CASE STUDY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AN LEDC - KERALA INDIA
SYLLABUS - attempts made by countries to manage the balance between population and resources.

KERALA
Kerala, one of the smallest states in the Republic of India, was formed in 1956. It has about one percent of the total land area of India. The state stretches for about 360 miles along the Malabar coast on the western side of the Indian peninsula; its width varies from 20 to 75 miles. The state has 14 districts and the capital is Thiruvananthapuram.

Isolated from the Deccan plateau by the mountanious belt of the Western Ghats, but with a long coastline open to foreign influences, Kerala has evolved a unique culture. It is an educationally advanced state with its own language, Malayalam, and has the highest rate of literacy (91%) among Indian states. Women in Kerala enjoy a high social status.

Temperature and Rainfall.
Winter Max: 21°C ; Min: 18°C Summer Max: 33°C ; Min: 27°C
Kerala is directly exposed to the southwest monsoon but also receives rain from the reverse (northeast) monsoon. Rainfall averages about 118 inches (3,000 millimetres) annually statewide, with some slopes receiving more than 200 inches.

Population 31,838,619. Literacy Rate 91%; Male 94%; Female 87%. Compare these figures with the rest of India.
HOMEWORK
1 Read this article on Kerala and sustainable development. Reduce this article to 15 key bullet points. 10 points should look at technological, social and environmental solutions to sustainability. 5 points should be assessment of the success of the programme. See Pupil answer. Now improve on it!
2 Complete this Excel spreadsheet (right click and 'save target as..') to calculate the 'Physical Quality of Life Index' for Kerala, India, UK, Canada, Chad, China and Sweden. Enter 'Life expectancy', 'Infant Mortality' and literacy rates and the PQLI is calculated automatically. MAGIC!
Click here for maps of Kerala Close the pop up windows as they appear.