IAS Officer Proposes Administrative and Education Reforms for Kerala

Tirur Sub Collector and 2022-batch IAS officer Dilip K. Kainikkara has submitted a five-point reform agenda to the newly elected United Democratic Front government in Kerala, urging structural changes in administration, education, and public policy. The proposals include bifurcating Malappuram district, raising the government employee retirement age to 58, promoting night tourism, shifting school instruction to English from upper primary level, and reforming student grading systems.

Mr. Kainikkara argued that Malappuram, as one of Kerala’s largest districts, hinders administrative efficiency and public service delivery, and should be divided into smaller units of about seven Assembly constituencies each. While acknowledging the financial burden, he maintained that the long-term governance benefits justify the cost. He also advocated increasing the retirement age from 56 to 58, citing Kerala’s high life expectancy and the need for optimal human resource utilization.

In education, he proposed limiting Malayalam-medium instruction to lower primary levels, transitioning to English-medium thereafter to reduce disparities in access. He warned that unequal English education risks deepening class divides. Additionally, he called for an end to the automatic A-plus grading system and the unconditional all-pass policy, urging a performance-based evaluation framework to ensure learning outcomes.

The officer also recommended developing nightlife economies to boost tourism and service-sector investment. He noted the next three years—free of major elections—offer a window for politically difficult but necessary reforms, though they may face initial resistance. His Facebook post outlining the measures drew extensive public response, with citizens offering supplementary suggestions such as traffic penalty enforcement and private hospital regulation.

The UDF government has not yet responded to the proposals. Mr. Kainikkara welcomed public feedback and encouraged further civic participation in policy discussion.