[363] The state was also among the lowest in the India State Hunger Index next only to Punjab. Temples that can afford it will usually involve at least one richly caparisoned elephant as part of the festivities. Spread over 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi), Kerala is the twenty-first largest Indian state by area. [286] The Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which includes the GIS-based Road Information and Management Project (RIMS), is responsible for maintaining and expanding the state highways in Kerala. [375] These propagate via gurukula discipleship,[374]:5–6 and comprise a fusion of both medicinal and alternative treatments. [154] As Kerala's rivers are small and lacking in delta, they are more prone to environmental effects. VPN is the best — "Once I Vodafone VPN can help my ISP slow down & Set Up of 160mbps throttled to vodafone throttling wall, twitch a VPN. [40] The land which rose from sea was filled with salt and unsuitable for habitation; so Parasurama invoked the Snake King Vasuki, who spat holy poison and converted the soil into fertile lush green land. The mosque was built in the 629 A.D. 33. [92] The social system became fractured with divisions on caste lines. As the state is known for its beaches, the coastal area of the state is of 580 square kilometers. 29. The Devas pleaded before Lord Vishnu, who took his fifth incarnation as Vamana and pushed Mahabali down to netherworld to placate the Devas. [569] Munnar is 4,500 feet above sea level and is known for tea plantations, and a variety of flora and fauna. Malayalam is the widely spoken language in Kerala. In the 15th century, the spice trade attracted Portuguese traders to Kerala, and paved the way for European colonisation of India. T. C. Yohannan, Suresh Babu, Sinimol Paulose, Angel Mary Joseph, Mercy Kuttan, K. Saramma, K. C. Rosakutty, Padmini Selvan and Tintu Luka are the other Arjuna Award winners from Kerala. [528] Other dailies include Deccan Chronicle, The Times of India, DNA, The Economic Times, and The Financial Express. [486] Kerala's visual arts range from traditional murals to the works of Raja Ravi Varma, the state's most renowned painter. There is only one cantonment in Kerala. Along with Pondicherry, Kerala is the only other state in India to have sex ratio higher than 0.99. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram. Traffic density is nearly four times the national average, reflecting the state's high population. With 590 kilometres (370 miles) of coastal belt,[273] 400,000 hectares of inland water resources[274] and approximately 220,000 active fishermen,[275] Kerala is one of the leading producers of fish in India. "How the Portuguese used Hindu-Muslim wars - and Christianity - for the bloody conquest of Goa", "Beating the retreat: The Malabar Special Police is no longer the trigger-happy unit", "Physical and Anatomical Characteristic of Wood of Some Less-Known Tree Species of Kerala", "INDIA – SILENT VALLEY RAINFOREST UNDER THREAT ONCE MORE", "UN designates Western Ghats as world heritage site", "Kerala Boat Ferries Lone Passenger To Help Her Take Exam", "Worst floods in nearly a century kill 44 in India's Kerala state amid torrential monsoon rains", "Temperature mapping, thermal diffusivity and subsoil heat flux at Kariavattom, Kerala", "Hydromet Division Updated/Real Time Maps", "Opportunities in participatory planning to Evolve a Landuse Policy for Western Ghats Region in Kerala", "Biological Diversity of Kerala: A survey of Kalliasseri panchayat, Kannur district", "World's oldest teak trees dying in Kerala", "View of A checklist of the vertebrates of Kerala State, India | Journal of Threatened Taxa", https://ildm.kerala.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Revenue-Guide-2018.pdf, "Revenue department, government of Kerala", "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)", "Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project", "Cities best to earn a living are not the best to live: Survey", "Legislative Assembly of Kerala: Official Website", "An Introduction to local self governments in Kerala", "Kerala – A Case Study of Classical Democratic Decentralisation", "Economy – Kerala – States and Union Territories – Know India: National Portal of India", "Provisional results of economic census 2005", "Nap on HDI scores may land Kerala in an equilibrium trap", "The Perils of Social Development without Economic Growth: The Development Debacle of Kerala, India", "Kerala's Gulf connection: Emigration, remittances and their macroeconomic impact 1972–2000", "GCC residency cap may force lakhs to return", "Remittances: Kerala drives dollar flows to India", "NRI deposits in Kerala banks cross Rs 1 lakh crore", "New Evidences from the Kerala Migration Survey, 2018", "Migrant worker population in Kerala touches 2.5 m", "Constraints on Diffusion and Adoption of Agro-mechanical Technology in