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The saga of laying new roads in Kerala is an exceptional and long drawn one that would leave you gasping for breath!

 Just before the onset the monsoons, the administrative machinery springs up into action and loads of gravel and barrels of mortar would be unloaded right into the middle of the road. Men and machines reach the spot in no time to begin yet another spell of road laying, which remains nothing but an eyewash many a time.
The potholed road will be swept thoroughly to kick up dust, which would force the shop keepers to down their shutters and pedestrians to scurry for cover to escape the dust shower. Then gravel would be spread in the potholes and a thin spread of mortar is sprinkled to keep them in place. The contractor through his gestures instructs the workers to somehow finish off the work, without bothering about perfection. The left over gravel and barrels of sticky mortar on the middle of the road would remain as eyesores and obstacles for many more days, till some Good Samaritan takes the lead to shove them off to the sides of the pavement.

By the end of the monsoon and the rain fury, the roads would be back to square one with gaping holes and deep fissures all over, which would make driving an arduous task. Nothing happens till the protests from the public and the media reach a crescendo, which wakes up the administrative units from their slumber once again.  Loads of red soil would be put in these holes as a face saving and hole filling measure and to buy time till the rains stop.

Pedestrians would slip and slide on the slippery road as two wheelers continue to splatter muddy water on the hapless road users. Road side vendors and shops would invent innovative methods like placing huge boulders as speed breakers to save themselves from the daily mud splashing ritual.  If you thought that this ordeal would end once the rains stop, you are only making a blind bet!

As the sun starts shining again, mud gets transformed into fine red dust, which would be sprinkled and speckled all over by the speeding vehicles. Kochi would once again look like the red planet Mars, famous for its red soil, and its ill fated residents resemble the aliens with red hair and dust splattered attire. This vicious cycle continues once again with no respite in sight for the ordinary tax payers of this city.

In any average Kerala home, marriages and other festivities are not just occasions of gaiety and celebrations but also anxious moments of finalization of accounts. If you are wondering what these accounts could be, just read on.

Meet Mr. Raghavan Nair, who is all set to conduct the marriage of his first daughter in a few days. As marriage preparations are going on in full gear, he slips off discreetly into his room and dust off the account book safely kept in his locker to flip through the list of potential donors who would be making donations on the occasion of the marriage.

He has meticulously jotted down the amount he has given to other family members and friends during the marriages in their family and expect to be favored in the same coin or a shade better, considering the skyrocketing inflation rates!  He makes a quick mental calculation and a beaming smile appears on his face as soon as he discovers that he would be netting a cool sum and a few sovereigns of gold from his well wishers, who would be paying back the favors received from Mr. Nair both in cash and kind.

If you thought gifts are tokens of love and affection, you are for a sure surprise in this exceptional land of Kerala.

One thing that holds a special place in every malayalee mind is undeniably the glam and glitter of the yellow metal, gold. As soon as the morning newspaper is delivered, every keralite makes sure to update the gold prices!

Weddings are ideal occasions to catch up with the malayalee craze for gold where you can take a peek at the countless petite framed brides laden with tons of gold. In some ostentatious weddings, the surplus jewellery that could not be accommodated on the  neck, waist, hands and legs of the bride in various forms like necklaces, bangles, armlet, and anklets would be even exhibited in a golden platter to show off the financial status and grandiose of the bride’s family.

If you thought gold has a larger than life role only in Kerala weddings, you would be caught napping as babies’ naming ceremonies also flaunt the richness of gold. Even babies, which are only a few weeks old, would be decked from head to toe in gold jewellery. The baby’s mother needs to be extra vigilant to make sure that the bangles and anklets that would be too big for this new born babe do not keep slipping off!

The story would not be complete without mentioning the other side of the affairs where aged ladies who are well past their eighties fall for the lure of gold. Most of these women who would be living alone are inviting trouble by decking themselves with gold. Regular news papers reports of murders and robbery attempts- all in the name of gold, has so far failed to dampen the gold craze of malayalees.

The biggest challenge of Kerala, which is one of the smallest states in India, has always been its space constrain. Flat culture that has taken firm roots in Kerala, has to some extent solved this problem though it has given rise to a host of fresh problems such as environmental issues and pressure on natural resources and infrastructure facilities. Whatever be the pros and cons of flats, the bottom line is that the people of Kerala have whole heartedly endorsed this metro culture and are enthusiastically gobbling up the piping hot offers from flat builders.

Interestingly, the flat culture has also set off many social issues as well. Kerala has always been famous for its close knit, joint family system. However, with the advent of these skyscrapers, youngsters migrated to cities to live among the clouds as the aged parents were left behind in their huge homestead in the countryside. It has made the malayalee families truly nuclear, which preferred to revolve around the small family of husband, wife and one or two kids. Relationships have lost their relevance and reverence as people preferred to fully recoil to their private domain.

Even though a residential building complex would house scores of families only separated by a thin barrier of a common wall, it is paradoxical that people do not know each other. If you go by the axiom ‘out of sight out of mind’, you would be in for a surprise as the community living in flats proves that to be out of mind you need not be always out of sight!

Even if the flat dwellers are seeing each other and bumping into each other at the lobby, the lift and the pool, they do not care to acquaint with each other. Even a death or birth next doors might go unnoticed as many prefer to turn a Nelson’s eye to these affairs. One such family coyly admitted that they only knew about the death of their immediate neighbor from the obituary column of the news paper the next day!

Amidst the daily grinds and chaos, people have long lost their virtues and the only thing that matters most is to mint more money than their neighbor and to buy the latest gadgets and widgets to grab a few eyeballs in the corporate circle.

Food for thought: Are we malayalees frantically chasing the illusive mirror images leaving our real and true selves behind?

Have you ever fancied of a dream job where you can earn a handsome income that too by doing nothing?  If the answer is yes, then turn your gaze towards the streets of Kerala to steal a glance of an intriguing phenomenon. You would see men in striking blue shirts with a menacingly intimidating posture keeping a vigil on all vehicles laden with goods. No, we are not talking about any newly formed elite police force; this men in the blue are loading and unloading employees known in local parlance as ‘attimari’.
 
