PM Modi comparing Kerala with Somalia- PoMoneModi- Cartoon
p.s:- താന് അങ്ങനെയൊന്നും പറഞ്ഞിട്ടേയില്ലെന്ന് വിവേകാനന്ദ സ്വാമികള്...........
"To whomsoever “INDIANS” it may concern" ,
Let’s not pass judgments on one another any longer on a statement made by our Prime Minister that had nothing to do with virtual reality but in fact a needless remark made to score political points in the wake of impending elections. Regrettably, such political interpretations, though understandable in the context of a politically charged atmosphere wherein almost all politicians engage in severe slug-fest that violate social norms, will no doubt leave irreparable scars in the minds of many. Obviously, the opposition parties who have been looking for an opportunity to strike back, escalated the statement made by Mr. Modi which otherwise would have gone largely unnoticed, had it been made in some other official function or conference. The Common Mallus have this initial feeling that they have been humiliated by their own Prime Minister when he compared Kerala with a lawless and notorious global outcast infamous for its maritime sea bandits and pirates. Whereas what he reportedly said about the infant mortality rate of scheduled tribes in Kerala, which is much worse than the rest of the people in the state is of course a serious matter we need to think and ponder over. But, I don’t think it’s any worse than the plight of other scheduled tribes population concentrated in the central belt of India covering nine states. But then that’s a different subject matter altogether.
Here, the fatal mistake Mr. Modi made was to trumpet the “Gujarat model of development” to demean the globally appreciated “Kerala model of development” while addressing an election rally, that too in Kerala where the atmosphere is politically surcharged. I might presume, and I did presume, that the PM’s Somalia remark was just a slip of the tongue or in the worst-case scenario, an intentional comparison made without proper research to back up his claim. I do not intent to go into the details about the IMR of tribal children in Kerala in comparison with the rest of the country including Gujarat. I just want to say that we should have read up on it first. Let’s forget Somalia, when it comes to the IMR among schedule tribes in the state, the Kerala’s rate is lowest in the country at 12 deaths per 1000 according to the data published in the Economic Survey 2015-16. Gujarat as a matter of fact has an IMR of 36, much closer to the national average of 40. I know, and I’m equally pained by these data as an Indian. Let’s not boast thereof, make advantage and domineer at the miseries of others.
In so far as the state of Kerala is concerned, your appreciation for our natural elegance is well taken. But unfortunately many of your presumptions about the state are wrong, misrepresented, tweaked or in other words are of no consequence as far as the general well-being of the state. It would take volumes, I know, to give a fair and convincing rebuttal of the statements you have made herein. And I also know, you will probably never align with my position no matter how categorically it’s explained to you. So, just for those fence-sitters, let me put forth some of the facts one by one.
You are absolutely spot on in saying that, a huge number of Kerala’s youth still fly abroad for livelihood mainly because of the state’s inability to provide suitable jobs for the ever increasing number of highly educated youth coming out every year with a secondary or higher level of education. There is no wonder, with such a huge number of educated youth; the unemployment rate of Kerala is of course at least three times higher than the national average. Who would you blame? Any answers? And I’m sure, as long as the present situation does not improve; many more would try their luck abroad in future. But at the same time, we have to understand that along with this increase in migration, the number of return emigrants has also increased considerably. This gives you an indication that the rate of growth in opportunities inside the state has accelerated in recent years, which is a good sign. And yes, we should not forget that the remittance we manage from outside is not easy money but hard earned cash the brilliant youth of this state earn through their hard work, executing their valuable skills and labor in those harsh conditions. To answer your other genuine concern as to what would happen if the Gulf countries go bankrupt in another decade, yes, we have an answer. Mallus have our own long history working in places far away from our native place. Ours is an altogether different socio-political archetype. The world is not just about Gulf and Middle Eastern countries right? However, we are well aware of the vulnerability of remittances from abroad and genuinely conscious about its long term sustainability. We are already in the path of finding alternate sources to generate our own domestic wealth.