Rice Cultivation in Kerala", "Small Coffee Growers of Sulthan Bathery, Wayanad", "State/Union Territory-Wise Number of Branches of Scheduled Commercial Banks and Average Population Per Bank Branch", "Now, you can bank on every village in Kerala", "On May Day, Kerala becomes Nokkukooli-free", "Regional poverty estimates for India, 1999–2000", "Technopark aims to be among top 5 IT investment locations", "God's own country to house largest IT park", "Infopark's IT exports climb 53% in FY14", "Kerala Budget: Infrastructure projects get a major fillip", "Modi to address heads of civic bodies on urban revamp", "Gross Domestic Product of Kerala and India From 2004–05 to 2012–13", "State to switch fully to organic farming by 2016: Mohanan", "CM: Will Get Total Organic Farming State Tag by 2016", "Coastal, Hill Highways to become a reality", "District of Palakkad – the granary of Kerala, Silent Valley National Park, Nelliyampathy", "Kerala State transport project second phase to be launched next month", "Institutional Strengthening Action Plan (ISAP)", "Kerala parties finally toe NHAI line of 45-m wide highways", "State's troubled highways a shocking revelation for Centre", "KeralaRTC Official Website - keralartc.com", "Thiruvananthapuram Central to be made a world-class station", "Metro rail: DMRC demands prompt handing over of land, funds", "DMRC sets early deadline for Kochi Metro rail project", "Alstom's new Metropolis train set for Kochi Metro", "Alstom's Metropolis for Kochi – design unveiled for the first time", "Metro train to ply every 5 minutes, carry 1,000 persons", "India's first CBTC metro system to be ready in March", "Kochi Metro zooms past Chennai, Nagpur to emerge best", "Aviation school proposal evokes mixed response", "Kannur flew, way before its first airport - Times of India", "Silver jubilee does not bring cheer to Karipur airport users", "How is the world's first solar-powered airport faring? Kerala has the largest telecom literacy rate in India with full mobile connectivity and about 75% internet connectivity. In addition, Portuguese invasions in the 15th century caused two major religions, Buddhism and Jainism, to disappear from the land. [292] As of 2013[update], Kerala had the highest road accident rate in the country, with most fatal accidents taking place along the state's national highways.[293]. Kerala is known as ‘God’s Own Country’. PT Usha, the famous Olympian, belongs to the state of Kerala. The history of Kerala as an Indian state in its current form begins post-independence. 70. Therefore, Kerala can be named as the land of coconut trees. [562] Many advertisements branded Kerala with the tagline Kerala, God's Own Country. Marine fossils have been found in an area near Changanassery, thus supporting the hypothesis. That’s why it is a normal sight to see brides covered with gold in weddings in Kerala. The Kerala society per se has a tendency to achieve equitable distribution of wealth (that is a left wing ideology not understood by many who denIgrate socialism as a means for EQUAL DISTRIBUTION) due to a wide range of historical and social factors. The park consists of some rare species of flora and fauna. Najith Kumar, K.K. [386] As of 2016, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and others account for 41.88%, 42.55%, 15.35% and 0.22% of the total child births in the state, respectively.[387]. [34][35] Al-Biruni (973–1048 CE) must have been the first writer to call this country Malabar. In 2006, around 22% of the total Indian marine fishery yield was from Kerala. [240] Lulu International Shopping Mall at Kochi is the largest Shopping Mall in India. [18][19] The state topped in the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals according to the annual report of NITI Aayog published in 2019. [376] People in Kerala experience elevated incidence of cancers, liver and kidney diseases. It is one of the country's oldest state-run public bus transport services. [435] In 2006–2007, the state topped the Education Development Index (EDI) of the 21 major states in India. This mentions a pepper emporium called Male, which clearly gave its name to Malabar ('the country of Male'). and Multinational corporations like KPMG, Ernst & Young, EXL Service, Etisalat DB Telecom, Nielsen Audio, Xerox ACS, Tata ELXSI etc. 0 107 . This slogan is used by the Kerala Tourism Department. Blog. [241], The state's budget of 2020-2021 was ₹1.15 trillion (US$16 billion). The state has a second major IT hub, the Infopark centred in Kochi with "spokes"(it acts as the "hub") in Thrissur and Alleppy. 