India's Kerala state goes open source

India's Kerala state government is counting on open-source software to boost its IT literacy rate.

According to a statement, the Kerala government has identified free and open-source software (FOSS) as a major strategic component in its efforts to build an inclusive information society.

"Kerala has always been a leader in literacy and now we want to make Kerala a leader in e-literacy," said Kerala chief minister VS Achutanandan.

"We believe that free and open-source software is an essential component in our drive to democratise information technology and bring its benefits to all sections of society," Achutanandan said.

The Indian state is partnering with Red Hat to train the technical staff of various government organisations as well as school teachers on desktop Linux and other open-source applications. The Linux vendor will also work with the state government to promote Kerala as a global destination for developing open-source software.

Commenting on Kerala's move towards open source, Nandkumar Pradhan, president and managing director of Red Hat India, said: "The Kerala government has taken a very progressive step in choosing open-source software. The freedom, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of open source helps governments maximise their IT budgets."

Kerala is the latest Indian state to widely support the use of open-source software in schools and government departments.

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Kerala Boat Races To Get Sporting Event Status

The boat races in Kerala, which have attracted tourists for years, are now all set to get the status of a full-fledged sporting event.

The formal announcement of this decision will be made during the 55th Nehru Boat Race to be held in Alappuzha on the second Saturday of August this year, T.P. Dasan, President, Kerala Sports Council (KSC) told IANS.

'We are working out the nuances and through a new law this would be made a sporting event. A lot of homework has to be done because unlike other events, the rules and regulations of boat races are quite different. A committee would soon be appointed to work out everything,' he said.

For any event to get the status of a sporting event in Kerala, it should be held in at least seven districts.

Currently the boat races are held as a competitive event in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.

Communist Party of India - Marxist legislator and a former captain of a popular boat club in Alappuzha district C.K. Sadasivan said the granting of sporting event status to the races was a long standing demand of all those associated with the event.

'Now the mandatory rule of the event to be held in seven districts has been accomplished, with Thrissur district becoming the seventh district. The race is now going to be held as a competitive event in Kannur district also this season,' Sadasivan told IANS.

'We are pleased that our efforts have paid off. Once this becomes a sporting event, all winners in the boat races would get grace marks for reservation of jobs in the sports category,' former KSC president Mohanachandran said.

The boat races are normally held during the Onam festival in the months of August and September.

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Alappuzha, the premier event, is associated with former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's visit to the state in 1952 when a pageantry of boats accompanied him on his trip from Kottayam to Alappuzha.

The first race was an impromptu one conducted in honour of India's first prime minister.

Nehru, thrilled by the performance of the oarsmen, jumped into the 'Nadubhagam Chundan' (a snake boat), forgetting all security arrangements. The boat proceeded to the jetty with the then prime minister on board.

On returning to Delhi, he donated a silver trophy, a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus, with an inscription and his signature. This trophy is given to the winner in the snake boat category.

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Rs 3000 cr package for coastal development in Kerala

A comprehensive development package with a total outlay of Rs 3,000 crore would be implemented in the coastal regions of Kerala, state Fisheries Minister S Sharma told the Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a calling attention, he said "The Hyderabad based National Institute of Rural Development had been entrusted with the task of preparing project report for the package. The Coastal Development Authority would be the nodal agency for implementing the schemes."

Besides improving basic facilities in the coastal areas, the other main components of the package included providing houses to all fishermen, power connections and developing the fish landing centres and fishing harbours.

The package envisaged coordination of schemes taken up by different departments in the regions.

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Insurance policy for Kerala fisher folk

The Kerala government has firmed up plans to introduce an integrated insurance policy for the state’s fisheries sector.
Kerala’s minister for fisheries, S Sarma, told the Assembly on Wednesday that his department had charted out the initial plan for the insurance policy, which will be christened 'Matsya Suraksha'.
As per the insurance policy, the government will ensure that an amount of Rs 1 lakh is paid to the kin of fisher folk who die in mishaps. An amount of Rs 50,000 will be paid to those who are rendered physically invalid while engaged in their work.
This apart, fishing equipment such as fishing boats, boat engines, and nets would also be covered under the policy.
He said the policy, which will come into force this year itself, would cover all those who are involved in fisheries and related sectors.

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Kerala traders protest against retail chains

Traders in Kerala downed shutters on Wednesday to protest the entry of big domestic and multi-national players in the retail sector.

The protest was called by the traders' associations, including "Kerala Vyapari Vyvasayi Ekopana Samiti" and "Kerala Vyapara Samiti".

Their demands include a state legislation restricting FDI in retail sector, refusal of licence to big retail houses by local bodies and imposition of luxury tax on corporate entering the retail sector.

Reports from across the state said the response to the protest was near total in most towns.

Medical stores and hotels have been exempted from protest.

The head load workers unions have pledged their support to the trade hartal.

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HIV+ children face boycott in Kerala school

Five HIV positive children in Mar Dionysius Primary school in Kerala’s Kottayam district face a boycott as parents of most of the students on Monday refused to send their children to the institution and even threatened to withdraw their wards.

Only three children attended classes in the school here as parents continued to protest the presence of the five afflicted children. The Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), which met on Monday, formed a five-member committee to take a decision within three days on their future course of action, said the school manager, Paulose Mar Pachomios Thirumeni.

The HIV+ students, studying in classes two and three, also did not turn up as the vehicle carrying them to school had developed some complaints, said authorities of ‘Asha Kiran’, the rehabilitation centre where the children are staying.

The five children were refused permission to continue with their studies in the school in December last year after parents of other students came to know about their HIV status. After the state government put pressure on the school authorities, the students were re-admitted on June 18 this year.

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Rs 100 cr infra loss to Kerala

For Kerala, the first monsoon fury of the year turned out a double dose of disaster, with the State already reeling from viral fever ravage. The heavy downpour took a holiday on Monday, but it was after logging as much as Rs 100-crore infrastructure loss and 2,458 hectares of crop loss.

“Revenue officials are busy putting together data on monsoon-related losses since the State government is preparing a memorandum to be submitted to the Centre,” Nivedita P Haran, principal secretary (revenue), Kerala government said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan on Sunday of all possible assistance to manage the monsoon havoc.

From June 1, about 54 monsoon-related deaths have been reported. A 24-hour control-room has been set up to co-ordinate the disaster management activities. Crop-losses are yet to be worked out. By the initial assessment, about 2,458 hectares under paddy, coconut, arecanut etc seem to be in bad shape, revenue officials said. Idukky and Wayanad, the State’s cash crop hubs, have also reported crop losses in vast tracts of land.

Above 16,000 people were displaced and had to be shifted to camps. As many as 149 relief camps are on. Over 700 houses were fully devastated. Nearly 900 dwellings have been partially destroyed.

Infrastructure losses too are yet to be fully estimated. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) alone has lost over Rs 10 crore, when wind-tossed rain lashed tree branches over power lines.

Low-lying areas like Kuttanad are still submerged in flood waters. Although traditional fishermen were spared from trawling ban, rough sea stood in the way of livelihood journeys. Both backwater and sea coasts are a grim picture of uprooted coconut trees and disheveled soil contours.

Tourism, the mainstay of Kerala economy, too has not been spared, despite God’s Own country pegging its marketing whistle on monsoon tourism. Thanks to relentless rain, bookings of houseboats on backwaters has fallen from 100 houseboats per day to 50 houseboats per day, says Alex George, president, houseboat-operators association.

Earlier, the State government had announced Rs 50,000 solatium to the kin of those who lost lives in rain-related calamities. State revenue minister KP Rajendran said that about Rs 3.6 crore has been earmarked for solatium.

The Kerala Cabinet, meeting on Wednesday, is likely to come out with more support for those struck by monsoon tragedy.

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Alcoholic prohibition and Christian prayer team worker murdered in Kerala

The dead body of Joy Anthariyeth, 52, was found at Kavil junction near a bridge over a rivulet at Thannithodu.

Joy was a member of the action council seeking to shut down the alcoholic toddy shop of Thannithodu. He was also one of the active members of the SVM Prayer Fellowship.

Joy was brutally murdered as he was going back home on Friday night after attending a prayer meeting, according to Salem Voice Ministries News Service.

« Joy was threatened several times by the toddy shop authorities for leading the agitation against the toddy shop for shutting it down, » Police officials told Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries and SVM News Service.

Police said Joy was walking through the south side of the Kavil bridge on Friday, June 15. An eight-member group of men drove by and pulled him through the bridge and beat him. Joy tried to escape through the narrow path which is between the Marthoma Church and the Federal Bank, but the attackers together beat him severely death and threw the dead body from the bridge into the rivulet.

N.Rajesh, the Circle Inspector of Konny, investigated the case and arrested five of the suspected murderers on Wednesday, June 20. Another three suspects are in hiding.

According to SVM, Somarajan, who is also known as Karatte Madhu (37), Mohanan (47), Shibu (27), Sahadevan (36) and S. Animon (28) were the suspects arrested by the police. P.T. Biju (31), Santhosh (32) and Sunil (24), who are also suspects, are still at large.

The suspected murderers were believed to be Hindu extremists.

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Goodyear opens outlets in Kerala

Expanding its presence in south India, tyre major Goodyear India has unveiled two branded retail outlets in Kerala.
The two new outlets, at Malappuram and Kollam, are part of the company's initiative in organised tyre retailing and are aimed at strengthening its presence in the tyre replacement market in the country.
The company already has three shop-in-shop outlets in Kerala — at Alappuzha, Kochi and Kollam.
Goodyear has entered into an exclusive tie-up wherein the two new stores will also offer car care products including car perfumes, car wash and tyre shine, making it convenient for customers to purchase their car-related requirements under one roof, according to a company statement.

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Poorakkali

                           Poorakkali is a traditional dance ritual performed by men during the nine-day Pooram festival in Bhagavathy temples across Northern Kerala (formerly known as Kolathunadu), south India.

                    The Pooram festival begins with the Karthika asterism and concludes with the Pooram asterism of the month of Meenam according to the Malayalam calendar (corresponding to the sun sign Pisces according to the Julian Calendar) to honour Kamadeva, the god of love.

                 The Poorakkali dance itself is performed by a troop of young men decked in lion costumes around a huge, multi-tiered, lit lamp, also known as a "nilavilukku." The dance involves masculine movements and acrobatic, martial art steps. No singers or musicians accompany the dance; instead, the dancers themselves keep rhythm by singing, clapping and executing synchronised foot-thumping movements. The dancers usually observe a month of abstinence and undergo strenuous practice before the performance. Most of the songs sung are hymns from The Ramayana or The Bhagavata.

                    The performers come from different sects of society like Maniyani, Thiyyan, Mukkuvan, Meyon, Chaliyan, Aasari, Moosari, Thattan, Kollan, etc. The basis of Poorakkali essentially is the memories of [[Vasanthapooja]] performed by inmates of different worlds like heaven, earth etc. Poorakkali spreads knowledge and entertainment. The show steals the hearts of audience with melodious songs and befitting body movements.

                    Payyanur, Vengara, and Trikaripur are among the places in Kerala that are famous for this art form. The Panikkars are well-known names in the world of Poorakkali and have contributed much to the survival and expansion of this art form.

 

                          A folk dance prevalent among the Thiyyas of Malabarm, usually performed in Bhagavathy temples as a ritual offering during the month of Meenam (March - April ). Poorakkali requires specially trained and highly experienced dancers quite thorough with all the techniques and feat of Kalaripayattu, a system of physical exercise formerly vogue in Kerala. Standing round the traditional lamp, the performers dance in eighteen different stages and rhythm, each phase being called a Niram

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Kolam Thullal

              Kolam Thullalis a ritual dance form prevalent in south Kerala (south India) and this form of dancing is customary in houses and temples of Bhagavathy (Female deity). This is performed in relation with temple festivals and to drive away the bad spirit from the 'possessed' bodies.

            This is a ritual offering usually performed to get rid of the troubles caused evil - spirits. Here a number of characters, with hideous make-up and flat big head - gears dance to the accompaniment of primitive percussion instruments. The costumer of the dancers are highly decorative and rich in colour and brilliance. There is no accompanying song.

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Garudan Hanging

 

                          Garudan Hanging (Eagle Hanging) is a ritual art form performed in Kali temples of south Kerala, south India. The people who disguised as Garudas (Malayalam: eagles) perform the dance. After the dance performance, the hang-designate dangle from a shaft hooking the skin on his back. In some places, the ritual is performed colorfully with Garudas taken in a procession on bullock carts or boats or hand pulled carts.

                    The legend is that after slaying Dharika, Kali remained insatiable and thirsty even after killing Dharika. At this time Vishnu, one of the three primal Gods, sent Garuda to Kali to quench the thirst. A dancing and bleeding Garuda was taken to Kali and only after getting some drops of blood from Garuda, Kali was pacified. The ritual is performed based on this belief.

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Kerala NGO gets Green Oscar

A Kerala based NGO has won a Green Oscar for installing biogas plants in the state to convert organic waste into alternate source of energy.

Former US vice president Al Gore gave away the award — a cash prize of 30,000 pounds — to Biotech chief A. Saji at a function in London on Friday.

Biotech had launched the award-winning initiative of turning food waste into gas for cooking and electricity purposes (domestic biogas plant) at its inception in 1994.

Among the other products Biotech offers are smokeless ovens, solar lanterns and home lights.

It has built and installed 12,000 domestic plants, 220 institutional plants and 17 municipal plants that use waste from the municipal fish markets to produce biogas, which is then used in a three kilowatt engine to generate electricity for lighting the markets.

Around 160 of the domestic plants installed also use waste from eco-friendly toilets. Using excreta in the digesters helps manage human waste at source and avoids ground water contamination.

Biotech programme officer Sundar Singh told IANS that he and his colleagues were excited after receiving the Green Oscar — also known as Ashden Awards.

Currently more than 2,000 small domestic gas plants are being erected in south Kerala.

The domestic gas plant costs around Rs.10,000.

"This technology is now sought by people to tackle domestic waste. Work is going on in Ernakulam, Idukki and Alappuzha districts," Singh said.

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Thullal

 

                           Among the classical performing arts of Kerala, Thullal is distinct with its simplicity of presentation and its frank, outspoken wit and humour. The songs are in simple Malayalam and the techniques employed in this art are not rigid, though they are based on the classical principles of Naatya Saastra, a treatise on art originating in the 2nd century B.C. it is said to have been a modification of Koothu.

 

                   The word Thullal belongs to the Dravidian family of languages and literally means jumping, this however can be extended to mean to ‘to leap about’ or to ‘cut a caper’.

                   Thullal is also a genre of poetry in Malayalam. It is significant that the work is composed in metres that later became the norm for Thullal poetry. This seems to indicate that the songs for Thullal dance, at least in their structure, took their inspiration from a model that was already available. Though the Thullal dance, as we know it, came into existence less than 200years ago, the roots of its verbal component can well be traced to at least one century earlier.

 

                  Thullal is said to have been organized by Kunjan Nambiar, a veritable genius and one of the foremost poets of Kerala. Oral history records that Kunjan Nambiar accompanied the Chaakiaars on the drums when they performed their heredictary occupation of dance and drama. One day, during a temple festival, when Kunjan Nambiar was playing the drum for a Chaakiaar, he made a mistake. This incensed the Chaakiaar so much that he publicly took him to task. Crestfallen, Nambiar quietly left. Seething inwardly with anger however, he returned the following day when the same Chaakiaar was performing. Altired in a manner that itself was enough to attract attention, he presently began to sing and dance. In no time the audience turned around only to lose itself in Nambiar’s antics, leaving the Chaakiaar without spectators.

 

                   The story Kunjan Nambiar presented was a familiar one, the Kalyaanasaugandhikam from the Mahabhaaratha, but he clothed it with his own words. The Chaakiaar momentarity defeated, was silent, but later took his revenge by persuading the ruler, the Raja of Ambalapuzha, to forbid Kunjan Nambiar from performing or visiting there again.

                There are three different types of Thullal, classified according to the metre and rhythm of the songs sung in each one and the differences in constume and dance. They are Ottan Thullal, Seethankan Thullal and Parayan Thullal.
The precise interpretation of the labels Seethankan, Parayan and Ottan is not clear, but the difference in the styles relates mainly to the metre of the poetry, the place of the singing, and the costume and adornment of the performer.
Kunjan Nambiar, for his inspiration, turned to legend and mythology but gave to each story or episode a totally contemporary slant. He took figures from the Raamaayana and Mahabhaarata, the Bhaagavatham and other Puraanas and exposed them to the modes and mores of the society of his time. He was a poet of the soil who, through the expedient of wit and satire, ruthlessly laid bare the hypocrisy that he saw around him in everyday life. Making no effort to deliver a message or spell out a moral, he was content to present the picture as he saw it, and left it to his audience to react as they wished. He excelled in fusing reality with fantasy and made his characters appear totally valid to the scenario of his time. To this day, Nambiar remains the unquestioned master of the this art.

 

Performance

                     Thullal is conceived as a solo dance. The dancers is supported by two musicians, who stand a little behind him. One of them plays the maddalam, a drum, and the other, small cymbals. Both musicians are also expected to sing along with the dancer. No stage or any other from of formal arrangement is required for the performance, which can be held with equal facility in the compound of a temple or the coutyard of a house. Unlike Kathakali and Koodiyaattam, Thullal uses no curtain for entries, exists or scenes, nor is there a formal seating arrangement. As is the practice with all of Kerala’s performing arts a lighted bell metal lamp is installed in the front of the dancer, even if the performance is held during the day. Though not strictly observed now, Parayan Thullal was generally presented in the forenoon, Seethankan in the afternoon, and Ottan after dusk.

 

The player sings a verse and while the lines are repeated by his musical assistant, he brings out the meaning through facial expressions, hand gestures and bodily postures. The roler of the raconteur and actor are perpetually interchanged with tremendous aesthetic effect. In one moment he is the narrator, but in the next he completely identifies himself with the narration.

                 In Thullal the primary importance is attributed to dance. Thoughout the performance the dance element predominates but lacks variety. In order to avoid monotony, the dancer executes some vigorous foot steps and rhythmic movement of the body.

                   Thullal presentations generally last for two hours and are rendered at a pitch and pace that keep on lookers thoroughly gripped. The dancer dances and sings simultaneously and this entails a long period of rigorous training, an agile body and a communicative voice. The dancer must also be gifted with a sharp memory, for he must remember long poems, some of which have over 1,000 couplets. Once memorized, it is left to the dancer’s discretion what to take from a poem, he must link lines and relate them to this theme in order to convey the literal meaning as well as his own interpretation of each poem.

                      The emotions pertain mainly to valour, humour, pathos, anger and devotion. Sringaara, the erotic element, is virtually absent, but is rarely missed, for the burden of the songs and the nature of the dance are hardly conducive to tender passions.
               Whilst the style of dancing, singing and presentations is common to the three types of Thullal, each has its own distinctive costumes and ornaments.

 

Seethankanthullal

                     The songs and dance in this form of thullal are slower than Ottan thullal in metre and rhythm and in tempo. The dancer uses a piece of black cloth tied tightly round the head and this is circled with a band of tender, palm leaves giving the impression of a crown. Ornaments representing the full-blown lotus, made once more of palm leaf, adorn the upper arms and wrists, ankle belts, and the feet. The chest is covered with a profusion of bead necklaces and over this is tied a cross-belt. A red cloth is draped round the waist and a long length of white cloth, rather like a bandage, is looped again and again around a waist-string and fixed above this.

Parayan Thullal

             This is the slowest in tempo among the three thullals. Even the stance and posture of the performer is different from that of the two thullals. In this, the dancer stays erect and explains the meaning of the songs by gestures. There is very little dance element as well as action.

         The dancer wears a conical crown that is topped with the hood of a serpent. The eyes are boldly coutlined in black to heighten their expression and the body is anointed with sandal paste. The legs are covered with a red cloth over which is tied a white cloth that falls down to the knees. Necklaces and ankle-bells, as in the case of Seethankan, complete the outfit.

 

Ottan Thullal

             Ottamthullal is a type of performing arts from Kerala, India. Also known as the "poor mans Kathakali", Ottamthullal was created by the Malayali poet Kunchan Nambiar, as an alternative to the Chakyar koothu, as a protest against the prevalent socio-political structure and prejudices of the region. In Ottamthullal, a single actor wears colorful costumes, while reciting thullal (dance songs), all the while acting and dancing.

The art form is very satirical in nature, and the ability and freedom of the artist to invent and incorporate the humour and incidental satire makes this art form more popular among the common man. unlike Kathakali, the language is pretty simple, malayalam and very rhythmic in nature.

A popular story about the creation of the art form relates it to an incident, where Kunchan Nambiar is said to have slept off during the Chakyar koothu program where he was accompanying on Mizhavu. It says that he created the art form overnight to perform the very next day.

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Panchavadyam

 

 

                 Panchavadyam As Panchavadyam is regarded as one of the most sophisticated art forms in Kerala, the performers are highly respected and usually a huge crowd gathers to watch and listen to the performance. In distinction to the smaller ritualistic panchavadyam, this orchestral form is also called sevanga panchavadyam. Similar to chenda melam, panchavadyam is also characterised by a pyramid rhythmic structure, the ever increasing tempo, and the proportionally decreasing number of beats in a cycles. In contrast to melam it uses different instruments, is not related so closely to the kshetram ritual, contains improvised parts, and its present form was only composed in the 1930s by the maddalam artist Venkichan Swami Bhagavatar and Madhava Warrier.

