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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE July 12, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| February 19, 2005 |
Cochin, India – Secrets of the Kerala Model |
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| Peace Boat received a warm welcome from the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) |
The state of Kerala, one of the southernmost of India’s states, has attracted a substantial amount of international attention in past decades. Its population enjoys an almost 100% literacy rate (the nation’s average is around 50%), despite its low per-capita income. |
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| The Keralan people enjoy a high level of education. (Photo by Hiro Sato) |
When Peace Boat’s 48th voyage made its fourth stop in Cochin, India, participants had the opportunity to visit one of the surrounding villages and learn more about this unique development model. One of the “secrets” divulged was the fact that the Kerala Model relies more on individual and community participation than on government support or organization. |
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| Fostering local, sustainable industry is an important part of KSSP’s work. Here, a woman weaves high-quality cloth on a hand loom. |
The Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), is one of these “people’s movements” that has made the region into what it is today. KSSP is a grassroots movement that was founded in 1962 with the purpose of promoting a more scientific way of thinking among the people of Kerala. Since that time, it has expanded its scope to include a broad range of sustainable development activities. |
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| KSSP also sponsors a composting project that helps address environmental and economic problems. |
Today the group works to:
- Popularize science.
- Create a scientific outlook among people.
- Expose and oppose the abuse of scientific knowledge for exploiting the majority.
- Propose and help to implement alternative models of development with emphasis on equity and sustainability.
- Carry out research and development work to transform lab technologies into mass technologies.
- Make Science a tool in the hands of the masses for social revolution.
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| Children listen eagerly to a lesson on electricity. |
Participants in Peace Boat’s “Secrets of the Kerala Model” excursion had the opportunity to meet with members of KSSP and learn about their activities first-hand. Of particular interest to many participants was the educational methodology responsible for the area’s extremely high literacy rate. Teachers strive to create a participatory atmosphere in which students are encouraged to discover the answers to questions themselves. After visiting a local elementary school, participants could easily understand how such a setting could inspire children to learn. |
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| Participants enjoyed meeting the enthusiastic children of Kerala. |
Hiro Sato, a student in Peace Boat’s Global University program who works at a Japanese NGO, was particularly impressed with the work KSSP is undertaking. “I believe they have significant strengths,” he said. “Their powerful publications, policy of operating and educating in the local dialect, close relationships with town and religious officials, and scientific approach all contribute to a successful model. We could certainly apply their strategy and approach to community development projects in Japan.”
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