Lead article by Pulapre Balakrishnan on Kerala political situation: Bracing for the status quo in Kerala
Lead article by Pulapre Balakrishnan on Kerala political situation: Bracing for the status quo in Kerala: The only thing new about the is the speculation that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has had no seats in its legislature thus far, may actually open its account this time. However, apart from...
WITHER 'KERALA MODEL'?
Excerpts:
"Kerala’s politicians have long ago lost their grip on the ship of her economy. For over four decades now it has been sucked into the vortex of globalisation in the form of an offshore boom located in the Arabian Gulf. This has meant that labour has exited the State, raising the wage and rendering domestic production uncompetitive. Remittances have also pushed up the price of land, making it an object of speculation. As the returns on holding land have soared, all other forms of investment are rendered less attractive financially. Services which cannot be imported now remain the only viable economic activity, and it is in this segment of the economy that most workers find employment. But unemployment is high, with the present government’s own estimate being that it is approximately three times the national average. The cynical observation that the glories of the ‘Kerala model’ of development may be seen in the construction sites of the Arabian Gulf yet retains a certain relevance."
My VIEW:
It is not easy to measure or interpret the 'Kerala Model'...Even Pulapre is viewing it from a narrow, prejudiced angle. If it was not 'Arabian Gulf', the Kerala worker would have found some other 'Gulf'. Most of the criticism Malayalee is being subjected to emanate from disgruntled Malayalees! If today, Kerala has becom the 'Gulf' for Bengalees, there is the history of Kerala's workers' fight for justice behind it. I refuse to judge Kerala's success going by the media sensations. Whether it is going to be Left, Right or Centre post-2016 Elections, Kerala will continue to have the state's own model in governance.
M G Warrier
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