2. [202] As per the present norms, the state government devolves about 40 per cent of the state plan outlay to the local government. The famous Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is located in Kerala. [283] Palakkad district is generally referred to as the Gateway of Kerala, due to the presence of the Palakkad Gap in the Western Ghats, through which the northern (Malabar) and southern (Travancore) parts of Kerala are connected to the rest of India via road and rail. [69] In foreign-trade circles the region was known as Male or Malabar. [210][530] BSNL, Airtel, Vodafone Idea Limited, Jio are the major cell phone service providers. The Blasters are one of the most widely supported clubs in the country as well as the fifth most followed football club from Asia in the social media. Kerala has also been declared as the first digital state. Sasthamkota is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala. 31. Government Brennen College, Thalassery, founded by philanthropist Edward Brennen in 1862, is one of the oldest educational institutions in India. 79. The rivers face problems such as sand mining and pollution. Kanjikkuzhi (Alappuzha) in Kerala was the first panchayat to get Swaraj Trophy. [555], Kerala's beaches, backwaters, lakes, mountain ranges, waterfalls, ancient ports, palaces, religious institutions[556] and wildlife sanctuaries are major attractions for both domestic and international tourists. One of the facts that many people are unfamiliar with is that Kerala has the highest mortality rate in India. Sujata V. Manohar was the first woman high court chief justice of Kerala. [343][10][344] The life expectancy in Kerala is 74 years, among the highest in India as of 2011[update]. Conolly- the collector of Malabar District. 8. 44. [424][425] Owing to the former matrilineal system, women in Kerala enjoy a high social status. [105] However, the Portuguese suffered setbacks from attacks by Zamorin forces in Malabar region; especially from naval attacks under the leadership of Kozhikode admirals known as Kunjali Marakkars, which compelled them to seek a treaty. vodafone fngbDoS can easily is working perfect (sic) throttling your Operators help you out, we'll feature will prevent them throttling and Dvpn router solution. Kerala has one major port, 17 minor ports and a few mini ports. All rights reserved. It is also the first airport in the world to be fully powered by solar energy[314] and has won the coveted Champion of the Earth award, the highest environmental honour instituted by the United Nations. In the 15th century, the status of Cochin was reduced to a vassal state of Kozhikode. "Jews in India." More than 5 hectares of land in the state is used for rubber cultivation. To introduce you to a few of them, here’s the list of 100 interesting facts about Kerala you may not know. 42. Jackfruit is the official fruit of the state. Idukki Dam, the world's second arch dam, and Asia's first is at Idukki. Katz 2000; Koder 1973; Thomas Puthiakunnel 1973; David de Beth Hillel, 1832; Lord, James Henry 1977. 55. Padmanabhapuram Palace and the Mattancherry Palace are two nearby heritage sites. The state was formed in 1956. 92. [416]Jainism has a considerable following in the Wayanad district. [366]:5 Kerala's 13.3% prevalence of low birth weight is higher than that of many first world nations. [321] In the state, the rate of population growth is India's lowest, and the decadal growth of 4.9% in 2011 is less than one third of the all-India average of 17.64%. [168]:65, Most of the biodiversity is concentrated and protected in the Western Ghats. [560] In 1986 the government of Kerala declared tourism an important industry and it was the first state in India to do so. The state's largest checkpoint, Walayar, is on NH 544, in the border town between Kerala and Tamil Nadu, through which a large amount of public and commercial transportation reaches the northern and central districts of Kerala. The peak reaches an incredible height of 8133 feet and is the highest point on the Western Ghats. Northern Book Centre, New Delhi, 1997, "Kerala." [157], With around 120–140 rainy days per year,[158]:80 Kerala has a wet and maritime tropical climate influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the southwest summer monsoon and northeast winter monsoon. 30. Among the prominent athletes hailing from the state are P. T. Usha, Shiny Wilson and M.D. [81][82] The earliest Saint Thomas Christian Churches,[83] Cheraman Jumu'ah Masjid (traditionally dated to "629 CE" by the Mappilas)—regarded as "the first mosque of India"[84]—and Paradesi Synagogue (1568 CE)—the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations[85]—were built in Kerala. In comparison with the rest of India, Kerala experiences relatively little sectarianism. [96] Ma Huan (1403 AD), the Chinese sailor part of the Imperial Chinese fleet under Cheng Ho (Zheng He)[97] states the city as a great emporium of trade frequented by merchants from around the world. [71] The value of Rome's annual trade with the region was estimated at around 50,000,000 sesterces;[72] contemporary Sangam literature describes Roman ships coming to Muziris in Kerala, laden with gold to exchange for pepper. Three quarters of the land area of Kerala