nations Forum.[citation needed]
Proposed and launched the Loka Kerala Sabha, a platform for the Keralites diaspora to participate in matters of the state
Loka Kerala Sabha was formulated and conducted under the guidance of Sreeramakrishnan. Loka Kerala Sabha is hosted in cooperation with the Government of Kerala to bring all Keralites living in various parts of the world under one platform, to invoke their collective conscience and harness and share their achievements and progress to the benefit and welfare of the State. The event was proposed to occur once every two years, and the second Loka Kerala Sabha was celebrated on 2 and 3 January 2020, with Mr. Arif Mohammad Khan, the governor of Kerala, inaugurating the event in Thiruvananthapuram.
Supervised the launch of the Assembly's official newsletter
'Arivoram', a bimonthly official newsletter of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, was launched under the leadership of Sreeramakrishnan.
Introduced a system to analyze the impact of laws passed in Kerala over time
Sreeramakrishnan instituted a legal impact assessment system, a mechanism to study the impact of laws passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in the last 60 years.
Participated in various important civil projects in his constituency of Ponnani
Sreeramakrishnan brought the proposed plan for a bridge connecting Ponnani harbour with Padinharekara to fulfilment. The infrastructure development in Ponnani, with a budget allocation of Rs. 289 crore via the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), is for a proposed suspension bridge which will come up across the Bharathapuzha, connecting Ponnani harbour with Padinharekara. The government began the tendering process for the project in October 2020. The one km-long bridge is set to pass over the estuary where the Bharathapuzha opens out into the Arabian Sea.[21]
Initiatives undertaken
Festival on Democracy
"Festival on Democracy" is a thematic concept envisaged by P. Sreeramakrishnan, which includes multiple national-level conferences aimed at strengthening democracy among the state youth. Its purpose is to develop in the youth a love for democratic values and the democratic way of life. The concept attracted much favor across the country and was inaugurated by Shri. Ram Nath Kovind, Hon'ble President of India, on 6 August 2018. The Festival on Democracy consists of a string of academic and cultural programs held across Kerala to celebrate the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the Kerala Legislative Assembly. It includes seminars, exhibitions, debates, model assembly, and allows certain selected sections to visit the Assembly in Thiruvananthapuram. The event technically comprises six major conclaves: National Women Legislators Conference, National Students Parliament, National Media Conclave on Democracy, Special Conference on Assembly Proceedings and Consensus Conclave on Kerala Development.
The first National Conference under the "Festival on Democracy", a 'National Legislators' Conference on the Challenges in the Empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Independent India, saw the active participation of elected representatives from several State Legislatures of India, with massive participation from members belonging to SC, ST, and backward classes. The second National Conference under "Festival of Democracy", the National Students Parliament (NSP) saw the participation of nearly 3,000 youth from all over the country, as well as from a few foreign countries.
This celebration of youth and democracy had in its wake several plenary and regional sessions apart from the novel 'Rings of Fire', 'Symphony for Harmony', cultural presentations, and "March of Democracy" that involved more than 10,000 college students and a pompous valedictory function. The three-day NSP Kerala – 2019 was attended by several national leaders, cutting across political and cultural lines. Sreeramakrishnan participated as a key dignitary at the preceding 'Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad' i.e. Indian Students Parliament, which was founded by Shri Rahul V. Karad –Vice President- MAEER's MIT, Pune in 2011. Shri. P. Sreeramakrishnan, along with Shri. Rahul V. Karad, felt the need to host such a 'Students Parliament' at state level, supported by State Governments across India, to sensitise the youth on democratic values and encourage them to participate actively in public and political life.[22][23]
Loka Kerala Sabha
The first Loka Kerala Sabha was formulated and conducted under the guidance of Sreeramakrishnan in January 2018. The event is hosted in cooperation with the Government of Kerala, to bring all Keralites living in various parts of the world under one platform with a representative nature, to invoke their collective conscience and harness and share their achievements and progress to the benefit and welfare of the State. The event, which was proposed to happen once every two years, celebrated the second Loka Kerala Sabha on 2 and 3 January 2020, with Mr. Arif Mohammad Khan, the governor of Kerala, inaugurating the event in Thiruvananthapuram.
The first Loka Kerala Sabha saw the participation of around 500 delegates from 27 countries. It led to the formation of 7 standing committees that suggested proper recommendations to the government. The second Loka Kerala Sabha proved that the measures taken by the government considering those recommendations have benefitted the expatriates.
The 351-member Loka Kerala Sabha comprises the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Kerala, the Members of the Indian Parliament from Kerala, non-resident Keralites of Indian citizenship nominated by the Government of Kerala, and select members of the returnee community. The non-resident members are selected from abroad and other states/UTs within India, taking into account diversity in gender, age, and occupational status. They also include eminent non-resident Keralites who have contributed immensely in their respective fields of engagement to achieve public acclaim.
Sreeramakrishnan thinks that the objectives of the LKS went beyond being an investors' meet and Kerala became a model to the world. He also added that this platform enabled non-residential Keralites worldwide to come together and share their unique experiences.
Vasantholsavam 2019 – 2020 (Spring Fest 2019 -2020), organized as part of the second Loka Kerala Sabha (World Kerala Assembly) and endorsed by the Kerala Tourism Department and the DTPC of Thiruvananthapuram, saw the active participation of government departments like the Forest and Agriculture Departments, agencies, and private companies. Flower shows, exhibition and sale of agricultural products, an exhibition of rare herbs and medicinal plants, insight into the tribal traditions, natural treatment camps, and tribal food festivals were organized as part of the fest. About 20,000 plants were imported for the exhibition from the garden city of Bangalore.[24]
Ponnani Model on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation
The Kerala floods in 2018 killed over 400 people and destroyed infrastructure and property. The Ponnani model flood relief work gained international acclaim and was listed as a topic of discussion at a key United Nations Forum. It was also deliberated at the South Asia Together for Humanitarian Imperative (SATHI) held in September 2018.
