Fri Jan 31 16:35:37 UTC 2025: ## Kerala’s Sustainable Development Models Praised in Economic Survey
**Thiruvananthapuram, January 31, 2025** – Kerala’s innovative approaches to sustainable development have been lauded in the Economic Survey 2024-25, presented to Parliament on Friday. The survey highlighted three key initiatives as replicable models for other states: a land leasing program for horticulture, a localized approach to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a successful waste management program.
The survey praised Kerala’s “robust, community-based model” for localizing SDGs, emphasizing the collaborative roles of the State’s Local Self-Government department and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA). This approach integrates international goals with rural development, focusing on essential services like housing, sanitation, and electrification.
Kerala’s land leasing arrangement, allowing self-help groups to lease land for horticulture for three to five years, was cited as particularly innovative. This system has increased farm efficiency and improved land access for low-income groups, with over 85% of lessees falling under this category.
Finally, the Erattayar grama panchayat in Idukki district, along with Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh, received recognition for its exemplary waste management initiative. The Haritha Karma Sena played a crucial role in this success, extending services to over 4,600 households and 500 institutions, creating jobs and preserving the environment.
The Economic Survey concluded that these Kerala initiatives provide valuable lessons for other regions seeking sustainable and inclusive growth.
First Piper 