 

 

             Panchavadyam performance during a festival in Kerala

 

                    An intelligent mixture of composed and improvised parts creates an amazing sound atmosphere. Similar to panchari the artists are grouped in two semicircles facing each other. According to the panchavadyam band leader and timila artist Kuttapan Marar (2001), this genre is not performed for any ritual, though it is performed in a small ensemble parallel to the diparadhana evening ritual.

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Koodiyattam

                       

 

 Guru Mani Madhava Chakyar as Ravana in Koodiyattam.

 

                     Koodiyattam, Sanskrit drama performed in Kerala, India,has been recognised by UNESCO as a Human Heritage Art. Rightly so. It is the oldest existing classical theatre form in the entire world, having originated much before Kathakali and most other theatrical forms. It is considered to be at least 2000 years old. Kulasekhara Varma Cheraman Perumal, an ancient King of Kerala was known as the creator of Koodiyattam in the present form. His book "Aattaprakaram" describes various aspects about how to perform Koodiyattam. Till date this is considered the most authoritative work on the art form. The "grammar" of performance is entirely based on the stipulations of "Natyashasthram" by Bharatha Muni, the most authoritative book on the science of acting.

                         Traditionally, Koodiyattam is presented by "Chakyars" (a sub caste of Kerala Hindus). The female roles went only to "Nangyars" (Women of Nambiar caste). The name 'Koodiyattam' (combined dance form) came because it is the combined performance of Chakkyar and Nangyar. The only musical accompaniment used to be "Mizhav" played by Nambiar men. Of late, Idakka also finds a place beside Mizhav

 

Chakyar and Nangyaramma

                          Traditionally, Koodiyattam has been presented by Chakyars. The name Koodiyattam as its name suggests is a combined performance of Chakyar and Nangyar. Traditionally Mizhavu, a special percussion instrument was the only instrument used in Koodiyattam performances. Off late Edakka, another traditional drum has also been used as accompaniment. Chakyar is the main actor who performs the ritualistic Koothu and Koodiyattam inside the temple or in the Koothambalam. Their women ,Illotammas are not allowed to participate. The female roles are done by ladies of Nambiar community called Nangyaramma.Traditionally, a person belonging to Nambiar plays the Mizhavu. Nangyaramma accompany Nambiar with kuzhithalam(a type of cymbal).

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Mohiniyattam

                              Mohiniaattam performer

 

 

                        Mohiniyattam is a dance form said to have originated in Kerala. It is closely related to Bharathanatyam of Tamil Nadu, which was originally called 'Dasiyattam'. Originated as the temple dance performed by Devadasis, it portrays feminine love in its myriad forms - carnal, devotional and maternal- with accent more on Lasya and Bhava. In the main items Cholkettu, Padavarnam and Padam, Mudras and facial expressions are more important than the rhythmic steps. Costumes and ornaments of Mohiniyattam have much in common with female characters of Koodiyattam and Kathakali.

                       Once Mohiniyattam was performed only in Temples premises and royal courts. The first reference to Mohiniyattam is found in 'Vyavaharamala' composed by Mazhamangalam Narayanan Namboodiri, of 16th century AD. Major contributions to this art form were given by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, Irayimman Thampi and Kuttikunju Thankachi.

                         After Swathi Thirunal's period there was a downfall of Mohiniyattam. It somehow degenerated into eroticism to satisfy the Epicurean life of a few provincial satraps and landlords. The renowned Malayalam poet Vallathol revived it and gave it a status in modern times through Kerala Kalamandalam which is presently doing its best for the development and popularity of Mohiniyattam.

                                   Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma (wife of famous Kathakali artist, late Padmashree Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair) and Chinnammu Amma are well known Mohiniyattam performers. Among the present day artists Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, Kalamandalam Kshemavathi, Bharathi Sivaji, Kanak Rele, Sunanda Nair etc.. are well known artists. Smt. Kanak Rele deserves a special mention as she is not a Malayalee. She has established a Nritya Mahavidyalaya in Mumbai to promote Mohiniyattam along with other dance forms.

                            Most of the component items of Mohiniyattam are similar to Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi, though subtle differences of style is obvious. The language used in the lyrics is a pleasant mixture of Malayalam and Sanskrit, known as Manipravalam. Formerly, the Padams were specially composed to include only Sringararasa. Now a days artists are using any classical or semi-classical compositions, even from other language. The real beauty of Mohiniyattam comes through only when mature ladies enact the romantic padams specially written to present the Ashta Nayikas: Swadheena Bharthruka, Khanditha, Abhisarika, Vipralabdha, Kalahandtharitha, Vasakasajja, Proshithabharthruka, Viraholkhanditha.

                      The accompaniments for Mohiniyattam are Vocal, Veena, Venu, Maddalam and Idakka. Other instruments are also not unusual.

                          Compared most other dance forms, Mohiniyattam gives more importance to gestural and facial acting. The Mudras (hand gestures) are almost always same as those employed in Kathakali. The artists try to enact the lyrics almost in its entirety, like in Kathakali.

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Theyyam

Theyyam or Theyyaattam is a pattern of hero worship performed in Kolathunaad, a territory comprising the present Cannanore District and Badagara Taluk of Kerala State. It is a ritual and a folk-dance form supported by a vast literature of folk songs. Theyyam is a corruption for Deyvam ‘God’. 'Aattam' means dance. Thus 'Theyyaattam' means the God’s Dance.

 

History

                       The earliest Brahminic settlements like Payyanur and Perimchellur (Thaliparamba) in Kolathunadu where the Brahminic religion was propagated through the institutions of temples largely influenced the popular folk religion based on Theyyam and other tribal cults. According to the legendary Keralolpathi, Parasurama sanctioned the festivals like Kaliyattam, Puravela and Deivattam or Theyyattam to the people of Kerala. He assigned the responsibility of Theyyam dance to the indigenous communities like Panan, Velan and Vannan. These traditions explain how the indigenous cults like Theyyam were incorporated and metamorphosed under the religious supremacy of the Brahmanism. In the long historical process a social system evolved in Kerala in which the little culture like Theyyam belonged to the depressed castes and classes where as the temple oriented culture belonged to the dominant castes and classes. There were no violent confrontations between these two cultures as there was no total destruction of the indigenous culture. “There can be no doubt”, say Bridget and Raymond Alchin, ‘that a very large part of this modern folk religion is extremely ancient and contains traits which originated ruing the earliest periods of Neolithic , Chalcolithic settlement and expression (The Birth of Indian Civilization 1968 p.3039).

 

                              In Kolathunaad and other places (Southern portion of Kolathunaad), Theyyam is known as Thira or Thirayaattam. There, the performance is conducted on a masonry stage called Thara and the word Tharayaattam was probably changed into Thirayaattam in course of time. The term Thirayaattam itself may mean beautiful dance.

                           The person who plays and personifies the deity is generally called ‘Kolam’. The word Kolam means figure or shape or make-up in Tamil and Malayalam. In Tulunad, north of Kolathunaad, the custom of Kolam dance is widely prevalent as a form of worship of the Bhootas or spirits. There, the dance was conducted before the sthaanams, where the Bhoothas or the spirits used to reside.
As the result of Aryan colonization of Thuluva and Kolathunaad, the Brahmanical religion became deep rooted in this territory. The Brahminic concepts of Gods and deities were accepted by the indigenous people of Kolathunaad. But even then the old folk-cult of Velan Veriyat and spirit worship remained as a system of worship for the native. The rituals remained unchanged and the tradition was not abandoned by the people. Vishnumoorthi, Pottan, Chaamundi, Rakteshwari and Bhagavathi became new deities for the village folk of Kolathunaad along with their primitive deities of spirits and heroes.

                        The cult of Bhagavathi became so dominant in the social life of Kolathunaad that no village of this area could be found without a shrine or kaavu of a Bhagavathi. The Bhagavathi at Maappiticheri was known as Maappiticheri Bhagavathi and the Bhagavathi at Kannangot was known as Kannangot Bhagavathi. Many of these Bhagavathis have their own Theyyaattam or Thirayaattam at their shrines as annual festivals. Some of these Bhagavathis have big temples and daily offerings strictly conforming to the Brahmanical ritualism.

 

Performers

                            Velan is one of the castes that performs Thirayaattam or Theyyaattam in Kolathunaad. The term Vellaattam which denotes the introductory performance of the deity in the evening without ceremonial make-up and dress, represents the combination of the words Velan and Attam. Thus Velan is a noted authority of this folk dance. In Kolathunaad and other areas the Velan is known by the term Munnutton and northern areas of Kolathunaad by the term Anjutton.
Besides the communities of Velan, Malayan and Vannan are the predominant communities that perform Theyyams in Kolathunaad. Both these castes are the indigenous tribes of Kerala. Among them there are good traditional physicians and good folk-dancers. The tradition of folk-dance in Kerala was kept alive by these people. Even though they are untouchable to the Brahmins, the Theyyams performed by them were worshipped by Brahmins also. This native tradition, caused the cultural integration of the migrated Brahmins with the native people.

 

                       The other communities which perform Theyyaattams are Mavilan, Vettuvan, Pulayan and Koppalan. These tribes used to perform Theyyaattams in memory of their deceased ancestors. But these Theyyaattams are not so colourful and artistic in comparison to those of other castes like Velan, Vannaan and Malayan. The Theyyaattam by Pulayar and Vettuvar remain good examples of the spirit worship done by these tribal people.

 

Costumes and Make-up

                   One of the salient features of Theyyaattam is its colourful costume. The typical waist dress of heroes is found in Kativanoor veeran. This is called Arayota or Vattoda or Atukkum Chiraku and made out of splices of bamboos and covered by red cloth. For a few Theyyams, especially the ones played with Malayan, this waist dress is woven out of coconut leaves. The Theyyams like Vishnumoorthi and Pottan require this dress especially as they leap into the fire.

                       Above the waist dress the naked body is painted with different native colours. The particular system of painting the body of a Theyyam differs from that of other Theyyams. Parunthuvaal Ezhuthu (eagle’s tail) and Anchupulli Ezhuthu (five dots) are some technical terms for body painting. For painting the faces of the players Praakkezhuthu, Sankezhuthu, Naagam Thathal Ezhuthu, Varezhuthu, Narikurichezhuthu and Kattaramezhuthu are a few well known systems widely adopted. The head-dress or Muti also differs from Theyyam to Theyyam. Some well known Mutis used for Theyyaattams are Pookkatti, Ponmuti, Vattamuti, Chattamuti, Valiyamuti, Kondalmuti, Puthachamuti, Onkaramuti and Peelimuti.
These Mutis are made out of bamboo splices and wooden planks which are covered with coloured cloth, flowers and coconut leaves. In new Mutis, peacock feathers are also used. The Theyyams of Kshetrapaalan and a few Bhagavathis use nearly 50 or 60 feet high long crowns or Mutis made out of arecanut tree and bamboo splices. These crowns are supported by long bamboos which are held by several helpers to keep the balance when placed upon the head of the player. According to the local customs, these long crowns are either covered with coloured cloth or thatched with coconut leaves. Some Theyyams of Bhagavathis wear a silver diadem of small serpents heads crowned with red flowers. A huge golden collar elaborately carved of wood and set with fancy jewels is worn in some items. The female deities wear ornaments and a wooden breast called mularu. The Theyyams of Othenan and Baali wear round crowns called kireetam. The same kireetam is used in Kathakali performance. In a few Theyyams like Pottan, masks made out of the leaf sheaths of arecanut and wooden planks are used.

                             The breasts of goddesses are generally covered with glittering ornaments and make-up known as Ezhutharam (Seven models). All male and female Theyyams wear bangles called Katakam and Chutakam and small anklets on the feet. In the case of Bhagavathis in Roudra mood, (fearful appearance) torches are appended to the waist and the crown produces a terrible appearance.

 

Musical Instruments

                     Drum, Cymbal, Kuzhal, Perumbara, Conch, Cherututi, Utukku and Chermangalam are well known musical instruments used in Theyyaattam. The rhythm of the playing of these instruments varies from Theyyam to Theyyam. The continuous playing with measured interludes helps to make the performance very interesting. According to the rhythm of the instruments, the same instrumental players recite Thottams also of the particular deity.

              The Thottam or the song related to the particular Theyyam deity is recited by the player and by the singers in the background.

 

Performance

                     The Theyyam dance is classified as Thaandava or the masculine and Laasya or the feminine. Both styles are adopted in Theyyaattam according to the context and character of the deity. Inward, outward and circular movements with agile and light steps give these dances a more graceful style. The measures and steps of the dances correspond to the words of the song. Chekor Kalasam, Onnaam Kalasam, Eduthu Kalasam, Chavitti Thullal, Parakkam and Thiriyal denote the various processes of the dance.

                  Generally, this festival and its performances continue for three days. On the night of the first day, the performance starts at the kaavu with drumbeats. After this, there is the kolam dance and the Thottam which reveal the summary of the rituals that would be performed on the next day.
The pooja is conducted to the deities, who are not only in the temple but also outside the sanctum–sanctorum. As a prelude to the performance, the ilamkolam or vellaattukolam arrive with kotivilakku in their hands. Their make-up is very simple. No formal make-up is made on the face.

 
                             The player prays for the appearance of the particular deity. The prayer or murmuring is called orayal or prophecy. He recites a few lines and requests for the presence of the deity, which is called Varavili. Each Theyyam has its own separate varavili or praising the deity. On concluding the Varavili, the player begins the dance with its several attractive kalaasams.
Finally, he distributes Adayaalam or Kuri (Powder of turmeric) to his devotees along with rice. While giving adayaalam to his devotees, the player pronounces blessings also. If the performance is in a household shrine, the player would declare that the deity would reside in the house and create prosperity and pleasure for ever. When the Theyyam speaks during the time of bestowing blessings to the persons of different communities, the player addresses them in symbolic terms referring to their castes.

                      At the end of the performance the devotees donate coins to the shrine. Finally the musical instruments are played once again and the devotees throw rice towards the Theyyam and he casts off the crown in front of the shrine.

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Russian Titanium major to set up JV with Kerala company

Russia's VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation, the world's largest producer of Titanium, is planning to set up a joint-venture with a government-owned company in Kerala to supply aviation metal to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

The corporation, controlled by state-owned arms exporter RosOboronExport (ROE), is in talks with Kerala Minerals and Mining Limited (KMML) for setting up a joint venture for the processing and smelting of Titanium, RBC business daily reported today.

"From the Indian side a protocol of intention has been signed for the construction of a plant for the production of Titanium sponge with an annual capacity of 10 thousand tons," VSMPO-AVISMA General Director Vladislav Tetyukhin said, according to the daily.

"In 2008 we will work out the strategy of the plant and in 2009 it will become operational," he said.

Part of the production of the JV could be imported by Russia and also used in implementation of the joint Indo-Russian Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA) project.

The Titanium major's JV with KMML is "just first step," the newspaper quoted a source as saying.

"We have an understanding with the Indian Defence Ministry about setting up a venture for the production of Titanium components to meet the requirements of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd," a ROE official told the daily.

Indian company Midhani could be picked by VSMPO-AVISMA Corporation as its JV partner for the project, the source said.

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Kathakali

 

                        performance of Kathakali in Kochi

                                Kathakali, literally meaning `story-play', is a dance-drama originated in the 17th century in Kerala, one of the smallest states in India lying on the west coast of the Indian peninsula. However, its roots could be tracked back even to the earlier times. Koodiyattom, the only surviving form of Sanskrit theater in India has been preserved in Kerala for centuries, now, by a small community called Chakyar as a part of their hereditary temple service. Krishnanattom, another form of dance-drama considered fore runner to Kathakali in its origin, is performed even today at the famous Sree Krishna temple in Guruvayoor as an offering to the Lord. Besides these two forms, elements from martial, ritualistic, socio-religious arts have also influenced in the making of Kathakali. Though Kathakali is only 300 years old, a great deal of enrichment and refinement has taken place in every aspect of its technique during this short period. Scholars are of opinion that Kathakali is the result of a fusion between all Indian theater tradition represented by Koodiyattom and the indigenous tradition of folk dance forms.

                  It was one of the Rajas (Chieftain) of Kottarakkara, who wrote the first play intended for Kathakali performance. They form a cycle of eight stories based on Ramayana. The performance for each story was designed to last for six to eight hours. The performed stories were then known as Ramanattom (play pertaining to Rama), which later came to be called as Kathakali. Stories based on other epics and puranas were added to its repertoire in later period.

              A vivid picture of the nature of performance of Kathakali in the past is not known. However, it is said that in the beginning the actors themselves used to sing the text while performing. Masks were elaborately used for some characters and percussion was limited to a Maddalam (two headed barrel shaped drum), a Chengila (metal gong) and Elathalam (a pair of cymbals).

              Among the better known Kathakali play writes are Kottarakara Thampuran, the author of the above mentioned Ramayana Stories; Kottayam Thampuran, who wrote four stories based on Mahabharatha; Irayamman Thampi, who was both a good poet and composer, accredited three stories; Unnayi Warrier, the author of Nalacharitham (Story of King Nala); and Vayaskara Moosad who wrote one of the popular stories -- Duryodhana Vadham.

 

Structure of the Performance

                    In olden days Kathakali performance mostly took place on a temple premises or at the house of a local land lord. For a typical performance, a simple temporary pandal (canopy made of thatched roof) at a height of 101/2 feet will be erected. A minimum of 12 feet-square (144 sq. feet) is needed for the acting area. A green room will also be located close to the stage. The stage will be decorated with coconut leaves, bunches of areca nuts etc. The only source of light is a big bell metal lamp placed down the center stage. The level of the stage used to be the same as that of the ground where people used to squat while witnessing the performance.

                            Kelikottu at about 6 `o clock in the evening will announce the performance of the evening. Kelikottu is a brief passage of drumming involving Chenda ( a cylindrical drum), Maddalam, Chengila and Elathalam. The actual performance will begin only between 9:00 - 10:00 PM. Arrangukeli will announce the beginning of the performance. This is a passage of drumming, which is followed by Thodayam, a piece of abstract dance at the same time are invocatory in nature. Thodayam is performed by junior actors in the group with simple make-up. Recitation of Vandanaslokam (Prayer Song), followed by Purappad -- traditionally a preliminary item introducing the main character of the story in full costume and make-up. However, now-a-days it is mostly Krishna and Balarama who are presented, sometime with their spouses in this introductory dance. Next is the Melappadam, which is a musical piece where vocalists and the drummers are given opportunity to show their skill without depending on the actors. Then the story or part of the stories proposed are enacted which may last till dawn. The end of the performance is marked by a piece of pure dance called Dhanasi.

 

                      A Kathakali artist putting on make-up

 

Techniques

                            Kathakali is a dance-drama in which a high degree of stylization is seen in the method of acting, presentation, make-up and costuming. Realism is limited only to certain characters. The acting mode of Kathakali in its totality can be better understood in terms of four fold scheme of historic representation given in Natyasastra. They are:

1. Angika -- pertaining to the body and its limbs.

2. Vachika -- relating to the vocal including proper pronunciation, modulation of voice accents and percussion.

3. Satvika -- representation of psychic condition.

4. Ahraya -- costume, make-up, stage props etc.

Angika Abhinaya: This involves the whole body of the actor and included an elaborate scheme of facial expression, mime, gestures, accompanied by their appropriate movements, poses and attitudes. Dance passages known as Kalasams have an important role to play in Kathakali. While sustaining as a pure dance, it is also meant to enhance the appropriate bhavas. Hand gestures is another integral part of Angika since the interpretation of the text is mainly conveyed through this. Hastalakshna Deepika is the regional text on the Hastas (hand gestures) mainly used in Kathakali.

Vachika Abhinaya: One of the distinguishing characteristic of Kathakali is that the actors do not speak. Vachika (drama text in the form of verses and songs) are recited and sung by vocalists. These songs are explained and interpreted in details by actors through an elaborate method of angikabhinaya which consists of highly codified gestures, facial expression, and body movements. The vocal music in Kathakali although based on the Karnatic (South Indian) system has developed a distinct regional style called Sopanasangeetham. Its main aim is the evocation of the appropriate, dramatic mood and sentiments.

Satvika Abhinaya: A highly stylized technique in the invocation of bhava has been developed in Kathakali. This is called Rasabhinava. Indian dramatic theory explain 9 kinds of basic sentiments, Rasa with a corresponding sthayi bhava (emotional stayi mood)

They are:

Rasabhinava	Sthayi Bhava
Sringara (EROTIC)	Rati (LOVE)
Hasya (COMIC, HUMOR)	Hasa (LAUGHTER)
Karuna (PATHETIC)	Soka (SORROW)
Raudra (FURIOUS)	Krodha (ANGER)
Veera (HEROIC)	Visaha (ENERGY, HEROISM)
Bhayanaka (TERRIBLE)	Bhayam (FEAR)
Atbhutam (MARVELOUS)	Vismayam (ASTONISHMENT)
Sandham (SERENE)	Sama (TRANQUILLITY)

 

                         Through a systematic process of practice an actor gain a full control of the facial muscles which enables him to express the bhavas. Apart from the above sets of emotional moods Natyasastra lists another set of 8 moods which is called Satvika Bhavas compared to Angikabhinaya this is more subtle and involuntary. Through an internal discipline an actor develops his ability in mastering this action technique. This will help the actor to go deeper into the characterization of the role in proper situation in the play.

