editorial

KERALA CALLING
www.kerala.gov.in/publications.htm
NOVEMBER 2009
EDITORIAL
Making a Difference
The proud mission of Kerala Calling to
disseminate fair and balanced information on the
Government’s
policies,
programmes
and
developmental activities is entering its 30th year.
Inspired by vision, driven by values, powered by
vitality, the journey of the past decades has been
most rewarding for our State.
The inspiration, courage and commitment
derived from the much appreciated Vision of the
Administration have led to sustainable growth and
development of the State. The aim of the
Government is to give the economic front a better
face and the people a better life. It meticulously
framed the necessary policies and implemented
schemes for the benefit of the deprived and the
underprivileged. The substantial progress made
in programme implementation and the resultant
developmental activities have earned greater
reputation. All these measures could reach the
public on time, improving their quality of life and
providing a secure future.
Programmes aimed at poverty alleviation and
self sufficiency became successful. The
distribution of rice at rupees two a kilogram
showed the responsible government action for a
welfare state. The Government is determined to
provide house for all and employment for all
within a span of two years. Kerala is the first State
to implement the Kisan Abhiman Scheme, a
pension plan to the farmers above 60 years.
In order to offset the impact of global
recession an investment programme of rupees
10,000 crore was launched. The state is all set to
house two hundred small IT parks throughout
Kerala. The IT industry grew forty five percent in
Kerala during the last year which is above the
average growth at the national level. Kerala
showed the way to alleviate poverty using
Information Technology as a tool. The
Government of Kerala Web-mail Edition, the
newly introduced system, will facilitate accurate
monitoring of the plan implementation. The
police system was modernised enabling it to
come closer to the people and ensure better
service.
The Kottayam Inland Port, the first of its kind
in the country was commissioned with great
enthusiasm. The State is aiming at total
electrification of all Assembly constituencies
within a short period. In its concerted effort to
substantially reduce the power consumption of
the State, each house of the State would be given
CFL lamps at subsidised rates.
This edition of Kerala Calling is of special
significance, as it marks the completion of the
three decades long journey in its effort to bring
glory to the Government’s thought leadership
and action. Over the years we witnessed and
supported the Kerala Government’s commitment
to create a more secure, sustainable and inclusive
future for our State.
It is this pride and sense of fulfillment that
encourages us to strive harder, to bring more
glory to our State.
Editor-in-Chief: M. Nandakumar IAS Director, I&PRD Co-ordinating Editor: P.K. Lal Additional Director Deputy Editor-in-Chief: P.S. Suresh Deputy Director
Editor: K.C. Anil Kumar Assistant Editor: Sunil Hassan Sub Editor: S.R. Raveendran Nair
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| Ernakulam P. Vinod | Kottayam A. Abdul Hakkim | Thrissur V. K. Sharafudeen | Palakkad T.C. Joseph | Malappuram M.A. Vincent | Kozhikode P. Kunhabdullah | Wayanad P. Shyamkumar
| Kannur P. P. Chandran | Kasaragod K. Abdul Rahman
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
MICROSCAN
50 Years of Public Broadcasting
India’s
Public
broadcaster
Doordarsan, which came into
existence on September 15, 1959,
celebrates its fifteenth birthday now.
Doordarsan is the public television
broadcaster of India and a division
of Prasar Bharathy, a public service
broadcaster
nominated
by
Government of India. It is one of the
largest broadcasting organisations
in the world in terms of the
infrastructure of studios and
transmitters.
Doordarsan
had
a
modest
beginning with the experimental
telecast starting in Delhi on 15
September 1959 with a small
transmitter and a makeshift studio. The
regular daily transmission started in
1965 as a part of All India Radio. The
television service was extended to
Bombay (Mumbai) and Amritsar in
1972
National telecasts were introduced in
1982, followed by the 1982 Asian
Games being held in Delhi. Now more
than 90 percent of the Indian
population can receive Doordarsan
(DD National) programmes through a
network of nearly 1400 terrestrial
transmitters, and about 46 Doordarsan
studios produce TV programmes today.
Presently, Doordarsan operates 19
channels – two All India channels
– DD National and DD News. 11
Regional
Languages
Satellite
Channels (RLSE), 4 State Networks
(SN), an International channel , a
sports channel and two channels
(DD-RS& DD-LS) for live telecast of
Parliamentary Proceedings. DD
India
is
being
broadcast
internationally through satellite. It
is available in 146 countries
worldwide. DD has its own DTH
service called DD Direct plus. It is
free of charge.
Geetha S
Power saved is power generated
Global warming has led to
decreasing rainfall in Kerala, which
is heavily dependent on hydroelectric projects to power its
industries, offices and homes. This
has led to a situation where its
power needs have to be met by
buying it from the central grid and
thereby increase in power bills for
the consumers, both domestic and
industrial.