No matter whether you are shifting your home or transferring building materials to the site you will have to experience an unpleasant close brush with this formidable force of head load workers. They not just fleece the hapless public by charging staggering wages for the work they do, but they could also spring up a surprise by raising a bill for the work they never did. Indeed, not many jobs on planet earth can match the exceptional benefits tagged with this job!

Even if you had employed someone else for loading or unloading the articles, these men might shamelessly ask for their wages, which is known a ‘nokku kooli’ in Malayalam. It would literally mean wages paid for being just onlookers! It goes without saying that this shocking and weird system makes the daily life of countless ordinary mortals, miserable day in and day out.  The general public is destined to mutely put up with all these tantrums because not many would dare to raise a finger against their misdeeds as these men are grouped under influential trade union organizations and political parties.

No wonder that these school drop outs show off the latest mobikes and mobile phones and live in palatial houses which in itself is self explanatory of the advantage of having a lucrative job of this genre!

Guess what is the best way to woo a Malayalee? Shower him with loads of freebies and discount offers to sweep him off his feet!  It forms part of a smart marketing technique as well, in this part of the world where everything revolves around freebies. Just saunter around the business hubs in Kochi to see attractive neon lit boards announcing various types of free offers to entice the potential customers.

‘Buy 1 get 1 free’ slogan seems to the most popular of the lot. If you buy any shirt or dress material you get another one absolutely free! However, application of a bit of common sense would drive home the point that no one gives off anything for free in this consumerist world. The shopkeeper would have definitely added the cost of the both the shirts in the price tag or it could be a shrewd move to liquidate old stuff that are well past their expiry date!

 Free offers also include free world tours, cash prizes and luxury cars among others. So, if you are a game for all these irresistible free offers, head straight to this tiny state of Kerala - the best destination on earth to satiate these urges! Who knows, if your stars are favorable, you would even be driving home a spanking luxury car that was offered to you for winning the lucky coupon that came with every 500 rupee worth purchase! Kerala way of living could well be beyond your logic at times…

Kerala is a land of baffling paradoxes, odd habits and eerie tastes if one go by the mundane affairs of the people of this state. Typically Malayalee parents are over enthusiastic in naming their kids by stringing the first few alphabets of the names of husband and wife- no matter whether these names make any sense or not!

For instance a couple, Shalini and byju preferred to name their first born son as ‘shaby’, without ever considering the fact that it means dirty. Just imagine the plight of this luckless boy who is destined to carry this ‘dirty’ name all his life!

Yet another trend, which can be only seen among the parents of Kerala is picking up rhyming names for the babies. For instance girl children are customarily named something like Teena, Veena, and boys share the rhyming names Praveen, Pradeep and so on and so forth while a boy and gal can be named Renjith and Rejitha!
 
Names should be chosen with great care and love as these form an extension of our personalities. Kerala parents in their over anxiety to express their love for their kids often tend to forget this golden rule.

Thiruvananthapuram: Mobile phones have become a necessity than a luxury in the fast paced modern lives of today. But these smart wireless gadgets are playing havoc among youngsters. School kids have access to even the latest mobile phones with all features like camera and MP3 player, which could be misused to take pictures of unsuspecting fellow students.

The state government is planning to ban the use of mobile phones in the Higher Secondary Schools as a precautionary measure to prevent its misuse. Cyber crimes are also on the rise in Kerala and this move would defenitely be a small step in curbing cyber crimes.

Kochi: Kerala has grabbed the headlines in the recent past by a spate of infamous deeds of fake swamis and “godmen” who took devotees for a ride. Swindling money, illicit land deals and raping minor girls –the list of offences seems endless. The grapevine doing the rounds is that even wearing saffron is considered a curse and a cause of despise these days. Even genuine spiritual leaders find the going tough as they face the wrath and humiliation of the general public who are fed up with these gimmicks of the saffron brigade.

Even our team at Karma Kerala had an interesting brush with this wild topic a few weeks back. We had set out to capture some of the unexplored destinations in North Kerala and had just covered a jungle resort well within the reserve forest. It was already dark and the team was returning to the town. Interestingly, our photographer looked like a carbon copy of a fake swamy who created a buzz in the media for his wrong doings. His long beard and the saffron kurta and lucky charms on the right hand made him a replica of that elusive god man.

The police was frantically in search of this missing swami and wireless messages were conveyed to all police stations. Patrolling was tightened on all the important roads of the State. Blissfully unaware of all the happenings we were enjoying our ride at a leisurely pace. It was then a group of people spotted our car and way laid us. On seeing our photographer, who resembled the missing god man, they became all the more charged up and straightaway informed the police station.

Soon a police jeep screeched into halt and the police officers started questioning us. Though our identity cards proved our innocence, the police let us off only after verifying the facts by contacting our office in Kochi. The photographer still continues to wear the saffron kurta, quite oblivious and unmindful of the hullabaloo it had triggered that day. We all burst out into guffaws even today when we recollect this episode.   

Thiruvananthapuram: Non resident Keralites who drive the economy of this small state can keep their chins up as a bevy of welfare programmes are being worked out for their benefit. These measures would be implemented by Roots Norka, a state-owned organisation that looks after the welfare of non-resident Keralites (NRKs).

To set the ball rolling, all non residents in Malappuram district would be issued an identity card, which would also double up as an insurance as well as discount card. The scheme will be extended to all other districts in Kerala in a phased manner. The distribution of identity cards in Mankada was completed July 19.

This card will act as an insurance card, where in the case of accident or death of an NRK, the dependent would be entitled for Rs.100,000. NRKs can also use this card as a discount card at selected shops in the state.

 As per the available figures, over two million Malayalis are settled abroad, with 90% working in various Middle East countries. Once the distribution of identity cards is completed the exact number of NRKs would come to light.

Thiruvananthapuram: While the whole world is in the grip of Euro 2008 soccer fever, an IT company in Kerala has come up with an innovative online version of this popular football match.
The game, ‘Penalty Game Euro 2008′ has duration of 10-minutes and is created by Invision Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. It features all the 16 participating teams in the ongoing Euro 2008 championship.

Developed for a Dutch travel company, this virtual football game has become a huge hit that the client has already placed the order for a second game, which would have more interesting features than the first part of the game.
In the first series of interactive penalty shoot-out game, only the Dutch team takes the penalty kick against the other teams. This online version would satiate the football mania of many of the die hard fans of this game who could not make it to the live game venues.

