And for a Friday with Christmas holidays and a long road journey in Kerala, some thoughts….. some musings…..
Most of my travels to Kerala was in and out of Trivandrum. After almost a decade, I had the opportunity to travel by road thru towns and cities. It’s amazing. Almost every 10 kms there are exclusive automobile show rooms. Every car manufacturer is falling head over heels to entice customers for their second car purchase. Banks and finance companies are chasing people with loan offers. One in three families will be already owning a car. Next are Jewelers and Gold Souks. The amount of gold displayed and stocked is mind boggling. Kerala has the highest density of gold purchases in India. Every nook and corner are Bakeries, Eateries, Restaurants and the famous “Thattu-Kadas”, not to speak of shopping malls and the big supermarkets. Keralites surely are a huge consumption society, based totally on the “Remittance” economy. Almost every other family will be having one member working abroad, mostly the Gulf, who send money home. How will this consumption economy survive???
In spite of the Global challenges, India continues to be the shining star in the world with a 7% projected growth. Every state in the country is competing to attract capital and promote investments, taking advantage of the PLI schemes. Even the once infamous BIMARU states are also getting invigorated to spur economic development. Kerala needs to reinvent itself. The old Kerala Model of Growth has outlived its utility. With 800 to 1000 Rs. per day labour charges for unskilled daily wage workers, the housing construction industry is solely dependent on migrant labour from Bengal, Orissa and North East. Thanks to still prevalent “Noku-Coolie”, labour market is completely skewed. Youth of the state have to unshackle themselves from the clutches of the politicians. Skill development and job creation has to be the single point agenda. Entrepreneurship and an enabling environment for MSMEs has to be encouraged at all costs. Tech based startups promoting local goods and services to meet global demands, sustainable “high-end” tourism, medical services particularly Ayurvedic and natural healing, literary works, movies, cottage industry, arts, education etc. etc. Comprehensive apolitical long term plan is the need of the hour.
Let’s hope every state in India competes positively to promote investment in skill development and employment. And as we move into the new year, I wish all my friends, relatives and well wishers a happy new year. Let’s celebrate, the responsible way, the Covid safe way, the SEEGOS way.