During the KAPS State Leadership Conference held in Thiruvananthapuram on January 9–10, 2026, the urgent need to strengthen the participation of professional social workers in Local Self Government Institutions (LSGs) was discussed in detail.
The Government of Kerala is currently preparing the Annual Plans for 2026–27 for all Local Self Governments — from Gram Panchayats to Municipal Corporations — during January–February 2026.
This year is especially significant as it marks the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which will define Kerala’s development priorities for the next five years.
Government Priority Sectors
The State Government has identified the following priority areas for the 2026–27 Annual Plans:
- Eradication of Extreme Poverty (EPEP 2.0)
- Palliative Care
- Housing Schemes
- Employment Generation and Local Economic Development
- Health, Education, Sanitation and Social Security
- SC/ST Development, Elderly Care and Disability Services
These are all core domains of professional social work, where trained social workers can make a decisive impact.
What KAPS Members Must Do
All KAPS members are requested to immediately contact their respective:
- Gram Panchayat
- Block Panchayat
- District Panchayat
- Municipality or
- Municipal Corporation Member / Councillor
and formally inform them that you are a professionally qualified social worker (MSW / BSW) and are willing to support and participate in the Planning Committee and relevant Working Groups for the 2026–27 Annual Plan.
This is a once-in-five-years opportunity. If we miss this phase, we will have to wait for another planning cycle. What was discussed during the January 9–10 KAPS Leadership Conference was our vision and mission. The 2026–27 LSG Plan is the gateway to convert that vision into real action.