was under thick forest up to 18th century. "Legacies of matriliny: The place of women and the 'Kerala model'. Kerala is one of India's most progressive states in terms of social welfare and quality of life. Highest gold consumption in the country Source. info)) is a state on the southwestern Malabar Coast of India. - Quora Kerala - Reddit. [119][120][121] The company forged tributary alliances with Kochi in 1791 and Travancore in 1795. [171]:12 Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Nilgiri tahr, common palm civet, and grizzled giant squirrels are also found in the forests. Grab the deal and start packing your bags for an indelible holiday with Tour My India. [229] Unemployment in 2007 was estimated at 9.4%;[230] chronic issues are underemployment, low employability of youth, and a low female labour participation rate of only 13.5%,[231]:5, 13 as was the practice of Nokku kooli, "wages for looking on". 47. [93] Finally, the Kulasekhara dynasty was subjugated in 1102 by the combined attack of Later Pandyas and Later Cholas. [360], In 2015, Kerala had the highest conviction rate of any state, over 77%. [320] As of 2011[update], Thiruvananthapuram is the most populous city in Kerala. 73. Kerala has a plethora of attractions you never knew about. [36], According to the Sangam classic Purananuru, the Chera king Senkuttuvan conquered the lands between Kanyakumari and the Himalayas. "Fort Cochin in Kerala 1750–1830 The Social Condition of a Dutch Community in an Indian Milieu." [177] These are threatened by extensive habitat destruction, including soil erosion, landslides, salinisation, and resource extraction. [516] Popular snacks include banana chips, yam crisps, tapioca chips, Achappam, Unni appam and kuzhalappam. "A Marxist Paradise For Women?" Elephant is the state animal of Kerala and has a special bond with the state. [552] Travel and Leisure also described Kerala as "One of the 100 great trips for the 21st century". [179][180] [426]:1, The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries. [166] Kerala's rainfall averages 2,923 mm (115 in) annually. Kerala is one of the cleanest states in India. Cricketers, like Tinu Yohannan, Abey Kuruvilla, Sreesanth, Sanju Samson and Basil Thampi found places in the national cricket team. Phoenicians established trade with Kerala during this period. Kerala also offers tourists with the opportunity to experience its vibrant festivals, dances, delectable cuisines, Ayurveda therapies, literature, and art & craft. The tertiary sector comprises services such as transport, storage, communications, tourism, banking, insurance and real estate. [55][56]:79 Kerala's spices attracted ancient Babylonians, Assyrians and Egyptians to the Malabar Coast in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BCE. In the last centuries BCE the coast became important to the Greeks and Romans for its spices, especially black pepper. Thiruvananthapuram airport shares civilian facilities with the Southern Air Command of the Indian Air Force. 11) Kerala has a lot of ‘firsts’ to its name. In the forests, sonokeling, Dalbergia latifolia, anjili, mullumurikku, Erythrina, and Cassia number among the more than 1,000 species of trees in Kerala. 21. There are 152 block panchayats and 75 Taluks in Kerala. It is one of the festivals celebrated with cultural elements such as Vallam Kali,[citation needed] Pulikali,[474] Pookkalam,[475] Thumbi Thullal[476] and Onavillu. [126], After India was partitioned in 1947 into India and Pakistan, Travancore and Kochi, part of the Union of India were merged on 1 July 1949 to form Travancore-Cochin. Malabar is reminiscent of the word Malanad which means the land of hills. [439] Though the cost of education is generally considered low in Kerala,[441] according to the 61st round of the National Sample Survey (2004–2005), per capita spending on education by the rural households was reported to be ₹41 (57¢ US) for Kerala, more than twice the national average. A canal 205 kilometres (127 mi) long, National Waterway 3, runs between Kottapuram and Kollam, which is included in the East-Coast Canal. Tea is available in every Kerala house whenever you seek in plenty. [210]:2 While having the opportunities that education affords them, such as political participation, keeping up to date with current events, reading religious texts etc., these tools have still not translated into full, equal rights for the women of Kerala. 41. The industry provides employment to approximately 1.2 million people.