Kottayam district, Kerala state, India - progressive role model for the world?

by Hank Pellissier

the views expressed in this article are the views of ONLY the author and DO NOT reflect the views of any organization

Want to dwell in Utopia?

A fair democracy, gorgeous but affordable, where wealth, land, and political power are equitably shared? A well-educated society where compassion is promoted in policies?

I do. This wannabe American expat seeks a home that’s just, generous, and egalitarian.

Where is this heaven-on-earth? Does it exist, anywhere?

Once, I thought it might be New Zealand. Or Denmark? Or Costa Rica? Slovenia? Scotland? Catalonia? Taiwan? Canada? But now, I believe the best candidate is…

Kerala. The slim southwestern tip of India, lauded as “god’s country” for its natural beauty. The 34 million inhabitants here have created an inspirational blueprint for human progress that deserves to be emulated not only on the subcontinent but throughout the world.

Kerala is special. Especially, it seems, the district of Kottayam.

Wait, wait! Are you smirking - India? Do you want an explanation? Want to know why my focus shifted to a climate-endangered, religious-conflicted nation?

Here’s two reasons:

First, Kerala is perhaps the most physically beautiful part of India. Nature is spectacular here, with magnificent beaches, lagoons, and mountains; it is where many Indian have their weddings, anniversaries, holidays, and retirement.

Second, India is largely neutral, strategically ambiguous. It’s not in NATO, not seeking war with Russia or China, but it’s also not helpless; it’s a nuclear power with the second largest armed force and the Chris largest economy in purchasing power. I’d be safe here as long as I stay away from the the Pakistan border.

Here’s some info and stats to support my evacuation plan:

In 1995, Bill McKibben’s book Hope, Human and Wild praised Kerala’s “enormous progress with a per capita income 1/17th the American average.” In 2020, Kim Stanley Robinson’s best-seller Ministry for the Future cited Kerala as a “model of a well-run progressive state.”

In June 2023 Kerala’s twice-elected Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, spoke at a public event in New York’s Times Square, extolling Kerala as “a beacon of progressive ideas where every voice matters and the spirit of unity paves the way for a brighter future.” Specifically, Vijayan championed the state’s infrastructure investments, equitable economic growth, people-centric progress, social harmony, literacy, schools, hospitals, communal harmony, law-and-order, e-governance, transparency, efficiency, and compassionate policies that empower marginalized communities.

Word is out.

What’s the price? Kochi (a mid-size city near Kottayam district) requires a monthly cost for a single person of only $324 without rent. If I successfully drag my entire family there - wife and two daughters - monthly cost is still only $1,118 without rent. What’s the total, including rent? I asked reddit/kerala what existence would be like with a $1,000/month budget and I was told I “could live like a rajah”, “luxuriously”, “lead a very comfortable life,” thrive!!”, “survive decently with just half that budget”, and “support a family of 10.” My fav analysis was, “Dawg you can chill.”

But… wait… you sputter… won’t I be dismal surrounded by the poverty of others? Wrong, I retort, Kerala has the lowest poverty rate in India - only 0.71 percent of the state’s population falls under the poverty line, and Kottayam district has eliminated poverty entirely - it’s the only district in India with Zero Poverty. Perhaps education is the reason? Kottayam is also the only district in India with 100 percent literacy.

Kerala is recognized as India’s progressive leader - advancing far ahead of the nation’s other 27 states - and Kottayam is wonderfully the highest-functioning district, in the highest-functioning state, or the world’s least-aggressive super-power.

Kerala state ranks #1 in India in literacy and life expectancy, it has the lowest infant mortality rate, the lowest maternal death rate, the highest Human Development Index (HDI) score, it’s #3 in female empowerment, #1 in sex ratio, #1 in transgender rights, it’s the second-least corrupted state, it’s #1 in foreign remittance, #1 in per capita income, and #2 in per capita health expenditure by a state.

Additionally, Kerala is the only state in India that is “open defecation free”, it’s the only state with electricity in all homes, and it’s one of only a few states where there hasn’t been any recent “death by the name of cow.”

If you’re skeptical, and believe tops-in-India means Zero, please note that India is the world’s fastest-growing big economy, “reminiscent of 19th-century America” claims the Economist.

Other Kerala achievements include:

Kottayam district (1.975 million population) became the first district in India to eliminate extreme poverty.

Kerala’s government identified 64,006 families living in extreme poverty in the state. They aim to eradicate this condition entirely with micro-plans that include free food, ration cards, health care, education, land reform, social security, welfare, treatment facilities, and women’s collectives.

Kerala intends to make every resident a landowner. In May 2023 a total of 67,069 people received title deeds.

Kerala is taking bold steps to end homelessness. It recently handed over the keys to 20,073 homes and it is presently building 41,439 more.

In 2016, Kerala recognized the Internet as a basic citizen’s right. It is currently working to deliver free wifi to 2 million poor families.

Women and youth have political power in Kerala. Arya Rajendran, a 21-year-old college student, was recently elected major of Trivandrum, the capital city.

Kerala is also the only state in India on the New York Times list of “52 Places to Visit in 2023,” and it is the only Indian state that ranks “high” on the Human Development Index (0.712).

Directly relevant to Kerala’s success is its success at implementing democracy via decentralization. Bottom-up access to civic funds is provided via the state’s division into 941 village panchayats (representing an average of 36,000 citizens each). The panchayats are given considerable autonomy to implement measures that elevate their communities.

How did Kerala get to be so wonderful? I suggest a one-word answer: Compassion. This virtue seems instilled in the populace, flowering spectacularly in altruistic individuals like MX Judson, a rickshaw driver who feeds 1,000 street people - he began his charitable life with a “Mobile Bath Service” that washed and clothed the ragged and destitute.

Compassion is also the message of internationally-famous Mata Amritanandamayi, known as “Amma” (Mother) or the “hugging saint” who says her religion is love. This Keralite has hugged over 40 million people around the world and her organization provides 10 million free meals to poor people annually through its world-wide centers.

Is this all too good to be true? Any huge drawbacks to living in Kerala?

I am flying there in October to find out.