Kozhikode: Here’s a strange story of an eagle playing guardian to chickens, which form part of its staple diet! In a mysterious twist, an eagle known to be one of the most ferocious predators in the avian kingdom is nurturing two chicks as its own, proving that love and affection exist in the birds’ world too.

Madhavan, the owner of this bird got it from a coconut vendor with its limb broken after a nasty fall from a coconut tree some months back. With constant caring, the eagle got cured completely and started living with this family. It alerts the owners when strangers try to enter the house and scares away stranger.  The eagle loves the children of the house and makes it a point to follow them to the cricket field and return with them after an exciting game.

Though the bird has not been trained by anyone, it has a natural instinct to protect the chicken under its feather and to feed them with its own beak. It shares a unique relationship with these chicks and does not hesitate to scare away the mother hen too at times to grab the custodian rights of these two week old birds. This unique example firms up the fact that even birds have feelings and emotions just like or even better than the supposedly civilized clan of humans!

It’s high time that humans, who do not mind going to any heinous extent for his personal benefits, draw a cue or two from the selfless love of these mute creatures!

Thiruvananthapuram: Though, the South West monsoon is yet to set in vigorously in Kerala, the annual 45 day trawling ban was imposed in Kerala coasts. With the rain clouds playing hide and seek even after 3 weeks since the normal monsoon onset date, things are not in Kerala’s favour this season. 
During the trawling ban over 5,000 trawlers will be kept out of a 12-nautical mile zone from the coast. The ban is not applicable for traditional fishermen. The 45-day annual ban has been in force since 1988, to ensure the replenishment of fish population. Monsoon is the spawning season for many varieties of fish, including shrimp.

The overexploitation of marine wealth is an issue of serious concern. These days there are trawlers, which can even stir up the ocean bed causing widespread damage to the fragile marine ecosystem. The trawling ban is found to be effective in restoring the balance at least to some extent before the trawlers would zoom in once again in the quest of nature’s bounties.

 
Fish is a popular item in Kerala menu and it is a cheaper source of protein compared to meat. The catch from traditional fishermen would not be sufficient to meet the burgeoning demand for fish, so for the next 45 days, fish would be dearer for Malayalees.

 Alappuzha:  Once again the festive calendar of Kerala would be festooned with an array of snake boat races, the first of which will begin on Thursday. Known as the Champakulam snake boat race, it will be held in the Pampa River at Champakulam, 25km from Alappuzha. An interesting feature is the presence of three thekkanodi boats with women rowers. Conducted on the malayalam star of  Moolam, this Moolam Boat Race. which was started much before the formation of the State is deep rooted in the history of Kerala.

A colourful cultural procession is organized on the previous day followed by the customary rituals performed by the Travancore Devaswom Board at the Champakulam Mutt temple and the Mappilassery ancestral home, from where the boat race is thought to have evolved are the other star attractions of the event.

This is the first boat race after the State Government accorded sports status to boat races. As per the new rules and regulations, oarsmen would be accepted as sportsmen. Uniforms are provided for the participants and separate tracks have been allocated for racing boat. However, the Boat Owners Association has decided to keep away from the race, demanding bonus prize money and maintenance grants for their boats, which would rob off much of its gloss due to the absence of ‘churulan’, ‘odi’ and ‘iruttukuthy’ boats, which were stellar attractions of this race for long.

However, the presence of the fabled Aranmula ‘palliyodam’ category of snake-boats is expected to make up for this flaw as ‘Palliyodam’ boats would be contesting in the event for the first time in its 400-year-old history. Nine ‘chundan’ boats, three ‘thekkanodi’ boats and three ‘palliyodam’ boats from some of the prestigious boat clubs of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kollam districts are participating in the race.

Thrissur: This simple Christian wedding, which took place the other day in Valappad in Thrissur District is startlingly different from any ordinary church wedding. The Christian priest was solemnizing the wedding of his own father when sixty-four-year-old groom, Antony, a widower, got married to Brajitha (50) at the St Sebastian Church.
This was indeed a marriage with a difference where the groom was accompanied by his grandsons to the church and the wedding solemnized by his priest son, Antree, serving as the principal of the Selesian Don Bosco Technical Institute in Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad district who told that he was only doing his duty as a priest.

The wedding was supervised by his son Fr. Andry Kannanpuzha, who has two siblings living abroad. Antony’s first wife for 29 years, Rita passed away in 2001 after which he was leading a secluded life. After a lot of cajoling and pressure from his family, Antony made up his mind to walk down the aisle with Brijitha, for whom it was the first marriage.
This wedding has once gain proved that marriages are indeed made in heaven. 

Kochi: Kerala based Milgram group is launching an ambitious dairy village project with a budget outlay of Rs.500 crore, which would usher in a white revolution in Kerala. The project coming up at Mlamala in Idukki district is aimed at increasing the milk production in Kerala and would be a small step in making Kerala self sufficient in milk.
The complex, spread across 600 acres comprising of 150 dairy farms, would have 50,000 highly productive cattle. The project would employ the latest dairying techniques that comply with international standards and well equipped farm houses. Each farmhouse would have at least 2.5 acres of land, a farm shed, farm equipment, ten high breed cows and a vermicompost unit at an investment of Rs 22.95 lakh.
To start with, the project would have 5,000 cows with an expected milk production of 50,000 litres, which would be later increased to five lakh litres by adding 50,000 cattle heads. Funded mainly through NRI investments and public participation apart from funds from banks and the parent company, this project is sure to revolutionize the diary sector of the state. The project would include 25,000 farmers and 250 milk collection centres, which would ensure the effective distribution of premium quality milk all over Kerala.
At present, Kerala procures around 45% of its total milk requirement from neighboring states as its domestic milk supply falls short of its ever increasing demand. Projects similar to the Milgram diary village project would go a long way in making Kerala self sufficient in milk.

Till the very recent past, every Kerala home had a milking cow, which ensured the supply of pure milk to its family members. With increased urbanization, pressure for land and manpower increased, which in turn spell doom on these healthy habits of Keralites. Time has come for us to return to our roots and this project, which was formally inaugurated on Sunday, strongly drives home this message.

