Kerala closest representation of high human development society in India: N. Ram

N. Ram highlights Kerala as India's model for human development, blending its success with Tamil Nadu's industrial strategies for future growth.

Kerala stands today as India’s closest approximation to a high human development society, and offers a striking demonstration that social investment and democratic decentralisation can deliver exceptional outcomes even at modest income levels, N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Group, has said.

Addressing a seminar on ‘Secularism, Democracy and Consultative Government’ at the conclusion of the three-day ‘Vision 2031: An International Conference on Development and Democracy’ in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Ram also advocated drawing lessons from both Kerala and Tamil Nadu for India’s future growth trajectory.

He pointed out that Kerala has the lowest multidimensional poverty and has eliminated extreme poverty. The State also has the lowest infant mortality rate and the lowest maternal mortality rate in the country. Universal literacy, strong social protection, deep decentralisation through empowered local self-governments have been other creditable achievements of the State.

“Kerala compares with countries that have a much higher per capita income and represents a striking demonstration of the principle that if a State ensures human development in various sectors, then they can do extremely well even if there are many constraints.”

At the same time, he cautioned against romanticising the achievement as he recalled how former Chief Minister E.M.S. Namboodiripad warned against making too much of the ‘Kerala model of development’. Unemployment, a relatively narrow industrial base and fiscal pressures point to some unfinished tasks that had to be addressed.

Tamil Nadu, he said, represents a second pathway that combines strong social policy with a diversified industrial economy. He added that the State’s health outcomes are among the best in the country, while its higher education gross enrolment ratio is close to 50%. Besides, Tamil Nadu employs about 40% of the women employed in the manufacturing sector across India.