Better Than The Best
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| God's Own Country |
Kerala’s fight against COVID-19 has been remarkable. The efficiency with which the state managed the
pandemic is trending on social media.In the ‘covidian’ fight, Kerala has
proved to be better than the best. Miles ahead in many social indices, other Indian
states will take eons to catch up with Kerala.
Crumble Zones
Amidst euphoria of ‘success’ against
COVID, some disturbing headlines also appeared. These were about Karnataka sealing its borders, Tamil Nadu
controlling flow of goods, dumping
of 80,000 litres of milk, protest
by migrant workers, ‘nokku kooli’ (gawking charges) problems, impending return
of jobless expatriates, loss of revenue from liquor sales, death of
patients denied medical care and an estimated
loss of 80% GSDP, each a pointer to socio-economic
crumble zones integral to the state.
Fragile and heavily dependent food security, inadequate
industrial production, industry-unfriendly environment, ever looming return of
expatriates, native unemployment amidst plentiful opportunities, alcoholism and
alcohol dependent exchequer, ironic inadequacies of an efficient public health
system and high per capita debt burden are visible crumble zones of the state. Unlike
crumble zones in a car which absorb impact shocks and save occupants, socio-economic crumble zones can on impact wreak
havoc.
Vulnerable Existence
Hardly any agricultural or industrial production
to talk of, the rain-washed, ‘God’s own country’ is a consumer state dependent
on the rest of the country for survival. Kerala neither produces enough for its
own consumption nor provides environment conducive to industrial production.
Kerala's economy is driven primarily by expatriate remittances. Alcohol and
lottery earnings do help.
Tiller-Abandoned Land
While land reforms[1] transferred ‘land to the tillers’, it sounded death-knell to
profitable agriculture. Micro holdings of cultivable land and dearth of native
labour turned land fallow. Native dietary items like jackfruit and
tubers like tapioca, yam, once
abundant, are hardly cultivated. Kerala is dependent on others to fill its stomachs. Cash crops
like rubber, pepper, coffee and cardamom are on laboured breath. Coir industry, once
Malayalee monopoly and livelihood for thousands, is also almost dead. Incidentally,
the state derives its name from ‘Kera’ or coconut. Cashew industry, once
another monopoly, is on ventilator.
Hara-kiri,
Malayalee Style
Unreasonable demands,
unrelentingly bargained, along with ‘Nokku-kooli’ precipitated conditions unfavourable to industrial
and agricultural investment. Labour disputes, with political patronage irrespective
of ideologies, ‘locked-out’ many production facilities that eventually closed
shop. Kerala became land of ‘bandhs’ and ‘hartals’. While Malayalees in Kerala ‘enjoyed’
committing economic hara-kiri, Non-resident Malayalees, especially expatriates toiled,
many in inhuman conditions, to feed needs and greed back home.
Outward Migration
Education and literacy are not synonyms
and don’t necessarily make people employable or create jobs. In Kerala, literacy
created an environment where natives became reluctant to take up manual labour.
Literates discarded traditional occupations and the few who did, became unaffordable
and overbearing. Armed with useless degrees, Malayalees couldn’t find enough blue
or white-collar jobs of their choice, at home. Local opportunities, in plenty,
went unsubscribed.
Malayalees, aware of opportunities
elsewhere and managed foothold, migrated, first a trickle, then a torrent. Lured
by petro-dollars, they swarm the middle east, mostly doing the very work they
shunned doing at home. Doctors, engineers, nurses, paramedics, technicians,
anyone and everyone followed. By conservative estimates more than 25 lakh
Malayalees live abroad, more than 18 lakhs in middle east alone. Wherever
possible they become citizens.
Kerala finds itself in a very a
peculiar situation. Plenty of able-bodied natives are unemployed and live off others
while forty lakh migrants find work.
