FOREWARD
Kerala's economy is at the crossroads. The State has been in the forefront in the development of physical and social infrastructure and in human development. It had not done well in productive investment. The high consumption in the economy is largely sustained by remittances and their multiplied effect. The sustainability of this model was raised by some of us nearly twenty years ago. It has now been realised that it cannot be sustained. This is particularly so in the context of national and global events of the last ten to twelve years.
The perspectives on globalisation differ. However, there is unanimity of opinion on the complexities that it has brought in, in the lives of everyone. These complexities can be resolved only through deepening our understanding of the working of the economy and of the society in which we live in. In order to evolve innovative policies and strategies, we need to know Kerala closely in terms of hard data and insights. Facts are frequently unsettling, but it is only through them that we can have insights. And detailed and reliable data have been our weakpoints.
It was in this context that the 'Conference on Database of the Kerala Economy' was organised at Cochin, jointly by the State Planning Board and the Institute of Small Enterprises and Development.
The proceedings of the Conference have now been brought out in the form of a volume. I am sure it will evoke live discussion on the development imperatives of Kerala.I am extremely happy that the Conference could come out with concrete and useful suggestions to improve the database to assist the development process in the State in a meaningful way.
I congratulate the Institute of Small Enterprises and Development and the Editor on their meticulous work that makes the volume what it is.
V. Ramachandran
Thiruvananthapuram
Vice Chairman
State Planning Board
October 24, 2002.