Sunday, February 13, 2022

Kerala development model - propaganda busted

I am sick of this propaganda of the Kerala model of development. Let me burst this. By Sreevidya Balasubramaniyam. You can follow her on Twitter here
The link to her thread on Twitter is here.

1. Literacy

Kerala had 47% in 1951, 6 years before Communist party formed their first government. This is thanks to the efforts taken by the Kings of Kerala especially southern states.

India's national average then was 18%.


Distant second was Maharashtra with 28%.

Fast forward to 2021. Kerala is 96.2 and India - 77.95%.

In terms of percentile increase, Kerala despite a head-start from the rest of India made an increase of 49.2 percentile points (pp), and India made a jump of 59.95pp and MH - 55pp.
Overall, India's improvement in literacy was a good 10.93pp above Kerala's achievement.

So what exactly was this Kerala Model that is worse than average India?

2. Infant Mortality

In 1951, the all India rate was as high as 27.4 and it fell to 7.3 by 2018.

In the same period,
Kerala could improve only from 18% to 6.9% - a mere 11.1pp improvement against India's overall improvement on 20.1pp.

India did a much better job than Kerala did.

So, what exactly was this Kerala model that is worse than average India?
4. Life Expectancy

In 1970 - 75, this was 62 for Kerala, 50 for India.

From then until 2002 - 06, Kerala added 12 years whereas India added 14 years, and UP and TN during the same time added 17 years.

So, what exactly was this Kerala model that is worse than av India, UP, TN?
5. Poverty

Kerala's rate of reducing headcount poverty index was better than national average or any state. This is mainly due to the high PQLI for the century.

Availability of water and sea food is a game changer for Kerala and Goa.

However, what about BPL?
% of people below poverty line (BPL) is the right index which is on par for comparison with other states.

In 1993-94, Kerala had 31.3 and India had 45.3.

In 2011-12, Kerala reduced this to 7.1, and India to 21.9

KL = 24.2pp, India = 23.4.

Not a big difference.
States did better than Kerala during this time:

Andhra (35.4), Bihar - yes, Bihar (26.6), Haryana (24.7), HP (26.5), Odisha (26.5).

Its obvious many state made at par or better than Kerala during this time. Kerala's improvement is no great story.
Increased PPP and collective bargaining power have helped poor people to rise above poverty line. This is a credit that Communists can take briefly.

I said briefly as it drove people out of state for livelihood which brings down the state's Happiness Index.
6. Real Growth

Kerala's real growth as a percentage of GSDP stood at 8.07 in 2014 which was way behind other states like Goa, Bihar (yes Bihar) and Gujarat (yes, Gujarat).


7. Fate of Agriculture

Communism killed our most important means of income for the state.
From 56% to GSDP in 1960, it fell to a pathetic 9.34% in 2012-13.

All this, while establishing and maintaining 72 public sector departments, all created for 'developing' agriculture.

Both Communists and Congress MUST explain to the people of Kerala how the ground slipped
under our very feet and why Keralites had to go to other states and countries and live in exile.

You must also explain to the people of Kerala why you don't have GUTS to do another land ceiling.

Can you confirm all lands ceased from Hindus have gone to the needy and worthy?
I challenge you to do another land ceiling today.

You will not, because you know it is not Hindus, but other communities who will lose their lands and you will cease to exist as a party if you did that.

Finally, the most shameful indicator.
8. Role of expatriates in economy.

The so called Kerala model has everything to credit those Keralites who work outside the state and keep sending money so that the government is running a state.

In 1972-73, the % of remittance to NSDP was a mere 0.51.
In 2008, this rose to a colossal share of 31% of NSDP.

Today, more than 3 persons in 10 are not living in the state and are sending money to the state to sustain lives.

This coincides with every growth indicator discussed earlier in this thread.

Sorry, no credit to Communists.
Now, let's have a looks at some more human indicators of the state and see where Communists have taken us.


1. Suicide rate

UP with 16% of India's population, has the LOWEST rate - 3.1%

Literate Kerala?

Brace yourself - a whopping 24%. That is almost 8 times that of UP.
2. Alcohol consumption, Kerala is in the top 5 states, UP is nowhere to see in this ranking.

3. Rape rate - see her thread on this to see the GLORY of Kerala. 


4. Divorce rate - with 5 divorces every hour, Kerala leads the chart.

I can go on and on on.
Overall, all the human development indicators clearly dismantle the Kerala Model propaganda quite ruthlessly, the last few indicators we seldom speak define quality of life in Kerala.

There is a long list and I will share it another day. We need to debate this.
I can add drugs, tobacco, roads, potholes, bandhs, non-availbility of food items, fresh veggies, power cuts, temple loots and much more.

Hindus are poorer in Kerala than X and M. I can write a 1000 page report on how this happened.

For now, Kerala Model busted.

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