Aharya Abhinaya:- The make-up and costuming is another important factor of the dance-drama. Such an elaborate system is rarely found elsewhere. The characters in Kathakali are types. As such characters are classified under 5 major types. According to their nature. They are:

• Pacca (GREEN) - HEROIC, DIVINE e.g.:- KRISHNA, ARJUNA.
• Kathi (KNIFE) - HEROIC BUT LUSTFUL WITH ARROGANT. e.g.:- DURYODHANA, RAVANA.
• Tadi (BEARD) - RED, VILLAINOUS AND EVIL. e.g.:- DUSSASANA
  WHITE - PIOUS E.g.:- HANUMAN
  BLACK - E.g.:- HUNTER.
• Kari (BLACK) - a DEMONESS.
• Munukku (SHINING) - ALL FEMALES (EXPECT DEMONESS IN THEIR ORIGINAL FORM). BRAHMINS, SAGE, MESSENGERS, CHARIOTEER.
• Teppu (SPECIAL MAKE-UP) - BIRDS, BHEERU (COWARD) ETC.

 

                A major part of the face make-up is done by the actor himself. However, specially trained artists are entrusted to apply Chutty (framing the face with white paper and rice paste). Design vary according to the type of a characters. A close observation on Aharya aspect of Kathakali would reveal the highest level of aesthetic imagination conceived by our predecessors.

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Arts of Kerala

The Indian state of Kerala is well known for its diverse forms of performing arts. The various communities in Kerala contribute to its rich and colorful culture.

 

 

 Hindu Arts

Kathakali	Thiriyuzhichil
Kalaripayattu	Mangalamkali
Marathukali	Kothammuriyattam
Malayikuthu	Charadupinnikkali
Chakyar Koothu	Sopanam
Thacholikali	Sarpam Thullal
Pulluvan Paattu	Theyyam
Mohiniyattam	Koodiyattam
Panchavadyam	Thullal
Ottamthullal	Garudan Hanging
Kolam Thullal	Poorakkali
Mudiyett

 

Muslim Arts

1. Oppana
2. Mappila Paattu
3. Kolkali
4. Duff Muttu
5. Kuthu Ratheeb

 

Christian Arts
           

1.  Margam Kali
2.  Chavittu Nadakam

 

Fine Arts of Kerala

1. Murals of Kerala

 

Arts Promotion Bodies

1. Kerala Kalamandalam
2. Kerala Folklore Akademi

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Kettuvallam

 

                                  House Boat in Kumarakom lake

 

 

                      

                     Kettuvallam is a kind of house boat in Kerala, India. Kettuvallam literally means "bundle" or "package" boat (Kettu means tied with ropes, and vallam means boat - Malayalam language).

A house boat is about 60 to 70 feet in length and has a width of around 15 feet in the middle. The boat is made of wooden planks joined and stiched together using coconut fiber ropes. Usually the wood used will be 'Anjili', The roof covering is made of bamboo poles and palm leaves. The outside of the boat is painted using cashew nut oil, which acts as a protective coating.

 

                              House Boat on Kerala water-ways

 

 

Introduction

                        The Kettuvallam (House Boat in Kerala) is a large floating structure with high loading carrying capacity was a part of Kerala's culture and heritage over the past years.Kettuvallam could sail harnessing wild energy. A journey through the lagoon is interesting, passing through sleepy villages, busy boat jetties and vibrant celebrations. The boat glides across the shimmering blue waters with gorgeous green and fringed edges.

                      For centuries Kettuvallam have been roaming in the backwaters transporting men and materials to different destinations. Due to its sheer size and shape, Kettuvallam can carry load, which is more than thrice that of a cargo truck. It was the important mode of transportation in coastal Kerala just because of its accessibility to the most remote areas.
As time passed the scene changed gradually. Motorized road, rail and air transportation scored over the slow and staid country boat, with people opting for speed over charm.

                    With Kerala becoming an increasing popular destination for tourists Kettuvallam have been given a new lease of life. A cruise in the backwaters of Kerala is a remarkable experience, an opportunity to enjoy and contain an unhurried pace of life. Floating along on cool tranquil water one can experience at hand the unusual representation of Kerala life. Nowadays environment friendliness has become the yardstick gauging the efficiency of transportation. Kettuvallam is not only economical but also non-polluting and environment friendly. It thus became imperative that this mode of transportation be developed further and encouraged.

                   The tourist demand for an experience to get a feel of the Kerala shores brought the Kettuvallam back to the waters. They were attracted by the simplicity and the originality of the form. The tourist loved the slowand leisurely movement more than the monotonous motion of the mechanized ones. These were non-luxurious, non-mechanized simple traditional boats.

 

 

 

 

Basic Structure   
                                 The hull is a series of wooden planks, long cut and carved by the expert hands of the carpenter, tied together using coir with coconut fibers stuffed in between. Kettuvallam is steered by two persons in deep waters by means of oars. Long bamboo poles or 'punts' are used to propel in shadow areas. Bamboo beams sprouting off on the sides are used as foot holds for the same a senior oarsman and a helper control the Kettuvallam by singing songs and chants for inspiration. A box of sand, a few bricks in interior facilitate cooking on lower racks, with storage on the upper ones. Food and necessary items are stored in shelves sleeping quarter is on the uppermost racks, which have the best ventilation and accessibility. The interior space can also be used for the same when there is no cargo. Fresh water is stored in earthenware pots.

                   

                     Basically Kettuvallam was designed to transport cargo to various destinations in Kerala. When it was used for tourist purpose, there new problem cropped up like - No free movement was possible because the floor area of the hull was very less. The space below the hull was more compared to the space above. There were no openings, which provided enough of light, air or view towards outside. The tourist felt it difficult to walk through the length because the curved shape of the hull with Manikals coming across. The roof was made of thatch, which was not properly done so during rain leakage was likely. Due to the low head clearance of the Valapura it was only possible to sit on the padi of the hull. Since the Valapura was low, the airflow through the Vallam minimum. The hull is curved and for the beginners it was very difficult to balance when the vallam was in motion.

 

The body
                           Due to these difficulties it become necessary to make some changes in the form so that a comfortable cruise was possible. The body was redesigned and remodeled to adapt for the new demands and functions. Certain elements had to be added and others removed to make it good enough for comfortable cruise. Height of roof was increased to get sufficient headroom. A plank was laid all through the length to reduce the disadvantages of curved shape of the hull for walking and comfortable seating. Windows and other openings were provided for light, airflow and view. The entrance is provided in the center of the linear axis with a top hung panel, which was supported by poles on either ends of the Valapura.

 

                         Most of the latest designs have incorporated 3 bedrooms with a common toilet, a living space and kitchen. Now some of them have come with lesser number of bedrooms but with large living space and may be a deck balcony at the roof level. The platforms that cantilever from the hull are used as balconies. For fixing the toilet seats, shower tray and ceramic floor finish a concrete slab is laid at the floor level. The soil outlet of the toilet seats are taken through the hull and let out to the following water beneath, The water is stored in a plastic tank kept at the top portion of the Valapura taking connection to the kitchen and toilets. The pipes, tank and other synthetic materials are covered with coir or panambu to maintain the aesthetic quality of the eco friendly materials. The air cylinders, which are of the metal body, are fixed to the underside of the cantilevered platforms at the entry points of Valapura. These cylinders helps to balance the structure on water reducing its tilting to the sides to a minimum. Since the circulation inside the Vallam is more in the new function more stability is required.

 

Colour and texture
            The colour of the Valapura is yellowish brown, which is the colour of the natural materials like panambu, coir and bamboo. It is a warmer colour comparing to the colour of the surrounding atmosphere. This gives a nice feeling of being inside the Vallam.

 

Furnishing
          The interior furniture are either of cane or wood, floor carpeted with coir mat and Valapura of panambu, mula and coir all colours matching each other but bring the depth and variations in vision.

Lighting    
          

         Light and the patterns of light and darkness it creates can call our attention to one a rear of our room de-emphasize others and thereby create division of spaces. At night the traditional hurricane lamp is used to light the interiors. Usually each one is hung from the ridge of Valapura one at front, one at rear and one or two accordingly for the living spaces. And mostly for half of a month there will be moonlight, which gives enough light, reflected on water.

 

Roofing

            Bamboo is used for the framework of the roof and splits of Bamboo are used for weaving mat for roofing. Bamboo poles are used for punting the Vallams. It is strong fiber and absorbs more carbon.

              The Kettuvallam has been so much a part of Kerala's culture and heritage for years. Although it faced a period of decline with the advent of surface transport it has now come back to the scene as tourist attraction, it is a space adapted for the present, from the past to be used in the future and it plays a significant role in the social and economic aspects of the life e of the people of Kerala.The slow moving Kettuvallam splitting the serene backwaters flanked by greenery provide an enchanting experience to any visitor. Floating in these backwaters in a country craft Kettuvallam to explore the unusual representation of Kerala through the intricate maze of canals conjures up a surreal existence devoid of any time sense.

Tourism

Nowadays, they are mainly used as houseboats for Kerala's ecotourism industry. Connected by artificial canals, the backwaters form an economical means of transit, and a large local trade is carried on by inland navigation. Fishing and fishcuring is an important industry. Kettuvallam in the backwaters are one of the best tourist attractions in Kerala.

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Backwater tourism in Kerala

 

House Boat on Kumarakom lake

               Kettuvallam (Kerala houseboats) in the backwaters are one of the prominent tourist attractions in Kerala. Alleppey, known as the "Venice of the East" has a large network of canals that meander through the town. The Vallam Kali (the Snake Boat Race) held every year in August is a major sporting attraction.

The backwater network includes five large lakes (including Ashtamudi Kayal and Vembanad Kayal) linked by 1500 km of canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually the entire length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.

Thiruvananthapuram Backwaters
            The southernmost district of the State, Thiruvananthapuram is bounded by the wooded highlands of the Western Ghats on the east and northeast, and the Arabian Sea on the west.

            A long shoreline, with secluded, internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage give this district some of the most enchanting picnic spots.
The main backwater areas of Thiruvananthapuram are Thiruvallam and Veli.

 

Cochin (Ernakulam, Kochi) Backwaters

            More popular as the Queen of the Arabian Sea, Kochi is a cluster of islands on the vast expanse of the Vembanad Lake.

Some of these picturesque islands are Bolgatty, Vypeen, Gundu and Vallarpadam. The lake opens out into the Arabian Sea here to form one of the finest natural harbours in the world.

It is this natural advantage that has made Lochi a fascinating blend of the cultures and influences of explorers and traders who visited this wealthy land.

The Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and Gritish have all left their mark here.

The Jewish synagogue, the Dutch palace, the Chinese Fishing nets, and other remnants of European and Asian architecture merge smoothly into the traditional fabric of the seaport city.

Half the fun of visiting Kochi is moving around on the local several quaint spots.

Boat cruises from Kochi harbor to Willingdon Island, Mattancherry Place, the Jewish Synagogue, Fort Kochi and Bolgatty Island.

 

Kozhikode Backwaters

            Once the capital of the powerful zamorins, a prominent trade and commerce center and the land of the Malabar Mahotsavam, Kozhikode was the most important region of Malabar in the days gone by. Today, ancient monuments, lush green countrysides, serene beaches, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries, rivers, hills, a unique culture and a warm, friendly ambience make this district a much sought after destination.

          Unexplored, unspoiled, the backwaters of Kozhikode hold great promises of enchanting holiday options. Elathur, the Canolly Canal and the Kallai river are favourite haunts for boating. Kadalundi, with its beautiful bird sanctuary is a charming site. Korapuzha, the venue of the Korapuzha Jalotsavam is fast becoming a popular water sport destination.

 

Kasaragod Backwaters

The northernmost district of Kerala, Kasaragod is situated on the seacoast with the Western Ghats on its east and northern borders.

Backwater trips on the Chandragiri river at Valiyaparamba are fascinating experiences.

Chandragiri:
(4 ksm from Kasaragod town): Situated on the Chandragiri river, southeast of Kasaragod town, this town is known for the large 17th century Chandragiri fort, one of a chain of forts.

It offers a breathtaking view of the river and the Arabian sea. It is a vantage point watch the sunset.

Chandragiri cruises:
Boat trips to nearby islands and plam groves are available. Boarding point: Chandragiri bridge.

Thiruvallam Backwaters

Thiruvallam is the meeting point of two rives- Killi and Karamana. A temple dedicated to Parashurama, the legendary founder of Kerala, is located here.

Veli tourist Village:
(8 km from thiruvananthapuram city): The Veli Tourist Village is sandwiched between the Veli Lagoon and the Arabian Sea. The lagoon here is separated from the sea by a narrow sand bar.

Facilities at the village include water sports in the lagoon and 18 acre waterfront park with a floating bridge that connects the village to the beach.

Akulam Boat Club:
(8 km from Thiruvandanthapuram city): This is a very popular picnic spot with boating facilities on the lake and a children's park with a swimming pool.

Kollam Backwaters

Located 71 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram, this historic coastline district known for its marine and cashew industries was one of the oldest ports on the Malabar coast and a major international trading point in day gone by.

The district also has some interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional ornate architectural style.

30% of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi Lake, making it the gateway to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala. The eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest backwater cruise in Kerala. The District Tourism Promotion Council here offers a wide range of backwater tours and cruises.

Alumkadavu (23 km from Kollam town):
Along the vast expanse of the Kayamkulam lake is the pictures little village of Alumakadavu. This village is the home of the skilled artisans who crafted the enormous Kettuvalloms in yester years.

 

Alleppey Backwaters

With the Arabian sea on the west and a vast network of lakes, lagoons and fresh water rivers crisscrossing it, Alappuzha is a district of immense natural beauty.

Referred to as the Venice of the East by travelers from across the world, this backwater country is also home ot diverse animal and bird life.

By virtue of its proximity to the sea, the town has always enjoyed a unique place in the maritime history of Kerala.

Today, Alappauzha has grown in importance as a backwater tourist centre, attracting several thousands of foreign tourists each year.

Alappuzha is also famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. A singular characteristic of this land is the region called Kuttanad.

 

Kuttanad:
Kuttanad, known as the rice bowl of Kerala because of her wealth of paddy crops, is the very heart of the backwater. The scenic countryside here is a rich crop of bananas, yams and cassava.

This one of the places in the world where farming is done below sea level. Inland waterways which flow above land level is an amazing feature of this unique land.

 

Pathiramanal
(1 ½ hours by motor boat/30 min. by speed boat from alappuzha): According to mythology a young Brahmin dived into the Vemabanad Lake to perform his evening ablutions and the water made way for land to rise from below, thus creating the enchanting island of Pathiramanal (sands of midnight).

This little island on the backwater is a favorite haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from different part of the world. The island lies between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom, and is accessible only by boat.

 

Kottayam Backwaters

The Ashtamudi Lake (literally, having eight arms), which covers a major portion of Kollam district in the south, is the second largest and is considered the gateway to the backwaters. Showcasing a unique heritage The Kettuvalloms (houseboats) of Kerala are giant country crafts, measuring up to 80 feet in length. It took great skill and meticulousness to construct these giants by tying huge planks of jack wood together, without the use of a single nail. Today, these goods carriers have been adapted to make the most exciting tourism product in India, the luxurious furnished houseboat. A kettuvallom usually has one or two bath attached bedrooms, an open lounge, deck, kitchenette and a crew comprising oarsmen, a cook and guide.

 

Kumarakom Backwaters (10 km from Kottayam):

A voyage north of Alappuzha takes you to the rich green, sleepy little village of Kumarakom on the Vembanad lake.

An enchanting picnic spot and a fast developing backwater tourism destination, Kumarakom provides boating, fishing and sightseeing experiences that are truly exhilarating.

An exclusive attraction of this much sought after backwater resort is the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary.

The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is an ornithologist's paradise and a fabourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal.

A cruise along the Vembanad lake is the best way to view the bird life.

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Kerala Backwaters

                   The Kerala Backwaters are a chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India. The network includes five large lakes (including Ashtamudi Kayal and Vembanad Kayal) linked by 1500 km of canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.

               

            Vembanad lake is the largest of the lakes, covering an area of 200 km², and bordered by Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts. The port of Kochi (Cochin) is located at the lake's outlet to the Arabian Sea. Alleppey, "Venice of the East" has a large network of canals that meander through the town. The Vallam Kali (the Snake Boat Race) held every year in August is a major attraction.

Ashtamudi Lake is located in Kollam District, and the town of Kollam (Quilon) lies at its outlet.

 

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Culture & Arts of Kerala

 

Kalarippayattu, an ancient martial art, is experiencing a revival. Here, experts use kettukari (cane staffs) in the kolthari style of combat.

 

                       Kerala's culture is a blend of Dravidian and Aryan influences, deriving from both a greater Tamil-heritage region known as Tamilakam and southern coastal Karnataka. Later, Kerala's culture was elaborated upon through centuries of contact with neighboring and overseas cultures. Native performing arts include koodiyattom, kathakali – from katha ("story") and kali ("performance") – and its offshoot Kerala natanam, koothu (akin to stand-up comedy), mohiniaattam ("dance of the enchantress"), thullal, padayani, and theyyam. Other arts are more religion and tribal themed. These include chavittu nadakom, oppana (originally from Malabar), which combines dance, rhythmic hand clapping, and ishal vocalisations. However, many of these artforms largely play to tourists or at youth festivals, and are not as popular among most ordinary Keralites. These people look to more contemporary art and performance styles, including those employing mimicry and parody. Additionally, a substantial Malayalam film industry effectively competes against both Bollywood and Hollywood.

Koodiyattam performance by Guru Padma Shri Mani Madhava Chakyar.

 

Malayalam literature is ancient in origin, and includes such figures as the 14th-century Niranam poets (Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar), whose works mark the dawn of both modern Malayalam language and indigenous Keralite poetry. The "triumvirate of poets" (Kavithrayam), Kumaran Asan, Vallathol Narayana Menon, and Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, are recognised for moving Keralite poetry away from archaic sophistry and metaphysics, and towards a more lyrical mode. In the second half of the 20th century, Jnanpith awardees like G Sankara Kurup, S. K. Pottakkat, and M. T. Vasudevan Nair have added to Malayalam literature. Later, such Keralite writers as O. V. Vijayan, M. Mukundan, and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy have gained international recognition.

 

 

               A mohiniaattam performance.

Kerala's music also has ancient roots. Carnatic music dominates Keralite traditional music. This was the result of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma's popularisation of the genre in the 19th century. Raga-based renditions known as sopanam accompany kathakali performances. Melam (including the paandi and panchari variants) is a more percussive style of music; it is performed at Kshetram centered festivals using the chenda. Melam ensembles comprise up to 150 musicians, and performances may last up to four hours. Panchavadyam is a different form of percussion ensemble, in which up to 100 artists use five types of percussion instrument. Kerala has various styles of folk and tribal music. The popular music of Kerala is dominated by the filmi music of Indian cinema. Kerala's visual arts range from traditional murals to the works of Raja Ravi Varma, the state's most renowned painter.

Keralite elephants at the Thrissur Pooram.

             Kerala has its own Malayalam calendar, which is used to plan agricultural and religious activities. Kerala's cuisine is typically served as a sadhya on green banana leaves. Such dishes as idli, payasam, pulisherry, puttucuddla, puzhukku, rasam, and sambar are typical. Keralites — both men and women alike — traditionally don flowing and unstitched garments. These include the mundu, a loose piece of cloth wrapped around men's waists. Women typically wear the sari, a long and elaborately wrapped banner of cloth, wearable in various styles.

             Several ancient ritualised arts are Keralite in origin. These include kalaripayattu — kalari ("place", "threshing floor", or "battlefield") and payattu ("exercise" or "practice"). Among the world's oldest martial arts, oral tradition attributes kalaripayattu's emergence to Parasurama. Other ritual arts include theyyam and poorakkali. However, Keralites are increasingly turning to more modern activities like cricket, kabaddi, soccer, and badminton. Dozens of large stadiums, including Kochi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Thiruvananthapuram's Chandrashekaran Nair Stadium, attest to the mass appeal of such sports among Keralites. Television (especially "mega serials" and cartoons) and the Internet have impacted Keralite culture. Yet Keralites maintain high rates of newspaper & magazine subscriptions, host a sizeable "people's science" movement, and participate in such activities as writers' cooperatives. Thrissur Pooram, the mother of all temple festivals in the state, is essentially one of spectacles.It is celebrated in Thrissur at Vadakkumnathan temple in the month of Medam (April) where the regaining deity is Lord Shiva. Situated on a hillock right in the centre of the city, the spaciously laid out 'kshetram' or temple attracts thousands of devotees from all over the land during the Pooram festival.

