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Kerala
Area : 38,863 sq km
Population : 31,841,374
Capital : Thiruvananthapuram
Principal Languages : Malayalam
History and Geography
Kerala is in the extreme south-west of the Indian
subcontinent. When the independent India amalgamated
small states together Travancore and Cochin states were
integrated to form Travancore-Cochin state on 1 July,
1949. However, Malabar remained under the Madras
province. Under the State's reorganisation Act-1956,
Travancore-Cochin state and Malabar were united to form
Kerala State on 1 November, 1956.
Kerala's culture has been an integral part of the
mainstream of Indian culture. In between the high
Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the
west, the width of the state varies from 35 km to 120
km. According to the geographical features, the State
can be divided into hills, valleys, midland plains and
costal belt. Kerala is rich in rivers and backwaters. 44
rivers (41 west flowing and 3 east flowing) cut across
Kerala with their innumerable tributaries and benches.
The backwaters form an attractive and economically
valuable feature of Kerala.
Agriculture
A unique feature of the state is the Predominance of
cash crops. About 50 per cent of the population depends
on agriculture. Kerala is a major producer of coconut,
rubber, pepper, cardamom, ginger, cocoa, cashew,
aracanut, coffee and tea. Spices like nutmeg, cinnamon,
cloves, etc., are also cultivated. Rice and Tapioca are
the important food crops. The average annual decline in
area under rice during the Eight Five-Year plan was
around 22,000 ha, whereas it has come down to an average
of 13,000 ha during the Ninth Plan period. However
during 2004-05 a slight increase in area was recorded by
2634 ha from 2.87 lakh ha in 2003-04 to 2.90 lakh ha and
rice production increased form 5.70 lakh MT to 6.67 lakh
MT, an increase of 17 per cent during this period
compared to a reduction of 17 per cent in 2003-04 with
that of 2002-2003.
The unprecedented drought in recent years has
contributed to the decline of Paddy production during
2003-04 which was reversed in 2004-05. During 2004-05
maximum increase in rice production was recorded in
Allappuzha (+75 per cent) and Palakkad (+37 per cent)
compared to previous year.
Coconut is the most important cash crop of Kerala with a
coverage of 9 lakhs ha. Coconut occupies 41 per cent of
net cropped area and provides lively hood to over 3.5
million families. Production declined by 2.5 per cent in
2004- 05 compared to the previous year. The average
productivity has also slightly declined in 2004-05 by
2.5 per cent to 6379 nuts/ha compared to 2003-04.
Pepper is one of the major export oriented commodities
in which the state continuous to enjoy a near monopoly
in area and production. The productivity of pepper
recorded during 2004 – 05 was only 327 kg. per ha. The
production declined form 69015 MT during 2003-04 to
68362MT in 2004-05. Pepper produced in Kerala fetches a
premium price in International Market in view of its
intrinsic quality.
Kerala has a substantial share in the four plantation
crops of rubber, coffee, tea and cardamom. The four
crops together occupy 6.42 lakh ha accounting for 29 per
cent of the net cropped area in the state and 42 per
cent of the area in the country.
Kerala accounts for 83 per cent of area under rubber in
the country. The coverage under crop in 2004-05 was 4.81
lakh ha higher by 2141 ha, over the previous year. The
production of natural rubber in Kerala during the year
was 6.91 lakh tonnes indicating a 5 per cent increase
over the previous year. The increasing trend in
productivity continued during 2004-05.
The area under coffee in Kerala was 0.846 lakh ha, out
of 3.28 lakh ha in the country during 2004-05 which
works out to 26 per cent. The share of Kerala in
production is 19.7 per cent during 2004-05. Production
of coffee during the year was only 0.54 lakh MT against
2.75 lakh MT for the country. Against the total area of
5.11 lakh ha under tea in the country Kerala accounts
for only 0.37 lakh ha. In respect of production the
share of Kerala declined to 6 per cent in 2004 from 7
per cent in the previous year. Tea plantation owned by
big companies employee a labour force of over 84,000 in
the organised sector. The share of Kerala in the
production of cardamom at the national level also
increased from 28 per cent to 76 per cent in 2004-05.