Kochi: The American capital venture company of Acumen Fund is planning an equity investment of Rs 4.5 crore in the Kerala-based AyurVAID Hospitals to start a chain of low-cost ayurvedic treatment centers all over India. The funds would be utilized to start 6 hospitals with 15-30 beds in six different cities including Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad in one year.
Acumen Fund has made substantial investments in business start-up entities in Asia and Africa in various sectors like health, housing and water among others. In India, the fund has invested over US$ 16 million till date and in Kerala AyurVAID Hospitals would be its first investment venture.
The promoting company of AyurVAID Hospitals operates a 15-bed treatment centre in Kochi and a 60-bed hospital in Aluva in Ernakulum district. The company has plans to start 40 hospitals with in-patient facilities over the next four years. The hospital is stressing on inexpensive healthcare options that are well within the reach of the low and middle income groups, particularly for the management of chronic illnesses including skin disorders, metabolic and degenerative disorders, chronic headaches and poor immunity.
Evidences prove that Ayurvedic classical texts written in India between 3,500 and 5,000 years are of relevance even today.  Research studies have proved that many therapies and treatment methods prescribed in Ayurveda are applicable even today. Efforts should be taken to preserve and propagate this traditional Indian system of medicine, which were passed down the generations since eons of years.

Kannur: If the ambitious plans to develop the waterway from Neeleswaram to Kannur, are any indication, it won’t be long when people can reach every nook and corner of this state in boats. Forming part of the proposed inland navigation route from Kovalam to Neeleswaram, this proposal when completed, would allow people right from the northern end of Neeleswaram to the southern extremity of Kovalam to travel all over Kerala in boats. 

The chief minister who inaugurated this stretch also cruised the 9-km waterway from Pazhayangadi in a boat, to asses the navigability of this sector. The canal constructed during the reign of Arakkal Raja, needs to be deepened to fully make use of it for passenger and cargo movement.

The proposed plan to develop the inland waterway from Kovalam to Neeleswaram, is being given top priority and the work on the first phase of the National Waterway from Kollam to Kottappuram has already started. Work would be taken up to develop the 38km stretch to make the waterway from Neeleswaram to Kannur navigable.

The benefits of the waterway such as easier and cheaper cargo movement and accident-free navigation would make it a futuristic option. A total budget outlay of Rs.500 crore is allocated for the project. The chief minister also encouraged the people to handover small stretches of land in their possession to make the waterway a reality.

Kerala should make maximum use of its umpteen water ways and canals to ensure smooth transport of goods and passengers. In addition to being more eco friendly it would take off the traffic load from the roads and rail sectors to a large extent.

Calicut: As the  Euro 2008 fever is gripping the world, its heat is also being in the distant shores of Kerala, where football is a way of life for many. The die hard aficionados’ throng in flocks to catch up the action of their favorite teams at the big screens kept at public places. The coastal areas of Kozhikode are already in the grip of this frenzied game.
People of all age assemble at places where huge projectors and television sets are mounted for the people to watch their favorite team in action. The Malabar belt of Kerala especially Kozhikode, Tellicherry and Kannur follow the game closely and football is more than just a game in this part of the state where it is a timeless passion and much more! The tradition of football started a long time ago in these areas and even today it is the most popular game in the State, retaining its past glory and fame.

The multitude of sports clubs is cited to be one of the main reasons for the popularity of this game. It is interesting to note that most of the football fans are traditional fishermen who nurture a staunch passion for this charming sport. Nynanvalap Football Fans Association is a club of this genre, which is actively involved in the promotion of beach soccer matches since 1996 and has received various sports goods from the official sponsors of Europe Cup 2008.

Many clubs make sure to conduct annual coaching camps to spot fresh talents and to mould them into master strikers. Part of the expenses is met by organizing the much popular ‘Sevens’ football tournaments, which see many local teams of repute in action. Business organizations in the city and Non-resident Keralites hailing from this region also patronize these football clubs, ensuring their sustenance and success.
Kerala is a place where people breathe and live football and it is far from just being a ball game played by two teams in contrast colored jerseys!
 

Kannur: The innovative project of ‘Malayalam Computing scheme’ would turn the conventional equations of the wirefree world on its head by enabling the common man to use Internet facility in his mother tongue.
The Chief Minister while inaugurating the project expressed hope that around 50 lakh people in Kerala would benefit from Malayalam computing in the next three years. The brainchild of Kerala IT Mission and Akshaya, this innovative scheme would be propagated through the Akshaya centres.

This would bridge the digital barrier and would help people across the state to operate computers in their mother tongue. The government website www.malayalam.kerala.gov.in has all the information on the use of Malayalam in computers. With this system users can send mails or chat in Malayalam without the need to use English ever. Transcending the language barrier, this is expected to bridge the digital-divide, existing between the city bred and the rural folks and neo e-literates. The operating systems like windows XP and Linux have inbuilt facility for this and no special software is required to enable the local language facility in the computers making it easy to set up and operate.

This would empower the common people to easily lodge their complaints and grievances through     e-mail as all the police stations in the State would also be computerized within the next one year. The ultimate objective of this project would be to set up a Malayalam web portal in every panchayat in the State, which would popularize internet among the masses by taking it to every door step. It is heartening to note that Kerala is bolstering its position of being a fully literate State by adopting the latest technologies to stay in tune with the changing times.

Kannur: A 10 billion project is on the anvil to improve the basic infrastructure in Kerala .The state Government is trying to mobilise funds for this ambitious project, which would change the fortunes of Kerala as a popular tourist destination.

The tourism minister opined that if the terms and conditions of ADB loan are acceptable, the state may think of availing the loan just like many other Indian States.
The minister also inaugurated a beach beautification programme at Kappad, the fabled venue where the legendary Portuguese sailor, Vasco da Gama, is believed to have set foot in India, around 5 centuries back. A fund of Rs.55 million would be allocated for the Kappad beautification project.

In addition, the hilly district of Wayanad would be declared as a responsible tourism destination in Kerala, which would help the tribal people in the district to sell the forest produce to the tourists and to make a decent living.

Thiruvananthapuram: With Kerala playing host to an array of international programs and seminars, the need for a world class convention centre received more attention than ever before. Kerala government is planning to set up a state of the art convention centre on the banks of Akkulam lake with the collaboration of Mumbai-based Chalet Hotels at a cost of Rs.8.05 billion. The state government will have 26 percent share in this joint venture, the foundation stone of which was laid a couple of days back.

