The Great Land Tragedy of Kerala

THE Kuttanad taluk  was once called the granary of Kerala. In the 1920s, shallow portions  covering about 50,000 acres, were reclaimed and used for paddy cultivation helped by the Travancore Prince. Later,
while implementing the Land Reforms Act in 1973, the government seized thousands of acres of backwater paddy fields above the ceiling limit .The government started paddy cultivation directly using the bureaucracy controlled by a stalwart IAS officer, to avoid corruption. But it resulted in heavy losses to the State exchequer and these were increasing year after year. Accepting failure, the government abandoned that programme and assigned one acre each to thousands of landless peasants. Those small-scale owners in the backwaters spread beyond the eye-view were bereft of any help for cultivation. The government, not ready to surrender before adverse realities, set up the Co-operative Societies of farmers, inspired by the Agricultural Communes in the Soviet Union, and provided them enough finance on soft conditions. But the Societies collapsed due to the corruption and partisanship of the Directors. For the last three decades backwater paddy fields in 50,000 acres have been left uncultivated thus severely affecting the State’s food production. Hence after enforcement of the Land Reforms Act, paddy fields of more than one million hectares have been left uncultivated due to fragmentation and decentralisation of ownership. Such a situation has stalled the mechanisation and industrialisation of agriculture.

Similarly dryland above the ceiling limit was also seized by the government from the owners by giving them just a pittance. It was assigned to the landless families, so-called, in fragments. They sold it within a few years, squandered the money and became landless once more. Now they have formed suicide squads and encroached on government land influenced by the old Naxalites, new Maoists, other terrorist groups and anarchic writers. Their aim is to get the government land once again, sell it once more and prepare for the next encroachment.

 Now the Tata company is holding 1,16,892.6 acres of plantation including the hill-top tourist centre in the Munnar town. Another company, Harrison, has 79,659.2 acres of plantations. Both companies have encroached on 50,000 acres of government owned land, as alleged by the media. In addition to the Tatas and Harrison, other minor companies, firms, black money operators and millionaires are possessing thousands of acres as plantations on encroached forest land.
In this context ,we  may look into the matter of how the Kerala Land Reforms Act destroyed food production and promoted the capitalists,how the old Naxalites, new Maoists, other terrorist groups and anarchic writers resurrected.One must study the difference between destruction and revolution.

The fate of Kerala model

The much-touted Kerala model of development has its own drawbacks as it takes into account only limited variables. Kerala, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, has a higher crime rate than the national average.

While the state has succeeded in attaining good and equitable coverage of education, it is lagging behind when it comes to higher education.

In terms of health too, there is a paradox.While the state ranks high in terms of health coverage, it also ranks high in the number of suicides and attempted suicides. This must be considered against the backdrop of the World Health Organisation’s definition that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

Another contradiction is in the area of gender justice.Despite a highly favourable sex ratio, the crime rate against women in Kerala is also higher than the national average.

Factors like ‘ecocide’ (destruction of ecological resources) and ‘democide’ (killing of civilians through organised groups/ quotation mafia) also prevent Kerala from calling itself a ‘developed’ state.

While there has been upward mobility for all sections of society, we also find that income disparity between the highest and lowest strata has increased, with the highest group earning at least 11 times than the lowest.

Political confusions

The domination of political fronts  in the state is not based on any developmental politics, but on an emphasis to keep certain vote banks with them. When there are vote banks based on sectarian appeal, one does not have to relay much on performance. Kerala should have been one of the most prosperous states in the country considering the assets it has, the economic model it developed was  not a developmental model. Kerala is among the few states to face revenue deficit though not geographically disadvantaged. Kerala should make use of the manpower resources in the state itself rather than exporting it. The state should concentrate on development projects in areas like coastline based projects, tourism and plantation.

Kerala leads only in social index but lacks in economic prosperity. 

In comparison with Tamil Nadu

Tamilnadu is one of the most industrialized states in India. Almost 50% of the population live in urban areas. Tamilnadu has Chennai (IT and Automobile), Coimbatore (makes most of motors in India), Tiruppur (makes most of the textile in India), Sivakasi (South asian hub for fireworks), Salem (Steel), Hosur (most of the production houses of Bangalore are stationed here for tax reasons), Neyveli (coal), Madurai (Madura coats, TVS, Fenner), Trichy (Bhel) are the examples. There are places like Ooty, Kodaikanal, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin, with religious and historical tourism spots. All these places make money and local jobs. Also Tamilnadu has the highest density of educational institutions in India (more than 200 engineering colleges - representing the 30% of engineering institutions of the country) that means employable population is always high and are sought for in other places. 

Tamilnadu has a very unique work culture which is well respected all over the world, that is why even colonial powers like the British lured Tamils in all their colonies for agriculture and other jobs. 

Tamilnadu has stood in either second or third place after Maharastra and Haryana or Punjab in economic prosperity .

Tamilnadu had stood at 2nd place after Kerala in social index . Tamilnadu leads in sanitation and hospital infrastructure to Kerala. Kerala is known to have more high school pass outs  and  high literacy rate. But Tamilnadu makes more doctors and engineers. Highest density of auditors in India is in Chennai. 

Tamil Nadu’s capacity for innovation and creative thinking in matters of public administration is an  example for the entire country.

Tamilnadu's development is a collective development. If there are other states economically properous like Tamilnadu , they have very bad social index .  