Dwindling Breed
One can easily take a Malayalee out of
Kerala but never take Kerala out of a Malayalee. Today there is no country in
the world without a Malayalee sweating it out, home sick and longing to
comeback albeit on vacation.
If migration was not enough, Kerala suffers
from the lowest decadal population growth
rate[2] (4.9 % against a national figure of
17.6 %). Pathanamthitta has already posted negative figures. In a decade, few
more will. Malayalee, natives of Sage Parasuam’s land, is now a dwindling
breed.
‘Vasudaiva kudumbakam’?
Outward migration and low birth rate have
created a population vacuum. This vacuum and plentiful opportunities for
unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled labour triggered inward migration of
labourers[3] from other states. Kerala is now a
miniature India.
‘Vasudaiva kudumbakam’ is a great philosophy,
as long as local and regional existence is not threatened. Four million people
of non-native ethnicity packed into the small geographical confines will have serious
impact on societal life. Cloistered in ghetto like communities for
safety in numbers, migrants pose serious law and order challenges.
Signs of irrevocable demographical
change, is openly visible on the streets. Native customs, traditions and
culture are already stressed. Sooner than later, it could assume serious
socio-ethnic and political tones. Assam-like situation in Kerala is not unlikely.
It just needs a trigger.
But for now, most
have fled the pandemic. Those who could not, will, as soon as travel is
permitted. Though the exodus will temporarily cripple Kerala’s economy, serious
thoughts needs to go into the matter.
Kerala Can
Given the
conditions currently prevailing, if Karnataka and Tamil Nadu seal their
borders, Keralites[4] could starve.
Despite
death of few critically ill patients and interventions by the centre, Karnataka
refused to open national highways. This won’t be the last time, it happened. Armed
with precedence, closure of all routes to and out of the state, in future crises,
can’t be ruled out.
Inadequate
food production and poor local employment opportunities has made Kerala a dependent
consumer. Promotional sales of white goods and branded apparels in other states
if compared would reveal that Kerala is a sellers’ delight, a hapless buyer. Goods
and services, when profit driven, will flow.
Markets will force open even stubborn blocks. Even if it doesn’t, it is
not an existential issue.
Food
grain is a different issue. States can’t achieve self-reliance in everything,
but adequacy in native food grains is achievable, especially when blessed with
fertile lands. Given its abilities, if it resolves, Kerala can.
Food
for Thought
In crisis
situations, Kerala must NOT find itself short of grains and pulses.
Impoverished can at best bargain alms. Self-sufficiency in food must be
achieved. Terrace grown vegetables and symbolic farming cannot replace
sustainable and profitable agriculture. Food adequacy can come about only if the
entire bank of cultivable land comes under the plough. With eco-friendly technology
under control and political will, Kerala can produce native food grains, enough
and more for its population.
Agro-industry
especially, those processing locally grown items must be promoted. If the state
had adequate capability to collect, store and process milk, colossal wastage of
milk could have been avoided during COVID. Opportunities for eco-friendly
ventures are immense in Kerala. Societal support is what is required.
While
tourism is a big-earner, it is difficult to sustain
 |
| Backwaters remain the most favoured location Photo- courtesy Chemicos(76-79) |
it without long term
ill-effects on local environment, customs and traditions. Money, however plenty,
can’t buy food if there is nothing to eat. Moreover, with covid raging and
re-infecting the world, when tourism would pick up remains a question. There is
an urgent need to regulate tourism and look for alternative sources of income.
Regulated tourism, is niche tourism and can earn more.
Labour
Activism
Trade
union serve as guardians against exploitation but collective bargaining beyond
reasonable limits become counter-productive.
Eradication
of parasitic activism can help create industry friendly environment. Contrary
to official declarations, ‘nokku-kooli’ persists. Despite killing many a golden
goose, few still venture home to roost.
Conducive
environment helps germination of ideas and creation of wealth. If provided, many
expatriates would return to invest and set up ventures. Public must understand that
creation of wealth is not always at someone else’s cost. On the other hand, it creates
opportunities and accrues wealth to many.