Now comes the agricultural sector. We all understand, the agricultural sector of the state is in doldrums. It indeed witnessed a negative growth rate over the last few years. We could only produce 13 % of our requirement of agricultural products. There can be many reasons attributed to this. Kerala is home to 2.76% of India’s total population. At 859 persons per square kilometer, its land is three times as densely settled as the rest of India. No wonder the area under cultivation is reducing alarmingly. We have to survive, right? We compensate the dip in agricultural production with the increase in service sector and foreign remittance. We do understand that the dependency on neighboring states for food is suicidal. We are working hard towards achieving food security in spite of our limitations. Remember, at the end of the day it’s all about wellbeing of people. In that sense, Kerala, according to the United Nations fares the best in India. Its human development is so high that no other state can match.
Coming back to the statement of the Prime Minister, the photograph that set fire all these controversies which made him suggesting that the situation of Scheduled tribe children in Kerala was more worse than Somalia, appeared in a local daily. The picture showed a few children foraging for food in garbage. They were ragpickeres who would wait for the vehicles carrying stale food from hotels and bakeries to dump the waste at the yard. Once the vehicles are off, they would jump over the wall and rummage for fruits and other stuffs. Reports suggests that these children are regular in skipping the classes and trespassing the yard despite a vehicle is being made available to them for free to reach their schools. Their parents are farm workers and are earning. All this shows, the statement made by the Prime Minister that kicked up a storm ahead of elections in Kerala thereby comparing the state with that of Somalia was totally uncalled for.
Spurting allegations and counter allegations at public rallies to score political mileage over opposition is not new in India, particularly during elections. Though not all that Modi said was wrong and misrepresented. But comparing a state that has one of the best human development indicators with that of a country that had not even an established government or a constitution until a few years before was not expected from a Prime Minister.
We are Indians……And he is OUR Prime Minister…..
And yes, I didn’t get your point “You have had the most miserable governments that divided you people and kept you divided with a scare crow called secularism. Keep voting left and right and exchanging the Elephantiasis (Manth) from one leg to other.”
Do you think such “Divide and Rule” policy is practical in democracy, that too in a state like Kerala where everybody think so highly of their vote.
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| PM Modi comparing Kerala with Somalia- PoMoneModi- Cartoon |
"To whomsoever “INDIANS” it may concern" ,
Let’s not pass judgments on one another any longer on a statement made by our Prime Minister that had nothing to do with virtual reality but in fact a needless remark made to score political points in the wake of impending elections. Regrettably, such political interpretations, though understandable in the context of a politically charged atmosphere wherein almost all politicians engage in severe slug-fest that violate social norms, will no doubt leave irreparable scars in the minds of many. Obviously, the opposition parties who have been looking for an opportunity to strike back, escalated the statement made by Mr. Modi which otherwise would have gone largely unnoticed, had it been made in some other official function or conference. The Common Mallus have this initial feeling that they have been humiliated by their own Prime Minister when he compared Kerala with a lawless and notorious global outcast infamous for its maritime sea bandits and pirates. Whereas what he reportedly said about the infant mortality rate of scheduled tribes in Kerala, which is much worse than the rest of the people in the state is of course a serious matter we need to think and ponder over. But, I don’t think it’s any worse than the plight of other scheduled tribes population concentrated in the central belt of India covering nine states. But then that’s a different subject matter altogether.
Here, the fatal mistake Mr. Modi made was to trumpet the “Gujarat model of development” to demean the globally appreciated “Kerala model of development” while addressing an election rally, that too in Kerala where the atmosphere is politically surcharged. I might presume, and I did presume, that the PM’s Somalia remark was just a slip of the tongue or in the worst-case scenario, an intentional comparison made without proper research to back up his claim. I do not intent to go into the details about the IMR of tribal children in Kerala in comparison with the rest of the country including Gujarat. I just want to say that we should have read up on it first. Let’s forget Somalia, when it comes to the IMR among schedule tribes in the state, the Kerala’s rate is lowest in the country at 12 deaths per 1000 according to the data published in the Economic Survey 2015-16. Gujarat as a matter of fact has an IMR of 36, much closer to the national average of 40. I know, and I’m equally pained by these data as an Indian. Let’s not boast thereof, make advantage and domineer at the miseries of others.