Industry
Kerala is rich in industrial potentialities and
infrastructure facilities such as hydro-electric power,
rich forests, rare minerals and the efficient system of
transport and communications. Traditional industries are
handloom, cashew, coir and handicrafts, other important
industries are rubber, tea, ceramics, electric and
electronic appliances, telephone cables, transformers,
bricks and tiles, drugs and chemicals, general
engineering, plywood splints and veneers, beedi and
cigar, soaps, oils, fertilizers and khadi and village
industry products. There are a number of manufacturing
units for production of precision instruments, machine
tools, petroleum products, paints, pulp paper,
newsprint, glass and non-ferrous metals. Principal
export products are cashew nut, tea, coffee, spices,
lemon grass oil, sea foods, rose wood and coir. The
state has an abundance of important minerals like
ilmenite, rutile, monozite, zircon, sillimanite, clay
and quartz sand.
The performance in the industrial export of almost all
major products recorded positive growth. Software
exports increased by around 66 per cent from Rs. 240
crore in 2003-04 to 400 crore in 2004-05. The number of
industrial disputes pending is 2658 by 2004-05 which is
lower than in 2003-04. The number of strikes and
lockouts during 2004-05 decreased compared to 2003-04.
In Kerala 14655 joint stock companies were working as on
31 March 2005 which includes 13210 private limited and
1445 public limited companies. Kerala has the largest
number of PSUs in India (113 out of 1071) which employ
1,15,697 persons, of these 63 manufacturing units are
classified under chemical engineering, electrical
equipment, textiles, electronic, ceramics,
infrastructure, agro and wood based sectors. There has
been an improvement in the overall profitability of
public sector units under the Industries Department in
2004-05.
The Government of Kerala assists, industrial units by
providing financial assistance, infrastructure and
training / consultancy services. The important
agencies/departments engaged in industrial promotion are
KFC, KSIDC, SIDBI, KINFRA, Directorate of Industries and
Commerce, SIDC, SISI, KITCO & CMD.
The Directorate of Industries and Commerce provides
infrastructure facilities for small-scale sector by
acquiring land and developing it into developmental
area/plots with facilities like developed land, road,
water supply, electricity, necessary building, etc. The
Small Industries Development Corporation also undertakes
works on provision of infrastructure facilities for the
small-scale sector through its major industrial estate
and mini industrial estates.
One of the major thrust areas for export promotion has
been the Special Economic Zone. The scheme intends to
set up Special Economic Zone in the country with a view
to provide an internationally competitive and hassle
free environment for exports. Kochi is the only city in
India having three Special Economic Zones – Electronic
Parks at KINFRA in Kalamassery, Cochin SEZs, Port Based
SEZ. Other SEZs – Malappuram Food Park, Technopark,
proposed SEZ - Thiruvananthapuram Apparel Park, Film and
Video Park, Animation SEZ (First Animation SEZ in
India).
The small-scale industrial sector is one of the most
dynamic and vibrant sectors in the Indian economy in
terms of employment generation. The Small scale
industrial unit registered in Kerala as on 31 March 2005
was 280584 with an investment of Rs. 4230.03 crore and
an employment to 12,60,007 persons. During 2004-05, 4935
units with an investment of Rs. 198.63 crore providing
employment to 22585 persons were registered.
The Government of Kerala has drawn up an investment
promotion programme named as Kerala Local Industry
Promotion Programme (KLIPP) under the banner name of
PRATHYASA through District Industries Centre. The
objective of the scheme is to facilitate the setting up
of 25,000 units in the small scale sector generating to
1,00,000 employment during 2005-06.
