A Rethink on the Development Cost of Kerala’s Achievements

SUBHASH.V.P.Assistant Professor,

Dept: of Economics ,Govt: Arts & Science College Kozhikode.

Kerala Model of DevelopmentThe unique development experiences that Kerala witnessed arouse the attention of social scientists, planners, administrators, politicians and even economists and international development agencies across the world.

Centre for Development Studies

A study was conducted by the scholars at the CDS and published by the Centre and United Nations in 1975.

Poverty, Unemployment and Development Policy: A Case Study of Selected Issues with references to Kerala

Dr: K.N. Raj is the coordinator of the study

T.N. Krishnan, the close collaborate of K.N. Raj in the study says, it is the international scholars who launched the “Kerala Model of Development” using the CDS study as its foundation.

The authors of the CDS study never claimed that Kerala presented a model of development because they are already aware of the various problems and constraints operating in the Kerala Economy

The Nobel Laureates of Economics 1998, A.K. Sen also not agreed to call it as Kerala Model

A MODEL-It should be a new one-It should be an immitatable one-It should be a sustainable one

The truths are hijacked by certain people with definite objectives and refer the development experiences of Kerala economy as

Kerala Model of Development

Fifty Six years of development pay the way for development achievements of the state which is due to:

spread of educationSectoral priorities in the state’s five year plansprogressive socio-economic policiesinterferences of the private sector

Development Cost of Kerala Economy

Kerala has achieved a lot in various fields of development and astonishes the people around the world. But no vigorous study is yet to carry out the development cost and hence we need a rethink on itfour major areas, A. Development,

B. Labour, C. Gender D. Social Security.

The development achievements of Kerala demand a critical, practical and theoretical

background.Development of Kerala economy is baseless

It totally neglects the primary and secondary sectors The food production is too lowThe growth dynamism in the productive sectors are low The development of service sector is at the cost of productive sectorsDependent economyConsumerism is so strong

Sectors Sectoral Shares

1960-61 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11

Primary 56 13.07 12.00 11.06

Secondary 15 20.98 20.70 20.13

Tertiary 29 65.95 67.30 68.81

Total 100 100.00 100.00 100.00

Sectoral Contribution

Sectors Sectoral Growth Rate

2008-09 2009-10 2010-11Primary 2.18 0.01 0.64Secondary 0.30 7.51 6.12Tertiary 8.07 11.17 11.57Total 5.56 8.95 9.13

Sectoral Growth Rate at constant Prices

Consumerism

Kerala has emerged as the hottest place to sell new products from all over India and even from abroad

The MPCE (2009-10) in Kerala is more than national average. In rural India it is Rs.1054.64 and in rural Kerala it is Rs.1835 which is highest in India. In urban India it is Rs.1984.46 and in urban Kerala it is Rs.2413.

The Average MPCE for food in Kerala is Rs.843(Rural) while it is Rs.600.36 in all India. For Non-food the Average MPCE in Kerala is Rs.992.92 and that of all India is just Rs.453.6

Food(Rural)

Food(Urban)

Non-food(Rural)

Non-food(Urban)

India 56.98 44.39 43.01 55.62

Kerala 45.94 40.20 54.05 59.81

Expenditure for Food and Non food items in % (2009-10)

The Average MPCE for food in Kerala is Rs.843(Rural) while it is Rs.600.36 in all India. For Non-food the Average MPCE in Kerala is Rs.992.92 and that of all India is just Rs.453.6

Issues of Food Production

Low base of food productionFall in production and productivityAgricultural income of the state shows a negative growth rate-0.78(2010-11)The share of agriculture is low 10.59% (2010-11)A structural transformation in agriculture structure in the mid 70’s from food crops to commercial cropsCost of cultivation has doubled due to labour cost and rise in the cost of other inputs

Issues in Health sectorA change in Paradox Good Health at High Cost

Modern diseasesLife Style diseasesNon-communicable diseasesMental Health AlcoholismAging of PopulationUnhealthy food habitsLack of physical exerciseHigh Morbidity rateIncrease in suicide rateIncrease in low weight new born babiesIncrease in stress and strainObesity

We loss caring & sharing in the society

Life Style diseases

Longevity and changes in life style have contributed to the growth of chronic and degenerative diseases also referred to as non-communicable diseases. These include diseases such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer and diabetes.

Cont…..

About 1.5 million diabetic patients in Kerala. These people need lifetime management involving lifestyle modifications, drugs and diet. one out of three adults in Kerala is a hyper tenssive. Hyper tension leads to heart attacks, stroke and kidney failure.

lifelong diseases needs careful and sensible management throughout life

Suicides

The National average is 11.4/Lakhs in 2010 while it is 24.8/Lakhs in Kerala in 2010

The suicides among the youngsters and family suicides are also high in Kerala.

19.2% suicides are in the age group 15-29 in 2010.The maximum suicides are in the age group30-59 and it is 61.9%.

The Male –Female ratio is 2.8:1 (ie;74% are males)Suicides among Married is high (78%)

Only 3% of the illiterate suicides. Family problems are the main reason (42%).

AlcoholismKerala is India’s tippler country.The percapita alcohol consumption is 8.3 liters which is higher than the national average of 1.8 liter and international average of 5 liter.The average age of starts drinking is 19 in 1986 it dropped to 13.5 years in 2006.More than 40 % of revenue of annual budget comes from liquor sales. Studies reveals that road accidents, divorces suicides and spouse abuse are common in line with drinking.

B.LabourNo Labour culture is in Kerala.

No of job seekers are 43.42 lakhs as on 31/8/11There is Mismatch unemployment exist.The labourers have lack of sincerity and Commitment.Always looking into the job security.Prefer government jobs.There is loss of traditional jobs.Trade unions aims only for job security.No scientific wage determination measuresAdverse labour relationsInadequate levels of skill creations & training.

C.GenderWe talk only about females

•The female work participation rate is also lowest, 15.3% as against the all India average, 25.7%

• While the male work participation rate is 50.4% in Kerala and India it is 51.9%.

•Violence against women are high in Kerala total crimes are 13279 in 2011.

•Among this molestation is highest.

•Crimes against girls are also high.

Cont…………..

The child sex ratio is decreasing both in 2001 and 2011

It falls in 9 districts out of 14 districts.963 to 959.in the age group 0-6.

A recent study at Achutha Menon Centre For Health Services has estimated that about 30,000 female foeticides occurs in Kerala annually.

Social SecurityWe loss the caring and sharing

It is said that there is no security at allThe mental illness is highFemales are in threatGulf widowsSexual harassment is highIncrease in gray headsEarly retirementDecay of Joint family system No planning for them

EducationOur education is still to make some bureaucrats.

It will not make a person social animal.

Even though the aim is to get a job education may not give him the capability.

All are wanted to get govt. job

Education will not give the means to lively hood.

No value based education. Cont……..

No civic consciousness.No quality based education.Aimless education.Bookish education.True spirit of education lost.Low enrollment ratio of males in higher education.Religious or Community interference.Out dated syllabus.Delay in publication of results.Mismanagement of allotted funds.Problems in pedagogy.Poor performance of the students.Lack of commitment from the part of teachers.

Thanks…