ABSTRACT
The social development pursuits of the state are implemented through government officials. The officials were asked about their perceptions of the factors that played a significant role in social development processes in Kerala; about the groups left out in the process and the approaches of bureaucracy to social development. In India, social development activity by a state or central government is a complex process spreading over several departments. Kerala has state government departments for public health, development, education, industries, agriculture, fisheries, social welfare, labour, along with departments exclusively for the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The callousness of bureaucracy has also contributed to the distress of tribals. Top-down approach was rampant in tribal development. The responses of the officials on the future of Kerala society, the role of government and social development process in Kerala are rather mixed.
