PNN August 20, 2008 (Thiruvananthapuram): Unable to compete with Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi in attracting IT investment, entrepreneurs in Kerala have come up with a unique model to attract foreign direct investment. In a recent press conference, Finance Minister of Kerala highlighted the steps the government will take towards providing an atmosphere conducive for outsourcing protests rallies and bandhs (shutdowns) to the state.
Totally by coincident, Kerala is observing its 80th shutdown in last six months today. “This is a unique feature of Kerala economy that it continues to have one of the highest human development indices and standard of living in the country in spite of all of these protest related shutdowns,” said the finance minister. He added, “So far protests have been sponsored by various regional and national political parties, trader unions, and elements of separatist militia – domestic investment this. There are tremendous opportunities for attracting foreign capital by allowing them to outsource their protests in Kerala. We already have the infrastructure and trained workforce.”
Leading economists support this idea. Unemployment in Kerala is nearly 20% and this model is going to take care of that. 20% of the state’s GDP is in the form of foreign remittances and over 17% comes from agriculture and fishing industries. The former remains unaffected, and harvest seasons could be avoided for sake of the latter. Most protests will be unrelated to Kerala, and that's a good thing because they will not disrupt daily life and booming tourism industry.
“It actually depends upon the money invested. A platinum-category protest, for example, would be livelier with a lot stone pelting and glass shattering. Replacement glasses and windows will be provided by participating merchants. It will be an all-inclusive undertaking by the government and various private establishments,” quoted an adviser in the finance ministry.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that PETA will not be among targeted investors, probably because naked protests are a bit too extreme for India at the moment. “… and I don’t think that local population would be too happy about hordes of protesting Naga Sadhus either”, said one roadside fish vendor.
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