With the temperature climbing,
more consumers have started using
air conditioners with a resultant
increase in demand for power.
One way that the
government
has
tackled the power
problem is to cut
down
on
consumption.
It
had in the past
4 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
campaigned against wastage of
electricity by domestic as well as
commercial consumers. While a large
number of domestic consumers have
switched to CFL and have reduced
their bills by switching off lights and
fans promptly, various offices and
public utilities have yet to switch to this
mode.
The government and the Kerala State
Electricity Board have launched a free
distribution of CFLs to consumers in
an effort to cut down on power
demand. And a cheaper CFL too would
help the cause. Along with this, there
is also a need for an awareness
campaign in government and private
offices to cut wastage of power.
There is also a need to promote the
construction of energy efficient
building or green buildings to cut
down on all sorts of energy wastage.
Another step that public sector units
and corporates could think of is to
switch to the emerging technology of
light emitting diodes or LEDs, which
needs less electricity, function more
efficiently and last longer.
From
the
materials
used
to
manufacture the LED bulbs to their
excellent performance, they have
become the most efficient lighting
solution invented. While it does not
contain harmful substances such as
mercury, it does not emit harmful gases
or rays. It lasts a lot longer almost
eliminating the need for replacement
and maintenance cost. While the initial
cost may deter the common man, the
longer life makes it cost efficient.
LED bulbs are the future energy saving
device while lighting up life too.
Kavita Martin
Pleasing
Obama?
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that
the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to
American President Barack Obama for his extra
ordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy
and co-operation between people. The committee
paid special attention to Obama's vision of a nuclear
free world.
Obama was not the
first
American
President who was
awarded
with
a
Nobel Prize, but he
was the only one to
get Nobel Prize for
intending peace, not
for action.
May be by giving the
prize to Obama the
committee is trying to force him to lower the number
of army forces that can be sent to Iraq, because there
is no way for the person who won the Nobel peace
prize to send more army anywhere.
The unexpected news that Obama was selected for
the Nobel Peace Prize has also prompted a serious
debate as to, whether the award was deserved or not?
- Kiran Syam
Free Medical Aid for
Road Accident
Victims Mooted
Atop the Space
Dr. K Radhakrishnan took over as the Chairman of the
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from
G. Madhavan Nair.
He was the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
(VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.
Dr K Radhakrishnan who joined the ISRO in 1971 as an
avionics engineer, said that the government has placed a
"great" responsibility on his shoulders. During his 38-year
career, Radhakrishnan has played a crucial part in the
ISRO's plum projects, including the recent ChandrayaanI mission. He takes on the mantle at a time when the
ISRO has big projects lined up, including the manned
space flight mission and Chandrayaan-II. Among the
immediate missions before Radhakrishnan is the
application of the Indian-built cryogenic stage on the
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. He had taken over as VSSC
director on November 30, 2007.
He has a PGDM from the Indian Institute of
Management, Bangalore and did his PhD at the Indian
Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.
Radhakrishan has served as director, National Remote
Sensing Agency; founder director of the Indian National
Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and
national mission director for the Integrated Mission for
Sustainable Development. , he has also served as director
for the Budget and Economic Analysis for the entire
ISRO from 1987 to 1997.
Born on August 29, 1949, Radhakrishnan belongs to
Irinjalakuda, Thrissur. He is a graduate in electrical
engineering from the Kerala University.
The Central Government plans to introduce free
medical assistance for road accident victims for
the first 48 hours of hospitalisation. A highpowered committee on safety and traffic
management has proposed this plan at a recently
held meeting at the capital. The programme will
immensely benefit victims who have no relatives
around to take care of their medical expenses.
Last year, nearly 40 people from Orissa met with
an accident on their way to Badrinath, who had
no one around to help them. The new move
would help to avoid this kind of mishaps to a large
extent.
Public sector Insurance companies and agencies
like the National Highways Authorities of India
(NHAI) could be stakeholders in this project. The
Central government will contribute to the fund.
- Alexander George Boban, Shilpa S.R.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
5
CURRENT
S Binu Raj
Nationalism is threatened
when regional languages face destruction.
- V.S. Achuthanandan, Chief Minister
Malayalam Mission
Nurturing
the Culture
C
hief Minister V S Achuthanandan said that
nationalism is threatened when regional languages
face destruction. Though three language formula
was adopted in the school curriculum it was not
implemented effectively. The Central Government
should make sure that it is compulsory .
V S Achuthanandan was speaking on the
occasion of the launch of Malayalam Mission in
New Delhi. “The number of unaided English schools
is increasing in Kerala. Besides these there are
6 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
Central Schools and Army schools. Lakhs of children are
studying in these schools and these children are drifted
away from their mother –tongue. Naturally, the question
of teaching Malayalam to children in such schools in
Kerala also arise”, Chief Minister said.