"Employable graduates" are not equal to just "graduates" : Tamilnadu makes more employable graduates in India. This is  why you are seeing more Tamils in jobs in other states . Indian companies know this and have confirmed this view in many places.

A time to have different view:

Anything and everything proposed by the ruling party , no matter how good it is, is strongly opposed by the other parties. And, next time when the opposing parties win the election, they will propose the same things under a different name which will again be strongly opposed by other parties. Any issues in the state will directly lead to 'Chief Minister should resign' protests.
Kerala is a struggling economy, almost entirely dependent on tourism and remittances sent back by two million of its people who live and work abroad, mostly in the Middle East.

Joblessness is rife due to the lack of a robust manufacturing base .

More people here are taking their lives more  than anywhere else in India. Alcoholism is a dire social problem - the state has India's highest per capita alcohol consumption.

Kerala model

The much-touted Kerala model of development has its own drawbacks as it takes into account only limited variables. Kerala, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, has a higher crime rate than the national average.

While the state has succeeded in attaining good and equitable coverage of education, it is lagging behind when it comes to higher education.

In terms of health too, there is a paradox.While the state ranks high in terms of health coverage, it also ranks high in the number of suicides and attempted suicides. This must be considered against the backdrop of the World Health Organisation’s definition that health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being

Another contradiction is in the area of gender justice. ’Despite a highly favourable sex ratio, the crime rate against women in Kerala is also higher than the national average.

Factors like ‘ecocide’ (destruction of ecological resources) and ‘democide’ (killing of civilians through organised groups/ quotation mafia) also prevent Kerala from calling itself a ‘developed’ state.

’While there has been upward mobility for all sections of society, we also find that income disparity between the highest and lowest strata has increased, with the highest group earning at least 11 times than the lowest.

Political confusions

The domination of political fronts  in the state is not based on any developmental politics, but on an emphasis to keep certain vote banks with them. When there are vote banks based on sectarian appeal, one do not have to relay much on performance. Kerala should have been one of the most prosperous states in the country going by the assets it has, the economic model developed is  not a developmental model. Kerala and West Bengal were the only two major states to face revenue deficit though not geographically disadvantaged. Kerala should make use of the manpower resources in the state itself rather than exporting it. The state should concentrate on development projects in areas like coastline based projects, tourism and plantation.

Kerala leads only in social index but lacks in economic prosperity. Kerala do not have jobs, people move to temporary jobs on contract jobs there because there is always labour shortage due to lack of local labours in Kerala - only because the cost of local labours are higher.

In comparison with Tamil Nadu

Tamilnadu is one of the most industrialized states in India. Almost 50% of the populations live in urban area. Tamilnadu have Chennai (IT and Automobile), Coimbatore (makes most of motors in India), Tiruppur (makes most of the textile in India), Sivakasi (South asian hub for fireworks), Salem (Steel), Hosur (most of the production offices of Bangalore is stationed here for tax reasons), Neyveli (coal), Madurai (Madura coast, TVS, Fenner), Trichy (Bhel), Ooty, Kodaikanal, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumar, Tuticorin, and so many different places with religious and historical tourism places. And all these places makes money and local jobs. Also Tamilnadu has the highest density of educational institution in India (more than 200 engineering colleges - representing the 30% of engineering institutions of the country) that means employable population is always high and are sought for in other places. 

Tamilnadu has a very unique work culture which is well respected all over the world, that is why even colonial powers like British lured Tamils in all their colonies for agriculture and other jobs. 

Tamilnadu has stood in either second or third place after Maharastra and Haryana or Punjab in economic prosperity .

Tamilnadu had stood at 2nd place after Kerala in social index . Tamilnadu leads in sanitation and hospital infrastructure to Kerala. Kerala is known to have high school pass outs to have high literacy rate but Tamilnadu makes more doctors and engineers. Highest density of auditors in India is in Chennai. 

Some experts from Noble laureate - Amartiya Sens praise for Tamilnadu - “Tamil Nadu’s capacity for innovation and creative thinking in matters of public administration is an important example for the entire country,” say Prof. Sen and Jean Dreze in their book.

Tamilnadus development is collective development. If you see the other states economically properous like Tamilnadu has very bad social index and same with Kerala which performs very bad in economic aspects. 

Employable graduates is not equal to graduates : Tamilnadu makes more employable graduates in India. This is  why you are seeing more Tamils in jobs in other states and this trend will continue. Indian companies know this and have confirmed this view in many places.

A time to have different view:

Anything and everything proposed by the ruling party no matter how good it is, will be strongly opposed by the other parties. And, next time when the opposing parties win the election, they will propose the same things under a different name which will again be strongly opposed by other parties. Any issues in the state will directly lead to 'Chief Minister should resign' protests.

Recently, Kerala government was  planning to start their own airways named Air Kerala. How it  aims to run in profit, at a time when the entire Indian aviation sector is struggling to survive. How a government whose bus service is running in huge loss will be able to manage an airliner.

Kerala is a struggling economy, almost entirely dependent on tourism and remittances sent back by two million of its people who live and work abroad, mostly in the Gulf.

Joblessness is rife due to the lack of a robust manufacturing base .

More people here are taking their lives than anywhere else in India. Alcoholism is a dire social problem - the state has India's highest per capita alcohol consumption.