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Economy of Kerala

                                  Since its incorporation as a state, Kerala's economy largely operated under welfare based democratic socialist principles. Nevertheless, the state is increasingly liberalizing its economy, thus moving to a more mixed economy with a greater role played by the free market and foreign direct investment. Kerala's nominal gross domestic product (as of 2004–2005) is an estimated 89451.99 crore INR, while recent GDP growth (9.2% in 2004 – 2005 and 7.4% in 2003 – 2004) has been robust compared to historical averages (2.3% annually in the 1980s and between 5.1% and 5.99% in the 1990s).Nevertheless, relatively few major corporations and manufacturing plants choose to operate in Kerala.This is mitigated by remittances sent home by overseas Keralites, which contributes around 20% of state GDP. Kerala's per capita GDP of 11,819 INR is significantly higher than the all India average,although it still lies far below the world average. Additionally, Kerala's Human Development Index and standard of living statistics are the nation's best. This apparent paradox — high human development and low economic development — is often dubbed the Kerala phenomenon or the Kerala model of development, and arises mainly from Kerala's strong service sector.

                               The service sector (including tourism, public administration, banking and finance, transportation, and communications — 63.8% of statewide GDP in 2002 – 2003) along with the agricultural and fishing industries (together 17.2% of GDP) dominate Kerala's economy. Nearly half of Kerala's people are dependent on agriculture alone for income. Some 600 varieties of rice (Kerala's most important staple food and cereal crop) are harvested from 310,521 ha (a decline from 588,340 ha in 1990) of paddy fields; 688,859 tonnes are produced per annum. Other key crops include coconut (899,198 ha), tea, coffee (23% of Indian production, or 57,000 tonnes), rubber, cashews, and spices—including pepper, cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Around 10.50 lakh (1.050 million) fishermen haul an annual catch of 6.68 lakh (668,000) tonnes (1999–2000 estimate); 222 fishing villages are strung along the 590 km coast, while an additional 113 fishing villages are spread throughout the hinterland. Traditional industries manufacturing such items as coir, handlooms, and handicrafts employ around ten lakh (one million) people. Around 1.8 lakh (180,000) small-scale industries employ around 909,859 Keralites, while some 511 medium and large scale manufacturing firms are located in Kerala. Meanwhile, a small mining sector (0.3% of GDP) involves extraction of such materials as ilmenite (136,908.74 tonnes in 1999–2000), kaolin, bauxite, silica, quartz, rutile, zircon, and sillimanite. Home gardens and animal husbandry also provide work for hundreds of thousands of people. Chhattisgarh is planning a massive Jatropha planting compaign to employ farmers as well as to achieve biofuel sef-sufficiency. Other significant economic sectors are tourism, manufacturing, and business process outsourcing. Kerala's unemployment rate is variously estimated at 19.2% and 20.77%, although underemployment of those classified as "employed", low employability of many job-seeking youths, and a mere 13.5% female participation rate are significant problems. Estimates of the statewide poverty rate range from 12.71% to as high as 36%.

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Government and administration of Kerala

                        Like other Indian states, the constitutional head of state is the governor, who is appointed by the President of India. Like most other states, Kerala has a unicameral legislature consisting of directly elected members. The Chief Minister is the head of government and is vested with most of the executive powers. The governor appoints a council of ministers at the advice of the Chief Minister. Kerala has 140 Assembly constituencies and sends 20 members to the Lok Sabha. Auxiliary authorities known as panchayats govern local affairs at micro level.

            The judiciary comprises of the Kerala High Court and a system of lower courts. The High Court of Kerala is the highest court for the state, and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

                  

        The state's 2005 – 2006 budget was 219 billion INR.Its 2005 tax revenues (excluding income from the Union tax pool) amounted to 111,248 million INR, while non-tax revenues totalled 10,809 million INR. Kerala's high ratio of taxation to gross state domestic product (GSDP) has not alleviated chronic budget deficits and unsustainable levels of government debt, impacting social services.

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Subdivisions of Kerala

              Kerala's fourteen districts are distributed among Kerala's three historical regions: Malabar (northern Kerala), Kochi (central Kerala), and Travancore (southern Kerala). Kerala's modern-day districts (listed in order from north to south) correspond to them as follows:

• Malabar: Kasargod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad

• Kochi: Thrissur, Ernakulam

• Travancore:Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha, , Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram

          

                Mahe, a part of the Indian union territory of Puducherry, is a coastal exclave surrounded by Kerala on all of its landward approaches. Thiruvananthapuram is the state capital and most populous city. Kochi is the most populous urban agglomeration and the major port city in Kerala. Kozhikode and Thrissur are the other major commercial centres of the state. The High Court of Kerala is situated at Ernakulam. Kerala's districts, which serve as the administrative regions used for taxation purposes, are further subdivided into a total of 63 taluks; these have fiscal and administrative powers over settlements within their borders, including maintenance of local land records.

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Transport Of Kerala

                     Kerala has 145,704 km of roads (4.2% of India's total). This translates to about 4.62 km of road per thousand population, compared to an all India average of 2.59 km. Virtually all of Kerala's villages are connected by road. Traffic in Kerala has been growing at a rate of 10 – 11% every year, resulting in high traffic and pressure on the roads. Kerala's road density is nearly four times the national average, reflecting the state's high population density. India's national highway network includes a Kerala wide total of 1,524 km, which is 2.6% of the national total. There are eight designated national highways in the state. Upgrading and maintenance of 1,600 km of Kerala state highways and major district roads have been taken up by the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which includes the GIS-based Road Information and Management Project (RIMS). Most of Kerala's west coast is accessible through two National Highways, NH 47, and NH 17.

                 

                        The state has major international airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode that link the state with the rest of the nation and the world. The Cochin International Airport at Kochi is the first international airport in India to be built without Central Government funds. The backwaters traversing the state are an important mode of inland navigation. The Indian Railways' Southern Railway line runs throughout the state, connecting all major towns and cities except the highland districts of Idukki and Wayanad.The major Railway stations in Kerala are Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Shoranur and Palakkad.

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Demographics of Kerala

                           The 3.18 crore (31.8 million) of Kerala’s compound population is predominantly of Malayali Dravidian ethnicity, while the rest is mostly made up of Indo-Aryan, Jewish, and Arab elements in both culture and ancestry (both of which are usually mixed). Kerala is also home to 321,000 indigenous tribal Adivasis (1.10% of the populace), who are mostly concentrated in the eastern districts. Malayalam is Kerala's official language; Tamil and various Adivasi languages are also spoken by ethnic minorities. Kerala is home to 3.44% of India's people, and at 819 persons per km² its land is three times as densely settled as the rest of India. However, Kerala's population growth rate is India's lowest – Kerala's decadal growth (9.42% in 2001) is less than half the all India average of 21.34%. Additionally, whereas Kerala's population more than doubled between 1951 and 1991 — adding 156 lakh (15.6 million) people to reach a total of 291 lakh (29.1 million) residents in 1991 — the population stood at less than 320 lakh (32 million) by 2001. Kerala's people are most densely settled in the coastal region, leaving the eastern hills and mountains comparatively sparsely populated.

                Women comprise 51.42% of the population. Kerala's principal religions are Hinduism (56.1%), Islam (24.7%), and Christianity (19%). Remnants of a once substantial Cochin Jewish population also practice Judaism. In comparison with the rest of India, Kerala experiences relatively little sectarianism. Nevertheless, there have been signs of increasing influences from religious extremist organisations.

 

                          Kerala's society is less patriarchical than the rest of the Majority World. Certain Hindu communities (such as the Nairs), Travancore Ezhavas and the Muslims around Kannur used to follow a traditional matrilineal system known as marumakkathayam which has in the recent years (post Indian independence) ceased to exist. Christians, Muslims, and some Hindu castes such as the Namboothiris and the Ezhavas follow makkathayam, a patrilineal system. Kerala's gender relations are among the most equitable in India and the Majority World. However, this too is coming under threat, from such forces as patriarchy-enforced oppression of women.

                

                      Kerala's human development indices — elimination of poverty, primary level education, and healthcare — are among the best in India. For example, Kerala's literacy rate (91%) and life expectancy (73 years) are now the highest in India. Meanwhile, Kerala's rural poverty rate fell from 69% (1970–1971) to 19% (1993–1994), while the overall (urban and rural) rate fell 36% between the 1970s and 1980s. By 1999–2000, the rural and urban poverty rates dropped to 10.0% and 9.6% respectively. These changes stem largely from efforts begun in the late 19th century by the kingdoms of Cochin and Travancore to boost social welfare. This focus was maintained by Kerala's post independence government. However, Kerala's unemployment and suicide rates are high by Indian standards. Kerala's above-unity female-to-male ratio — 1.058 — also distinguishes it from the rest of India. The same is true of its sub-replacement fertility level and infant mortality rate (estimated at 12 to 14 deaths per 1,000 live births). However, Kerala's morbidity rate is higher than that of any other Indian state — 118 (rural Keralites) and 88 (urban) per 1,000 people. The corresponding all India figures are 55 and 54 per 1,000, respectively. Kerala's 13.3% prevalence of low birth weight is substantially higher than that of First World nations. Further, outbreaks of water-borne diseases including diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis, and typhoid, among the more than 50% of Keralites who rely on some 30 lakh (3 million) water wells constitutes another problem, a situation only exacerbated by the widespread lack of sewerage.

 

                           Kerala's healthcare system has garnered international acclaim, with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) designating Kerala the world's first "baby-friendly state". For example, more than 95% of Keralite births are hospital-delivered. Aside from ayurveda (both elite and popular forms), siddha, and unani, many endangered and endemic modes of traditional medicine, including kalari, marmachikitsa, and vishavaidyam, are practiced. These propagate via gurukula discipleship, and comprise a fusion of both medicinal and supernatural treatments, and are partly responsible for drawing increasing numbers of medical tourists. A steadily aging population — 11.2% of Keralites are over age 60 — and low birthrate (18 per 1,000) make Kerala one of the few regions of the Third World to have undergone the "demographic transition" characteristic of such developed nations as Canada, Japan, and Norway.

 

In 1991, Kerala had the lowest TFR (Children born per women) in the whole of India. Hindus had a TFR of 1.66, Christians had 1.78 and Muslims had 2.97.

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Kerala makes helmets compulsory

Motorcyclists in Kerala are running for cover. The state police, acting on a High Court directive, have made helmets mandatory for two-wheeler drivers.

So it goes without saying, helmets are selling like hot cakes. Buyers say helmets are getting hard to get, and those available are being sold at more than Rs 1,500. They also question the logic of enforcing use of helmets.

“I don't know why we should wear helmets. It will only increase accidents, as we are unable to hear horns of other vehicles,” says a motorist, Chandan.

Traders deny charges of overpricing. They also say there are enough helmets in the market.

“We have a lot of helmets in our stock,” says an auto spare parts dealer, Sanjeev Agarwal.

Motorists, however, have time on their hands. The police right now are running only an awareness campaign.

“We are giving people time to buy helmets and get used to it. We have been running an awareness programme for the last 14 days,” says Commissioner of Police, G Padmakumar.

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Polluting civic bodies in Kerala face the music

The Kerala Pollution Control Board has decided to open prosecution measures against 19 polluting civic bodies. Those defaulting in solid-waste managment includes corporations like Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Thrissur, Kollam, Alapuzha, Kottayam and Pattanamtitta.

Showcause notice has been slapped on these civic bodies to explain why action should not be take for defaulting time-bound solid waste disposal, State Pollution Control Board chairman G Rajmohan told FE.

According to the Environment Protection Act, the onus of waste management is on the civic bodies. The State Pollution Control Board had written to all corporations, panchayats and muncipalities in December 2006, asking them to be alert on their waste management responsibilities. They had been told to come out with a comprehensive action plan to facilitate total solid waste management by March 2007.

Out of the 58 urban bodies, very few had responded to the initiative. So the board issued a warning note on April. It is those civic bodies who still refused to comply who are now facing prosecution measures.

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Israeli firm to develop commercial centre in Kerala

Plaza Centres, a subsidiary of Israeli firm Elbit Medical Imaging, has teamed up with an unnamed Indian entrepreneur to build a commercial centre in Thiruvananthapuram, and has purchased land for $ 26.5 million for the purpose, a media report said.

The project on the 43,600 sq metre land in Kerala's capital will include an entertainment centre, office complex and an apartment hotel, 'Ynetnews' reported.

This takes the firm's investment in the real estate sector in south India beyond the $ 200 million mark this month, the first being a $ 180 million land deal in Bangalore where it also plans develop a residential and hospitality project.

"After spending two years studying the Indian market in depth, during which we created a base for our organisation in India and formed a skilled team, we are moving forward at the pace we have displayed throughout all our years of activity in east and west Europe," Elbit's chairman, Moti Zisser, said.

"We believe that the magnitude of the Indian market and its needs will bring about success to our endeavours in this market," Zisser added.

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Flora and fauna of kerala

A river in the Marayoor region of northwestern Idukki district.

Much of Kerala's notable biodiversity is concentrated and protected in the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in the eastern hills. Almost a fourth of India's 10,000 plant species are found in the state. Among the almost 4,000 flowering plant species (1,272 of which are endemic to Kerala and 159 threatened) are 900 species of highly sought medicinal plants.

Chimmony dam - 25 km from Thrissur City.

Its 9,400 km² of forests include tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests (lower and middle elevations — 3,470 km²), tropical moist and dry deciduous forests (mid-elevations—4,100 km² and 100 km², respectively), and montane subtropical and temperate (shola) forests (highest elevations — 100 km²). Altogether, 24% of Kerala is forested. Two of the world’s Ramsar Convention listed wetlands — Lake Sasthamkotta and the Vembanad-Kol wetlands — are in Kerala, as well as 1455.4 km² of the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Subjected to extensive clearing for cultivation in the 20th century, much of Kerala's forest cover is now protected from clearfelling. Kerala's fauna are notable for their diversity and high rates of endemism: 102 species of mammals (56 of which are endemic), 476 species of birds, 202 species of freshwater fishes, 169 species of reptiles (139 of them endemic), and 89 species of amphibians (86 endemic).These are threatened by extensive habitat destruction (including soil erosion, landslides, salinization, and resource extraction)

A Grizzled Giant Squirrel in Marayoor, Idukki.

Eastern Kerala’s windward mountains shelter tropical moist forests and tropical dry forests, which are common in the Western Ghats. Here, sonokeling (Indian rosewood), anjili, mullumurikku (Erythrina), and Cassia number among the more than 1,000 species of trees in Kerala. Other plants include bamboo, wild black pepper, wild cardamom, the calamus rattan palm (a type of climbing palm), and aromatic vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides). Living among them are such fauna as Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Leopard (Panthera pardus), Nilgiri Tahr, Common Palm Civet, and Grizzled Giant Squirrel. Reptiles include the king cobra, viper, python, and crocodile. Kerala's birds are legion—Peafowl, the Great Hornbill, Indian Grey Hornbill, Indian Cormorant, and Jungle Myna are several emblematic species. In lakes, wetlands, and waterways, fish such as kadu (stinging catfish and Choottachi (Orange chromide — Etroplus maculatus; valued as an aquarium specimen) are found.

TheGreatHornbill(Buceros bicornis)

Most of Kerala, whose native habitat consists of wet evergreen rainforests at lower elevations and highland deciduous and semi-evergreen forests in the east, is subject to a humid tropical climate. however, significant variations in terrain and elevation have resulted in a land whose biodiversity registers as among the world’s most significant. Most of Kerala's significantly biodiverse tracts of wilderness lie in the evergreen forests of its easternmost districts; coastal Kerala (along with portions of the east) mostly lies under cultivation and is home to comparatively little wildlife. Despite this, Kerala contains 9,400 km² of natural forests. Out of the approximately 7,500 km² of non-plantation forest cover, there are wild regions of tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests (lower and middle elevations — 3,470 km²), tropical moist and dry deciduous forests (mid-elevations — 4,100 km² and 100 km², respectively), and montane subtropical and temperate (shola) forests (highest elevations — 100 km²). Such forests together cover 24% of Kerala's landmass. Kerala also hosts two of the world’s Ramsar Convention-listed wetlands: Lake Sasthamkotta and the Vembanad-Kol wetlands are noted as being wetlands of international importance. There are also numerous protected conservation areas, including 1455.4 km² of the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

Figs (Ficus species) like this Strangler Fig are an important floral element and support many frugivores.

Eastern Kerala’s windward mountains shelter tropical moist forests and tropical dry forests which are generally characteristic of the wider Western Ghats: crowns of giant sonokeling (binomial nomenclature: Dalbergia latifolia — Indian rosewood), anjili (Artocarpus hirsuta), mullumurikku (Erythrina), Cassia, and other trees dominate the canopies of large tracts of virgin forest. Overall, Kerala's forests are home to more than 1,000 species or trees. Smaller flora include bamboo, wild black pepper (Piper nigrum), wild cardamom, the calamus rattan palm (Calamus rotang — a type of giant grass), and aromatic Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides).

In turn, the forests play host to such major fauna as Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Leopard (Panthera pardus), and Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), and Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura). More remote preserves, including Silent Valley National Park in the Kundali Hills, harbor endangered species such as Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus), Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus (Ursus) ursinus ursinus), and Gaur (the so-called "Indian Bison" — Bos gaurus). More common species include Indian Porcupine (Hystrix indica), Chital (Axis axis), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Gray Langur, Flying Squirrel, Swamp Lynx (Felis chaus kutas), Boar (Sus scrofa), a variety of catarrhine Old World monkey species, Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus).

The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah).

Many reptiles, such as king cobra, viper, python, various turtles and crocodiles are to be found in Kerala — again, disproportionately in the east. Kerala's avifauna include endemics like the Sri Lanka Frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger), Oriental Bay Owl, large frugivores like the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis) and Indian Grey Hornbill, as well as the more widespread birds such as Peafowl, Indian Cormorant, Jungle and Hill Myna, Oriental Darter, Black-hooded Oriole, Greater Racket-tailed and Black Drongoes, bulbul (Pycnonotidae), species of Kingfisher and Woodpecker, Jungle Fowl, Alexandrine Parakeet, and assorted ducks and migratory birds. Additionally, freshwater fish such as kadu (stinging catfish — Heteropneustes fossilis) and brackishwater species such as Choottachi (orange chromide — Etroplus maculatus; valued as an aquarium specimen) also are native to Kerala's lakes and waterways.

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Kerala to set up holistic tourism centre

Kerala is soon to set up a holistic tourism centre that will promote medical tourism besides other attractions for visitors, state Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said here Wednesday.

'This centre would combine various segments of tourism like ayurveda, farm tourism and medical tourism,' Balakrishnan told the state assembly.

He said the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) was currently preparing a report for the promotion of medical tourism in Kerala.

'Once the report is submitted we will take concrete steps for promoting medical tourism in a big way. There is already a steady inflow of foreign tourists for medical needs. Five years from now, we expect an increase of 100,000 medical tourists every year,' Balakrishnan said.

Foreigners are arriving in Kerala's top hospitals for plastic and cosmetic surgery, facial surgery, dental treatments, cosmetology, hip and knee replacement, ophthalmology, voice therapy and obesity treatment.

The Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) here has taken the concept of medical value travel (MVT) in the state to newer heights through accreditations and certifications.

It was the first Indian hospital to be accredited by the Australian Council for Health Care Standards International (ACHSI).

KIMS received over 17,000 MVT patients from across the world last year for plastic surgery, dental treatment and joint replacement among others, said E.M. Najeeb, executive director of KIMS.

'Accreditation and certifications are a must for MVT because international insurance companies require this certification to pay their clients after they undergo treatments,' said Najeeb.

Balakrishnan added that the government would soon map out all hospitals in the state that are fit to welcome tourists for medical purposes.

'We want these private hospitals to keep aside a portion of the income generated through medical tourism for treating poor patients. The government will ensure that they practice responsible tourism,' the minister said.

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India's Cochin Airport to start Air Kerala

CALL it innovative, or at least unusual - an airport that launches an airline. In India, this novelty will soon become reality, if it is up to the management of Cochin International Airport.

The airport wants to connect itself to West Asian and Gulf destinations. It says it is in talks with a leading international carrier and a domestic partner for launching the freighter service. Converting old Indian Airlines-owned passenger aircraft into cargo versions may become part of Cochin’s new airline business model.

“The project will supplement our proposed state-of-the-art centre for perishable cargo, which can handle 40,000 metric tonnes a year. With this centre and freighter service, we can facilitate the export and import of perishable cargoes such as vegetables, fruits, flowers, fish and meat products to different parts of the country and the world, including West Asia,” commented the airport’s managing director S Bharath.

Cochin Airport will cooperate with the local Kerala government, financial institutions and airport service providers on the project. Bharath said that air operations will start as soon as India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted permission to fly.

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Kerala wants Centre to revise compensation to farmers

Kerala Government had asked the Centre to revise the compensation amount being paid to farmers for their crop loss due to natural calamity, state Revenue Minister K P Rajendran has said.

Replying to a calling attention on the matter, he said the state government was of the view that the financial help extended under different categories was inadequate and this matter had been brought to the notice of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Home Minister Shivaraj Patil and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar by state Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan itself.

An insurance scheme for crops was also under the consideration of the government, he said.

Necessary instructions had already been issued to concerned officials to provide free ration to people in coastal areas affected by sea erosion, Rajendran said while replying to a submission.

As per the latest report, nine coastal districts had been severely affected by sea erosion, he said.

