Cabinet goes back to campus: Ministers attend ‘Reimagining Keralam’ at IIM Kozhikode
THE Kerala Council of Ministers, led by Chief Minister V D Satheesan, has convened at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K) for a high-level strategic leadership retreat titled ‘Reimagining Keralam’.
The residential retreat, which began today, September 4, is being held on September 4 and 5, 2026, at the IIM-K campus. While described locally as a 3-day engagement including travel and briefing, the official IIM-K programme is a two-day residential dialogue.
This is the second time IIM Kozhikode has hosted the state cabinet. The Institute had earlier hosted the Kerala Cabinet in 2011, when the then Council of Ministers led by the late Shri Oommen Chandy participated in a day-long leadership programme.
What is ‘Reimagining Keralam’?
Conceptualised as a strategic leadership dialogue, the retreat was envisioned by IIM Kozhikode Director Prof. Debashis Chatterjee following his meeting with the Chief Minister.
Prof. Chatterjee said the primary objective is “to create a shared space for strategic reflection, to help the State’s leadership step back from the demands of day-to-day administration and consider, together, the larger forces shaping Kerala’s future.” The programme is structured as dialogues and reflective conversations among peers, rather than as a classroom programme or assessment.
The retreat will examine emerging opportunities and complex challenges confronting Kerala, with a strong emphasis on translating ideas into meaningful outcomes.
Who is leading the sessions?
IIM Kozhikode faculty, led by the Director, will join hands with external experts from Keio University, Japan, and King’s College London to deliver sessions.
A special segment on healthcare and wellness will feature Dr. Aravind Srinivasan, Chief Medical Officer and Project Director of the Aravind Eye Care System, and Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman of Narayana Health, according to reports.
Key Themes on the Agenda
According to IIM-K, the agenda spans:
• Transformational leadership in the era of artificial intelligence • Climate resilience and community-based disaster management • Public health, Keralam’s ageing population and the emerging silver economy • Employment, entrepreneurship, skill development and higher education • Kerala's economic foundations, migration patterns, future of expatriate remittances and positioning the state as a global brand • Behavioural science of translating policy into lasting change
The programme comes as the V D Satheesan-led government completes its first 100 days in office. The government is also launching a new performance-monitoring dashboard under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister's Office to track file clearance and departmental progress.
Satheesan, remarking on the programme, said the aim is to inject professionalism, efficiency and transparency into state governance.
The retreat reflects IIM Kozhikode’s continued commitment to ‘Globalising Indian Thought’ and advancing dialogue between academia, government and society.