The first phase costing around Rs.2.05 billion would be ready by January 2011, while the second phase with a proposed plan outlay of Rs.6 billion would be completed by 2016. Situated close to the international airport, this convention centre would have an area of  41,720 sq ft , a banquet hall for 1,100 people, eight meeting rooms with 30 seats each, three meeting halls to seat 75 each and a VIP room with 50 seats will be built in the first phase. A five star hotel with 249 rooms, 25 luxury poolside cottages, water sport facilities, a marina and a parking space of 71,000 sq ft is yet another attraction.

The project would be operated under the built, own, operate and transfer basis with a lease period of 90 years. This project would give further impetus to the latest tourism segment of MICE- meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibition. The state government would pool in 176.6 million for this venture and the rest of the funds would be raised through loans. This avant garde convention centre coming up on the banks of the enchanting backwaters of Akkulam is sure to lure many a business group in the days to come.

Thiruvananthapuram: People of Kerala origin living in Australia can keep their chins up as the first ever Malayalam magazine in Australia is all set to be launched. Aptly named  ’ Indian Malayali’, this magazine would be formally launched in Melbourne on June 28.

 It would bring piping hot news and nostalgic memories from their homeland to thousands of Keralites living in the continent of Australia. There are over 30,000 people of Kerala origin settled in Australia of which the province Victoria with capital Melbourne is home to approximately 10,000 Keralites.
It was a dream come true situation for Thiruvallam Bhasi, the editor of this innovative magazine.

He had launched an English Magazine exclusively for Indian students last year and was working on his pet theme of a Malayalam magazine for long.The magazine will feature special columns, political news and entertainment news among others. It would not just firm up the roots of the immigrant Malayalees living in Australia but also would help a lot to brush up the Malayalam vocabulary, especially of the younger generation.
If the trends are any indication, it could be said that no barriers of space and time can beat the reading habit of Keralites. No matter wherever you are, you can keep in touch with your enchanting homeland through an array of premium magazines and newspapers published from all over the world. May the tribe of the learned flourish!

Thiruvananthapuram: As the rain clouds start rumbling in the horizon, health resorts and clinics in this enchanting strip of land of Kerala, come up with comprehensive ayurveda packages to pamper and rejuvenate tourists. Monsoon is considered the best season for ayurveda rejuvenation programmes as the atmosphere remains dust-free and moist, which in turn opens up the body pores making them more receptive to herbal oils and massages. In addition, during the rains the herbs and medicinal plants, which form vital ingredients of these medicines, grow in plenty.

Probably, the most popular among it all is the rejuvenation package of panchakarma which consists of an array of beneficial massages. Tourists also make use of body slimming, stress management and beauty care packages. Resorts offer shorter version ayurvedic programmes also apart from the conventional one-to three-week-long treatment protocols, to match the needs and budgets of the tourists.

Most of the premium Ayurvedic resorts would be fully booked well in advance for the monsoon package. For those tourists who wish to blend sight seeing with rejuvenation therapy, the sailing ayurvedic houseboat is a good option. In this houseboat with two rooms, the tourists can avail of authentic massage under the guidance of ayurvedic doctors. Only vegetarian food as stipulated by Ayurveda is served and there are many packages to choose from to suit the budgets of the visitors.

It is not only the resorts and hotels that are getting busy but the traditional exponents of massages will also do good business in the coming months. Ambi Asan,who stays very near to the Kovalam beach belongs to the fourth generation of traditional masseurs. He gets most of his clients by word of mouth publicity. He uses self prepared herbal oils, which ensure the best possible results. He opines that to get the maximum benefits oil should be applied all through the day and changes would be visible within a week.

The health and tourism departments are keeping a vigil against fraudsters out there who might take the tourists for a ride. Ayurveda ensures not just the treatment of the body but also mind. The seasoned practitioners of Ayurveda reiterate that it is the best possible natural method to flush out the toxins in the body and to enhance resistance. It is heartening to note that more and more people have started realizing the magical healing powers of this 5000 year old health system.

Alleppey: The fabled backwaters of Kerala are in news once again. This time, it is for playing the gracious host for the shooting of Tamil film, “Kuselan”. Starring the Tamil superstar Rajnikant apart from an array of stars including Natyanthara, a song sequence of this block buster movie is being shot here these days. The best part is that it also happens to be a remake of an original Malayalam movie.

The shooting, which is taking place in the Punnamada backwaters in two snake-boats has attracted a huge fan following. Though a stringent security cordon has been thrown around the superstar, he was enthusiastically mingling with people, waving and talking to them. The die- hard aficionados of Rajnikant even boarded hired boats to catch a glimpse of their matinee idol from a close quarter. The fans shouted slogans for Rajnikant, who was all smiles as he waved to the surging crowd of fans. The film crew will spend the next two days here to complete the shooting of the song sequence.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has achieved a remarkable feat yet again in the IT field to bring laurels to the Indian sub continent. IBS Group, a blue chip IT Company in Technopark, has inked an agreement with Tokyo international Air Cargo Terminal (TIACT) for the implementation of iCargo a new-generation Cargo Management System developed by IBS. President and CEO, of TIACT, Terutake Kato, opined that IBS was selected for their far-reaching experience and competence in the airline cargo industry.

The new cargo terminal of Tokyo international (Haneda airport) will be the first airport in the world to have the iCargo’s CTO module. This system would be used to manage the ground handling and warehousing of all cargo handled by the airport.The new cargo terminal spread over a staggering 170,000 sq. m would ensure the maximum optimization of the available site area.

In addition, this software module  would greatly improve the quality of service levels and productivity. iCargo would be managing the cargo business of the leading carriers of Japan including Nippon Cargo Airlines and All Nippon Airways. This deal has indeed thrown open the doors of the prospective global market with Japan clearly emerging as one of the principal markets for the global air cargo business.

IBS Group is also going places in the domestic aviation sector. It has already been enlisted by the Airports Authority of India as the IT solution provider for the 30-odd airports expected to be modernized shortly. IT industry has always been the backbone of industrial Kerala, providing jobs to thousands of qualified hands apart from attracting the much desired foreign exchange. 