Three houses were completely damaged and 455 partially due to sea erosion at Pozhiyour in the district, he said. People in the affected areas have been shifted to temporary camps.

Water Resources Minister N K Preamchandran said sea wall construction was progressing in coastal areas where sea erosion was severe.

An amount of Rs.175 crores under the 12the Finance Commission allocation and Rs.120 crores under tsunami rehabilitation package would be spent on sea wall construction in the state, he said.

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Law to curb MNCs' entry in agrimarket on cards in Kerala

Kerala Government plans to bring in a legislation to curb entry of multinational companies in the agricultural commodity market.

The Government's assessment was that unrestricted entry of MNCs for procurement and sale of agricultural products and cash crops would pose a threat to the state's interests, Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said in reply to a supplementary in the state assembly on Wednesday.

Kerala had, for quite some time, been pressing the Centre to set up a price stabilisation fund to save the farmers from the impact of price fluctuations.

He said Wayanad, Kasargode and Palakkad districts in the state had been included in the Vidarbha Model Package for agricultural revival. The Centre had allotted Rs 765.24 crore for implementing the schemes under the package.

The state had also demanded inclusion of Alappuzha and Idukki districts in the package, he said.

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Kerala to provide 'quality' Ayurveda services

Considering the potential of health tourism in Kerala, the state government plans to introduce classification of Ayurveda resorts to ensure that they offer better quality service to visitors.

Disclosing this in the assembly during the question hour on Wednesday, Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said keeping bogus players out of the field was essential to sustain health tourism in the long-run.

The state was poised for a leap in health tourism expecting to take the number of international tourists coming for treatment to at least one lakh a year.

Health tourists were targetted to be attracted not only from America and Europe but also from Asian and African countries through proper market promotion.

The strategy to achieve the targets were being worked out with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), he said.

Big private hospitals in the state had been suggested to earn accredition from National Accreditation Board for Hospitals by creating the parameters set by the agency.

There was also a suggestion that super speciality hospitals should set apart a portion of income received through health tourism for improving the public health system, he said.

Alongwith Ayurveda, schemes would be worked out for promoting naturopathy as part of health tourism, the minister added.

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Shutdown in Kerala film industry as technicians' strike work

Film production in the Kerala industry came to a halt as the Malayalam Cine Technicians' Association (MCTA) today embarked an indefinite strike to press their eight-point charter of demands with the Producers' Association.

Addressing newspersons after a General Body meeting of the MCTA here, its general secretary Vinayan said the shooting of nine films and post-production work of six films were suspended due to the strike.

'' The meeting, which was attended by around 1000 members, decided to continue the strike until the Kerala Film Producers' Association come forward for talks to settle the issues amicably,'' he added.

He said if any producer was willing to accede to the demands, the Assciation would cooperate with him.

On the ban imposed by the Producers' Association on Director Sibi Malayil, Mr Vinayan said his organisation would produce a film, which would be directed by Mr Sibi.

He said the exhibitors association was willing to cooperate with MCTA.

Yesterday, the producers' association kept off the talks with MCTA, which was convened by the Film Chamber.

MCTA's demands include hike in daily allowances for film unit members and drivers, higher stake for scriptwriters in film returns and withdrawal of ban on Director Sibi Malayil.

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Kerala school takes back HIV+ children

A primary school in Pampady, Kerala has taken back five HIV positive children who were thrown out due to protests from some parents.

The Kerala government swung into action after NDTV reported in December last year that the children were being discriminated against and had been refused admission in the new academic session.

Following strict direction from the government the school authorities had to relent and admit the students.

The children were thrown out in December last year after a section of parents protested against the presence of the HIV positive children in the school and threatened to pull out their children.

But even after being called back on Monday it seems there could be trouble. On Tuesday, the headmistress asked the children to return home.

While the principal says this was because they had fever some say parents of other children have been objecting to their presence in the school.

Continued support

The principal has denied it.

''They have been re-admitted in the school but because this area is in the grip of viral fever so very few students have come to school. They came but since some of them had fever they were advised to go back. So they did not attend today,'' said Elsamma, Principal, MDLP School.

''There is no decrease in students because of their presence but the number of children in other Malayalam medium schools is also less. There is no objection to their re-entry and on this condition we have kept them,'' the principal said.

By getting the five HIV positive children re-admitted in the school the Kerala government has sent out a strong message that it will not allow discrimination against them.

One now only hopes that the school authorities, local people and NGOs will continue their support to these children so that they can grow up as normal human beings.

Meanwhile, the state AIDS control society has directed Asha Kiran, the home where the children stay, to make sure the children are not exposed to the media.

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'Annonymous rail parcels betray Rs 3000 cr VAT evasion in Kerala alone'

Finance ministers of all States beware, the Railways has been tacitly backing VAT-evasion of about Rs 1500-3000 crore per annum in Kerala alone, if a random checking can be trusted.

It is Railways' new initiative of leasing out entire parcel wagons - thereby facilitiating even parcels without ownership documentation - that has proved a pipeline for inter-state smugglers, says Kerala finance minister TM Thomas Isaac.

Kerala will hasten to ring the alarm bells on this new VAT-leakpoint for States at the next meeting of the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on VAT, Isaac said. Since the neighbouring States like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are yet to be worried about this new channel of inter-state smuggling, when Kerala initiates a crackdown on the annonymous parcels dropped at its stations, a prior-alerted offender can wait for the train to roll down to the next State to slip his parcel.

"If the Railways is willing, the Kerala government can come forward to open a dialogue for setting up State government check posts within railway station premises," the minister said. What irks the State is that, at several railway stations, the railway authorities are standing in the way of inspection by State tax authorities.

About six parcel companies have booked whole rail wagons passing through Kerala. "Since many parcels have labels with just a cell phone number, the only way the State can get the address details of the sender and receiver is only through the private parcel companies," commissioner of commercial taxes Paul Antony said.

Just half a day of tax-swoopdown by Kerala officials had revealed 3784 orphan parcels worth VAT about Rs 3.32 crore. This could work out to nearly Rs 3000 crore per year, says State government. When enforcement at the tax checkposts in the State was tightened recently, as much as 40% of the goods traffic to the State was diverted to rail route.

The minister alleged that the Railways has been violating court directives. The judgement by a division bench of the Kerala High Court on January 20, 2006 says that the full addresses of sender and receiver of the parcel should be noted in the railway receipt and forwarding note. Except in the goods labelled 'not for sale', the registration number of the trader has to be recorded.

"The Railways has been operating like a profit-mongering businessmen, unperturbed about backing the inter-state smuggling," the minister charged. "It would not challenge the trader's right to use the cheapest form of freight transport, but there is a legal way to do it," he added.

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Geography of Kerala

                    Kerala’s 38,863 km² landmass (1.18% of India) is wedged between the Arabian Sea to the west and the Western Ghats — identified as one of the world's twenty-five biodiversity hotspots — to the east. Lying between north latitudes 8°18' and 12°48' and east longitudes 74°52' and 72°22', Kerala is well within the humid equatorial tropics. Kerala’s coast runs for some 580 km (360 miles), while the state itself varies between 35 and 120 km (22–75 miles) in width. Geographically, Kerala can be divided into three climatically distinct regions: the eastern highlands (rugged and cool mountainous terrain), the central midlands (rolling hills), and the western lowlands (coastal plains). Located at the extreme southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, Kerala lies near the centre of the Indian tectonic plate; as such, most of the state is subject to comparatively little seismic and volcanic activity. Geologically, pre-Cambrian and Pleistocene formations compose the bulk of Kerala’s terrain.

                         Eastern Kerala lies immediately west of the Western Ghats's rain shadow; it consists of high mountains, gorges and deep-cut valleys. 41 of Kerala’s west-flowing rivers, and 3 of its east-flowing ones originate in this region. Here, the Western Ghats form a wall of mountains interrupted only near Palakkad, where the Palakkad Gap breaks through to provide access to the rest of India. The Western Ghats rises on average to 1,500 m (4920 ft) above sea level, while the highest peaks may reach to 2,500 m (8200 ft). Just west of the mountains lie the midland plains composing central Kerala; rolling hills and valleys dominate. Generally ranging between elevations of 250–1,000 m (820–3300 ft), the eastern portions of the Nilgiri and Palni Hills include such formations as Agastyamalai and Anamalai.

                                Kerala’s western coastal belt is relatively flat, and is criss-crossed by a network of interconnected brackish canals, lakes, estuaries, and rivers known as the Kerala Backwaters. Lake Vembanad — Kerala’s largest body of water — dominates the Backwaters; it lies between Alappuzha and Kochi and is more than 200 km² in area. Around 8% of India's waterways (measured by length) are found in Kerala. The most important of Kerala’s forty four rivers include the Periyar (244 km), the Bharathapuzha (209 km), the Pamba (176 km), the Chaliyar (169 km), the Kadalundipuzha (130 km) and the Achankovil (128 km). The average length of the rivers of Kerala is 64km. Most of the remainder are small and entirely fed by monsoon rains. These conditions result in the nearly year-round water logging of such western regions as Kuttanad, 500 km² of which lies below sea level. As Kerala's rivers are small and lack deltas, they are more prone to environmental factors. Kerala's rivers face many problems, including summer droughts, the building of large dams, sand mining, and pollution.

                     With 120 – 140 rainy days per year, Kerala has a wet and maritime tropical climate influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the southwest summer monsoon. In eastern Kerala, a drier tropical wet and dry climate prevails. Kerala's rainfall averages 3,107 mm annually. Some of Kerala's drier lowland regions average only 1,250 mm; the mountains of eastern Idukki district receive more than 5,000 mm of orographic precipitation, the highest in the state. In summers, most of Kerala is prone to gale force winds, storm surges, cyclone-related torrential downpours, occasional droughts, and rises in sea level and storm activity resulting from global warming. Kerala’s maximum daily temperature averages 36.7 °C; the minimum is 19.8 °C. Mean annual temperatures range from 25.0 – 27.5 °C in the coastal lowlands to 20.0 – 22.5 °C in the highlands.

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Ayurveda - Monsoon Therapy - An Unforgettable Experience

 

Monsoon clouds bring good news to lovers of Ayurveda all round the globe. Kerala, where Ayurveda is a way of life and monsoons spectacular, is getting ready to receive tourists from around the world who flock to experience Ayurveda rejuvenation therapy during the monsoon. The reason: the monsoon season is known to be the best time to receive Ayurvedic therapy.

There is no harm in taking Ayurvedic therapy at any other time of the year, if you take complete rest and do not tire your body. But monsoon is the ideal time any one can go for an Ayurvedic therapy without a second thought. Ayurvedic oil massage and other treatments rejuvenate the body. The goodness of the soothing oil made of mountain herbs, when torrential rains lash outside is an out of the world experience making the monsoon the ideal time for Ayurvedic therapy. Traditional texts reveal that people of any body type can have Ayurvedic therapies during monsoon and the human body will respond better to therapy during the monsoon, than any other time.

"Number of health tourists to Kerala will cross half a million mark, thanks to Ayurveda," says a prominent tour operator, analyzing the current trend. In Kerala for the past so many years Ayurvedic tourism has been a big draw. There is a steady growth in tourist flow owing to the interest in Ayurveda. Monsoon rejuvenation therapy is the fastest growing segment in health tourism here. Ayurvedic tourism has a cultural component, which is best experienced in Kerala by tourists from the western world. This is one reason why the influx to Kerala keeps on increasing. It is a culturally vibrant state where tourists love to return.

What is Karkidaka Chikitsa (Why monsoon Therapy)?

In monsoon season all the Tridoshas namely Vata, Pitha, Kapha aggravates. Especially Vata. It is the ideal time to flush out aggravated Vata and all impurities and to bring back all the Tridoshas to a balanced state. This comes under Sodhana Chikitsa (Elimination and Curettage). This therapy purifies the whole body to attain proper balance of Thridoshsas (Vata, Pitha, Kapha) and enhances immunity, thus to maintain health.

The Significance of Karkidaka Chikitsa (Monsoon Therapy)

Karkidakam is the agrarian days in Kerala. Karkidakam is the period of the year for many rituals and customs related to agriculture linked with religion. The monsoon was a period of misery and scarcity during the agrarian past in Kerala. It detained the peasants from their workplace, the paddy fields because of the fury of wind and rain. Gloom reigned everywhere and so people turned towards the almighty and concentrated more on Godly matters like Karkidaka seasonal medicinal foods, ritual, sacred and holy things. The invaluable herbs are rich with their magical healing powers during these seasons. These potent herbs were collected and preserved to make great variety of seasonal medicinal foods and potions, which contributed for the purification of the body and the soul. The most important among them and simple to prepare is the Karkidaka Kanji - a concoction of 42 herbs.

Benefits of Shirodhara in Monsoon

According to Ayurveda, Shirodhara deeply relaxes the nervous system, lowers metabolism, integrates brain function and creates brain wave coherence and an alpha state. When the brain is under stress, cerebral circulation is compromised. As oil is poured on the forehead, the nervous system is deeply stilled. The brain waves slow down and become coherent. Once the brain is relaxed, more life, energy and oxygen and other nutrients flow more freely to the brain. The result: better brain function, mood stability and improved stress handling ability. With each successive Shirodhara treatment, the mind systematically achieves an even deeper state of silence and more healing takes place. Regular treatments are said to increase blood circulation to the brain, improve memory, nourish the hair and scalp, encourage sound sleep and calm body and mind.

"Ayu" means "life", "Veda" means "knowledge". Ayurveda is misinterpreted as a medical system only. Ayurveda deals with all aspects of life. Medicines and methods of curing disease are well explained in Ayurveda. But major areas give much emphasis on noble way of living. Daily Routine, seasonal routine, food habits etc. are explained with moral codes in chapters "Dina charya" and "Iruthu charya"

Ayurvedic tourism is no more a passing interest to the western tourist; it is fast becoming a trend. British, Americans, Germans, Spanish, French and even next-door neighbours Sri Lankans make a beeline to Kerala. So, see you in Kerala this monsoon.

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Plantation Valley - Kerala's first farm resort

The largest plantation company in the public sector in India was established in 1962 as a Government of Kerala enterprise, with an initial share capital of Rs 75 million. Some of the major activities Plantation Corporation of Kerala (PCK) undertakes include plantation horticulture, in crops like rubber, cashew, oil palm and similar crops. PCK comprises 12 estates spread over Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod districts of Kerala.

The Athirappilly Waterfall, east of Chalakudy in Trichur District is a 25 meter high waterfall, a sight that takes ones breath away. Starting from the high ranges of Sholayar forest, this waterfall is a great choice to enjoy the beauty of nature and the wilderness of India. It has carved a niche for itself on the Kerala tourist map. Plantation Valley, the state's first farm resort welcomes visitors. It is a perfect hideaway to spend holidays in peace and tranquility, in natural surroundings. Conveniently located on the banks of the Chalakudy River, it offers luxurious accommodation to suit ones needs. Lavishly appointed 6 cottages (12 air-conditioned rooms), with sprawling patios attached to each room, gives the guests privacy while ensuring uninterrupted views of amazing waterfalls, whispering brooks, long and winding pathways and curious animals and birds.

Some of the facilities at The Plantation Valley include well appointed air-conditioned deluxe rooms, an open-air river side restaurant, a coffee shop, options for lawn dining, a multi-cuisine restaurant, a conference hall, ample parking space, a commercial horticultural nursery, an outlet for guests to procure seeds and publications on agriculture and horticulture, along with a sales outlet of PCK products. Activities available include a plantation visit, trekking and an exciting jungle safari. The places around the vicinity that one can visit include Vazhachal Forest Gardens and Water Falls, Charpa Falls, Malakapara Tea Gardens and Peringalakuthu and Sholayar Dams.

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History of Kerala

                                 During Neolithic times humans largely avoided Kerala's rainforests and wetlands. There is evidence of the emergence of prehistoric pottery and granite burial monuments in the 10th century BCE that resemble their counterparts in Western Europe and the rest of Asia. These were produced by speakers of a proto-Tamil language. Thus, Kerala and Tamil Nadu once shared a common language, ethnicity and culture; this common area was known as Tamilakam. Kerala became a linguistically separate region by the early 14th century. The ancient Chera empire, whose court language was Tamil, ruled Kerala from their capital at Vanchi and was the first major recorded kingdom. Allied with the Pallavas, they continually warred against the neighbouring Chola and Pandya kingdoms. A Keralite identity — distinct from the Tamils and associated with the second Chera empire — and the development of Malayalam evolved between the 8th and 14th centuries. In written records, Kerala was first mentioned in the Sanskrit epic Aitareya Aranyaka. Later, figures such as Katyayana, Patanjali, Pliny the Elder, and the unknown author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea displayed familiarity with Kerala.

The Chera kings' dependence on trade meant that merchants from West Asia established coastal posts and settlements in Kerala. Many — especially Jews and Christians — also escaped persecution, establishing the Nasrani Mappila[7] and Muslim Mappila communities. According to several scholars, the Jews first arrived in Kerala in 573 BC. The works of scholars and Eastern Christian writings state that Thomas the Apostle visited Muziris in Kerala in 52 CE to proselytize amongst Kerala's Jewish settlements. However, the first verifiable migration of Jewish-Nasrani families to Kerala is of the arrival of Knai Thoma in 345 CE. Muslim merchants settled in Kerala by the 8th century CE. After Vasco Da Gama's arrival in 1498, the Portuguese sought to control the lucrative pepper trade by subduing Keralite communities and commerce.

Conflicts between the cities of Kozhikode (Calicut) and Kochi (Cochin) provided an opportunity for the Dutch to oust the Portuguese. In turn, the Dutch were ousted at the 1741 Battle of Colachel by Marthanda Varma of Travancore (Thiruvathaamkoor). Meanwhile, Mysore’s Hyder Ali conquered northern Kerala, capturing Kozhikode in 1766. In the late 18th century, Tipu Sultan — Ali’s son and successor — launched campaigns against the expanding British East India Company; these resulted in two of the four Anglo-Mysore Wars. He ultimately ceded Malabar District and South Kanara to the Company in the 1790s. The Company then forged tributary alliances with Kochi (1791) and Travancore (1795). Meanwhile, Malabar and South Kanara became part of the Madras Presidency.

Kerala saw comparatively little defiance of the British Raj — nevertheless, several rebellions occurred, including the 1946 Punnapra-Vayalar revolt, and heroes like Pazhassi Raja and Kunjali Marakkar earned their place in history and folklore. Many actions, spurred by such leaders as Sree Narayana Guru and Chattampi Swamikal, instead protested such conditions as untouchability; notable was the 1924 Vaikom Satyagraham. In 1936, Chitra Thirunal Bala Rama Varma of Travancore issued the Temple Entry Proclamation that opened Hindu temples to all castes; Cochin and Malabar soon did likewise. In 1921, sectarian violence erupted in Kerala, with conflicts between militant Muslims on one hand and Hindus and the British Raj government on the other. The conflict became known as the Moplah Rebellion.

After India's independence in 1947, Travancore and Cochin were merged to form Travancore-Cochin on July 1, 1949. On January 1, 1950 (Republic Day), Travancore-Cochin was recognised as a state. Meanwhile, the Madras Presidency had become Madras State in 1947. Finally, the Government of India's November 1, 1956 States Reorganisation Act inaugurated the new Kerala state, incorporating Malabar District, Travancore-Cochin (excluding 4 southern Taluks which were merged with Tamil Nadu), and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara. A new Legislative Assembly was also created, for which elections were held in 1957. These resulted in a communist-led government — one of the world's earliest — headed by E.M.S. Namboodiripad. Subsequent social reforms favoured tenants and labourers. This facilitated, among other things, improvements in living standards, education, and life expectancy.

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About Kerala

Kerala is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. To its east and northeast, Kerala borders Tamil Nadu and Karnataka respectively; to its west and south lie the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean with the islands of Lakshadweep and the Maldives, respectively. Kerala envelops Mahé, a coastal exclave of Pondicherry. Kerala is one of the four states of South India.

First settled in the 10th century BCE by speakers of Proto-South Dravidian, Kerala was influenced by the Mauryan Empire. Later, the Cheran kingdom and feudal Namboothiri Brahminical city-states became major powers in the region. Early contact with overseas lands culminated in struggles between colonial and native powers. Finally, the States Reorganisation Act of November 1, 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood. Social reforms enacted in the late 19th century by Cochin and Travancore were expanded upon by post-Independence governments, making Kerala among the Third World's longest-lived, healthiest, most gender-equitable, and most literate regions. However, Kerala's suicide, alcoholism, and unemployment rates rank among India's highest.A survey conducted in 2005 by Transparency International ranked Kerala as the least corrupt state in the country.

The etymology of Kerala is widely disputed, and is a matter of conjecture. A prevailing theory states that it is an imperfect Malayalam portmanteau that fuses kera ('coconut palm tree') and alam ('land' or 'location' or 'abode of' ). Another version is that the name is originated from the phrase chera alam (Land of the Chera). Natives of Kerala — Keralites — thus refer to their land as Keralam. Kerala's tourism industry, among others, also use the phrase God's own country.

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Mystery deaths at Christian prayer centre Kerala High Court orders probe

Sister Abhaya, a 21-year-old nun, was found dead in the well of Sr. Pious X Convent in Kottayam on 27th March 1992. Although church authorities and Police (It was Congress rule in Kerala and Christians had great political clout) tried to picture it as a case of suicide, the local people objected to it.

