SJD Minister Muneer lashes out at Modi’s remark as an attempt to tarnish Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s gaffe comparing Kerala’s tribal hamlet `Attappadi with Somalia’ ahead of the assembly polls in Kerala on May 16 triggered widespread anguish across the state that was apparent on social media with trending tweets having the subtle hashtag of *PoMoneModi or JabetaModi, state Social Justice Minister Dr MK Muneer has lashed out at Modi’s remark over comparing Attappadi to Somalia as an attempt to tarnish Kerala.
“The Central government itself had come with a rapid survey report which indicates that Kerala is Number 1 in the country in terms of child indices. Narendra Modi could have gone through the report before making a visit to Kerala. He wanted to tarnish Kerala without looking into the facts and figures which is unacceptable,” Social Justice Minister Dr.MK Munner told TOI.
Social Justice Department additional chief secretary K M Abraham said Kerala’s human development index (HDI) and child development index (CDI) is much above the national average and is ahead of other states across the country. In Attappadi, the number of infant deaths have been curtailed to a major extent over the years through proper interventions at various levels, he said.
Records indicate that Kerala scored 0.7117 in HDI ahead of the national average of 0.6087. In the CDI for 2005-06 Kerala scored 0.955 over all India score of 0.502 and in the CDI 2013-14 Kerala scored 0.758 ahead of the national average of 0.530.
“It is a myth that malnutrition exists only in Attapadi, though malnutrition exists in Kerala and many states across the country. Social and child indices indicate that Kerala is far better compared to other states in the country. In terms of the state’s development trajectory, Kerala has to be compared with the developed countries,” UNICEF field office for Tamil Nadu and Kerala chief Job Zachariah told TOI.
The Rapid survey report 2014 released in 2015 by the Union Women Child Development (WCD) Ministry indicates that one fifth of Kerala’s children below five years are malnourished. However, Kerala stands tall compared to other states in the country and its social indices can be compared only with the developed countries, experts had indicated.
Even in terms of the key indicators for malnutrition in children aged below five which include underweight, stunting and wastage of weight due to malnutrition or low food intake, Kerala is better compared to other states in the country.
Underweight: Kerala 18.5 %, Tamil Nadu 23.3 %, Karnataka 28.9 %, Andhra Pradesh 22.3%, Maharashtra 25.2 %, Chhattisgarh 33.9 %, Orissa 34.4 %, Jharkhand 42.1 %, India 29.4%
Stunting (chronic indicator of malnutrition, that measures proportion of weight and height): Kerala 19.4%, Tamil Nadu 23.3 %, Karnataka 34.2%, Andhra Pradesh 35.4%, Maharashtra 35.4 %, Chhattisgarh 43%, Orissa 38.2%, Jharkhand 47.4%, India 38.7%
Wastage of weight (Temporary indicator of malnutrition due to an ailment or low food intake): Kerala 15.5%, Tamil Nadu 19%, Karnataka 17%, Andhra Pradesh 19 %, Maharashtra 18.6% Chhattisgarh Orissa 12.9%, Jharkhand 18.3%, India 15.1%