Adversity or Opportunity?
Migrant labour
is inevitable for Kerala’s survival. Agriculture, construction, hospitality, housekeeping,
tourism, in fact every aspect of economic activity, organized and unorganized, legal
and illegal, has a large component of migrant labour. Industrial output of the
state today is mostly moved by migrants, while local unions remain relevant lending
brains to disruptions.
For 25 lakh Malayalees
who migrated out for work, about a lakh or so busy in queues outside liquor
vends and few lakhs living off the benevolence of others, there are about 40
lakh migrants in Kerala earning more than 25,000 crores annually. Even if all
expatriates return, Kerala can absorb all of them, provided conditions become
industry friendly and there is attitudinal change in the society.
A large number
of expatriates, especially from the middle east is expected to return having
lost their jobs. If the state administration accepts the challenge posed by migrant
exodus as an opportunity, Kerala can kick-start the process of redemption, productively
absorbing many returnees.
The crisis
provides ideal conditions for change on a platter.
Decoding NREGA
Average daily
wages for unskilled labour in the state hovers between Rs 600 to 800. National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act provides limited days of work at much lesser
wages. If four million migrant labourers can find daily work and remit home Rs
25,000 crores annually, why natives have to line up for NREGA doesn’t need much
intellect to decipher. Windfall awaits
Kerala if it deploys NREGA initiatives to reclaim fallow lands.
Reorganizing
Infrastructure
The state’s
response to the floods and Nipa virus attack was commendable. Responsibility of
loss of lives cannot be solely rested on insensitivity of a neighbouring state
but must be accepted as symptom of deficiency in public health infrastructure.
State’s public
health infrastructure must achieve self-sufficiency at district level itself. It
will also eradicate ambulances flying on the roads, from one end of the state
to the other sirens blaring, endangering many lives for saving one.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is
an issue that Kerala needs to address. This social problem stems from easy
money and free time. Winding orderly queue outside liquor vends is not
indicative of inherent discipline but of helpless dependence.
Keralites drank
more than Rs 14,508 crore worth liquor in 2018-19, sending Rs 2,521 Crore into
the coffers. While this may seem substantial, it amounts to just about 2.4% of
the state income (compared to the projected revenue of Rs 103136 crores
excluding borrowings).
The social cost
inflicted by alcoholism is terrible and irredeemable. Prohibition is not the
answer. It is time for Malayalees to tighten their belts (or mundu) to meet the
challenge head on.
Hope Ahead
While it is
easy to find faults and lament about the past, it is better to create history
looking forward and putting in place appropriate policies. While geographical
limitations can't be wished away, vulnerable dependence can be minimized. While
population decline yields excellent social outcomes, inward migration should be
controlled to safeguard native culture. While outward migration reaps economic
dividends, encouraging natives to take up local opportunities may yield better
economic dividends. Current situation requires great planning and greater societal
participation.
Kerala is the
best administered state in the country. It can also become the best place on
the earth, truly Gods own country.
[1]
Kerala Land Reforms Act,1969.
[2]
Economic Review 2016, spb.kerala.gov.in .
[3] 2.5
million according to a study by Gulati institute of finance and taxation 2013.
A recent estimate pegs the figure at 4 million (V B Unnithan; Mathrubhumi.com )
repatriating to the tune of Rs 25,000 crores per annum to their states from Kerala.
[4] Population
residing in Kerala inclusive of migrants.
Good Evening Sir! Very well written. Sheds light on the efficiency of one of the best state in India. Kerala's pro-active action towards COVID-19 crisis has been exalted by the UN as well. Southern states seem to be lagging the unity to tackle this crisis in unity, what we should realise is that without good relationships with neighbouring states no state can achieve peace and prosperity. Kerala has many issues but it's issues also pose opportunities for it's economic and infrastructural liberation
ReplyDeleteRegards
Lizy Johny
Thank you very much.