Information Technology
Information technology and the ability to use it is
increasingly being considered as the critical factor in
generating and accessing wealth, power and knowledge and
therefore Societal Welfare. The Government of Kerala has
taken several steps for the development of IT in the
State. Prominent among them are: (1) Technopark –
Thiruvananthapuram – India’s first World Class, World -
Scale - IT campus. (2.) IT Park at KINFRA at Kochi. (3)
Akshaya Programme of Kerala IT Mission. (4) E-Governance
initiatives of State Government like FRIENDS Technopark
was conceived as an integrated IT environment with all
necessary basic and enhanced infrastructural facilities
that the industry need. It acts as a single-point
contact for the most of the Government of India
clearances and approvals. Technopark got ISO 9001 : 2000
Certification in 2004 for establishing and maintaining a
quality system for creation and marketing of
infrastructure and support services for IT campus. It is
a first service organisation which has been awarded CMMI
level 4 certification by Carnegie Mellon University, USA
in 2004.
Today the campus is host to about 84 international and
domestic companies with an investment of Rs. 634.25
crore. During 2004-05 acquisition of land was carried
out for further expansion of the existing campus. 86
acres of land has been already acquired and the
proceedings for taking advance possession are in
progress. The new campus of Technopark (86 Acres) is
declared by Central Government as Special Economic Zone.
The Info Park at Kochi is a 92 acre Park with a built-up
area of 3.5 lakh sq. ft. Major companies like WIPRO, OPI,
ACS, IBS and TCS commenced operations in Info Park. 1400
employees are currently engaged in Infopark facilities.
The total investment of the company is Rs. 80.43 crore.
The total export for Infopark companies is Rs. 32 crore.
Kerala has been selected as 2nd best state in India in
implementation of egovernance. FRIENDS (Fast Reliable
Instant Efficient Network for disbursement Service) is a
“Single Window Mechanism” where citizens have the
opportunity to pay all taxes and other financial dues to
the Government.
E-pay is an online bill payment facility introduced by
Government of Kerala through Akshaya e-kendras as an
extension of FRIENDS project in Malappuram District
during August 2004.
The citizen call centre first of its kind in the country
setup in the state capital provide information on
transactions, pertaining to various government
departments which are required by common citizens over
telephone.
Irrigation
The irrigation system in Kerala is serviced through
major, medium and minor irrigation as well as ground
water and command area development programmes. The
completed major irrigation projects are Malampuzha,
Chalakkudy, Peechi, Pampa, Periyar, Chittorpuzha,
Kuttiyadi, Neyyar, Chimmini, Pazhassi, Kanjirapuzha and
Kallada and the medium projects are Pothundy, Gayathri,
Walayar, Vazhani, Mangalam and Cheerakuzhi. Construction
works of four major projects Muvattupuzha, Idamalayar,
Karapuzha, Kuriarkuty – Karappara and the medium
projects Banasurasagar, Bridge-cum-regulator at
Thrithala and Chammaravattom are in progress.
In Kerala an outlay of Rs. 930 crore is set apart for
irrigation sector during 10th plan period which includes
Rs. 600 crore for major and medium irrigation, Rs. 205
crore for minor irrigation for Rs. 50 crore for Flood
Control and Anti-Sea Erosion work. During the first
three years of plan period an amount of Rs. 435.95 crore
was budgeted and expenditure for the period was Rs.
494.63 crore. The major portion of the outlay on water
resources sector was earmarked for major and medium
irrigation projects.
The Command Area Development programme was launched with
the main objective of bridging the gap between the
irrigation potential created and utilised and improving
agriculture production and productivity in the
irrigation commands. The programme was restructured in
2003-04 and re-named as Command Area Development and
Water Management Programme.
The main activities of Command Area Development
Authority (CADA) include construction of field channels,
field drains, enforcement of wara bandhi and reclamation
of Water logged areas. The CAD activities were carried
out in 16 completed irrigation projects, namely,
Malampuzha, Mangalam, Pothundy, Walayar, Cheerakuzhy,
Vazhani, Peechi, Chalakkudy, Neyyar, Gayatri, Pampa,
Periyar Valley, Chitturpuzha, Kuttiyadi, Pazhachi and
Kanjirapuzha with a total ayacut of 2.03 lakh ha. CADA
programmes are implemented with financial assistance of
Govt. of India. The achievement recorded during 2004-05
include construction of field channels in 1998 ha,
drains to benefit 6156 ha, adaptive trials in 10ha, 83
training programmes, bench mark and evaluation studies
in 2302 ha. The work on reclamation of water locked
areas were done in 1033 ha and 3 evaluation reports were
also published.
