The flaws of ‘Kerala model of governance’ are gradually exposing themselves. The much publicized and favorite of left-liberal intellectuals like Amartya Sen, the Kerala model claims to be inclusive one which cares for every caste, color, creed and community. However, these claims are substantiated on only ‘red sheets’ of paper. In reality, the Communist ruled state is failing to protect a small tribal community in Attappadi area of Palakkad district. In 2013 over 55 infants died in district, most of these child’s were born in the tribal community. The reason for the deaths of these children is milk aspiration (when milk accidentally enters the infant’s windpipe rather than the food pipe or oesophagus).
The government Tribal Specialty Hospital (GTSH) in Kottathara accounts for over 90 percent of the deliveries in the area. According to the hospital report, 5 of the 13 infant deaths last year were attributed to milk aspiration. The government claimed that people do not want to bring children to the hospital in case of any problem. However, TR Chandran, a retired health inspector in Attappadi said that these claims are being made to hide the failure of government. “It’s invented to avoid a lot of questioning. Mothers are not so foolish. They are increasingly coming to hospitals to get immunised. There could be other underlying causes. The government has just invented a reason to hide their failures,” said Chandran.
The tribal families in the state cannot afford healthy food. The government used the natural resources which belonged to the tribal people but did not given anything in return. “There are families who cannot afford to eat eggs and meat. They don’t drink milk a lot. Also, there’s a lot of stigma associated with families where infant deaths have occurred. There are problems of migration,” said PE Usha, project director, KMSS.
The Attappadi area had 90 percent tribal population in 1951 but as per 2011 census, only 30 percent are tribal. The state government has systematically suppressed Adivasi rights in the state. The Adivasi community is selling their land to people from the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu to repay their debts. The migration of people from neighboring districts pushed the Adivasi community on the margins. “Give them their land back. They must be brought back to their roots. Every month, they are getting free food grains. Such free stuff should never be encouraged. Return them to agriculture. The sad fact today is that no one is trying to stop the displacement of tribals,” said Chandran a retired heath inspector.
The condition of Adivasis was not so pathetic earlier. The tribal community consumed ragi, little millet (chama), medicinal herbs and other such things as their diet but then they became dependent on ‘choru-sambar’ (rice-sambar). The tribal community is not used to eating that kind of food and this only deteriorated their health. This is a basic deficiency with the public distribution system which homogenizes food habits and forces every one consume the same diet. This is typical communist behavior where people do not have any choice and the government forces homogenization.
The Communist regime which claimed to bring development for all failed to deliver on its promises. The lack choice and forced homogenization which are typical to any communist regime are also visible in Kerala. The much hyped ‘Kerala model’ which left-liberal intellectuals’ claim could solve every problem of the country marginalized the tribal community in the very state which has genesis of this. How is this failed model expected to solve the problem of a country which is as diverse as India?