The Changing Demographic Trends in Kerala

Posted by Gopal

That profound demographic transformation is  taking place, indeed, all over the world was the emerging message in an international seminar on “Emerging Fertility Patterns in India: Causes and Implications” organized recently by the Center for Development Studies (CDS) in Thiruvananthapuram, This demographic transition, is marked by low fertility and mortality rates.More than half the world’s population is now living in countries or regions where birth rates are “at or below the level needed to ensure the replacement of generations” (or 2.1 children per woman, a number known as the “replacement rate of fertility”, which denotes a stable population)

Nearly one-third of India is witnessing a trend of below replacement level of fertility today. In Kerala significant changes in the age structure include a decrease in school age population, decrease in proportion of the labor force in about two decades from 2001, decline in young working age population, a doubling of older working age population in two decades ending in 2021 and more unemployment among the older age groups than among the youth in the foreseeable future  Studies on the ageing scenario in Kerala estimate that the size of the population in the age group of 60 years and above in the State is expected to increase from 33 lakh in 2001 to 57 lakh in 2021 and to 120 lakh in 2061. By 2061, the proportion of the elderly would constitute 40 per cent of Kerala’s total population. Of this, 6.7 per cent would be in the age group 60-69 years; 23.8 per cent in the age group 70-79 years; and 9.1 per cent in the age group of 80 years and above.

What this means is a steep rise in the the cost of “dependency burden” of Kerala households in the future. The aged dependency ratio (the number of persons above 60 years of age per 100 persons in the working age group of 15 to 59 years) is to increase from 17 to 76 during the period from 2001 to 2061. Finance Minister K.M. Mani might have had this in mind when he told the Assembly in reply to a debate on the Appropriation Bill in mid-July that an “explosive situation” has ensued in the State with the number of government pensioners exceeding that of serving employees, making the current pension system “unsustainable. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had added: “The State government pays salary to 5.34 lakh in-service employees and pension to 5.50 lakh retired employees. On an average, an employee continues in government service for 25 to 30 years, and a pensioner draws retirement benefits for an equal number of 25 to 30 years.

 The recent decision by the Kerala Govt. to introduce Participatory Pension Scheme  for its future employees with effect from April next is to be seen in this context.

 Source: CDS.

The Godly Treasure

Posted by Gopal Unnikrishna

The Sree Padmanabha Temple in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India, traditionally regarded as the family temple of the erstwhile royal family of the State of Travancore and administered by the royalty, at once emerged as the wealthiest temple in the world when its long-closed vaults ,barring one that couldn't be opened , were accessed and the contents enlisted in compliance of a directive by the Supreme Court of India. The directive of the court was in pursuance of a suit filed by a member of a priestly family associated with the temple, praying for state take over of the temple from the royalty in the wake of  his dissatisfaction with the temple administration. This gargantuan wealth consisting of precious stones, gold, silver and also ornaments , statues and other exquisite artifacts in high-pristine gold studded with gems, have aroused sheer ecstasy among devotees, It is speculated, perhaps not widely off the mark, that this temple treasure is worth 1.5 to 2 lakh crores of rupees and that if the antique value of most of it is taken in to account the value might rise to mind boggling astronomical figures. Unfortunately and expectedly such hitherto unheard of wealth has aroused envious angst and greed among certain other sections of people. This section mainly consisting of atheists and leftists would rather have this incomparable temple heritage be confiscated and amalgamated to the state exchequer so that they can lay their hands on it with the help of the wily politicians among them.

                                                                    

The royal family of Travancore ( Thiruvithammcode) is believed to be the successors of famed Cheraman Perumals who were headquartered at Kodungalloor ( the ancient Mahodayapura).. Chera kingdom under the Perumals got dismembered in early 12th century which led to the formation of many feudatories and to their ascendency as local rulers. The southern section known as Venad together with nearby Aynad was soon constituted as the early Travancore principality by the Venad kings whose family deity it was, Lord Vishnu in the form of Sree Padmanabhaswami.

The history of the temple can be traced back as far down to 9th century as evidenced by Vaishnavaite saint Nammalvar"s devotional songs called "Malainattu Thiruppatikal" which eulogize the Vishnu temples of Kerala wherein Sree Padmanabhaswami temple is praised as one of the most sacred Vishnu temples of Kerala. The devotion of the royal family to the temple was extraordinary, amounting to almost total surrender. Maharaja Anizham Thirunal Marthandavarma the maker of modern Travancore, extended the small principlity he inherited that consisted of only areas from Kanyakumari in the south to Attingal in the north in to what is now known as the Travacore area or the erstwhile princely state of that name, by conquering and annexing all the feudatories beyond Attingal and up to Alangad and to the very borders of old Cochin kingdom, finally defeating even the great Samuthiri of Kozhikode. At the end of all his conquests and the consolidation of all the territories in to a viable new greater princely state, the Maharaja performed 'Thrippadidanam",the ultimate act of devotion to his deity by surrendering the whole state at the feet of Lord Padmnabhaswami and vowed to rule the state only as a trustee and servant of the lord, and then on assuming the title of Sree Padmanabhadasa ( servant of the Lord).

                                                                            

Though the state was symbolically surrendered to the deity, the administration of the state and the temple was maintained scrupulously separate . Even in earlier days the temple affairs were managed by a group called "Ettarayogam" ( group of eight and half) consisting of eight Brahmin houses and the Maharaja, latter being the half unit or vote. The treasury of the temple and the exchequer of the state were never allowed to be mixed up or overlapped. Management and revenue records of the temple were known as "Mathilakam Records" and have been published over the time ,one volume having been published by the famed Malayalam poet ,the great Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer when he was the Dewan Peshkar of the state.

It is quite clear that the wealth now uncovered in the vaults of the temple represents the offerings of the devotees , among them other rajas and dignatories, over the ages, and the conquest booties gifted to the deity by successive maharajas all of which accumulated in to great wealth  rightly belonging to the temple. It is in fact  the personal property of Lord Padmanabhaswami who according to Indian laws is to be deemed as a juristic person with all the rights and privileges of an individual. The latest and the most famous case where the argument based on juristic nature and attribute of divinity or diety is the Ayodhya Ramajanmabhoomi verdict accepted and relied in the verdict by the three men bench of the Allahabad High Court wherein that was the only argument accepted by the court (See: http://jeeyu.blogspot.com/2010/12/blog-post.html). There is no way the state can claim it or come in to the picture except as provider of adequate security, considering the wealth  as matter of great pride to the state. No amount of gratitude and praise for the royal family of Travancore is adequate, who most faithfully and zealously guarded this wealth over the ages. Their flag while in power, red with a silver, dextrally-coiled, sacred conch shell can now truly be imagined to be flying and fluttering in the high winds of grandeur and they deserve a 21 gun salute as the British Empire used to honor them with.