That one line sums up the contradiction that defines modern Kerala.
On reports, government speeches, and glossy advertisements, Kerala is shown as a model state. We boast “world-class healthcare,” “efficient waste management,” “modern road infrastructure,” “digital education revolution.” International agencies often quote Kerala’s literacy, life expectancy, and health indices as proof of success.
But reality is much less flattering. Step into any government hospital and the myth breaks instantly.
The Healthcare Gap
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Overcrowded hospitals: Patients lying on floors because there are not enough beds.
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Staff shortage: Essential posts for doctors, nurses, and technicians remain vacant.
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Broken infrastructure: Toilets in shambles, leaking roofs, dirty water tanks.
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Medicine shortage: Despite “free medicines” on paper, patients end up buying from private pharmacies.
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Technology gap: MRI, CT scan, and ICU facilities missing in many district hospitals.
This isn’t just a small crack—it’s a structural failure hidden under the banner of “Kerala Model Health.”
The Civic Illusion
It doesn’t stop at hospitals. The same story repeats across sectors:
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Waste management: Government ads show “scientific waste disposal plants,” but in towns and panchayats garbage rots in open spaces, attracting stray dogs and disease.
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Roads and transport: On paper, crores are allocated every year for road development. In reality, commuters struggle with crater-filled roads, zero footpaths, and unsafe junctions.
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Education: Schools are showcased as “hi-tech classrooms.” But visit a rural school and you’ll find leaking roofs, broken benches, and lack of basic sanitation.
The Great Kerala Irony
In government reports, Kerala is a first-world state. In daily life, ordinary citizens live in third-class conditions. The gap between propaganda and practice is widening—and people know it.
That’s why the phrase is repeated by many with bitter laughter:
പേപ്പറിൽ ഉണ്ട്. പ്രവർത്തിയിൽ ഇല്ല.