Inter-District Variations in Education and Health Care in Kerala: A Review in the Context of Inclusive Growth

Abstract

Among a number of factors which are influencing the economic development of a nation, the social factors like education and health care have prime significance. While the policy makers put inclusive growth as an objective, this study will be helpful for them to assess the current situation of education and health care in Kerala. The study analyses the major determinants of education and health care extracting from recent Economic Reviews, SRS Bulletins and Census of India 2011-Provisional population totals. The study employed Pearson correlation coefficient to test the relationship between Education (A) and Health (B), Per Capita Income (PCI) and Education (A), Per Capita Income (PCI) and Health (B), Per Capita Income (PCI) with both Education and Health (A&B). And the coefficient of Variation to test the extent of variability in education and health care sector. The correlation values are (i) A and B (0.568), (ii) PCI and A (0.397), (iii) PCI and B (0.145), and (iv) PCI and A&B (0.257). All are positively correlated. The value of Coefficient of Variation is CVA = 15.64 and CVB = 29.01. The study reveals that the inter-district variation in health care (B) ( 29.01%) is more than that of education (A) ( 15.64%).The composite index of social development (A and B) shows that Malappuram district scores the last rank in social development in the State with the composite index 0.709 and Palakkad district scores the 13 rank with an index 0.826. Out of the 11 indicators considered in a per lakh population basis, Malappuram district ranks only four last ranks with zero first or second ranks. Therefore on the basis of the indicators considered, it may be concluded that Malappuram district is still in the last position in social development.