A perfect combination of money, social, political police and administrative power. Christ feasted on bread and wine to show his oneness with his followers but here church high-ups are enjoying the flesh and blood of the poor girls who are forced to become nuns due to poverty.

Following the late Pope John Paul II’s clarion call for ‘harvesting of crosses and souls across Asia’, his followers in Kerala are not-only harvesting but feasting on young girls who leave their hearth and homes to follow Christ’s way. Innumerable are the Christian girls, who become nuns and sisters and fall prey to the sexual machinations of the male higher-ups.

Many of them are raped and killed, with not a question asked, since, such is the power of the Christian hierarchy in Kerala—A perfect combination of money, social, political police and administrative power. Christ feasted on bread and wine to show his oneness with his followers, but here church high-ups are enjoying the flesh and blood of the poor girls who are forced to become nuns due to poverty.

Sister Abhaya, a 21-year-old nun, was found dead in the well of Sr. Pious X Convent in Kottayam on March 27, 1992. Although church authorities and Police (It was Congress rule in Kerala and Christians had great political clout) tried to picture it as a case of suicide, the local people objected to it. The body was sent for postmortem and chemical examination. Later the activities of Local Action Committee and intervention of human rights activist Joemon Puthenpurakkal took this case to the Crime Branch. The local police destroyed valuable close-range photographs taken of Sr. Abhaya which displayed injuries, nail marks, strangulation marks etc.

The CBI case was handled by honest Dy. SP Varghese P. Thomas. He infused blood into the luke-warm investigation. He questioned Father Kotoor and Sr. Nirmala who, public felt, were behind the murder. He brain-mapped fifteen suspects and when he was about to brain-map Fr. Kotoor, he got orders from his S.P. Thiagarajan to stop investigations. The contention of Joemon and the action committee is that Sr. Abhaya who came out at 3.00 am to drink water and go to the toilet saw Fr. Kotoor (who is a past master in misusing nuns) having sexual relations with the Mother of the Convent. To silence her, she was murdered and thrown to the well to show it as suicide. Later due to non-co-operation from Police and colleagues and intense pressure on him from higher-ups, politicians and church to make it a suicide, the honest Varghese P. Thomas quit his job in 1994, when he had still 10 years service. The story is that the Congress and Christian leaders exerted pressure on Narasimha Rao and, then, CBI Director Vijayarama Rao to exert a carrot and stick policy towards Varghese. The upright man quit praying God to bring out the truth.

Now thirteen years after his prayers, media reports have brought out evidences which has electrified the case’s speed.

The New Indian Express (legacy of legendary Arun Shourie) brought startling revelations that Sr. Abhaya was not only killed but raped and killed! Also the chemical examination pointed to Abhaya being raped before murder. The high-ups had used their clout at the chief chemical laboratory at the Government Forensic Lab with the result there were four over writing in the original lab book. Thus a rape was buried underground and a false laboratory chemical examination report given to Police and CBI. The Trivandrum and Ernakulam Magistrates Shri S. Soman and Shri P.D. Sarangadharan have ordered arrest of the chemical examiners and production of original lab book. They also ordered CBI to speed up investigations. In a twist to the case, the forensic professor of Kottayam Medical College has informed CBI that the post-mortem report of Sr. Abhaya is missing from the bound book of 100 post-mortem reports—99 reports available and one torn off! Even now somebody is pulling strings to water down the murder of poor nun Abhaya! But Jeomon Puthenpuakkal and retired CBI Dy. S.P. are prepared to go to any extent to bring out the truth and expose the unholy Christian lust for rape and murder of a 21 years old.

On the petition of a woman who was raped and was witness to several being raped and killed, the Kerala High Court had several months before, ordered a probe on the ‘Christian Divine Retreat Centre’ at Muringoor near Thrissur. The Special Investigation Team headed by I.G.P. Vinson M. Paul stumbled upon murder, loot, rape and drug abuse in the course of the investigation. The huge retreat centre with 14-foot concrete walls and huge buildings spread over four-acre land is a township steeped in mystery. Such is the money and political power of the centre that they have a separate railway station and trains stop there.

The SIT found that there were 974 unnatural deaths in the centre in the past few years. Bodies are being disposed of without post-mortem or informing relatives. Patients with no mental illness are given psychotropic drugs and kept in forced confinements. Iron-gated cells exist there. The medical wing is functioning without proper licenses. The cash and ornaments of the dead and visiting people are looted. Allegations are there that the people are made drug addicts by forcibly injecting drugs. It is said that women are raped even by Fathers. The centre also indulges in ‘FERA’ violations, inclusion of extremists and terrorists in voters’ list and getting grants from central government giving false information.

In short, as per the words of Vilson M. Paul, I.G.P., the whole centre is shrouded in mystery, where devotees don’t have free access and are in a prison-like atmosphere. SIT has taken criminal cases against the Director, Father George Panakkal, Father Mathew Thundathil and eight others for murder, rape, etc.

The CPM and Congress may be in opposite poles in Kerala, but both the Congress Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy and the CPM State Secretary Pinarayi Vijayan went to the centre and expressed solidarity with the murderers and rapists. They attacked police investigations and charged them with atrocities. Such is the power of Xian vote banks!

The High Court and Supreme Court have struck down demands to stop investigations, filed by the centre.

The BJP State President P.K. Krishna Das has said that the centre is functioning like an underworld and is indulging in rape, loot and murder. He called for sealing of the centre in the light of the startling revelations.

The Christian organisations and educational institutions, which made false charges of rape against Sangh Parivar at Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh and organised nation-wide protests, do not raise an accusing finger in Kerala when such open atrocities take place.

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Helmets compulsory in Kerala from today

Wearing helmet will be compulsory for riding two wheelers in Kerala from today. The decision was prompted by the high court intervention.

The high court had last week sought the explanation of the government for not enforcing its earlier direction making helmet compulsory for all two-wheeler riders and those riding pillion.

The government has authorised the police to impose a fine of Rs100 on those two-wheelers travelling without a helmet through a notification here yesterday. In the first phase, it is not compulsory those riding pillion to wear helmets.

However, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has given strict orders to police not to harass two-wheelers in the name of helmet. The government will be filing an affidavit regarding enforcement of the verdict in the high court today.

A division bench, comprising Chief Justice H L Dathu and justice K.T. Sankaran, had given one week's time to the government to file its reply on a petition seeking to strict enforcement of rule 347 of the Kerala Motor Vehicle Act.

Justice J.B. Koshy of the High Court in an order 10 years ago had made helmets mandatory for two wheeler rider on a petition filed in the wake of spurt in deaths due to road accidents.
The state government stopped implementation of the order following an agitation by the two wheeler riders.

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Scores take part in Kerala's Ochira Kali festival

Scores of people took part in Kerala's Ochira Kali

festival, a mock fight to commemorate a battle between two rulers.

This annual festival commemorates a battle that had the King and the rulers of Kayakulam and Ambalapuzha as the opponents on Sunday.

"This is the battle fought by King Kayamkulam. His dynasty was spread over eight provinces. The battlefield is known as 'Ettukandam' or the eight fields. The Ochira Kali is celebrated here every year. About two or three thousand people participate in it," said K. Bhargavan, Secretary of the Ochira Temple Trust.

A large number of people dressed in colourful attire, take part in the festival.he participants fight each other in a mock battle standing in knee-deep water, brandishing mock swords and shields while splashing water and mud.

The fight is the final part of the annual festival of Ochira temple, which concluded on Sunday. Thousands of devotees, including residents and tourists, witnessed the festival.

The festival is organised annually during the monsoon season.

The Ochira Parabrahma temple, as it is popularly known is dedicated to the universal consciousness. The uniqueness of the temple is that there are no idols.

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IIST to come up in Kerala hill station

The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) proposed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) to mould space scientists will come up in the picturesque Ponmudi hill station in Trivandrum district.

The ISRO selected Ponmudi, called the Golden Peak, 60kms from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), the major space research centre in the country, as it is a tranquil spot free from the hustle and bustle of the city life.

The permanent campus of the institute will come up on 100 acres of land in the hill station, which is located at a height of 600 metres above sea level. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is expected to lay the foundation stone for the institute later this year, according to sources at the VSSC.
The Isro is planning to develop the fully-residential institute as a mini city with all modern amenities like a shopping arcade, bank, post office, studio, apartments, hostels, libraries, sports complex, open air theatre and a convocation complex besides the state-of-the-art academic facilities.

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Tatas plan Kerala project

After getting the Kerala government’s encroachment notice on its tea estates in Munnar hills, the Tata group is gearing up to mine titanium-dioxide in the state. But, no fear this time, it’s the JV partner’s garb for Rs 1500-crore titanium project that LDF government is donning for the Tatas. It is the Russian move that, probably, put Tata Steel on the alert.

Russian firm Rosoboron last month signed an MoU with Kerala government for a Rs 1500-crore ilminite forward integration project.

 Sources told FE that Tata Steel informed Kerala government of its intention. An MoU is likely to be signed in a month or two. The Tata Steel-Kerala government JV is proposed in Chertalai, not far away from Chavara or Arattupuzha, where the raw material ilminite sands are abundant.

Tata Steel has proposed a titanium sponge manufacturing facility of nearly the same capacity as that of the Russian firm. The iliminate resources in Kerala can afford three projects of such capacities, say experts.

Tata Steel’s proposed project is for technology association in manufacturing titanium metal, titanium sponge and titanium alloy. This would need investment to the tune of Rs 1200 crore to Rs 1500 crore.

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Ashapura Minechem to invest Rs 150 crore in Nigeria, Kerala

Ashapura Minechem — the largest mine owner, processor and exporter of industrial minerals in India — will invest over Rs 150 crore this year in various projects, including its mining plant in Nigeria and white clay processing unit in Kerala.

The company, which almost doubled its net profits in the last financial year to Rs 130 crore, has also tied up with the US-based Amcol to set up a 100,000 tonne kaolin processing plant in Belgium. The equal JV, formed by both the companies, will produce value-added products from bentonite. Kaolin, also known as white clay, is used to make ceramics, medicine and paper. Amcol has a 20% stake in Ashapura Minechem, which it acquired in 1999.

Ashapura had bid for gold, barytes and kaolin mines in Nigeria last year. It is partnering with Nigerian company Nuel Ojei Holdings. “We have control over 3,800 sqkm of area in the country. The reserves are still to be estimated. There is also the possibility of discovering deposits of non-ferrous metals,” MD Chetan Shah told ET.

The company will initially invest about Rs 35 crore for the project in the first year. For its Kerala project, where it will produce 200,000 tonne of processed white clay, the company will invest Rs 80 crore this year. “We expect to begin production by December,” said Mr Shah. The company’s stock was up 1.6% at Rs 338.6 on the BSE on Friday.

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Briton fights for canines in Kerala

Five years after she set up Animal Rescue Kerala (ARK), British national Avis Lyons is fighting tooth and nail for her canine friends. Up against an indifferent local administration that is flouting all rules to kill stray dogs in their effort to control the growing canine population, the gritty 65-year-old is not ready to give up without a fight.

“I sold my home in England to fund ARK. I am not going to give up without a fight. The Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation (TMC) is killing stray dogs. This is illegal and similar to what happened in Bangalore last year,” she says. 

Lyons came to Kerala as a tourist some years ago and stayed on after she found the conditions of stray dogs “appalling”. Over the last three years, she has sterilised and vaccinated hundreds of dogs in Vizhinjam panchayat, 10 km from Thiruvananthapuram.

A census conducted by the state’s animal husbandry department in 2003 recorded that the city had a stray dog population of 17,000. Understandably, there has been huge public pressure on the civil authorities to control the spurt in canine population. The matter reached the courtrooms in 2004 and the Kerala High Court and the Ombudsman ordered the TMC to implement a scheme called ‘Suraksha’ to control the “menace”. Armed with this legal diktat, the TMC began pursuing the programme. But the method used by the TMC for controlling the canine population has shocked animal lovers. Instead of sterilising and vaccinating them, TMC is killing the dogs.

The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001 forbids capturing and killing of stray dogs. But TMC, alleges Lyons, is just doing that.

Talking to HT, Thiruvananthapuram Mayor C. Jayan Babu said the corporation would soon introduce animal-friendly and humane methods to control the stray dog menace.

Lyons also alleges that the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) is aware of this inhuman method used by the TMC. “The ‘Suraksha’ programme flouts the ABC-AR guidelines. But the AWBI is supporting them and has signed a MoU with the TMC to fund the programme that only aims to kill the dogs,” alleges Lyons.

Denying this allegation, AWBI member S.K. Mittal said that the Corporation has not signed any MoU and is trying to find out an amicable solution to the problem”.

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Police clean-up drive launched in Kerala

The Kerala Home department has launched a clean-up drive in the police force by shifting 20 deputy superintendents of police (DSPs), identified ‘corrupt’, from law and order duties to other wings where the scope for taking bribe is less.


Eight of them have been posted in the special branch, which is mainly involved in monitoring law and order position, three each to administration and crime branch and two each to crime records bureau and crime detachment.

The move comes close on the heels of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s revelation that 10 per cent of the 42150 police personnel in the state belonged to the most corrupt category who demand for bribe for every job they do.

He had proposed to remove this category from active policing and give a chance to the remaining men, who either take or share bribe when it is offered, to correct themselves. The drive is a continuation of the process launched by former Chief Minister A.K. Antony to clean up the force.

A special cell constituted by Antony during his previous term as chief minister had identified as many as 8650 police officials, including 200 deputy superintendents of police, unfit for active policing, in the wake of a spurt in crimes in the state.

The cell headed by Inspector General of Police M.N. Krishnamoorthy had drawn up the list after monitoring their track record of the cops. The selection was based on corrupt practices, excess wealth, bad conduct, criminal activities, undesired relations and tendency to fabricate false cases.

As many as 856 police officials, including eight women, are allegedly involved in crimes such as murder, rape, sexual assault on women, burglary and cheating. These cops comprise personnel from the rank of constable to deputy superintendent of police.

Though Antony had proposed to remove the officials with dubious track record from law and order responsibilities, he quit the post before he could initiate the process. His successor Oommen Chandy put the list in the cold storage.

Balakrishnan is planning to re-deploy these officials in special branch, crime records bureau, railways, telecommunication and other special units where chances of corruption are less without affecting the functioning of the department.

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Ashapura Minechem announces major investments in Gujarat and KeralaAshapura Minechem announces major investments in Gujarat and Kerala

Bauxite major Ashapura Minechem will set up a Rs 2,500 crore Alumina Refinery in Kutch, Gujarat, for which the company has partnered in a fifty-fifty basis with a Chinese firm QTX.

Slated at a 2:1 debt-equity ratio, Rs 800 will be raised from equities while Rs 1700 will be mopped up from long term loans.

The project, expected to take off by October after availing the necessary environmental clearances, will be completed within two years, said Ashapura MD Chetan Shah to reporters today.

''The project will be set up in two phases at a total cost of Rs 2500 crore. QTX will buy 75 per cent of total production while rest will be sold in open market. We are expecting to take the advantage of tremendous shortage in Chinese market'', Mr Shah said.

Company has also plans to pump in Rs 80 crore in Kerala to set up a processing plant to produce Hydrous Calcined, Hydrous Non-Calcined, Dry Calcined and Spray dried Kaolin.

Ashapura's net profit for FY07 grew by 99 per cent to Rs 130.22 crore while total income posted a 32 per cent growth to Rs 1277.07 crore compared to Rs 855.17 crore in last fiscal.

On bauxite segment, against an export of 1.3 billion made last year, company has set a target of Rs 5 billion in FY08.

''China is our greatest consumer in bauxite segment and we are looking forward to tap the Rs 21 billion tonne bauxite requirement in China.'', he added.

Company had entered in a strategic fifty-fifty JV with AMCOL International Corporation, USA in 1997 to make value added products from Bentonite.

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Briton roughed up trying to protect Kerala strays

After Karnataka, stray dogs in Kerala are the focus of some unwanted attention. The state administration is on a stray dog killing spree in Thiruvananthapuram, and a British woman who had taken upon the responsibility of protecting them, was roughed up and jailed for her efforts.

"Had something like this happened to an Indian in my country it would have been called racial discrimination," said 65-year old Avis Lyons, who sold off all her property in England and settled down in Thiruvananthapuram six years ago. Her mission was to take care of stray dogs and other animals. She started the NGO Animal Rescue, Kerala, which has sterilised more than 2,500 dogs since 2001.

In 2004, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation tied up with her NGO and 50 dogs in the city were sterilised under the arrangement. But then the partnership ended.

More than 2,200 dogs have been killed in Thiruvananthapuram alone since November last year. In February this year, when members of the NGO stopped municipality workers from taking away dogs for culling, they were charged with assault. "We have a memorandum of understanding with the panchayats in two villages of Kovalam where they came to take away the dogs. As per the agreement, our organisation sterilises and vaccinates stray dogs against rabies and in return, they do not kill dogs there. Amongst those hurled into the trucks we found two dogs which had been covered by us and there was no chance of them spreading rabies or multiplying. When we talked to the municipal workers, they refused to listen and instead threatened to get me deported," said Lyons, who was here to campaign for the cause.

"It is so strange that the corporation's programme is still continuing under the name of Suraksha which means protection in Hindi," she added.

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Kerala bans mechanised fishing during monsoon

The ban on mechanised fishing in the high seas off the Kerala coast during the monsoon season came into force on Friday.
       
The annual ban by the Union Agriculture Ministry bars trawling by all deep-sea fishing vessels in the exclusive economic zone in the west coast from June 15 to July 31.

Studies reveal that the ban, imposed in Kerala since 1989, has helped improving the fish stock, which faced depletion due to unrestricted trawling during the breeding season a decade ago.

Around 5,000 workers in the state, however, lament loss of income for owners and the crew in the wake of the ban.

"We would be really hard pressed during the ban. I have to look after six of my brothers...It would be very difficult to make ends meet. The government has to do something," said Tom, a fisherman.

A few, however, feel the ban helps in protecting the marine wealth.

"I am fine with the ban. Without ban, the fish population can drastically go down. The future generations might not get any fish. And I don't think the present weather is good or safe for fishing," said Shakti, a trawler owner.

Several coastal states followed the Kerala model and now impose a ban on mechanized fishing during the rainy season to protect the marine wealth off their coasts.

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Historic Kerala beach linked to Vasco da Gama lies in neglect

 Kerala's Kappad Beach linked to Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama is steadily losing its charm.

Vasco da Gama, the famous explorer from Portugal, landed at Kappad in circa 1498 with 170 men in three vessels, thus discovering a sea route from Europe to India.

Located 16 kilometres from Kozikode town, Kappad Beach has a rock landscape. It finds mention in history and geography texts as the gateway to the Malabar coast.

But, sadly, the historically significant beach has turned a major disappointment for tourists and local residents due its neglected state. Tourists, visiting the Kappad Beach, are often heard complaining about the neglected state of such a historical place.

Tourists like M.Rajiv say: "I came here with my family to see the beach of historical importance with Vasco Da Gama's visit but here I could not see anything which explains of the event. There are no facilities for the tourists. The government should think about developing this beach as an important tourist spot."

The rock-studded beach is locally known as Kappakadavu.

A solitary pillar commemorates the event with the inscription, "Vasco da Gama landed here. The sea here is placid and seemingly untouched by history or time.

Locals lament there have been no effort to promote the place as a tourist circuit in the State, which gets a sizeable number of visitors from different parts of the country and abroad.

T. Mohanan, a villager, said: "I feel proud that this is the place where the first ship of Vasco landed but I feel sad to signify that historical moment just one Stupa (mound) is erected. We, the villagers, want this place to be developed as a big tourist spot of India."

Vasco Da Gama died in Kochi in February 1503 on his way back. He was buried at the St. Francis Chapel, but his mortal remains were taken to Portugal later. His tomb still remains in Kochi.

International Forum for Cultural Heritage and Tradition, a voluntary organisation celebrates the arrival of Vasco every year to create awareness among the local and foreign tourists visiting the St. Francis Church and the tomb of Vasco Da Gama.

An interesting feature of the landscape is the sprawling rock that protrudes into the sea. The temple on the rock is believed to be 800 years old.

Kappad offers the unique backwaters, which consist of a complex network of lagoons, lakes and canals. Travelling on these backwaters is an unforgettable experience for anyone.

There are no roads here, only waterways. On the banks, one can watch the lush green rice fields spreading away into the distance and coconut groves with the occasional temple or church.

These canals or waterways, vary in dimension from being wide enough to be dubbed lakes, rich with marine bounty.

Kerala is the second most visited tourist place in India. The State recorded a 51 per cent growth in 2006 as against the previous year.

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Allegro launches 'financial supermarket' in Kerala

Bangalore-based Allegro Capital Advisors, an investment advisory service provider, today launched a 'financial supermarket' here to offer range of financial products and services like stock broking, insurance, banking and property management under one roof.

The supermarket would offer over 17 different categories of financial products from over 100 companies, representing the entire spectrum of that is available anywhere in the country, Allegro Capital Advisors Pvt Chairman and CEO Kunal Kashyap told mediapersons here.

