action against encroachment on government land in the hill resort and tea plantation town of Munnar. On 30 December 2007, he became the first Communist CM to trek to Sabarimala. The 84-year-old Achuthanandan rejected any sort of physical or medical support which worried his doctors. V S Achuthanandan supports free and open source software movement in the state and Richard Stallman has also supported his activities regarding this. Major developments in Trivandrum Technopark including second and third phases of Technopark and technocity IT park in Kozhikkode- Cyberpark Major IT export growth during his tenure surpassing national average. Major renovation of Malampuzha Tourist destination AshtaMudi tourism circuit in Kollam Closing down of illegal lottery mafia from state Major initiation against resort mafia including ordinance to take over Kovalam palace Chamravattom regulator cum bridge a major project of Malappuram and completed during his tenure as CM VS filed and won the case against Manorama for illegally occupying 400 acres of land of Panthaloor temple. The drive to reclaim paddy land The anti-reclamation stir launched by the Kerala State Karshaka Thozhilali Union (KSKTU) at Mankompu in 1996–97, under the leadership of Achuthanandan created much controversy. This stir was claimed to be highlighting the serious problem of the massive conversion of paddy fields into another type of land, affecting the food security of the Kerala. But this soon developed into a crop destruction drive. The protest got the sobriquet following the violent methods and crop destruction resorted to by the KSKTU cadre. The stir attracted lot of public attention and Achuthanandan was forced to express his disapproval of any destruction of crops. 15 years later, in November 2011, a UDF Minister, who is politically opposed to Achuthanandan, justified this struggle. Janata Dal Socialist leader and minister for Agriculture, K.P. Mohananan said such a struggle was necessary as conversion of paddy fields to another type of crops is a serious concern. In popular culture Thilakan portrayed the role of chief minister, which was closely modeled on V. S. Achuthanandan, in the film Aayudham (2008) In the film I. G. – Inspector General, Rajan P. Dev portrayed the role of the CM which was closely modeled on V. S. Achuthanandan. In the Malayalam film August 15, the character of Chief Minister of Kerala, played by actor Nedumudi Venu was inspired by the political life of V. S. Achuthanandan. Awards Pravasi Express Awards Lifetime Achievement Award 2013