DeleteIt is also the right of neighbouring states to adopt measures as they deem fit to safeguard their people. Thus, nobody can blame states for closing borders.
Yes. They could have been more considerate especially because they've been making money during good times from the very same people whom they denied medical care.
The lesson here for Kerala is, become self-sufficient.
We all know the issues faced by Kerala - what are the solutions for each issue??
ReplyDeleteKerala can well be compared to the developed countries in lifestyle. Here most chores - like plumbing, carpentry, electrician, etc - are done by everyone and is mostly on 'Do It Yourself' (DIY) mode. We are not used to dirtying our hands and feel such jobs to be 'menial' and below their dignity. Most of them on immigration to Canada too carry it along. Their 'feelings' do not change and their children too carry the same feeling.
The paragraphs that follow are applicable only to those Canadian families who follow the Canadian way of life, where everyone contributes to the family and children on completion of high-school move out of their homes and pursue their university education by taking a loan or doing part-time work. It surely does not apply to those immigrants who carry their 'culture' along and do not adopt the Canadian way of life - for they 'LOVE' their children too too much to make them do family chores, dirty their hands and pay for their university education.
Most homes in Canada - if you look into the garage one is sure to find a vast array of tools and spares to carry out all repairs and modifications. There are tool rental stores which rent all the big machinery on day-to-day basis. That was when I realised as to why they had 'Workshop Training' as part of the curriculum at the National Defence Academy (NDA.)
Domestic help (Maid) is too expensive and most families cannot afford it. Thus domestic chores become a family affair with everyone - children included - chip in. Children wash their plates after a meal, make their beds and clean their bathrooms.
Gardening becomes a weekend family task with the entire family forming the 'Working Party.' They are out with their gardening implements, cleaning, pruning, digging -etc. The tasks are distributed age appropriately. Thus the homes inhabited by these people, the lawns are well manicured and garden and trees well pedicured. The houses where such family participation is not encouraged, one can easily make them out with one glance.
Painting any part of the home is another once-in-a-while task - may be once in two to three years or after any modifications. Here too everyone chips in - age appropriate.
Small projects like building a fence, deck, shed etc too become a weekend task for the family or may be executed during vacations. Please read
https://rejinces.net/2016/04/15/the-lord-helps-those-who-help-themselves/
Ultimately, God helps those who help themselves.
Very nicely written Sir,
DeleteWould like to get personally enlightened on para III of Vadudaiva Kudumbakam. Regards
Thanks for the detailed note.
DeleteYou Have a point. A Very serious one.
What differentiates us Indians from Canadian citizens or for that matter westerners is difference in culture. Culture essentially would have evolved over centuries.
Ours originated and reveled in discriminatory class and caste systems, the essence of which our society still retains in some form or the other. Everything went into in everything that we do there is always an element of discrimination, distinction and differentiation. This, in many households’ manifests in the way we treat our ladies. The lady drives herself to exhaustion doing daily chores while the man however uselessly employed can insensitively sit doing nothing better than scratching himself.
It is changing though slowly but surely, the pace too slow to be noticed.
Unfortunately, Keralites, like other Indians look down upon manual labour especially being done at home.
There is no other reason for one to be doing the very same job he has shunned at home for somebody else in the deserts of Middle East, that too not at much higher prices.
on Vasudaiva Kudumbakam,
DeleteCertainly I shall try and give something to address your requirement
A great summary of the times. North Indians especially Arnab cowswami and others motormouths r hiding in quarantine ,while Kerala is set to reopen soon. Why do whe need north indians and all of Thier arrogance ? South India is better off on its on without these 'shameless bunch of people '
ReplyDeleteThank you for the encouragement.
DeleteIt is in the times of need, turbulence and crises, that the true strength of character of a person, people, region, state and a country is revealed. COVID has just again proved the same.