Stock broking, life and general insurance, gold, mutual funds, gold traded funds, IPOs, loans and advances, money transfer, private banking, portfolio management services, post office and RBI bonds, real estate and property management services and international investments products will now be offered to customers in Allegro branches, he said.

This new venture gives the company credibility and operational edge over any bank or insurance company that is restricted to its brand products, he said.

Besides Kochi, 'financial supermarket' branches will initially be spread across 14 major towns in Kerala, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur and Kottayam. Work on these branches in Kerala is progressing and was expected to be operational by June end, he said.

"'Kerala is the right choice for us for a number of reasons. The state has among the best aggregation of discerning investors when compared to many other parts of the country," he said.

Allegro seeks to become the largest 'supermarket' retailer of financial products in India and also the largest independent distributor of all financial products across south India by March 2008, he said.

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Rajnikanth film released in 86 theatres in Kerala

 

Superstar Rajnikanth in "Sivaji". The film is directed by Shankar and produced by AVM. Music is composed by A.R. Rahman. Photo: By Special Arrangement

Kochi, June 15 (PTI): Fans of superstar Rajnikanth thronged 86 theatres across Kerala where his new film "Sivaji - The Boss" was released today.

This is the first time in that a film is being simultaneously released in so many theatres in Kerala, the movie's local distributor Johnny Sagarikka said.

"No Malayalam film has been released like this in the state," he said.

The film is fully booked in most theatres for the first four days.

Two theatres in Palakaad were the first to screen the movie at 5 am. Fans had begun queueing up since midnight last night.

Long queues were seen in front of two theatres in Kochi that are screening the film much before the first show at 9.30 am, Suresh Shenoy of Shenoy Cinemax said. At Shenoy's, tickets have been fully booked a week in advance.

At Padma, the other theatre in the city screening the film, all shows have been fully booked for four days.

Die-hard Rajnikanth fans coming out of the theatres said the film was as "super" as the actor.

Police had a difficult time controlling the crowd in many theatres.

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Viral infection under control in Kerala

Preventive measures against the viral fever in Kerala continued for the fifth day today even as the government said the outbreak was under control.

New cases had declined and the number of inpatients in the hospitals had come down drastically, sources in the Health Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the number of viral cases has come down to 22,400, from 26,000 cases yesterday, they said. A total of 188 Chikungunya cases had been confirmed in the state, while the suspected cases were about 8,000.

They said though there was a decrease in Chikungunya cases in the state, Kottayam district showed a slight increase in the number of cases.

Apart from the five cases of dengue confirmed till now, no fresh cases were reported today.

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Total premium collection in Kerala up 14%

The four public sector general insurance companies – United India Insurance Company, Oriental Insurance Company, National Insurance Company and New India Assurance Company – collected a total premium of Rs 769.47 crore from Kerala in 2006-07.
 
The total premium collection was up 14 per cent, compared with Rs 674.66 crore during the previous fiscal. United India maintained its first position by registering Rs 216.25 crore, up 11 per cent from Rs 194.84 in 2005-06. Oriental Insurance followed with 21 per cent increase.
 
The company collected a total premium of Rs 200.65 crore as against Rs 165.81 in the previous fiscal. National Insurance could collect Rs 190.53 crore showing a growth of 19 per cent from Rs 159.74 crore.
 
With 5 per cent increase, New India Assurance collected a premium income of Rs 162.04 crore.
 

This was Rs 154.27 crore in 2005-06. The four companies paid Rs 500 crore as claim settlement in the state during 2006-07. United India and National Insurance topped the list with Rs 137 crore each followed by Oriental Insurance with Rs 116 crore. New India Assurance paid Rs 110 crore as claim settlement.

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Rajnikanth fever in Kerala - Sivaji, The Boss movie release (trailers)

 

One of the hottest topics now in Kerala (apart from Munnar and Chikunguniya) is the latest Rajnikanth movie, Sivaji. Since tickets are pre-sold for 2 weeks, success is guaranteed for this movie. I came across an interesting advertisement for the movie on Mathrubhoomi,

The ad asks all hardcore Rajani fans to “call a mobile number if they are planning to come to the show with shaven head or if they want throw flowers during the movie”!

It is also rumoured that the Sivaji story line is loosely based on the Malayalam movie, “Naaduvaazhikal”.

 

 

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ICTs to empower Kerala villagers through information

Citizens of Kannur district (northern part of the Kerala state in India) at the click of the mouse or through a phone call will soon be able to access all kinds of local information. Anything from the sale of a cow, job vacancies or even find brides and grooms!Akshaya, (state wide ICT project by the Government of Kerala) with support from UNESCO has just operationalised an innovative initiative for the creation of community portals in local language (Malayalam). The primary objective is to create content in local language using free and open software at the various local bodies in Kannur district and for the local communities.

 

Initially, the project will develop community portals for the District Panchayat, one Municipality and nine Gram Panchayats from Kannur district. The portal will comprise vital information such as: history of the community; organizations; eminent personalities; places of interest; different services/schemes offered by the local self-government; information regarding agriculture; business ventures; products; local job vacancies; educational details; health information; legal rights; local events; interactive forums; e-newsletters providing information on new technological trends and innovations etc.Content will be produced on an ongoing basis by community reporters appointed in each of the chosen panchayats under the active leadership of Akshaya entrepreneurs and facilitated by the Akshaya District office in Kannur.

For more information log on to http://www.akshaya.net/

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Now, a scooter that runs on magnetic power

Believe it or not, a man in Thrissur District of Kerala has developed a two-wheeler scooter that runs on magnetic power. It takes just an ordinary battery to start the scooter and the rest is done by the inbuilt magnetic mechanism, which enables the scooter to run at a speed of 25 to 45 kilometers per hour. It’s noise and pollution free. “It doesn’t cause any air or noise pollution. This kind of technology can be very useful for our country and this motivated me to create it,” said the 27-year-old Naveen C, the inventor. He holds a diploma in computers but could not pursue a career in electronic engineering due to personal problems. But Naveen prepared his scooter using a 25-year-old Chetak two-wheeler scooter. He removed its petrol tank and fixed a magnetic mechanism. It took him seven years to prepare his dream scooter which cost around 20,000 rupees.

                        Naveen claims that the technology used in his scooter can be used in any vehicle with very little changes. The magnetic power reduces if the scooter is used for a long period. But it can be retrieved in no time. The scooter named “7th” by Naveen, doesn’t require recharging. Hailing from Thrissur’s Chellakara area in Kerala, Naveen has become a talk of the town after his invention. “In the present scenario when petroleum prices are soaring high, this is a very good invention by Naveen, I really appreciate him for this,” said Dr. Krishnamany, a villager”He has developed this scooter using limited resources available in his house which will become a useful product for the entire nation and our entire village will support him,” said C. Nandakumar, another villager. Naveen has applied to patent his scooter and is open to share his innovation with any vehicle company approaching him. But it has to be an Indian company, he says. (ANI)

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Kerala IT policies gets cabinet nod

The long-awaited industrial and information technology (IT) policies of Kerala’s Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front government have received the cabinet nod yesterday.

While the focus of the industrial policy is revival of public sector undertakings (PSUs) and traditional industries, the IT policy lays thrust on turning the state as a destination for free software.

The industrial policy has proposed an action plan for the revival and modernisation of the PSUs. Releasing the policy document at a press conference after the cabinet meeting here, Industry Minister Elamaram Kareem said that the action plan was aimed at turning the PSUs profitable.

The policy has proposed to exploit the minerals lying idle beneath the coasts in the state for the industrial development.

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Many flights from Kerala cancelled

Flights of state-run carrier Indian to various destinations from Kerala continued be hit as the nationwide strike of the airline employees entered the second day today.

The services which had not been operating since yesterday included Chennai – Trivandrum - Sharjah, Delhi – Mumbai - Trivandrum and Chennai - Male, airport sources here said.

Almost all the administrative and commercial staff stationed here were participating in the protest.

However, security and ground-handling staff turned up for work, the sources said.

In Kochi, four flights were cancelled this morning.

IC 976 Sharjah – Kochi – Coimbatore - Chennai, scheduled to reach here at 2.45 a.m., was cancelled along with IC 998 Bahrain - Doha, Kozhikode - Kochi, airline sources said.

IC 998, which was to have proceeded to Mumbai and Delhi from Kochi as IC 166 was also cancelled.

The flight IC 502/501 from Kochi - Agatti and back was cancelled.

A Kozhikode report said all the 7 Indian flights scheduled to operate today from the Karipur airport have been cancelled.

IC 598 Kozhikode - Sharjah, IC 998 Kozhikode - Bahrain and IC 926 Kozhikode - Muscat were among the flights cancelled.

In all, about 80 employees of Indian are striking work at the Karipur airport. Five employees, including two airhostesses and three cabin crew, have been suspended from service for not reporting for work.

Meanwhile, Air India Express 474 Doha – Bahrain – Kozhikode - Kochi flight arrived here this morning without touching Kozhikode following inclement weather, airport sources said.

Irate passengers, bound for Kozhikode, refused to disembark from the flight at Kochi, the sources said.

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Hub-and-spoke model, finishing schools to run Kerala IT

 In a takeoff on the advice of former UN undersecretary general Sasi Tharoor, Kerala IT has decided to go ahead with its agenda of setting up finishing schools for IT job aspirants. But then, take the promotion of IT park infrastructure and it's goodbye to all city-centric plans.

Instead, it's a hub-and-spoke model in IT/ITES/BPO investment that the Kerala government will pursue, according to the IT Policy cleared by State Cabinet here on Wednesday.

 It's not just on cities, but throughout the rural belt of the State that IT parks will be promoted. At present, IT business in Kerala is concentrated in Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark in Kochi.

The subsidy on invested fixed capital for IT investors in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi has been upped from 20% to 30%. To make the carrot juicier for off-city investors, the subsidy for those investing beyond the two cities will get 40% subsidy on capital. An additional 10% subsidy for off-city IT parks is expected to spawn out the hub-and-spoke model.

Earlier finishing schools had been proposed to improve the quality of human resources and ramp up the employability of those passing out from colleges, technical and otherwise.

The State government had also announced earlier its plans to develop the State into a FOSS (Free and Open Software Systems) destination. In tune with this the State had entered into an MoU with Red Hat in New Delhi, early this month.

In a discussion with Free Software Guru Richard Stalman, Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, who handles the IT portfolio, had vowed to maximise the use of open software in Kerala's e-governance activities.

Other measures proposed under the State IT policy are the following: Special technology development fund will be earmarked to push R&D activities in IT.

Lowest power tariff will be proposed for the Akshaya IT kiosks run under the State's e-literacy initiative.

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Kerala as investment destination

The Kerala government on Wednesday unveiled an action plan to convert the state into a favoured investment destination by promoting public-private partnership in infrastructure development and offering to set up exclusive industrial parks for NRI investors.

While the policy speaks about setting up product-specific Special Economic Zones, Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem told reporters that in a state like Kerala, large quantum of land like 30,000 acres could not be set apart for SEZs.

However, the LDF government was of the view that as the Centre had come out with such a scheme, Kerala alone should not keep away from that policy.

"We should also get the benefits of the scheme," he said.

The SEZs coming up for Electronic parks requires only 350 acres of land and product specific SEZs would require about 25 to 350 acres of land, he pointed out. Six applications from private entrepreneurs for setting up SEZs were now pending before the government for clearance.

The government expected an investment of Rs 10,000 crore in the new generation industries in the state in the near future, he said.

To capitalise on the potential in food processing sector, it was proposed to develop mega food processing zones in select districts and also create umbrella brands for agro- products of the state.

To make Kerala a destination of choice for investors, both global and domestic, Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation will help develop mega industrial parks in selected thrust sectors, he said.

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technorati tags:kerala

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US-based company to help fight cyber crime in Kerala

The US-based Data 64 is preparing a compilation of net-related frauds to make inroads into curbing the cyber crime trend in Kerala.

Speaking to reporters here today, Legal Manager of the Asia Pacific Zone-I of Data 64 Gokul Narayan said after completion of the work it would be handed over to the state police administration.

Stating that most of the cyber crimes in the state involved financial frauds and morphing of images, Mr Narayan said his company, in association with the Asian School of Cyber Laws had set up the world's first password cracking lab at Pune in Maharashtra.

'' A disturbing trend emerging nowadays is the increasing use of passwords to protect documents by terrorists and members of the organised crime cartels,'' he informed.

The lab would help the law enforcement officials to crack the passwords and decrypt the encrypted documents in order to nab the criminals, Mr Gokul added.

Equipped with cutting edge technology to decrypt file, application and operating passwords, the lab had been instrumental in solving many cases of the police and armed forces since its formation two months back, Mr Gokul claimed.

He hoped that a similar lab could be opened in Kerala to combat cyber crimes.

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Kerala govt to bring law to allow any believer in temples

Kerala government today said it would bring a legislation to enable any believer in Hinduism to offer worship in temples.

Devaswom Minister G Sudhakaran told a seminar here on 'Progressive Movement and the Second Guruvayur Satyagraha', organised by DYFI that the present rule stated that any person who by birth is a Hindu can enter temples.

A necessary amendment would be brought forward to enable a believer in Hinduism enter temples, Sudhakaran said.

"Thanthri's (chief priests of temples) have no right to determine who is a believer," Sudhakaran added.

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Aviation strike partially affects Kerala

The nationwide aviation strike, called by the ground staff of national carrier Indian, today partially affected air operations from airports in Kerala with three flights being cancelled and several others delayed.

The Thiruvananthapurm-Sharjah IC 589, Cochin-Sharjah IC 975 and another flight to Sharjah from Kozhikode were cancelled, sources said.

As may as ten flights were delayed causing hardships to the passengers bound for various destinations.

Airline sources in Thiruvananthapuram said three flights to Bangalore were delayed for 30 to 40 minutes.

A report from Kochi said some of the flights that took off from the Nedumbassery International Airport were delayed. These included the Muscat-Cochin-Chennai flight, which was delayed by almost two hours and the Bahrain-Doha-Kozhikode-Kochi-Mumbai-Delhi flight which left here an hour behind schedule.

A report from Kozhikode quoting Karipur Station Manager N Kannan said the morning flight IC-597 to Goa-Mumbai sector was cancelled in view of the non-availability of return flight from Sharjah.

Nearly 13,000 ground staff of the airlines went on a flash strike late last evening, demanding better pay. The strike was called after the talks between the management and the union broke down.

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Kerala to set up exclusive industrial parks for NRIs

The Kerala government unveiled an action plan on 13 June to convert the state into a favoured investment destination by promoting public-private partnership in infrastructure development and offering to set up exclusive industrial parks for NRI investors. While the policy speaks about setting up product-specific special economic zones, industries minister Elamaram Kareem told reporters that in a state like Kerala, large quantum of land like 30,000 acres could not be set apart for SEZs.

However, the LDF government was of the view that since the Centre had come out with such a scheme, Kerala alone should not keep away from that policy. “We should also get the benefits of the scheme,” he said. The SEZs coming up for electronic parks require only 350 acres of land, while product-specific SEZs would need 25-350 acres, he pointed out. Six applications from private entrepreneurs for setting up SEZs were now awaiting clearance. The state government expected an investment of Rs10,000 crore in new-generation industries in the near future, he said. To capitalise on the potential in food processing, it was proposed to develop mega zones in select districts and create umbrella brands for the state’s agro-products. To avoid confrontation for getting land for expansion of industries, developers would be allowed a ‘call option’ on buying adjacent land in future by remitting an annual premium to the government for a fixed period of years, Kareem said. While acquiring land for industrial purpose, landowners would get the market value and, as far as possible, farm land would not be used for industry, he added.

Claiming the new policy was ‘investor-friendly’, he said the state was likely to simplify the process for starting an industry by strengthening the ‘single window’ clearance system. At present, an entrepreneur has to get clearances from nine departments. State-run public sector units would be strengthened by technological upgradation and diversification and synergising with Central Public Sector Undertakings, he said. The traditional industrial sector would be protected along with setting up of three industrial corridors for development of new generation industries like IT, ITeS, biotechnology, hitech electronic, food processing and textiles.

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Kerala temple regrets purification move

The Guruvayoor Devaswom Board in Kerala expressed regrets on Wednesday for a 'purification ceremony' it held at Guruvayoor Temple.

The ceremony was conducted after a minister's son, whose mother is not a Hindu visited the temple.

The regret comes after the Board is said to have realised that he is a practising Hindu and he was not baptised as a Christian.

Ravikrishna, the son of central government minister Vayalar Ravi offered prayers at the temple in May.

Ban remains

But the expression of regret has not resolved the ban on non-Hindus at the temple.

''It has found that even though his mother is a Christian, he has not been baptized, so it cannot be said that he is a Christian. Since his father is a Hindu, he is also a Hindu,'' Devaswom Board President Ravindran said.

''This is the opinion of the temple committee. Ravi Krishna has also observed all the rules and rituals of the temple. In school records also, he has been shown as a Hindu,'' he said.

''Because of all these reasons we regret the purification ceremony,'' Ravindran said.

He added, Hindu organisations, pundits and acharyas will meet within two months on the issue and they will submit a report to the government.

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Kerala unveils new IT policy

Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Wednesday unveiled the state's new IT policy that has incentives for fresh investors in the field of IT.

The biggest incentive is that subsidies for investment in IT in all districts except Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi have been increased from 20 to 40 percent.


These two districts have the highest concentration of IT units in the state and subsidies here have been hiked from 20 to 30 percent.


A feature of the new policy is that Kerala could soon become the headquarters of free software industry. Achuthanandan said sops would not be limited to major investors but would be extended to small and medium IT players as well.


The policy also stated that all major offices in the state and educational institutions would be networked.


Malayalam would be used extensively in the computerisation process and would be included to ensure the uplift of all sections of society through IT. The policy aims at ensuring that the benefits of IT reach the common man through all government offices.


A new Technology Fund would be set up for research and development in IT and a finishing school would be established for those who complete their studies in the field.


Achuthanandan also released Kerala's new Industrial Policy, which focuses on the state's public sector enterprises.

'We hope to convert loss making units into break even units and we will do whatever possible to achieve that,' Achuthanandan said.

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NIT-C relaxes norms for Kerala students

To enable Kerala students to obtain admission for M Tech programmes, NITC has removed the condition that aspirants of MTech programmes should produce the mark list of their seventh semester B Tech course at the time of counselling, which began on Tuesday.

The institute modified the condition on Tuesday after several students from Kerala, who came for counselling, complained that they were unable to furnish the mark list of B Tech seventh semester as universities in Kerala have not yet issued the mark list.

The students from the state can attend the counselling after producing the marklist of semesters from one to six.

The institute has 18 seats each in 18 streams for M Tech programmes. A good number of aspirants are from the state. Had the institute stuck to the condition that mark list of seventh semester exam is mandatory for attending counselling, that would have dealt a severe blow to M Tech aspirants from the state.

NIT-C dean, (postgraduate studies) K.P. Mohandas told this website's newspaper that those who failed to produce the mark list of seventh semester B Tech exam during counselling, should produce the same on July 23.

‘‘Candidates will be given admission at their own risk. If the mark list could not be furnished on July 23, they will miss the chance to join the course.

“A spot admission will be held on July 25 for filling vacant seats, if any,’’ he said.

Mohandas said though the NIT-C follows a system adopted by other NITs and IITs in admission process, the institute has diluted the condition to help the students from Kerala.

However, candidates have to produce a certificate from their department head that they have written the seventh semester examinations.

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‘Romance with Rain’ transforms into ‘Dream Season’

The erratic nature of the monsoon has forced the Tourism Department to drop its ambitious strategy to use the rains as a hook to lure domestic and foreign tourists into the state during the lean season stretching from April to September.

The department, which launched monsoon tourism with huge fanfare last year, has taken out ‘product monsoon’ from its latest campaigns.

The department, if its new campaigns are any indication, feels minimum-guarantee spectacles like beaches, hill stations, backwaters and jungles and fundamental economics like price cuts are better bets than the unpredictable monsoon to prop up the tourism sector during its desperate months.

It was during the monsoon season last year that the Tourism Department, for the first time ever, packaged and sold the rains to domestic and foreign tourists.

The campaign ‘Romance with the Rain’ was aimed mainly at high-end tourists, especially honeymooning couples, in Europe, Middle East and North India.

The tourists, who are usually turned away by the rains, were told that the romantic in them will be liberated by the touch of the cool monsoon showers.

The ads featured ecstatic rain-drenched young couples. Innovative products like ‘rain walks’ and monsoon theatre festival too were planned.

By evoking an interest in the monsoon season, the idea was to transform the State into a 365-day destination.

But what the department ignored was the indiscipline that crept into the behaviour of the monsoon of late. Though the monsoon started off with a bang last year, it played truant by the time tourists started pouring in lured by the campaign.

There were reports of tourists having to sit inside their hotel rooms for the entire period of their stay waiting for the showers so that they could get out and experience the much fancied rain walks.

Now, the department has grown wiser. This time, the lean season is marketed as the ‘Dream Season’.

The emphasis is on stunningly priced tourism packages. The three print ads of the ‘Dream Season’ campaign show the tight close-up of the back pocket of a bottom-hugging low-rise jeans.