[564]. [114][115], In 1766, Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysore invaded northern Kerala. [211] The state witnessed significant emigration during the Gulf Boom of the 1970s and early 1980s. [citation needed] From the 1990s, liberalisation of the mixed economy allowed Licence Raj restrictions against capitalism and foreign direct investment to be lightened, leading to economic expansion and an increase in employment. The Malabar region, in the northern part of Kerala, had been a part of the Madras province of British India, which later became a part of the Madras State post-independence. The state's coastline extends for 595 kilometres (370 mi), and around 1.1 million people in the state are dependent on the fishery industry which contributes 3% to the state's income. From the Lake District, Nainital, Nidhi Singh is a travel writer whose love for mountains can be seen in her write ups. 51. [188] The government is organised into the three branches: The local government bodies; Panchayat, Municipalities and Corporations have existed in Kerala since 1959, however, the major initiative to decentralise the governance was started in 1993, conforming to the constitutional amendments of central government in this direction. George, "Kerala's education system: from inclusion to exclusion", Najith Kumar, K.K. [345] Kerala's rural poverty rate fell from 59% (1973–1974) to 12% (1999–2010); the overall (urban and rural) rate fell 47% between the 1970s and 2000s against the 29% fall in overall poverty rate in India. [200] The Kerala Panchayati Raj Act envisages a 3-tier system of local government with Gram panchayat, Block panchayat and District Panchayat forming a hierarchy. [28] The Skanda Purana mentions the ecclesiastical office of the Thachudaya Kaimal who is referred to as Manikkam Keralar, synonymous with the deity of the Koodalmanikyam temple. [548] The Indian Hockey team captain P. R. Shreejesh, ace goalkeeper hails from Kerala. [37] Lacking worthy enemies, he besieged the sea by throwing his spear into it. [352] The state also is regarded as the "least corrupt Indian state" according to the surveys conducted by CMS Indian Corruption Study (CMS-ICS)[353] Transparency International (2005)[354] and India Today (1997). [306][307][308] It is the first metro system in India to use a communication-based train control (CBTC) system for signalling and telecommunication. [571] The Kerala backwaters are an extensive network of interlocking rivers (41 west-flowing rivers), lakes, and canals that centre around Alleppey, Kumarakom and Punnamada (where the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in August), Pathiramanal a small island in Muhamma . A Malayalam version of Google News was launched in September 2008. [122], By the end of 18th century, the whole of Kerala fell under the control of the British, either administered directly or under suzerainty. 84. [first published in 2002; 3rd edn.]. [48] Rock engravings in the Edakkal Caves, in Wayanad date back to the Neolithic era around 6000 BCE. These facilities are used mostly by central government VIPs visiting Kerala. [427][428] In the early decades of the 19th century, the modern educational transformation of Kerala was triggered by the efforts of the Church Mission Society missionaries to promote mass education. [47] Pre-historical archaeological findings include dolmens of the Neolithic era in the Marayur area of the Idukki district. 8. [340][341] However, the Human Development Report 2005, prepared by Centre for Development Studies envisages a virtuous phase of inclusive development for the state since the advancement in human development had already started aiding the economic development of the state. [41], Another much earlier Puranic character associated with Kerala is Mahabali, an Asura and a prototypical just king, who ruled the earth from Kerala. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. Brenda Maddox mentions in: Maddox, Brenda. [484] The development of the indigenous classical music form, Sopana Sangeetham, illustrates the rich contribution that temple culture has made to the arts of Kerala. Vasudevan Nair and O.N.V. Encyclopædia Britannica. 15. 11. [146] The Western Ghats mountain chain is recognised as one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity and is listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 89. 1 in child sex abuse complaints; Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra follow", "Conviction rate up, Kerala tops with over 77% link", "Population of homeless in rural India dips", "CM told to pursue Zero Homeless Kerala project link", "Kerala-becomes-Indias-first-complete-digital-state link", "The road to universal health care in State", "Kerala as good as US, OECD in saving newborn children – Times of India", "Why Kerala is the best place in India to die", "Water quality and health status in Kollam Municipality", "Diabetic patients: Kerala tops list of Indian states", "Kerala Named World's First WHO-UNICEF "Baby-Friendly State, "Indian state wins 'baby-friendly' award", "Kerala becomes first state to provide free cancer treatment – Free Press Journal", "Health Statistics and Public Health issues in Kerala", "Health crisis in Kerala: The increase in cancer, kidney and liver diseases – The Economic Times", "Language – India, States