Kochi: Kerala Tourism is going ahead in full steam with the proposed plan to attract more Chinese tourists to “God’s own country”. State Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan held extensive discussions in this regard with Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni.

Though Buddhist circuits typically underscore the itineraries of Chinese tourists, Kerala is pinning its marketing strategy on its exceptional network of backwaters and beaches- something that not many countries on earth can boast!

During the meeting, the ministers reviewed thread bare the status of the ongoing central aided tourism projects in the State. The Centre has released an amount of Rs. 112 crore during the 10th Five Year Plan for 61 tourism projects in Kerala.

The procurement of land for the Institute of Hotel Management at Alapuzha would be hastened. The minister opined that Kerala could bolster the Human Resource Development in the tourism sector through quality institutes imparting state of the art training to catch up with the growing trends and needs of the tourism sector.

Kozhikode: The multi-crore Sarovaram eco-tourism project implemented by the Department of Tourism in the city is nearing completion. Costing over 17.5 crore, it would enhance the tourism prospects of the city. Some of the works under the first phase that are still pending include the installation of lights, musical fountain and work of the amphitheatre. This project coming up near the famous Kottuli wetlands, will also strive for wetland conservation.
Meanwhile, construction activities under the second and third phases have started. The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society is in charge of construction of this project while the Tourist Resorts Kerala Limited, a government nodal agency which is responsible for making investments in the tourism sector is supervising the works. Approximately 250 acres of land will be made use for the eco-tourism project, which was contributed by the Departments of Water Resources and Revenue.

The project on completion would comprise of adequate parking spaces, a reception centre, a cafeteria with a capacity for 100 people, a children’s park, handicrafts village, water museum, an otter park, a boat club with battery-operated boats, a butterfly park, kiosks, a bird park, a cultural centre, a floating restaurant and an aquarium. The proposal for setting up of a bird sanctuary at the ecopark at Kottuli is also in the pipeline according to KTDC sources.

Kochi: The heritage tag of Fort Kochi would be further enhanced by the proposed folklore cultural theatre coming up at the tourism complex near the bus stand. The District Tourism Promotion Council aided project is at the final stages of completion, much to the delight of the art lovers of India and abroad.

Incorporating all the latest facilities, the proposed theatre would give further impetus to the promotion of the exceptional art forms of Kerala. It has a budget outlay of over 23 Lakh rupees and at present the interior decoration is going on in full swing.
The theatre would cater to the growing demand from foreign tourists to enjoy and pick up the nuances of traditional art forms like Kathakali.

Fort Kochi takes pride to an array of arenas that are typically associated with hotels and resorts where this timeless art form is regularly staged. Foreign tourists are keen enthusiasts of this art form and take great interest in the various stages right from the elaborate process of application of make up using traditional articles to the development of story line and the various hand mudras that are subtly used to express emotions and thoughts.
The cultural theatre in Fort Kochi is all set to repeat the success stories of the  three earlier projects of the District Tourism Promotion Council including the spruced up Durbar Hall ground, the Royal Musical Walkway and the recreation pond near the Children’s Park.

Kochi: With the arrest of Santhosh Madhavan, who had a meteoric rise from a nondescript temple priest into a mystical fortune teller and then into a multi millionaire by fraudulent means, more stories of fake godmen are unfurling. Kerala state police have already initiated a probe into the disproportionate wealth in many cases.
Santhosh Madhavan is charged with many offenses like rape, cheating, possession of narcotics, porn CDs, tiger skin and swindling huge amounts of money from unsuspecting clients has turned out to be a land shark. He owns thousands of acres of land all over Kerala in his own name and in benami. Married twice, he has taken many of his believers for a cool ride all these years.
Some of the other swamis in the investigation net include Divya Joshi, a self-proclaimed sanyasi in Thrissur district, Swamy Thapasyananda, a godman in Panthalam, Christian spiritual leader, Brother Thanku and many, many more. Police have also recovered documents of fraudulent land deals, fake passports, and many other incriminating documents from their possession. Their modus operandi has been to swindle money from devotees by promising to cure them from life threatening conditions like cancer or to ward off evil eye and bad luck.
Kerala holds the dubious distinction of having a superstitious populace in spite of being a fully literate society. Over stress and anxiety in an ever growing consumerist society has made them puppets in the hands of these godmen who prescribe cure for all their ills. Before falling prey to their tall claims, people need to be sensible rather than sensitive. Never bite the bait of the infectious, high voltage propaganda unleashed by these destructors.
 With more complaints pouring in from different parts of the State, the government and the police force is leaving nothing to chance. Home minister reiterated that tough action would be initiated if any complaint is made against any spiritual leader, however mighty he might be.
Spiritual enlightenment should come from within and no devotee would ever need a fake guru to attain ultimate peace and mental bliss. Let common sense prevail upon the people of Kerala!

Kozhikode: The famous Lokanarkavu Bhagavathy temple is all set to undergo a major restoration work of its priceless mural paintings and sculptures. Kerala State Archaeology Department had enquired about the condition of the mural paintings in this temple complex. Sources at the Pazhassiraja Archaeological Museum, Calicut said that the 15th century paintings of religious deities are largely run down due to exposure to natural conditions and human contact.

 The restoration work is about to start once the sanction from the government is received. As these priceless mural paintings are mostly concentrated on the outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum the chances of it being touched by the devotees and damaged are more.

The Lokanarkave temple complex has three temples and is the only one of its kind in the State. One of the temples is dedicated to Bhagavathy while the other two temples are dedicated to Vishnu and Siva respectively. Lokanarkav temple is closely related to Vadakkanpattu and it legendary heroes like Thacholi Othenan used to worship here before setting out on any mission. The festivals of all three temples are celebrated together in the Malayalam month of Meenam, which attracts huge crowds from far and wide.

Thiruvananthapuram:  Lanco Kondapalli Power Private Ltd, a company based at Hyderabad belonging to an Indo Malaysian conglomerate has been entrusted with the prestigious project of Vizhinjam Deep Sea International Transhipment Terminal.

The cabinet gave the green signal when the bid was accepted. The proposal would soon be forwarded to the Centre for security clearance. The other members of the consortium include Pembinaan Redzai Sdn Bhd and Lanco Infrastructure Limited, based in Malaysia. The centre had earlier rejected the proposal submitted during the previous UDF Government as the consortium selected through a global tender involved two Chinese companies and a Mumbai firm. The centre rejected the proposal as the consortium had business interests in the ports of Pakistan.

