EDP Notes

Kerala is industrially backward. There are many reasons for this condition. One of the
important reasons is lack of an entrepreneurial class. The trade and the commerce of the state were
originally in the hands of outsiders who migrated to Kerala for business purposes. Later on
Christians and Muslims entered the field of business. Majority of the people of Kerala show no
interest in trade and commerce. Everybody wants a white-collar job. Further adequate funds are not
being channelized into entrepreneurial activities. A considerable portion of capital is being utilized
for non-productive purposes. For example, people spend much of their savings in constructing
houses. This tendency is very prominent in Malabar. People working in Middle East are interested
in acquiring landed property and Gold with their savings.
Another cause for the state’s poor entrepreneurship is the large amount of capital is flowing
out of state. For instance, LIC collects huge funds from within the state, but utilizes only a very
little portion for the state’s development.