kerala


KERALA

Location : Southwestern tip of India.
Area : 38, 863 sq km.
Population : 3,18,38,619
Capital : Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Language : Malayalam;English is widely spoken.
Religion :Hinduism, Christianity, Islam
Time: GMT +5:30
Currency :Indian Rupee
Climate : Tropical.
Summer : February - May (24 - 330C)
Monsoon : June - September (22 - 280C)
Winter : October - January (22 - 320C)
Names of Districts

Old New


Thiruvananthapuram Trivandrum

Quilon Kollam

Alappuzha Alleppey

Pathanamthitta

Kottayam

Idukki

Ernakulam

Thrissur Trichur

Palakkad Palghat

Malappuram

Wayanad
Calicut

Kozhikode

Kannur Cannanore


Kasaragod


Major Cities : Thiruvananthapuram,Kochi (Ernakulam district)and Kozhikode.
Taluks : 61
Revenue Villages : 1452
City Corporations : 5
Grama Panchayat : 991
Block Panchayat : 152
District Panchayat : 14


Population

Population : 318.39 lakhs as per the latest 2001 Census (31.839 Millions)

Density of Population : 819 per sq kms
Kerala's Share in the National Population : 3.1 per cent
District Average : 22.74 lakhs (2.274 millions)
Sex Ratio : 1058 women for 1000 men



Literacy

Literacy Rate : 90.92 per cent.
Male Literacy Rate : 94.20 per cent
Female Literacy Rate ; 87.86 per cent

Educational Infrastructure
Lower Primary Schools (First - Fourth classes) : 6712
Upper Primary Schools (Fifth - Seventh classes) : 2951

High Schools (Eighth - Tenth classes) : 2608
Total number of Schools : 12271

Higher Education

Higher Education Universities : 7
Arts and Science Colleges : 286


Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI)

Kerala has had a commendable record in terms of the Physical Quality of Life Index. Indicators of PQLI like infant mortality (11%), female literacy (87.86%), and life expectancy at birth for males (68.23) and females (73.62), are well above all India levels. The major reason for this achievement is Kerala's focus on the service sector. About 37% of the total annual expenditure of the State is earmarked for health and education. Another reason for this is the existence of a larger network of hospital infrastructure under the Directorate of Health Services with 933 primary health centres and 5094 sub-centres


Health Care Infrastructure

Immunisation has been near total in the year 2002 - 03.
T.T for Pregnant Women : 86.1%
T.T for 5 year old : 89.2%
T.T for 10 year old : 98.1%
T.T for 16 year old ; 95%
DPT : 95.8%
BCG : 103%
Polio : 95.3%
Anti-measles : 90.6%


Rate of Diseases per 1000 People -

Leprosy : 0.66
Malaria : 0.36
Filaria : 1.28
Tuberculosis : 0.70


Transport

Air: There are three international airports in the state. They are at Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Nedumbassery (Kochi) and operate international flights and domestic flights.

Road and Rail : The state is well connected by rail and road.

Major Seaports : : KochiMinor : Beypore (Kozhikode), Alappuzha, Kollam.

Major Beaches :

Kovalam, Varkala, Fort Kochi, Kappad and Bekal.

Major Wild Life Sanctuaries :

Thekkady (Periyar), Parambikkulam, Wayanad, Silent Valley, Aralm, Peechi-Vazhani, Chimani, Shenduruny, Idukki, Chinnar, Peppara, Neyyar.

Bird Sanctuary :

Thattekad, Kumarakom.

Major Hill Stations : Ponmudi, Peerumade, Thekkady, Munnar and Wayanad.

Farm / Cash Crops :

Rubber, Coffee, Tea, Spices, Pepper, Cashew, Coconut, Arecanut and rice.

Exports :

Marine, Coir, Handicrafts, Spices, Food and other Products.

Major Industries :

Tourism, Information Technology, Fertilizer, Oil Refining and Power Generation, Ship Building, Machine Tools, Electronics, Cables, Rubber.