KERALA
Area: 38,863 sq km
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Language: Malayalam
Districts: 14
Kerala is a small state, tucked away in the south west corner of India. It represents only 1.18 per cent of the total area of India but 3.43% of the total population of the country is in Kerala.
Physiography:
Kerala may be divided into three geographical regions: (1) Highlands, (2) Midlands and (3) Lowlands. The Highlands slope down from the Western Ghats which rise to an average height of 900 m, with a number of peaks well over 1,800 m in height. This is the area of major plantations like tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and other spices.
The Midlands, lying between the mountains and the lowlands, is made up of undulating hills and valleys. This is an area of intensive cultivation. Cashew, coconut, arecanut, cassava (tapioca), banana, rice, ginger, pepper, sugarcane and vegetables of different varieties are grown in this area.
The Lowlands or the coastal area, which is made up of the river deltas, backwaters and the shore of the Arabian sea, is essentially a land of coconuts and rice. Fisheries and coir industry constitute the major industries of this area.
Kerala is a land of rivers and backwaters. Forty-four rivers (41 west-flowing and 3 east-flowing) cut across Kerala with their innumerable tributaries and branches, but these rivers are comparatively small and being entirely monsoon-fed, practically turn into rivulets in summer, especially in the upper areas.
The backwaters form a specially attractive and economically valuable feature of Kerala. They include lakes and ocean inlets which stretch irregularly along the coast.
The biggest backwater is the Vembanad lake, some 200 sq km in area, which opens out into the Arabian Sea at Cochin port. The Periyar, Pamba, Manimala, Achenkovil, Meenachil and Moovattupuzha rivers drain into this lake. The other important backwaters are Veli, Kadhinam-kulam, Anjengo (Anju Thengu), Edava, Nadayara, Paravoor, Ashtamudi (Quilon), Kayamkulam, Kodun-gallur (Cranganore) and Chetuva, The deltas of the rivers interlink the backwaters and provide excellent water transportation in the lowlands of Kerala. A navigable canal, 367 km long, stretches from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, to Tirur in the far north.
History:
When India became free, three administrations ruled this region – two princely states, Travancore and Cochin, and Malabar which was under the direct administration of the British. One of the first steps taken by independent India was to amalgamate small states together so as to make them viable administrative units.
Accordingly Travancore and Cochin states were integrated to form Travancore-Cochin State on 1st July, 1949. However, Malabar remained as part of the Madras Province. Under the States Re-organization Act of 1956, Travancore-Cochin State and Malabar were united to form the State of Kerala on 1st November, 1956.
Some territorial adjustments had necessarily to be made on re-organization. In this adjustment, Kerala lost to Madras (now Tamil Nadu) the taluks of Thovala, Agasteeswaram, Kalkulam and Vilavancode in the far south and Shencotta in the east, while it gained the Malabar district and the Kasargod taluk of South Kanara district in the north. The Laccadive Minicoy and Amindivi islands lying off the coast of Malabar were detached from Kerala and declared as Union Territory.
Administration:
The state has a unicameral legislature. The Legislative Assembly has 141 members.
The state is divided into 14 districts.
Districts
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Kollam
- Alappuzha
- Pathanamthitta
- Kottayam
- Idukki
- Ernakulam
- Thrissur
- Palakkad
- Malappuram
- Kozhikode
- Wyanad
- Kannur
- Kasargod
Economy:
Kerala with its high population is 50 per cent short of food. Owing to historical and climatic reasons the state has developed commercial agriculture more than food crops. Consequently, the state is short of foodgrains, especially rice which is the staple food of the people. Out of a gross cropped area of 30.21 lakh hectares the share of food crops (cereals, millets, pulses and tapioca) is only 23%.
Kerala has a unique cropping pattern. It accounts for 92 per cent of India's rubber, 70 per cent of coconut, 60 per cent of tapioca and almost 100 per cent of lemon grass oil. Kerala is the single largest producer of a number of other crops like banana and ginger, besides tea and coffee in abundance. Coir and cashew are two of the largest traditional industries in the state. Handloom and bamboo-based industries are well-developed. Kerala accounts for about 1/3 of India's marine exports.
In 1991 the state announced a new industrial policy of liberalisation for private entrepreneurs. Kerala hopes to be a power surplus state by 2000.
Cochin International Airport Ltd. (Nedumbassery), India's first private airport was opened in June, '99.
In Apr. 97, Kerala became the first state to have public telephones in all its villages, accessible over STD/ISD from any part of the world. In April, '98 Kottayam became the first district in India to complete computerisation of the taluk offices connecting them with the dist. hq. All block panchayats have computer links now. Government has set for itself a target of 8 lakh new jobs during 9th Plan.
Kerala has launched a Non-resident Keralites Insurance and Security Scheme. Brahmapuram diesel power project was commissioned in June '97. The 180 MW Lower Periyar Hydro Electric Project was commissioned in Oct..
In July, '97 bandhs and in Oct. ragging in colleges were banned.
In June 2000, Cochin (Nedumbassery) airport was raised to international level.
Universities:
- University of Calicut, Kozhikode, Pin: 673 635
- Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kochi, Pin: 682 022
kannur University, Kannur, Pin: 670 002 - University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, Pin: 695 034
- Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Pin: 680 654
- Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Pin: 686 560
- Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology,Thiruvananthapuram, Pin: 695 011;
- Sree Shankarachaarya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Pin: 683 574.
The first fully literate Municipal Town (Kottayam-1989), and District (Ernakulam–1990) in India are in Kerala. On Dec. 11, 1995, Ernakulam also became India's first 'Bachat' (Savings) district. In 1991, Kerala became the first fully literate state in India. Literacy among adults: 89.9%.
Infant mortality rate in Kerala is 16 per 1000 live births, and life expectancy 71.3.
Tourist Centres:
Tourism is notified as an industry. 15 places are to be developed as tourist centres.
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city, is an abode of temples, mosques and churches.
- Kovalam Beach Resort is just 12 km away. Veli (8 km.)
- Neyyar Dam (19 km), and Ponmudi (61 km) are other places of interest.
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary at Thekkady in Idukki District is another attraction.
- Sabarimala, abode of Lord Ayyappan, is a famous pilgrim centre in Pathanamthitta Dist.
- Kochi (Cochin)– the major port of Kerala – is known as the 'Queen of the Arabian Sea'.
The pantomime dance-drama Kathakali performed by men, "the dance of the enchantress"
Mohiniyattam performed by women and Thullal, the solo dance exposition are among the classical dance forms of Kerala.
A National Geographic Society publication has listed Kerala among the world's '50 greatest places of a lifetime', the only other Indian name in the list being Taj
Labels: Kerala