 
Five companies in all submitted the bids, of which the lowest quote was submitted by the consortium backed by terms and conditions, which were beneficial to the state. The project is estimated to create 5,000 direct and 1.5 lakh indirect jobs and the first phase of the project would be completed in three years.

 
The state government would retain a 24 per cent stake in the Rs 5,348 Crore Project which would be implemented through BoT basis with a 30 year term. The greatest plus point of Vizhinjam Port is that it has a natural depth of 24 meters, one of the deepest in the world, which does not require dredging.

Veluchami is one of the many Malampandarom tribals who eke out a living by selling medicinal herbs and roots, collected from the deep forests of Marakkootom in Sabarimala and sells them to the pilgrims. Veluchami who claims to be 110 years of age has been engaged in this activity for many years now. Even the policemen on duty on the trekking path, trust his herbal medicines when they fall ill. His tribal cure for snakebite is highly popular among the traders and workers on duty at Sabarimala. 

 
Veluchami says that rare medicinal herbs and plants grow in abundance in the interiors of the shola forests at Ponnambalamedu ‘Kalluvazha’, which produces plantains filled with black seeds and ‘mruthasanjeevani’ (Eupatorium ayyapana) are seen in some pockets of the Ponnambalamedu.
While scouting for the herbs in jungle, he keeps hunger at bay by eating a wild leaf, which keeps him going for the whole day. Many of his regular customers are seasoned devotees who make a visit to him without fail to get their stocks of medicinal herbs. The family of Veluchami shifted to the Adichippuzha tribal settlement in Ranni taluk following a fire outbreak at Sabarimala. Though the tribal is now settled in Chidambarom he still serves the Ayyappa devotes by supplying some of the rare herbs and natural medicines all through the principal Mandalam-Makaravilaku season and during the Vishu and Onam festival when million of pilgrims throng this hill shrine.

 
Some of the herbs are well known remedies for many serious disease conditions. For instance the seeds of ‘karkolari’ seeds (Psoralia corylifolia), the time tested method in the treatment of leukoderma and Helicteres isora, used in the treatment of body pain, are some of the products lined up for sale at this nondescript  seasonal outlet of Veluchami.

Alappuzha: Companies looking out for five star hotels for carrying out their business meetings have long become cliché. More and more companies are opting for the piping hot option of sprawling and drop dead gorgeous houseboats, which are fully air conditioned to convene their business meetings. It goes without saying that not many options can match the charm of these unique floating palaces that skim along the enchanting Kerala backwaters.

Jala Samrat is the first of its kind in the league of floating convention centres. It is a double-storey, 150-foot long and 16-foot wide, fully air-conditioned houseboat with a seating capacity of over 160 executives on the first floor. Costing over 8 million, this houseboat is equipped with all the latest communication systems. Inaugurated a year ago, it is owned by Pulickattil Tourism Group. Within its short span of operation, it has been an instant hit as a popular business conventional centre of several commercial banks, public sector undertakings and even foreign companies. It is interesting to note that their customers have been their biggest brand ambassadors, who promote this boat by their word of mouth publicity.

Some of the celebrity meetings that were hosted in this houseboat include the official meetings of Parliamentary Affairs and Indian Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi and Steel, Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. Its laurels transcended the barriers of time and space when Bahraini Labour Minister Majeed Al Alawi preferred to held a meeting aboard Jala Samrat. In the coming days, more such boats might take the Kerala backwaters by storm.

Thiruvananthapuram: A bevy of eco projects are in the pipeline for Kerala. The Preliminary steps for the declaration of the Malabar sanctuary has been completed and the proposed sanctuary will be declared later this year said the Forest Minister Benoy Viswom. This sanctuary would ensure the protection and growth of forests near Peruvannamozhi.

Another project aimed at protecting turtles and other marine species arriving on Kerala coast as part of their reproductive cycle has also been submitted to the centre. The project is estimated to cost the exchequer Rs.6.65 crore.
Some of the other proposals that are under consideration include a rehabilitation centre for elephants at Kottoor in Thiruvananthapuram. Plans are afoot for the acquisition of around 131.5 hectares from private parties at Periya in Wayanad to set up an elephant corridor for the free movement of elephants. The green signal from the Central Zoo Authority is awaited for setting up a Lion Safari Park at Thamarassery in Kozhikode district for research purposes.
A bevy of projects including the production of reeds, bamboo and ratton with a plan outlay of Rs.5.90 crore, protection of medicinal trees and native plants of Kerala proposed at Chaliyam are also pending. The forest department has also proposed to reinforce the coasts by developing a shelter belt on 77.50 hectares apart from planting mangrove species on 14.75 hectares.

The afforestation programme to compensate for the forest land taken over to improve pilgrim facilities at sabarimala would also be taken up this year in 305 hectares of land in Idukki district. An array of programmes, taken up during the past couple of years for the enhancement of green cover and protection of forests has already started bearing fruits. By the declaration of a buffer zone for the silent valley the forest cover has increased, much to the jubilation of the department as well as the green loving populace of this State.

  Malappuram: Kerala State Sports and Youth Affairs Department in association with the State Kalaripayattu Association and the District Sports Council would be conducting a 2 day Kalari Fest on Monday and Tuesday  at Tirunavaya, on the banks of the Bharatapuzha. The festival would showcase Kalari equipments apart from cultural processions and Kalarippayattu demonstrations. This festival would be an ideal platform to throw open the enchanting world of martial art traditions of Kerala to the outside world.

Over 750 Kalari experts and 100-odd Kalari teachers from all over Kerala are expected to take part in this festival, which would become a regular annual event in the festival calendar of Kerala from now onwards.

To add up to the jubilation of all Kalari aficionados,  this exquisite martial artform has made every Indian proud by finding a place in the famous Discovery Channel Series,  ‘fight quest’ that would be displayed all over the world.  Widely acclaimed as one of the most extensive personal combat forms, Kalaripayattu has indeed made every Indian proud by  becoming the only Indian martial art from to be featured in this prestigious series.