In so far as the state of Kerala is concerned, your appreciation for our natural elegance is well taken. But unfortunately many of your presumptions about the state are wrong, misrepresented, tweaked or in other words are of no consequence as far as the general well-being of the state. It would take volumes, I know, to give a fair and convincing rebuttal of the statements you have made herein. And I also know, you will probably never align with my position no matter how categorically it’s explained to you. So, just for those fence-sitters, let me put forth some of the facts one by one.
You are absolutely spot on in saying that, a huge number of Kerala’s youth still fly abroad for livelihood mainly because of the state’s inability to provide suitable jobs for the ever increasing number of highly educated youth coming out every year with a secondary or higher level of education. There is no wonder, with such a huge number of educated youth; the unemployment rate of Kerala is of course at least three times higher than the national average. Who would you blame? Any answers? And I’m sure, as long as the present situation does not improve; many more would try their luck abroad in future. But at the same time, we have to understand that along with this increase in migration, the number of return emigrants has also increased considerably. This gives you an indication that the rate of growth in opportunities inside the state has accelerated in recent years, which is a good sign. And yes, we should not forget that the remittance we manage from outside is not easy money but hard earned cash the brilliant youth of this state earn through their hard work, executing their valuable skills and labor in those harsh conditions. To answer your other genuine concern as to what would happen if the Gulf countries go bankrupt in another decade, yes, we have an answer. Mallus have our own long history working in places far away from our native place. Ours is an altogether different socio-political archetype. The world is not just about Gulf and Middle Eastern countries right? However, we are well aware of the vulnerability of remittances from abroad and genuinely conscious about its long term sustainability. We are already in the path of finding alternate sources to generate our own domestic wealth.
Now comes the agricultural sector. We all understand, the agricultural sector of the state is in doldrums. It indeed witnessed a negative growth rate over the last few years. We could only produce 13 % of our requirement of agricultural products. There can be many reasons attributed to this. Kerala is home to 2.76% of India’s total population. At 859 persons per square kilometer, its land is three times as densely settled as the rest of India. No wonder the area under cultivation is reducing alarmingly. We have to survive, right? We compensate the dip in agricultural production with the increase in service sector and foreign remittance. We do understand that the dependency on neighboring states for food is suicidal. We are working hard towards achieving food security in spite of our limitations. Remember, at the end of the day it’s all about wellbeing of people. In that sense, Kerala, according to the United Nations fares the best in India. Its human development is so high that no other state can match.
Coming back to the statement of the Prime Minister, the photograph that set fire all these controversies which made him suggesting that the situation of Scheduled tribe children in Kerala was more worse than Somalia, appeared in a local daily. The picture showed a few children foraging for food in garbage. They were ragpickeres who would wait for the vehicles carrying stale food from hotels and bakeries to dump the waste at the yard. Once the vehicles are off, they would jump over the wall and rummage for fruits and other stuffs. Reports suggests that these children are regular in skipping the classes and trespassing the yard despite a vehicle is being made available to them for free to reach their schools. Their parents are farm workers and are earning. All this shows, the statement made by the Prime Minister that kicked up a storm ahead of elections in Kerala thereby comparing the state with that of Somalia was totally uncalled for.
Spurting allegations and counter allegations at public rallies to score political mileage over opposition is not new in India, particularly during elections. Though not all that Modi said was wrong and misrepresented. But comparing a state that has one of the best human development indicators with that of a country that had not even an established government or a constitution until a few years before was not expected from a Prime Minister.
We are Indians……And he is OUR Prime Minister…..
And yes, I didn’t get your point “You have had the most miserable governments that divided you people and kept you divided with a scare crow called secularism. Keep voting left and right and exchanging the Elephantiasis (Manth) from one leg to other.”
Do you think such “Divide and Rule” policy is practical in democracy, that too in a state like Kerala where everybody think so highly of their vote.
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