Power
The growth of power sector in Kerala during the last two
decades has been remarkable. During the early stages of
development, focus was on tapping hydro power potential
in the state. Kerala Power System consists of 30 power
generating stations which include 24 hydel, 5 thermal
and one wind of which KSEB owns 24 hydel and one wind
and two thermal stations.
The total installed capacity in Kerala as on 31 March
2005 is estimated as 2617.22 MW of which KSEB’s hydel
plants contribute 1810.60 MW, Wind farm at Kanchikode
2.0 MW and Thermal Power Plants 234.60 MW.
Malankara Hydro Electric Project was commissioned on 23
October 2005. As a result the installed capacity has
been increased by 10.5 MW.
Under the micro-hydel programme, implementation of Micro
Hydel Projects on behalf of two district Panchayats,
Kammadi in Kasargode district and Chakkarakundu in
Kozhikode district have been undertaken by ANERT. UNIDO
has set up a Regional Centre on small hydro power at
Energy Management Centre. The centre has prepared
detailed project reports for 30 small hydro projects in
Kerala. Of which 13 small hydro project were allotted to
bidders under Captive Power Projects and Independent
Power Projects on BOOT basis. The first off grid 100 KW
micro hydel power projects was commissioned in Mankulam,
Iduki District. Pasavaikumbe in Kasargode district and
Kalyanathandu in Idukki district are two sites
identified for study under the National Wind Energy
Resource Assessment.
In the light of launching the project, Rajiv Gandhi
Grameen Vidhyuteekaran Yojana (RGGVY) by the Government
of India, proposals were submitted to the Government of
India with an outlay Rs. 348.79 crore for the
electrification of 3578 habitations in 930 villages
covering 14 districts of Kerala. The Government of India
have sanctioned Rs. 221.75 crore to implement the scheme
as first phase covering seven districts in Kerala viz.
Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Idukki,
and Palakkad.
Transport
Transport system of the state consists of 1.54 lakh km
of Road, 1148 km of Railways 1687 km of Inland Water
Ways and 111 statute miles of Airways and 18 ports.
Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) launched in June
2002 with the assistance of World Bank is in the process
of upgrading and widening of 584 km of existing roads
and carrying out heavy maintenance of 993 km of roads
and150 km of performance linked maintenance. Upgradation
of 93 km of inland water canals also forms part of the
project.
Roads : Kerala is the maiden state in the country
having hundred per cent road axis to its remote
villages. The total length of roads in the state is
138196.471 km, of which 21467.492 km comes under PWD,
1523.954 km under National Highways, and 95515.888 km
under Panchayats.
Railway : The state has a total railway route of
1,148 km and covers 13 railway routes. It has 1,053.86
km of broad gauge lines and 94.14 km of meter gauge
lines.
Aviation : There are three airports, viz.,
Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi (Nedumbassery) and Kozhikode,
of which the first two are international airports.
Ports Sector : Along its coastline of 585 km
Kerala has one major port at Kochi and 17 minor
intermediate ports. The Prime Minister laid the
foundation stone for the Vallarpadam International
Container Transshipment Terminal on 16 December 2005.
Completion of the prestigious project would make the
Kochi Port as a major hubport in the Indian Ocean.
Education
Kerala has achieved a high literacy rate of 90.92 per
cent (2001 census), as against the all India rate of
65.38 per cent. In Kerala, among the districts, Kottayam
has the highest literacy rate of 95.90 per cent and
Palakkad has the lowest literacy of 84.31 per cent.
Regional and gender disparities in literacy rates are
least in Kerala.
The infrastructure created under District Primary
Education programme, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and
involvement of Local Governments have contributed to the
improved facilities.
Kerala has seven universities and two deemed
universities. During the past five years, there has been
a tremendous increase of technical educational
institutions in Kerala.
