ABSTRACT
Historical and geographical factors have been conducive to social development in Kerala. Kerala’s development experience proves that economic development, though it may not be a sufficient condition, is a necessary condition for social development. In Kerala, people have access to schools, health care systems and communication facilities and they do utilize these facilities. Few infants and children die in Kerala; more women are admitted to hospitals for delivery; maternal mortality and fertility rates are low; there are no reported cases of female infanticides and no sexual discrimination on the part of government in the provision of health care and education. The high percentage of divorced and widowed women in the macro-level State data and the micro-level panchayat data reflects the status of women in Kerala society. The quantitative nature of social indicators has inherent limitations in assessing the qualitative aspects of the realities at the grass-roots level.