The Ponnani Legislative Assembly, led by Sreeramakrishnan, developed a mechanism to calculate the intensity of damages caused. A geographic information system (GIS) drone field survey was carried out in Ponnani from 23 to 30 August 2018. The cost of the drone survey was narrowed to Rs. 5 lakh from Rs. 20 lakh, through the Disaster Support Concept, a support system from collaborating partners - Alhambricks Knowledge Endowment and Ponnani Municipality Chairman CP Mohammed Kunhi. The amount was equally met by Ponnani Municipality and the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), based in Kozhikode. Alhambricks Knowledge Endowment carried out the interpretation, data mining, indexing, and other socio-scientific enhancement free of cost. The post daum hosting development- interpretation of the data, mobilising resources, and devising a distribution mechanism, was done by Infosys.
It took seven days for the team to identify the affected areas and verify them with the help of technology, as well as volunteers on the field. By using drones synchronised with satellite images to ascertain the route of the flood, false claims on loss of property as well as livestock were weeded out. All distributed relief materials were marked with QR codes to ensure that they were delivered to the correct houses and people.
The municipality used the novel method of aerial drone survey to calculate the damage caused by the flood. A virtual platform was developed by IT students to collect data and file it for reference. Furthermore, funds were raised through co-operative banks to acquire resources to distribute to those affected.[25][26]
Ponnani Fresh Water Project
A freshwater supply project, initiated by Sreeramakrishnan, aims to supply fresh water to Ponnani taluk and has been completed at Rs. 60 crore. With the budget for the project at Rs. 74.4 crore, the project was completed with a balance of Rs. 14.4 crore. The water treatment plant treats 50 million litres of water per day and aids the Thrikkanapuram Danida project, and is currently pumping a maximum of 65 lakh litres of water. For this, a pipeline has been laid from the Nariparambu pump house to Thrikkanapuram. The water reaches houses after a 6-step purification process. The project is envisioned to take into account the amount of fresh water required for the taluk for the next 30 years.
The current practice of pumping water directly into the river will be completely changed. The river water will be converted into fresh water after stage treatment with the help of modern machinery. The plan is to completely demolish the fresh water supply system of the Ponnani municipality and install a new one. The Rs 124.8 crore project was given administrative approval in January 2021. Funds for the first and second phases have been raised through KIIFB. As part of the replacement of the pipelines, 210km of roads will have to be demolished, with Rs. 20 crore being set apart for road construction. The freshwater project was inaugurated by the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on 7 February 2021, in the presence of Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, Ministers KT Jalil, K Krishnan Kutty, and ET Muhammad Basheer MP.[27]
Civil works undertaken as MLA of Ponnani
After being elected into office in 2011, Sreeramakrishnan secured Rs. 1350 crore in funding to be distributed over the next five towards various efforts for the improvement of physical infrastructure and standard of living in Ponnani, for projects such as education and school infrastructure projects (Rs. 8 crore), tourism development (Rs. 5 crore), construction of coastal borders (Rs. 10 crore), construction and employment of maternity and fetal care hospitals (Rs. 5 crore), village and state highway roads (Rs. 300 crore), village reforms (Rs. 103 crore), construction of a coastal police station, and construction of bridges like the Kadavanad Pookaithapalam for Rs. 25 crore.[28]
After taking office as the MLA representing Ponnani, Malappuram district, Sreeramakrishnan arranged funding sanctioned by the Kerala Legislative Assembly for improving the traffic infrastructure in Ponnani in January 2016. Various healthcare improvement projects were undertaken under the leadership of Sreeramakrishnan. The Ponnani Taluk Hospital received remodeling in April 2018, with yearly development funds of Rs. 1.3 crore, when Sreeramakrishnan undertook efforts to convert the hospital into a multi-speciality facility. Along with medical improvements, the hospital is equipped with a computerized OP counter token system in the newly constructed OP building. A maternal and child hospital was also established, specialising in maternity and fetal care. Sreeramakrishnan was called to name the first baby delivered at the hospital.[29]
The development of the proposed Ponnani Drinking Water Project was implemented with a sanction of Rs. 75 crore, with a water treatment plant of Rs. 40 crore and a pipeline project of Rs. 35 crore, under the direction of Sreeramakrishnan.[30] Rs. 85 lakh was sanctioned in February 2020 for the renovation of the historic Ponnani Missouri Church. Subsequently, the controversial move to demolish the church was halted, and a decision was made to renovate the building under the Missouri Heritage project.[31]
The Ponnani fishing harbour project was completed with a fund of Rs. 3.79 crore under the initiative taken by Sreeramakrishnan. The newly constructed wharf, which is 100 metres in length and 7 metres in width, has an additional parking area provided.[32]
Awards and recognition
The Ideal Legislative Assembly Speaker/Ideal Legislative Council Chairman Award was presented to Sreeramakrishnan on 20 February 2020 at the 10th edition of Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad in New Delhi, conferred by the Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu.[citation needed] He received the Pravasi Bharathi Award and the 2017 Bharat Jyothi Award for Best Speaker.
Political and social views
Sreeramakrishnan has been an advocate for youth rights in Kerala state. During his tenure as President of DYFI, he called for an uncompromising stand against the imperialistic forces that had created a host of crises like unemployment and spiraling prices due to economic policies pursued by the UPA government at the centre in 2007. He is a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and a patron of DYFI.[33]
Positions held
Secretary of Deshabhimani Balasangam of Keezhatoor Panchayat
Office Bearer of the N.S.S College Union, Ottapalam
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