Kozhikode: The water heritage museum, the first of its type in the state is an attempt to introduce the unique and traditional water resources of Kerala including wells and ponds. In addition it also sheds light on the water management, watershed management and the conventional farming techniques of the by gone era. The museum would be set up at the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management at Kozhikode.

 The visitors can learn more about the Vembanad and ‘kole’ wetland culture and traditional water-lifting devices. The museum will also have separate sections for inland water transport, water sports and the importance of water in religion. Dams as well as the changing patterns in the water consumption are also highlighted in this museum. The museum will be open between to between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m on all working days from the 1st of June.

Thiruvananthapuram: The fabled beach resort of Kovalam is all set to join the celebrity bandwagon of a few elite destinations in Kerala that have already introduced Responsible Tourism. Kumarakom was the pioneer in taking up this ground breaking decision followed by Thekkady and Wayanad, which have already launched this system on a trial basis.

The committee set up is trying to develop the all important link between the tourism industry and local entrepreneurship. A survey was conducted to monitor the consumption patterns of over 100 hotels that are located near the beach resort and a part of their requirements will be sourced from the local community. Home grown products such as vegetables and diary products shall be delivered to the hotels and Kudumbasree units would be playing a larger than life role in this initiative.

An agreement has already been inked to supply the local farm produce to some of the hotels in Kovalam to meet their needs. Apart from these, self help groups would also supply eco-friendly baskets and paper bags, thereby reducing the distressing impacts on the environment and social set up. It is aimed at improving the living standards of the host communities.

It also focuses on improving working conditions apart from involving the local populace in the decision-making process that affects their lives. The best part is that this initiative would involve the local community including the tour operators and nearby educational institutions in the promotion of eco friendly tourism.

Kochi: Today, women have started taking up many responsibilities that were once monopolized by men. Take for instance the case of “Vasanta Sena” or the Green Army comprising of only women. Started six years back, this exclusive women forest patrolling team is dedicated to protect the Periyar Tiger Reserve and its Sandalwood forests. The Periyar Tiger Reserve near Thekkady is a safe haven for 63 different species of mammals apart from countless birds, reptiles and butterflies.

These women who live in the periphery of the reserve have done a commendable job in freeing this area from poachers and loggers. Many women who have never ventured out of their homes are now active members of the team, bagging laurels from all over.

These women are provided with uniforms, caps and daggers for self defence. The  principal objective of the patrolling is to safe guard its rich wild life and the precious Sandalwood trees, as wide spread logging was once rampant in this area. On an average 10-12 trees used to get stolen every day but once this patrolling was put in place it has reduced considerably. However, poaching and logging continues unabated during night times when the team retreats after the day’s work.
The patrolling starts at 11:00 in the morning and would go on till 5:00 in the evening and they have constituted teams of five members each to scan the whole area. Apart from keeping an eye on poaching and tree felling, patrolling has also helped to reduce forest fires, which are common during summer months, which destroys the fodder of animals. Forest fires are often started by lighted cigarette stubs, thrown carelessly by people and patrolling has helped to prevent large scale loss of green cover due to forest fires.

These daring women often encounter wild animals like elephants and pigs apart from the most deadly of all –the poachers. However, they have developed confidence and composure over the years to deal with these trying situations with élan.
The team has also won the Amrit Devi Bishnoi Award, the highest award in India for wildlife protection in the year 2006, in appreciation of their commendable services. Originally started as a World Bank aided Eco Development project in 1996 it has now evolved to be a model programme in the conservation of ecology.

Kochi: The first ever steel snake boat, ‘Aries Chundan’ became the largest snake boat with a capacity for 141 crew members, by smashing the existing record  held by a traditional snake boat with a crew capacity of 118 members.

This architectural marvel in steel is all set to enter the Guinness book of world records for achieving this stellar feat. Constructed by Aries marine and engineering services, this snake boat hogged the limelight when it made its presence felt on the 1st of May in the Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha, famous venue for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat race, which attracts tourists from far and wide.

This innovative steel boat is designed using the well acclaimed ‘Autoship software’ and the strength and stability has been confirmed using overhanging test and sinking test, which ensures safety and stability under all conditions. “Aries chundan’ measuring a staggering 143 feet in length is already featured in the Limca Book of Records as the longest snake boat in steel ever made.

Thiruvananthapuram: The mere mention of Kerala was enough to summon images of lush green paddy fields and endless expanses of coconut gardens till the recent past. However, things have changed with the commercial boom and unscientific construction activities, which plundered the God gifted natural bounties like perennial water bodies and fertile patches of land to the core.

 Today, Kerala is now degraded into just a full fledged consumer state, which is at the mercy of its neighbors for anything and everything from vegetables, fruits, rice and even flowers to deck up its brides or to make floral carpets during Onam- the most important festival in this state!

Government is taking steps to promote vegetable, rice and fruit cultivation apart from the production of milk, meat and honey to cater to the requirements of its populace. An exhibition is currently on in Thiruvananthapuram, which showcases an array of mangoes, honey and other useful products. The agriculture minister who inaugurated the exhibition stressed on the significance of equipping the bee farmers of Kerala for producing premium quality honey. The minister said that model farms would be set up for cultivating all types of mangoes under the Agriculture Department and the Agricultural varsity. People would be able to procure good quality mango saplings from Horticorp.

The present day sorry state of affairs in this incredible State is a far cry from its erstwhile self sufficient portrait. Kerala was once a self sufficient state where vegetables were grown in every backyard and the rice bowls of Kuttanad and Palakkad catered to the staple diet of all the Malayalees with ease. However, with increased urbanization, the pressure on land increased, which in turn led to the reclamation of large tracts of fertile and cultivable land for construction purposes. If the current trends are any indication, the day is not far away when there would be severe food shortage.

So, let’s all do our bit to make this wonderful state a land of plenty!

Kochi: Gone are the days when almost every Kerala home used to have a pond to bathe and separate, well maintained wells for both drinking and irrigation purposes. With the advent of urbanization and the much hyped flat boom, every inch of land including precious water bodies like ponds, paddy fields and wetlands were unscientifically leveled to construct concrete buildings that do not complement with the milieu of Kerala.
Destruction of water bodies not just drastically reduces the ground water level thereby pushing up the atmospheric temperature but also would lead to the extinction of an array of exot