The threadworm on the pockets have Kerala motifs. One says: ‘God’s own country. Now at bottom-hugging prices. Another says: ‘God’s own country. Now at low-rise prices.’ The third one says: ‘God’s own Country. Now at threadbare prices.’

There is not even a mention of monsoon.

The main intention of the ads is to drive traffic to www.keralatourism. org/dreamseason, the micro site within Kerala Tourism’s website.

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Exclusive Ventures Opens Advisory Service in Kerala, India. Initial Focus to be on Cochin.

Cochin is the Gateway to tourist paradise of Kerala also described as “God’s Own Country” Kerala has been consistently voted as world’s top 10 Tourist Destinations. Cochin is the first privately promoted Airport in India and is a busy international destination with almost all Airlines landing here in addition to chartered flights by tour organizers. Cochin is now on the verge of taking off as one of the foremost IT and Business Destination in India, with the launch of Smart City Project beside Info Park.

The Launch of Exclusive Ventures, Kerala (www.exclventures-kerala.com), was followed by active booking at the handpicked upcoming Gated Community Villa Project beside Cochin. 45 Villas are coming up in a fully secure, landscaped layout with world class amenities including club, swimming pool etc. Exclusive Ventures has brought the project at Pre Launch Price (at the price of Apartment) generating unprecedented interest among investors abroad. The booking is open. The Project is just 3.5Km before InfoPark/Smart City and is 12 KM from City.

Exclusive Ventures will be bringing Lake View (Waterfront) Apartments near Cochin Airport, shortly, for members to book. NRIs can sign up Free at the website and get alerted about new Pre Launches.

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Kerala kicks off sanitation campaign

Following the outbreak of viral fever, the Kerala government has now begun focusing on prevention.
 
In this regard, the government along with various other organisations on Tuesday kicked off a week-long sanitation campaign across the state.
 
While defence medical personnel joined hands with civil official teams in the efforts to contain different types of viral fever including chikungunya, which has claimed about 50 lives in the last two months, local people were seen helping health workers to remove heaps of wastes and clear sewages.
 

According to official sources, a specialist team from the Pune Armed Forces Medical College is in Alappuzha to assess the magnitude of the outbreak of the viral fever and recommend suggestions for effectively tackling the problem.

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Traditional hookahs face extinction in Kerala

Due to high cost and fluctuation in the rate of the dollar, the famous hookahs of Koyilandy, a small town in the Kerala's Calicut District, is facing the threat of being extinct.

Popularly known as 'Malabar' hookahs, they are mainly exported to the gulf countries, mainly to Saudi Arabia. Moosari, a special coppersmith community specialises in making these Malabar hookahs.

K P Nishad, a manufacturer and exporter says that the export business has been hit due to the fluctuation in the dollar rates. The cost of raw materials has also increased.

"We are running the business just because it is our traditional work. Otherwise, we would have stopped it," said Nishad.

The Koyilandy hookahs are ornately designed with delicate motifs, and have coconut shell as the water holder.

It takes one week to make a single piece of hookah. The size can vary from 12 inches to 24 inches, which costs between Rs. 500 and Rs. 1500 and can go up to Rs. 15,000 for specially designed pieces.

It requires 1.5 kilograms of copper, 1.5 kilograms of zinc and half kilograms of silver is used to make an average hookah.

The original shape to a hookah is given by preparing wax moulds to give it the actual shape and then the liquid metal is poured in clay containers in which the wax melts and the actual design remains the same.

Each part of the hookah is made separately and then joined.

The craftsmen and labour are very worried considering the decline in the export of hookahs.

"In our unit, we have got little work but in other units labourers are starving because already manufactured stocks are lying at the warehouses. If the situation remains like this, we definitely have to stop working," said T Premnandan, a senior craftsman.

The craftsmen believe it is very difficult for them to adopt other business as they are in this trade since childhood and picked up the skills from their forefathers.

Only 16 families still remain in the business in Kollam region of Koyilandy.

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Spurt in visa applications to UK from Kerala

There has been a spurt in the number of visa applications to Britain since the opening of the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) centre in Kochi in May 2003.

The office of the British Deputy High Commission in Chennai said it has experienced significant yearly growth in demand for visas since the VFS operation opened in Kochi. The high commission processed 18,170 applications from Kerala in 2005 and 19,877 in 2006.

"The growing number of applications from the southern region demonstrates that an increasing number of customers are finding the process easier and quicker," Kevin Woods, head of the Visa Department at the British Deputy High Commission said Saturday.

VFS is the British High Commission's commercial partner and operates British visa application centres on behalf of the four visa departments in India, for customers to submit visa applications to travel to Britain.

All applications from Kerala and other southern states are assessed at the British Deputy High Commission in Chennai.

Local reports said that the spurt in the number of visa applications from Kerala is due to an increasing number of nurses and students intending to go to Britain from Kerala.

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Biogas waste treatment in Kerala

Kalliyoor pachayat in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram is promoting biogas technology to treat organic waste generated in the household.

Shashi is one among the 15 people in the panchayat who has set up a biogas plant to treat organic waste.

The biogas plant takes up only one sq m of area and is capable of processing solid and liquid waste while providing cooking gas.

''My daughter went for biogas training at the agricultural college. She told us it was good and that is why we took the initiative,'' Shasi said.

Individual biogas plants cost around Rs 9000.

The panchayat and Biotech, which promotes biogas technology, offers Rs 6000 as subsidy to but not many are convinced in the panchayat to try the technology.

''Sometimes people do not come forward, because either they are not aware of the benefits of the project or because of the remaining Rs 3000 which has to come from individual pockets, which they might be unable to pay because of their financial situation, Kalliyoor panchayat president Ashok Kumar explains.

The next step is to set up community-level biogas plants capable of generating electricity from the waste generated in households and markets. The electricity generated will be used to power street lights.

''We are installing demo plants in panchayats that catches their interest and then we work along with the panchayats,'' A Saji Das, the Director of Biogas said.

The technology is seen as an effective solution for tackling tonnes of garbage generated daily in Kerala.

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Rs 4 cr to Kerala to tackle chikungunya

The Centre will grant Rs 4 crore to the Kerala government to tackle the reported outbreak of chikungunya, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said last night.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, he said each affected village in Kerala would get between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 as immediate relief.

Medical teams had been rushed to the affected areas and Director General of Health Services Dr R K Srivastava had visited Kerala and taken stock of the situation, he added.

Ramadoss said the reported deaths due to chikungunya could be wrong as no proper survey had been conducted in the region.

"The Centre will seek a monthly analysis report on chikungunya from the affected states," he added.

He said the Centre had advised Tamil Nadu to maintain a strict vigil, particularly on the border areas and take the initiative for a joint action plan to control vector-borne diseases like chikungunya and dengue.

The Centre was ready to grant any extent of financial assistance to state governments to tackle the viral fever, he said, adding that availability of funds was not a constraint at all.

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Kerala to develop Kochi airport at Rs 3,500 crore

The Kerala Government on Tuesday said it will undertake development works worth Rs 3,500 crore in the Kochi International Airport.

"The work would be taken up in 488 acres owned by Cochin International Airports Limited (CIAL) near the airport and would be completed by 2012," Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan told reporters after a meeting with CIAL officials.

The project, to be implemented in four zones in the area, would generate 18,000 to 34,000 direct and indirect jobs.

CIAL sources said the project envisaged development of aircraft maintenance hangar, aviation training centre, convention centre, hotels, cargo development, shopping malls, food courts, speciality hospital, educational institution and amusement park.

Funds for the project would be pooled from private and public sources.

The airport, which handled 6,473 services in 1999-2000, now handles 20,975 services. About 13 companies were operating international services while seven others were conducting domestic services, CIAL sources said.

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Co may get five-year extension for Kerala-Konkan exploration

Reliance Industries (RIL) may get additional five years for exploring oil and gas in a deepwater block in the Kerala-Konkan (KK) basin. The government is considering a request of the company for granting special R&D exploration status to the block that would extend time period for meeting the work programme, besides saving the company from non-availability of deepwater rigs. This comes at a time when a similar request by ONGC for extending time-frame was rejected by the regulator.

Seeking an R&D time window for five years, RIL in its application to upstream regulator said: “RIL is also ready to share the data, knowledge and the end results with other operators and even welcomes a joint pursuit of basin-scale studies with other operators, national institutes and Directorate General of Hydrocarbon (DGH).”

It is learnt that DGH has referred it to the petroleum ministry for a final decision. It, however, said the request does not fall under any provision of production sharing contract. In its application, RIL said that denying a special status would mean a loss for both — the government as well as the company. “It will be an easy solution for RIL to complete the minimum work programme and surrender the blocks without positive results, a lose-lose situation for both RIL and government of India,” the company said.

The time window has been sought for five years, effective from January 1, 2007. The block KK-DWN-2001/1 was awarded to RIL in 2002 under the second round of new exploration licensing policy (NELP-II). The block has an area of 18,113 sqkm in the 6 lakh sqkm-vast Kerala-Konkan basin.

The special status would also provide a breathing space to RIL which is facing an acute shortage of deepwater rigs. “In addition, grant of R&D exploration status circumvents the present predicament of non-availability of deepwater rigs and thus, provides an opportunity for an exploration synthesis as requested,” the letter said.

RIL has, so far, not reported any success in finding oil and gas in the block. Citing its recent experience in drilling an exploratory well, it said that the block is located on a volcanic margin needing a special exploration paradigm for success. Hydrocarbon exploration has, traditionally, been avoided in basins dominated by volcanic and igneous intrusions such as Kerala-Konkan basin, mainly due to the inability to seismically image below basalts / sills and also due to the perceived detrimental effect of volcanic activity on the petroleum system, it added.

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Australian wine maker finds Kerala hot for vineyards

Petersons, the prominent Australian wine maker has evinced interest in developing vineyards in the state, KR Vishwambaran, vice chancellor of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) told FE. The team from Australia is convinced about the possibility of developing vineyards in the state and optimistic about the soil and climatic conditions, he said. The team has identified certain places in Idukki and Wayanad districts to be suitable for grape cultivation. The wine manufacturers in Australia are scouting suitable locations around the world to source grapes after their production in Hunter Valley, Australia was hit by drought, Vishwambaran told FE. The company has the potential, plans to invest, and has the expertise to brand and sell wines, he added.

A three-member team led by Collin Peterson, managing director of Petersons held discussion with the university officials and have agreed to present a report within three weeks, he said. The team included wine consultant Roger Hoare and another marketing consultant Robert Graham Trewen. The first step in the investment proposal would be to develop a model farm under the aegis of KAU to sudy the potential and problems, Vishwambaran said. The team has also promised to assist KAU in developing a course on grape farming and wine manufacturing.

Keralites are adventurous to try new crops and have a history of adapting to any type of cultivation, he said. The natives have also learned to be wary of high hopes after they burned their fingers with cocoa and vanilla, he said and added that the state has to do an in-depth study before venturing into large-scale cultivation of grapes. Sourcing land would be a big problem in the small state, which already has its hands full with cash crops like pepper, tea, coffee, and rubber. Grapes cultivation needs clear felling and is a mono-crop he added.

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Kerala sends Dinesh Beedi on a textile puff

Just as Bipasha Basu sings that smoking a beedi keeps the cold away (the movie Omkara), comrade Jyothi Basu’s party collegues in Kerala would add that garments too would pretty well do the trick. This week Kerala Government has set its largest co-operative—Dinesh Beedi—on a determined textile puff.

“Beedi is barely enough to keep the profit books warm,” says TV Kunjhiraman, chairman, Dinesh Beedi, on the diversification agenda.

The captains of Dinesh Beedi don’t any more make tall talk about bulk beedi export orders from Israel. The new dreams are on building an export brand in furnishings, shirts and trousers.

A 99-machine garment factory was opened last week. Sewing training for beedi employee dependents was on for some time. Two more Dinesh garment factories will be opened soon in Pinarayi and Kanjanghad.

Union health minister Anbumani Ramdoss’ move for stamping skull insignia on beedi packets is just another nail on the industry coffin. The writing on the wall is not sudden to the Kerala co-operative.

A South African Foundation study (Kate Philip 2004) describes Dinesh Beedi as “probably world’s largest worker-cooperative”. It has 326 workcentres, with a labourforce running to 32,000 at one point of time. Like Lijjat Papad, it also has a gender empowerment element.

“Declining sales and ethical issues around tobacco production “have pushed diversification, say Isaac, Franke and Raghavan (Journal of Comparative Economics 1999). In tune with this prophesy, Dinesh Beedi was forced to resort to umbrella-making and food processing. The recent foray to garments is more studied and capital-intensive.

Dinesh Beedi is not state-owned. But, for LDF government, it is more favoured than any state PSU.

Result? Atleast four CPI(M) ministers- G Sudhakaran, Thomas Isaac, Elamaram Karim and Kodiyeri Balakrishnan—are vying one another to play the white knight. More than half of Dinesh Beedi’s Rs 7.05-crore diversification plan is pumped in by the state government.

For Kerala communists, beedi yields profound puffs with economic and even cultural undertones. When the party was banned, seeking ‘a matchbox to light a beedi’ was a secret code among comrades. And now, a whole vast votebank survives on beedi livelihoods.

Naturally enough, LDF ministers didnot bother about hiding a grin when five lakh traders in Kerala decided to boycott big cigarette brands like ITC over a petty taxsharing dispute.

Some debatable ideas too came up to keep beedi demand afloat. State home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said he was toying about allowing prisoners in state prisoners to puff beedi to ease their tensions.

Ramping up beedi consumption is also in Dinesh’s big plans.” Surely, there is no pulling out of beedi business, that’s our identity,” says Kunjhiraman.

It’s just that, unlike the on-screen Bipasha, the ailing co-operative giant would need more than the beedi to keep homefires burning.

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Kerala minister hopes Kalam will join IIST

Minister M.A. Baby is hoping that President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam will join the faculty of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) that is to come up here.

The Vikarm Sarabahi Space Centre (VSSC), a unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is setting up IIST. Kalam worked at VSSC since its inception in the 1960s till 1982.

Baby said Saturday that he hopes Kalam might become a faculty member at IIST after his tenure as the president ends in July.

"We will be glad if this is to happen and since the proposed institute will be a deemed university. IIST would have to make the formal invitation and then the state government would do the needful," Baby told IANS.

ISRO is trying to ensure that IIST, for which it has proposed a specialized space research engineering college, is opened this academic year.

"We are working to see that students for this new institution are selected from the common engineering entrance examination," said Baby.

IIST will function from the VSSC campus here till a separate campus is built. The permanent campus of IIST, to be built at a cost of Rs.1.2 billion, will come up on a 100-acre area on the outskirts of the state capital.

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Kerala seeks army help to tackle spread of viral fever

The Kerala government has sought the help of army to control the spread of chikungunya viral fever that has so far claimed 36 lives, besides leaving nearly 100,000 affected.
“A team of army officials and a team from the Cochin Naval Base have already begun their work and we are expecting more teams to begin work tomorrow. They would be engaged in fogging activities and also in providing basic health care to the affected districts,” Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said here yesterday after an all-party meeting held to discuss the fever in the state.
On Friday, state Health Minister P K Sreemathi spoke to federal Defence Minister A K Antony who agreed to provide the services of the armed forces to the state.
Reports indicate that army units from Chennai, Hyderabhad and Secunderabad will arrive today to augment the existing health care facilities in the state and also to conduct fogging in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
Meanwhile, one fever-related death was reported in Kozhikode yesterday.
More than 100,000 people have been affected with the south and central districts being the worst hit.

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Defence medical teams in Kerala

The efforts to contain spread of viral fever in Kerala gained momentum today with the defence medical teams arriving here to help the health authorities to combat the problem which had claimed at least 40 lives in various parts of the state.

The army teams, comprising doctors and paramedics, rushed from Secunderabad and Chennai, have moved to the worst hit areas of Pathanamthitta and Kottayam, where they would be plunging into action after preliminary discussions with district authorities, state Health Secretary Vishwas Mehta told newspersons.

Besides medicine supplies, the Army team had also brought fogging machines and mosquito nets to step up vector-control drive with the help of local community.

While an army team from Pangode Military Station in the city opened a camp at Amburi, about 30 km east of here, a navy team would be engaging in preventive activities in some of the districts close Kochi.

A control room has been opened here to closely monitor the situation by keeping in touch with the district medical authorities.

An all-party meet convened by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan had yesterday decided to launch a week-long sanitation drive in the state from June 12 as hundreds of fresh cases of viral fever, including chikungunya, continued to be reported.

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Airtel launches 'PCO on wheels'

Perhaps first of its kind in the country, telecom major Bharti Airtel has launched coin-operated public telephones on three-wheelers in the city.

Inaugurating 'Airtel on Wheels' last evening City Police Commissioner Balram Kumar Upadhaya said the facility would be in great help to commuters, who could contact police, hospitals or their relatives in case of emergency.

Installed in ten autorickshaws on experimental basis initially in association with Autorickshaws Drivers Union (ADU) the facility would be made available in more vehicles in the city, said ADU leader Mohammed Koya.

In order to help the commuters, a display board showing the name of the driver, PCO number, a map of the city, names of police stations, banks and hospitals were fitted behind the drivers seat.

For installation of the facility, operated by using recharge coupon, the drivers would have to pay a sum of Rs 2,555. They in turn would get a 30 per cent commission out of the total collection.

Besides, a Rs 50,000 insurance cover would also be provided to the drivers by Airtel in association with Bajaj Alliance.

Stating that the scheme would give additional source of income to auto drivers, Airtel Chief Operating Officer (Kerala Region) Vikas Singh said the project would be expanded to other areas if found successful.

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Red Hat Doffs its Open Source Cap to the Kerala Government

The Kerala government in India is going out of its way to demonstrate that open source software is a critical component to the future of democratic information. And toward that noble end, Red Hat has decided to help out.

Red Hat, which recently started an online destination that pairs customers with pre-integrated open source business applications, has agreed to help train the technical staff of some organizations within the Kerala government. The end goal is to teach them how to maintain, and ultimately develop, their own open source applications.

Karala plans to use open source software to manage and further develop its e-governance projects, according to a draft state IT policy released earlier this year. The state also began promoting open source software in educational institutions, but has decided not to make it a requirement.

As part of its commitment, Red Hat will teach schoolteachers in Kerala how to use Linux desktop software under its “Train-the-Trainer” program.

Microsoft is also conducting technical training in India. The company is running a nationwide program called Project Shiksha, whose purpose is to train teachers and students in government-run schools how to use information technology.

The Indian federal government is mum about its preference between open source and proprietary software, but some government-run research labs do work on open source projects.

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Kerala's own infotech country

GOD'S own country has also jumped on to the IT bandwagon, going by the innumerable infotech parks that are mushrooming in its towns and cities. Take, for instance, Kochi's Smart City. This info-tech behemoth is fast taking shape and is expected to create an enormous number of jobs. In fact it could engender in God's own country something that God did not envisage: an IT-savvy Kerala. Some even maintain that Smart City, once it takes off, will put a stop to Kerala's brain drain. The local indicators are already in. Land value in Kochi has rocketed, with even neighbouring districts feeling the heat.

The IT sector has also created a new breed of Keralites: New Generation IT Professionals (let us call them NGIPs), who are meant to function quite differently from the rest of the population. Workers of an earlier era - veterans of the strike and hartal - will not quite recognise this lot as fellow beings, with their formally suited, carefully coiffured presence.

The NGIPs have a different biological clock, being either 11 hours or 5.30 hours behind IST depending on whether their 'boss' is situated in Europe or the US. The 'boss' controls their biological clock. A large number of NGIPs have already been shortlisted for the City going Smart. Good old Kochi will have to accommodate itself to them. There will now be a raft of eateries where one has 'no time to stand and stare' (as the poet said), but only to stand and eat. They will not eat the traditional meals of fish and rice, and the like, but fast foods and fizzy drinks. They will also get to choose from a range of South American coffees, not the good old south Indian decoctions of yore.

Such transitions would appear almost passe to the Bangalorean. India's silicon capital witnessed such change a full decade ago. Today it has nearly 1,500 info-tech firms, with almost all the giants of the info-tech world having a presence there. But even in Bangalore the contrasts are still unmistakable. While plate-glassed office towers loom over the city, there are parts of it where people still don't have a decent toilet to call their own, or even running water. Pass through this city, say between Krishnarajapuram and Majestic, and the cycles of boom and bust stare you in the face.

Every city wants to be a Bangalore, but it should learn from that city's mistakes.

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Kerala signs agreement to set up hydro-electric project

Kerala today signed an agreement with a private sector company for setting up a small hydro-electric project at Iruttukanam in Idukki district with an investment of Rs 15 crore.

The power purchasing agreement was signed between Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) Corporate Planning Chief Engineer C Vilson and P D Nair of Viyyattu Power Private Ltd, which was awarded the project on 'Build Operate Own and Transfer' mode.

The project, with a capacity to produce 10 million units a year, would be commissioned within two years. The company would sell power at the rate of Rs 2.40 per unit for a period of 30 years and thereafter hand over it to the state government.

Speaking on the occasion, State Electricity Minister A K Balan said the government would support all small hydro-electric projects and hydel tourism projects without affecting the environment.

He said the state would enter into an agreement with Orissa for the purchase of coal to produce 1,000 MW of electricity to meet the shortage.

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