What about getting paid for being Congress in Kerala?

It is true, Congress has started paying full-time workers in the Communist citadel of Kannur to strengthen the party from the grassroots.

The idea to give salary to party workers was proposed by Satheesan Pacheni, the pragmatic leader of the party from Kannur in Kerala. Congress leadership approved it and now the grand old party has decided to pay full-time workers for serving it. 

Pacheni, who was appointed the district president of Congress recently, feels that his fellow party men and women are in a disadvantageous position when compared to their counterparts in the CPM. Pitched against the strong cadre-based Communist party in Kannur, the organisational structure of the Congress remain very weak with just a few full-timers in the block panchayat level. 

Giving salary would allow party workers to concentrate more on organisational matters and work towards improving its prospects. It would also mean more full-timers and more work was done, he felt. The idea is to groom some dedicated cadres to counter the well-oiled party machinery of the CPM in Kannur. 

There are plans to provide jobs for poor party workers in establishments under Congress. Pacheni has also decided to take up organic farming and pain and palliative care under party's leadership.

Last year, K Surendran, the predecessor of Pacheni had announced insurance cover for party activists alleging that they were  under constant threat of attacks from CPM cadres.
 

• Congress Kerala
• Satheesan Pacheni
• K Surendran
• salary for party work
• CPM kerala