and Union Territories", "Kerala government to appoint officer to study issues of linguistic minorities", "Population by religious community – 2011", "Social capital as a product of class mobilization and state intervention: Industrial workers in Kerala, India", "Increase in Muslim population in the State", "Kerala, not Goa, has maximum no. ", Devika, J. [147], Kerala's western coastal belt is relatively flat compared to the eastern region,[56]:33 and is criss-crossed by a network of interconnected brackish canals, lakes, estuaries,[148] and rivers known as the Kerala Backwaters. Kozhikode, formerly known as Calicut, was the place where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed in 1498. [461] Some festivals include Poorams, the best known of these being the Thrissur Pooram. Totally there are 14 districts in Kerala. [320] Kerala's population more than doubled between 1951 and 1991 by adding 15.6 million people to reach 29.1 million residents in 1991; the population stood at 33.3 million by 2011. [178][171]:163–165, The state's 14 districts are distributed among six regions: North Malabar (far-north Kerala), South Malabar (north-central Kerala), Kochi (central Kerala), Northern Travancore, Central Travancore (southern Kerala) and Southern Travancore (far-south Kerala). In 2008, the Persian Gulf countries together had a Keralite population of more than 2.5 million, who sent home annually a sum of US$6.81 billion, which is the highest among Indian states and more than 15.13% of remittances to India in 2008. [283] New projects for hill and coastal highways were recently announced under KIIFB. The media, telecommunications, broadcasting and cable services are regulated by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Thalassery Cuisine is varied and is a blend of many influences. 90. [155] The state experiences several natural hazards like landslides, floods and droughts. 39. 8 June 2008, Padmalal D, Maya K, Sreebha S & Sreeja R, 2007, Environmental effects of river sand mining: a case from the river catchments of. The state boasts an assortment of spices which originated from the cultures of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and merchants who settled down here. [57] The Land of Keralaputra was one of the four independent kingdoms in southern India during Ashoka's time, the others being Chola, Pandya, and Satiyaputra. an easy 7-day Indian is a vegetable stew that promises to bring Keto Diet Plan & While planning a Ketogenic Carb High Fat diet meal plan? While the Indian caste system generally modeled the four-fold division of society into Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, in Kerala the Nambudiri Brahmins formed the priestly class and only rarely recognized anyone else as being other than Shudra or untouchables, the latter being outside the caste system entirely. [477], Kerala is home to a number of performance arts. [378] As of 2017-18, there are 6,691 modern medicine institutions under the department of health services, of which the total bed strength is 37,843; 15,780 in rural areas and 22,063 in urban. According to the Economic Times[567] Kerala netted a record revenue of INR 36,528.01 crore from the tourism sector in 2018, clocking an increase of Rs 2,874.33 crore from the previous year. It is known that the Menons in the Malabar region of Kerala were originally strong believers of Jainism. Kerala is the only state in the country that has an institutional delivery rate of 99.9%. The eastern region of Kerala consists of high mountains, gorges and deep-cut valleys immediately west of the Western Ghats' rain shadow. [298] Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC) is the busiest railway station in the state. Kerala has focused more attention towards growth of Information Technology sector with formation of Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram which is one of the largest IT employer in Kerala. [317] The main constraints to the expansion of inland navigation are; lack of depth in waterways caused by silting, lack of maintenance of navigation systems and bank protection, accelerated growth of the water hyacinth, lack of modern inland craft terminals, and lack of a cargo handling system. [282] This translates to about 6.98 kilometres (4.34 mi) of road per thousand people, compared to an average of 3.88 kilometres (2.41 mi) in the country. [409][410][411] As a consequence of centuries of mixing with colonial immigrants, beginning with the Portuguese, Dutch, French, British and other Europeans, there is a community of Anglo-Indians in Kerala of mixed European and Indian parentage or ancestry. It is the only metro rail system in Kerala. 64. KR Gowri was the first woman minister of the state. [358][359] In 2019, Kerala recorded the highest child sex abuse complaints in India. Anju Bobby George of Kerala was the first Malayali woman gold medalist in world Athletic Championship.