Most news anchors have no idea of what they say because they essentially do not have the requisite knowledge. They act and tow the line that can garner more TRP, business and more profits.Unfortunately, in the quest to make money truth is the first casualty.
Kerala is a pure consumer state. It is self-sufficient for nothing, as of today. it depends on everybody else to get what it needs. Yes it also pays a high price for it.
The smart thing for the state to do is to achieve self-sufficiency. Self-sufficiency in as much as possible and then leverage its position politically and socially .
I understand the angst each keralite carries for the unpardonable language one particular TV (anger) Anchor used to abuse the people of the state.
Ignorance can be a bliss to some and curse to others.
pardon his foolishness
Wonderful Sir....very well articulated...it brings out the travails of Kerala..its beleaguered status due it's own doing of course...edn becoming a bane than a boon and various other factors have made Kerala a insufficient State than a self sufficient State....
ReplyDeleteDon't know whether I am right in what I say but this is what I feel
With warm regards
Two things that went wrong in the e progress that Kerala achieved –
Delete1. education devoid of virtues and values
2. the perception that money can buy anything.
Yes you are right.
The state is under your irredeemable debt burden and social fabric so stressed unless urgent steps are taken we are in for turbulent times.
May God blesses
Very aptly brought out sir.
ReplyDeleteStates closing their borders to neighbouring states, RWAs and residents of localities trying to keep health workers and relatives of corona virus positive cases away from their very homes are grave concerns.
We as human beings seriously need to introspect on basic human values, compassion in particular and other humane aspects in general.
Thank you very much for the encouragement.
DeleteAltruism and philanthropy are virtues that normally come from sense of plenty or enlightenment.
When one's own life is threatened, survival by any means is the natural response.
Yes using others helplessness to settle political scores is downright mean and unpardonably uncalled for. But in the times we live in, is it not the norm?.
Introspection is always biased. one often introspects as a means to justify what has been said and done . Don't we?
Addresses a grave issue of self sustainability of the state and demographic challenges in the future. But it is bit long.You have explained how Kerala became a consumer state and by controlling the labour migration we can overcome the dependency. Keralites are different. I don't think a 40 days lockdown or fear of COVID 19 will bring a drastic change in the attitude towards work culture. Most of the guest labourers won't go back. Still hope for the best
ReplyDeleteYour article is an eye-opener. Congrats
Thank you for the encouragement.
DeleteYes, Keralites are very, very different.
How else can one explain the state of affairs of Kerala? With so much of inflow of money so less of growth investment!
Perhaps, it’s a long-long way to go for attaining sustainable self-sufficiency.
It needs a strong leader, selflessly dedicated, capable of hard driving to reach where Kerala should, where Kerala should have reached.
In an atmosphere infected with political factionalism, true progress exists somewhere far beyond the horizon.
Very lucid and well explained. You hit the nail on the head. However, these problems are not new to Kerala. Its been there for ages and no one has done anything or made any serious effort to sort out these. Kerala's achievement on the health care and social welfare sector are praiseworthy and the world has taken note of it.Its sad that Malayalees only talk about these problems and do nothing about it.
ReplyDeleteMoney keeps flowing in and people are happy leading opulent life styles. I shudder to think what would happen when the flow dries up. We keep talking about the mess that politicians create but dont forget we vote for them. Added to all this there is also an undercurrent of communal divide. Time to wake up.
Thank you Very much sir for the encouraging comments.
DeleteThough each Malayalee is and was aware of the problems plaguing the society, polity and economy, we willfully or happily chose to remain oblivious to these problems because money continued to flow.
Malayalees today as per the information i have, have the largest per capita debt burden.
The earlier crisis in the Middle East and the recession were dire warnings, but as a society we chose to continue with the good old ways, since the money kept pouring in.
Communism has its price, Communalism its cost, mobocracy its toll, unfettered freedom its damages and super-ego its woes. somebody has to pay. Society does.
