The Goal....

{Please read my below post (Introduction) before this one}

My suggestion for the goal is ‘To Make Kerala a Developed State by the year 2025’

“വര്‍ഷം 2025 ആകുമ്പോഴേയ്ക്കും കേരളത്തെ ഒരു വികസിത സംസ്ഥാനമാക്കി മാറ്റുക.”

This is a very broad statement, and a pretty broad goal. Definitely need to refine and detail this goal further. But as of now, this meets two of the five criteria of a SMART goal – this is ‘Specific’ as well as is ‘Time-bound’.

To make it ‘Measurable’, here is a start.

As per Wikipedia, there is no established convention for the designation of developed countries. Multiple measurements and indices are used by various organizations to denote a state as developed. The following table gives some of the important indices. The values are presented for the G8 countries, as well for India. Corresponding current values for Kerala are given, followed by a target value. Lots of disclaimers can be put around these target values, since the base values themselves can change in time and also since there are several approximations. But I think this is a start. We will have to refine these as we proceed.



Notes:
Primary sources: 1. The World Fact Book, CIA
2. Wikipedia articles on India and Kerala

(1) – Kerala's GDP and Per Capita are actually obtained as Rs. 894.51 billion and Rs. 11819 Respectively. I converted that to the comparable value, by assuming a PPP of 10 INR/USD. Any updated values are welcome
(2) – Further calculation is required before reaching a target
(3) – Does it add value to control these indices?
(4) – Average value based on various figures available
(5) – Even though there are many articles mentioning high HDI for Kerala, I could not find any that gives the current value. The given value is 2001value obtained from www.nihfw.org/material/journals/J053.doc. Any updated information is welcome

Apart from this, there definitely are other measurable and un-measurable targets that need to be considered – like the quality of roads, the pollution level etc. May be these can also be converted to measurable indices (like average speed of the roads, pollution index etc), but will need further study and undertaking. Those will be steps further down the path.

Now, I need your opinion on this Goal.
1. Does it even make sense?
Do note that topics like a plan to achieve this goal and execution strategies are all steps further down the path. Please don’t consider ambiguity of these topics as a reason to vote against this goal
2. Is this goal ‘Achievable’?
Based on the capability of Malayalees, I really think so. Do you agree? Do you think that some of the goals are less than what we can achieve, considering that we are speaking of 18 years from now? Should the target year be moved closer?

Do post your comments, suggestions and opinions. We can work together on this…

Introduction

OK. What is this all about? Just a few thoughts. Mostly based on some other blogs already on this topic.

I believe that unless there is a fixed goal, human performance will be below capacity. By extension, so would the performance of a society. So, for a capable society to perform and produce great results, there should be a goal – a SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound goal.

We know that malayalees are a capable society. Far more capable than any other groups in India, by some accounts. So what is pulling our state back from developing? It has to be noted that we are taking some very important steps for growth. But is this speed sufficient? Is status quo acceptable? We here lots of whining in the media as well as in the barber shop. Is that sufficient? Who is moving ahead of words and taking action?

Our political leaders? You know it is a pathetic situation in that group. Again, let me acknowledge that we have some very good leaders in Kerala. Some good visionaries. And they do have some great ideas. But as the cliché image of mallus (crabs pulling down each other) goes, they don’t have time to convert their visions to action. Even if someone starts to do something, all others find a way to bring him down. The biggest concern is ‘who gets the credit?’ ‘There is no way we can let him get all that credit. Let us find some thing bad in this’.

I don’t think there is any need for me to go on. We know this. So, in summary my point is that we are a strong society capable of producing phenomenal results. In the absence of a charismatic person, the best way to convert this potential to result is to have a plan and then to have a controlled and monitored execution of the plan. Starting point for this, is a goal.

What I want to present is a suggestion for such a goal. You would’ve got a basic idea from the blog’s title. More details in the next post. Then, I would like all of your opinion on the suggestion. I hope that we can then work together to create a goal – a SMART one. This would be our first step... of a long journey.

Hoping to get companionship...
:)

In the name of God... I start

:)