Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 22 (IANS): Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said he was "moved beyond words" upon listening to people's grievances during his recent mass contact programme in the state.

In an article released to the media here Sunday, Chandy said "we should consider ourselves extremely lucky, when we see the sufferings of the common man".

"I have been moved beyond words, when I see and hear the innumerable sufferings that people undergo."

"At times, when I see these sufferings, I think if this is true, such is the sufferings that I have been told by the people who come and meet me, and I think how lucky are we," Chandy's release said.

He penned his emotions as he toured 14 venues across the state during the third edition of his mass contact programme (MCP) between Oct 18 and Dec 17.

In this programme, any person can either register their grievances online or come to the venue and meet Chandy.

More than realising what the people have gone through, the biggest gainer through the mass contact programme was being able to meet people from the poorest of the poor and understand their sufferings, Chandy said.

"We have realised that there is a long gap between the people and the government. MCP is not a programme at all, instead I feel it's my responsibility to provide succour to the poor, weak and the needy," said Chandy.

Chandy wrote in the article that one of the most heartening episodes for him was when he read what a government official at Kottayam wrote: "In my 31 years long service as a government official, the MCP programme which ended at 4 a.m. will be ever etched in my memory because I was happy that many problems were solved."

"More than the UN award that I received early this year for the previous two editions of the MCP, what I value more and what has touched me is when I see the faces light up when their issues are resolved," Chandy wrote.

He said that it was unfortunate that the Left opposition in the state boycotted this edition of his MCP.

"Yes, I know it's a political decision, but still I feel they should have taken part in it, because only then can we understand the sufferings of the people," he said.