Its time we start seeing things in the right perspective.
Nice read, wasn't aware of the on ground situation in Kerala
ReplyDeleteThank you very much
DeleteWell researched. There are long term solutions for each problem which no dispensation would want to touch with a barge pole as it would be against their interest. Large tracts of rubber plantation lying under productive in plains can be brought under rice cultivation. So many ആട് à´œീà´µിà´¤ം can be brought back to Kerala to replace the 'GUEST labourers', who can't ironically be permanent. I have a plumber working for my house construction who comes by a decent Santro, labourers who come by classy bikes and so on. Is that not tempting for at least a handful of them sweating it out in the Gulf. What's lacking is the will power on the part of political parties and the collective will of the people, the present scenario being an exception. The situation arose gradually over Time and no one can wish it away. Having said that I would only venture to replace God's own country with God save this Country.
ReplyDeleteA hardened pessimist.
Thank you for the comment from the heart.
Deletehope is the only fuel that can keep soul alive.
Yes. we have lost direction, and to some extent a sense of right and wrong.
But hope we must . even through the last breath we must hope for a greater tomorrow.
Researched in detail.. mirror to all Ketalites... but then, what is the solution? Everybody is aware but do not know what to do about investment unfriendly culture of the state.
ReplyDelete'Awareness' is the first step.
Delete'Will' the second and more difficult and commitment to the will even more difficult.
BUT NONE OF IT IS IMPOSSIBLE.
TOGETHER WE CAN
Well researched and thought through article. Considering the inherent culture and nature of the state, whatever said Kerala will be known for its rapid action plan and strategy of any kind of attack on it.
ReplyDeleteThis time will only fly and give rise to new way of doing things and bring about a transformational change in the economy.
Yes. I agree with you. Even this shall pass
DeleteHigh-lighted many of the issues plaguing Kerala's under-productivity. But there are good things too which made us stand out from rest of India in this crisis. But we could have done a lot better.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the main source of income which flows into the Kerala Treasury?
If expatriates remittances the main source of income, unfortunately, successive governments over the last 40 years have not utilised this valuable resource, which other state governments do not have, for long-term infrastructure development of the state. Successive governments, in fact, abdicated its responsibility for the long-term economic health of Kerala. Instead most of it was spent on consumer goods and building houses.
Agri-potential not used or exploited due to the labour environment is not conducive to or incentivise improved productivity in this land blessed with plenty of water and fertile land. Who gains from this? No one!
It is, however, good to support and legalise minimum wages for labourers with all its benefits, as is evident in these difficult times in Kerala, in improving standard of living and health care. But without efficient production there is no generation of money to pay wages and the result is overall under productivity and unemployment.
The informed and the enlightened government of Kerala, as shown in the COVID times is capable of making long-term investment to improve the economic health of the state and, by ‘messaging’ its followers, change the agricultural environment for exploiting the agri-potential of Kerala to the benefit of the producer and the labourer. Hope our political leaders wake up to this fact although a difficult political balancing act.
Thanks.
Deletethe key is political will and it rests with the political masters.
This is truly Gods own country . it can if need be real heaven too
You have brought out the real issues of Kerala and have concluded well.
ReplyDeleteWe must be willing to deflate the ego and be prepared to do any job. Let us restore our'God's own Country'
Thank you very much. Shedding ego is easier said than done. Hope Kerala emerges stronger wiser richer and better
DeleteI have express a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style of blogging. I added it to my favorite’s blog site list and will be checking back soon… send fax online easy
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the patronage
ReplyDeleteSir,This article was like watching Kerala live.In my view, we will bounce back with full force and regain our lost grounds.It was a treat to watch belligerent youths towing the line of govt and be responsible citizens.Once we achieve normalcy, we will get back to our original traits and nothing can change us.From God's own country we are destined to pray,God save this country.
ReplyDelete