Festivals
Kerala is the home of many colourful festivals. Most of
them have a religious fervour inspired by Hindu
mythology. Onam is the most typical of Kerala festivals,
which coincides with the harvest season. It is now
celebrated on astronomical New Year Day. Navarathri is
celebrated as Saraswathi Pooja in Kerala. Maha
Shivarathri is celebrated on the banks of Periyar River
as a spectacular festival, which is compared to
Kumbhamela. The 41 days festival, which coincides with
Makaravilakku in Sabarimala Ayyappan temple, attracts
lakhs of people from India and abroad. The Vallamkali or
boat race is typical of Kerala. All the boat festivals
have a religious origin except Nehru Trophy Boat race
conducted in the Punnamada Lake. Vadakkumnatha temple at
Thrissur celebrates Pooram festivals in April every year
with an impressive procession of caparisoned elephants
and display of unparalleled pyrotechnics. Main Christian
festivals are Christmas and Easter. Maramon convention,
held every year on the Pumba riverbed, is the biggest
gathering of Christians in Asia. The Muslims celebrate
Milade Shareef, Ramzan fasting, Id ul Fitr and Bakr-id.
Tourism
Tourism to Kerala is what apple growing is to Himachal
Pradesh. Both these regions offer all the pre-conditions
for sustained and successful growth of the respective
activities. The factors stimulating a flourishing
tourism sector include, scenic splendour, moderate
climate, clean environment, friendly and peace loving
people with high tolerance for cultural diversity and
the potential for creating unique tourism products.
Kerala has emerged as the most acclaimed tourist
destination in the country. Beaches, warm weather, back
waters, hill stations, water falls, wild life, Ayurveda,
year–round festivals and diverse flora and fauna make
Kerala a unique destination for tourists.
The Department of Tourism, Kerala Tourism Development
Corporation, District Tourism Promotion Council, Bakal
Tourism Development Corporation, Local Government and
Private Sector are the major players in the field. The
thrust areas presently being looked into are for the
development of village tourism, MICE tourism (meeting,
incentives, conventions and events/ exhibitions/trade
shows), heritage tourism, eco-tourism and medical
tourism.
Thenmala Eco-Tourism project features a tourist
facilitation centre, shop court garden, plazas, picnic
area, natural trail, rock climbing, river crossing amphi
theatre, restaurant, suspension bridge, lotus pond,
musical dancing fountain, sculpture garden, deer
rehabilitation centre, boating, battery powered
vehicles, etc. During 2004-05, 104622 tourists visited
Thenmala and the revenue generated was Rs. 3563820.
The foreign exchange earning from tourism during 2004 is
Rs. 1266.77 crore. The earning from domestic tourists
during 2004 is Rs. 3881.92 crore. Total revenue
generated from tourism directly and indirectly in the
state are worked out as about Rs. 6829 crore. Tourism
employs about 8 lakh persons in the state. The
investment in tourism is about Rs. 500 crore per year.
Education
According to 2001 census, the literacy rate in Kerala is
well above the National average and it is the highest
among the Indian States. The literacy rate in Kerala is
90.86 per cent in 2001 as against the all India rate of
65.38 per cent The male and female literacy rate are
94.2 per cent and 87.6 per cent respectively.
In Kerala there are 12650 schools in 2005 comprising of
6827 lower primary schools, 3042 upper primary schools
and 2781 high schools. Besides there are 483 CBSE
School, 78 ICSE Schools, 27 Kendriya Vidyalayas and 13
Jawahar Navodaya Vidhyalayas.
The aided school system still keeps strong presence in
Kerala. Out of the total 12650 schools 7287 are private
aided schools (57.60 per cent). Of the total 3042 UP
schools 31.36 per cent are in Government sector, 61.47
per cent in private aided sector and the rest 7.17 per
cent are in private unaided sector. Of the total 2781
high schools 35.78 per cent are government, 51.17 per
cent are private aided and 13.05 per cent are private
unaided.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), the most ambitious
educational project since independence aims to provide
useful and relevant elementary education for all
children in the age group 6 to 14 by 2010.
