Kerala Database

Population and Social Development

D. Sivakumar

1.0. Introduction

Population characteristics like fertility, nuptiality, morbidity, infant/child mortality, migration, life expectancy, sex ratio, quality of life and the quality of activities of the population, decide the nature of social development of a country or region. Factors like crime, corruption, suicide, squalor, accidents etc. and their prevention and control also influence the nature of social development. Education and skill training are also important. Social development is essentially concerned with the human dimensions and relationships than the material component of social progress.

Social development provides a developmental dimension to science and technology and disciplines like Economics, Demography, Social work, Sociology, Social Anthropology, Geography, Psychology etc. Social work, social and economic integration, social politics, social economics, development journalism, creative media and literature in social work, have an important say in economic development,. Enhancement of social functioning of individual, group, family and societies, environmental protection, people's participation and, in other words, sustainable social development.

2.0. Kerala's Demographic Record

The most important characteristic of the 'Kerala model of development' is the State's desirable demographic transition with least cost. The most important factors which have driven this demographic transition are:

land reforms;

commited operations for family welfare in the state sector and private, N.G.O., co-operative and trade union sectors;.

work of socio-cultural complexes;

role of social workers and professional social work strategies;

consideration of family as a unit of for planning and provision of care and social and economic development;

safe motherhood and child development programmes;

female literacy, family education, health and family welfare camps and strong vital registration;

anti-poverty programmes, economic factors like incentives, cash prizes, free ration etc;

motivational programmes of non-governmental organizations;

demographic applications;

social politics, social economics, trade unions and mass organizations;

programmes for social and economic integration, financial support from various sources including assistance by United Nations and specialised agencies;

primary health care, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) care, increased spatial distribution of health care and family welfare;

gerontology, geriatrics and social support for the aged;

adult and non formal education - social work and health literacy;

higher age at marriage;

human Service Information Technology Applications (HUSITA), technology transfer and technology utilization;

migration;

media and cultural programmes;

creative literature in social work;

programmes by Employers Organizations in Plantations and Factories/Corporations/Boards;

changes in the levels of living including Housing and Transport; and

existence of small and medium enterprises.

The achievements relating to the demographic transition in Kerala are crucial. While birth rate declined to below replacement level, death rate decreased to a comparable level with that of Western countries. Infant morality and maternal mortality decreased. Life expectancy increased comparable to developed countries, Literacy and women's status also increased. Increased Immunization coverage, couple protection rate, education, child development and training programmes are other positive features. Family welfare showed signs of success in Kerala. Economists, doctors, social workers, scientists, politicians and technologists and people of all avenues worked hard for decades to achieve this desirable demographic transition.

But whether we can sustain this social development when the rates of crime, suicide, family suicide, corruption, accidents, alcoholism and drug addiction, family problems, problems of the aged, adolescent problems, HIV/AIDS and morbidity and disability are increasing? Provision of perfect information is the answer. Skill training, counselling and personality development are essential. Psycho-social and informational preparedness for successful living among individuals, groups, families and communities are other imperatives. Scientific practice of social work is essential to sustain and increase this social development. Institutions of learning, schools of social work and industry have to frame strategies for sustainable social development. Agriculture, horticulture and ayurveda have to become universal. In the context of decentralization, the local authorities have to be equipped with the above. In the sustenance of social development, balancing, protection of environment is essential at various levels. Family betterment training courses and marriage preparation courses are essential. The aged have to be given training for vocational, economic, health and social development. The conservation of human life has to be given the greatest attention by doctors, social workers and people of all avenues in the context of increasing suicides, accidents, crime and morbidity.

3.0. The Database

Kerala has had a great tradition of gathering and dissemination of data ever since the days of princely rule. The main sources of data in this area are census, sample registration, annual reports, survey and research reports by Department of Economics and Statistics, evaluation documents and other publications of State Planning Board, sample surveys by the National Sample Survey Organization, Reports of Central Statistical Organization, Labour Bureau, Government departments, Boards. The output of individual research by scholars is of another important source. The National Family Health Survey is another important source. The media also provide valuable data.

4.0. Data Gaps

The decadal population Census does not provide information for interim periods. Though, sample studies conducted by Universities, Government departments and N.G.Os play an important role in data generation, there are still data gaps. For example we do not have data on sex ratio for single years for every age. With the introduction of local planning, the data needs are increasingly felt. Data gaps are there on social and health problems like health, morbidity in physical and mental health disability, chronic diseases, family disintegration, suicides, criminality, accidents, social deviance, alcoholism, drug addiction, Sexually Transmitted Infections, Reproductive Tract Infections, HIV/AIDS, adolescent problems, problems of the aged etc. Data gap are also there on productive human activity at each geographical area and at various levels. Time management, according to sex is another crucial area of data gap.

Data generated and utilized by local self-governments are valuable for planning and development in Kerala. Data gaps are there on indicators of levels of living and on supply and demand of consumer items. So also are gaps on care providers and the provision of care in the various programmes aimed at social development. Skill training programmes, trainers' training programmes, family break down, social disintegration, poverty, school drop outs, destitution, indigence, floods, fire, drought, natural calamities etc. are areas which need sound data base.

5.0. Suggestions

Data collection today is very peripheral. Depth interviews, social diagnosis, focus group discussion and the qualitative methods are found very minimal. Researchers have to be encouraged for depth interviews, group and case record preparation, focus group discussion, social diagnosis etc. We really lack data for each socio-cultural group and each geographical area. This is very essential especially in the context of poverty eradication, health promotion, suicide, crime and accident prevention, social and economic integration, agricultural and industrial development and environmental protection.

The researchers have to identify their audience at the stage of research design and in the preparation of research report. Studies should focus an objective of social development. Research results should be easily intelligible to the audience: beneficiaries and the common people. There is a need for an enhanced reorientation of statistics into developmental statistics. Reorientation of family welfare into developmental family welfare and reorientation of social work practice into developmental social work practice are needed. Health also has to gain more and more developmental focus.

From the existing database, we have to go a long way to prepare value-loaded social development indicators for each geographical area and for each socio-cultural groups to closely monitor sustainability of social development. Finally, there is great need for planning the production and utilization of data and information on the basis of the felt needs of the people.