Controversy over Economic Advisor to CM intensifies

Professor of International Studies and of Economics at Harvard University Gita GopinathThiruvananthapuram: The controversy over appointment of Harvard professor Gita Gopinath as Economic Advisor to Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan has intensified with disclosure that the appointment was without the knowledge of CPI (M).

Though the appointment was an administrative matter, some feel that the Chief Minister should have informed the party before Ms. Gopinath was named his advisor. There are also reservations among party leaders about her neo liberal positions and her praise for the economic policies of Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

There is also indication that she might be recommending consultants for various government departments.

“I hope to play a convening role to connect various State departments to the knowledge leaders from around the world in sectors relevant to Kerala like public finance, management, labour and development economics, and entrepreneurship,” she said in a statement released through the Chief Minister’s Office.

Ms. Gopinath said that she should not be moving to Thiruvananthapuram but would continue to be a full time professor at Harvard University, doing research and teaching.

“It is important to recognise that this is an honorary position, in that there is no remuneration, no expectation that I will move to Thiruvananthapuram to engage on a daily basis with the government or be involved in all its economic policy decisions,” the professor said against the background of the controversy over her appointment.

She said that her mandate was to respond to any requests from the Chief Minister for advice on the economic impact on Kerala's economy of global, national and state events and policies. “Given my location, I anticipate most of this will be done remotely, rather than in person.”

Ms. Gopinath said that in providing advice to Mr. Vijayan and connecting State departments to knowledge leaders, she would confine entirely to providing advice to the Chief Minister and to make connections for the various departments. 

“It is then up to the Chief Minister to consider my advice, and up to the relevant departments to continue conversations with the various sector experts. Given this advisory nature of the appointment and my location, I do not anticipate frequent interactions with the media to explain government policies or my opinion on those.”

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