The number of protected teachers both in Government and
Aided schools stood at 3148 during 2004-05. It includes
524 High school teachers, 1904 PD teachers and 720
special teachers. The number of protected teachers both
in Government and Aided schools stood at 3148 during
2004-05. It includes 524 High school teachers, 1904 PD
teachers and 720 special teachers. In order to
reorganise secondary level of education in accordance
with the National Educational Policy Higher Secondary
course was introduced in the state. As a first step
during 1990-91, 31 government schools were upgraded to
the status of Higher Secondary Schools. Grading system
of evaluation has been introduced in Higher secondary
levels from 2005-06 academic year onwards.
Vocational Higher Secondary Education was introduced in
the state with the objective of maximum achievement of
employment opportunity by making more skillful and job
oriented manpower. As a first step, the course was
introduced in 19 government high schools during 1983-84.
The sanctioned intake and actual enrolment in VHSS
during 2004-05 are 26874 and 25382 respectively. Kerala
Higher Education System comprises of 7 universities and
two deemed universities. Universities in Kerala now
shift emphasis from conventional courses to professional
and technical job oriented courses. Most of the new
courses are self-financing. The two major sources of
income for universities in Kerala are plan and non-plan
grants provided to them by the state government. The
plan and non plan expenditure of the universities during
2003-04 was Rs. 11014.6 lakhs. It increased to 12858.1
lakh during 2004- 05.
Health
Kerala has achieved very good health standards in areas
like birth rate, death rate, infant mortality rate,
maternal mortality rate, average life at birth and
immunisation. In Kerala birth rate is 16.90, death rate
- 6.40, IMR – 10 and MMR – 0.87 per thousand population.
Though Kerala has attained better health care
indicators, the people are now facing the problem of
high morbidity both from communicable and
non-communicable diseases.
Kerala’s health care system consists of Allopathy,
Ayurveda and Homoeopathy. Three systems of medicines
together have 2696 institutions in government sector.
The three systems together have 48834 beds in the
Government Sector. Kerala has almost attained
universalisation of immunisation. During 2004-05, the
coverage of BCG was 104.3 per cent. Data collected from
RCC shows that more patients treated for cancer are in
the age group of 55 to 64 years. The first HIV positive
case was identified in Kerala in 1987. Kerala spends
fairly substantial amount on medical and public health
which is evident from percapita government health
expenditure.
Drinking Water Supply
In Kerala 82.59 per cent urban and 62.24 per cent rural
population have been covered by piped water supply by
2004-05. The overall water supply coverage is 67.52 per
cent as against 65.2 per cent during 2003-04. The rural
– urban coverage during 2003-04 was 60 per cent and 80
per cent respectively. During 2004-05 additional
population covered with protected water supply was 7.43
lakh. Out of it 66887 (9 per cent) were Scheduled Caste
and 8175 (1 per cent) were Scheduled Tribe Population.
Kerala Water Authority has 1895 water supply schemes in
operation as on 1 April 2005. It consists of 65 urban
schemes, 952 Rural Multi Panchayat schemes and 878 Rural
Single Panchayat Schemes. During 2004-05, 40 schemes
have been commissioned, of which 6 are urban and 34 of
Rural. Government of Kerala has taken up 2 water supply
projects with external assistance they are (1) JBIC
Assisted Kerala Water Supply Project and (2) World Bank
aided Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (Jalanidhi).
Poverty Eradication
Kerala is seeking to achieve a breakthrough in
participatory poverty reduction through local government
and Kudumbasree Programmes implemented by State Poverty
Eradiation Mission. As per the NSSO 55th round,
(1999-2000). Kerala’s poverty is 9.35 per cent in rural
areas and 20.27 per cent in urban areas. The 1999-2000
data shows Kerala’s Poverty at 12.72 per cent against
all India rate of 26.30 per cent. Kudumbasree System
facilitates microlevel interventions to reduce poverty
and accurately monitor poverty reduction initiatives
where it happens. An innovative extension of this
programme called ‘ASRAYA’ has been implemented in about
one third of Kerala to provide community based social
security to the poorest of the poor. |