He pointed out that in many schools it is not
compulsory to learn Malayalam as part of
curriculum. He stressed that in all schools including
Central schools there should be a provision to
Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan
announced that a website will be
launched for Malayalam Mission
exclusively. Malayalis will be able to
learn Malayalam from anywhere in
the world through the website. The
site will provide all help to those
who want to learn and teach
Malayalam. Government is
considering online tutoring of
Malayalam for those who cannot
make it to the Padana Kendrams.
Chief Minister said that the
Government will take steps to make
available publications and books of
Government and academy in
Delhi.
A Classical Evening
Malayalam
Online
for Malayalam
It was a day of fulfillment of a promise, the promise
made by the Chief Minister of Kerala on 11th November,
2007 while distributing the certificates for the students
of the Malayala Bhasha padana Kendrams in Delhi.
On the initiative of the Delhi Malayalis, and with the
support of the Government of Kerala started the
voluntary movement of teaching Malayalam to the
children of non resident Malayalis in Delhi.
This was in 2005 and it became a movement of success.
Within a year, 150 odd centres were established in and
around Delhi. Now more than 3,000 students have passed
out with certificates of competence in Malayalam.
Malayalam Study Centres in Delhi became a grant success
thanks to the Malayali Diaspora in Delhi who showed
unusual enthusiasm to come forward to teach Malayalam.
Thus they proved solidarity to their culture. This was
evident at the function at FICCI auditorium in the
evening of 22nd October, 2009. The big hall that can
seat 650 persons outnumbered its capacity with Malayalis
in and around Delhi. Most of them were ‘neo-literate’
children who just tasted the sweetness of their mother
tongue.
The hall burst into loud applause when each speaker
lauded the efforts of non resident Malayalis’ spirit to
come forward voluntarily to teach Malayalam.
“Some are teaching Malayalam in the terrace of
their apartments and some in their drawing
room.
The short film on Malayalam
Mission was greeted with
cheer and congrats.
Kerala’s art forms like
Mohiniyattom, Oppana
and Panchavadyam
graced the occasion.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
7
teach Malayalam. “ Bhasha Padana
Kendrams in Delhi were started when it
was noticed that the new Malayali
generation in Delhi was drifting away
from their mother-tongue”, Chief
Minister said.
V S Achuthanandan thankfully
remembered that the Bhasha Padana
Kendrams became a huge success
because of the sincere co-operation
from Malayali organisations in Delhi. “
The enthusiasm and spirit shown by
Malayali organisations in Delhi
attracted Malayali organisations in
India and abroad,” he said.
“When I visited Mumbai and
Chennai for the inauguration of Kerala
Houses
there,
the
Malayali
organisations demanded language
teaching centres there like Delhi,”
Chief Minister said.
Malayalam Mission will help non
resident Malayalis to start Padana
Kendrams in any part of the world.
Mission will co-ordinate the function
of Padana Kendrams and will provide
study materials and impart training to
8 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
teachers. “Conduct of exams will also be
done by the mission”- CM , said.
Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit
who was the Chief Guest of the occasion
assured that her Government will try to
provide space for Padana Kendrams in
Government run schools and MCD run
schools. “The matter will be discussed with
Kerala government officials and Malayali
organisations”, she said.
“Malayalis have contributed much to
the development of Delhi, their peculiar
culture is an imitable model”, she added.
Sheila Dikshit lauded the efforts of Kerala
Government to promote Malayalam.
Vayalar Ravi, Minister for Overseas
Indian Affairs who presided over the
function urged non resident malayalis
to speak Malayalam in their homes.
“Thus our children can learn our
language and imbibe our culture”, he
said. He suggested starting of more
Kerala schools in areas where
Malayalis reside.
M A Baby, Minister for Education
and Culture who delivered special
address on the occasion suggested making
it compulsory the teaching of mothertongue in Central Schools and Navodaya
Schools. “Central government should take
appropriate decision in this regard”, he
said.
Anand Kumar IAS, Resident
Commissioner, Government of Kerala
welcomed
the
gathering.
Prof.
Omchery N N Pillai, President of
Malayala Bhasha Padana Kendra in Delhi
presented the report. Sheela Thomas IAS
Secretary Information and Public Relations
Department and NoRKA and Dr.
Ezhumattur Rajaraja Varma, language
expert, offered felicitations.
CURRENT
S Radhakrishnan
N
o nation can develop without proper education, and
universalised education builds up vast human resources making a
gush of knowledge and information. Although the effects of
education in the society are tremendous, there are grey areas, which
need to be addressed especially in light of the Kerala experience.
Knowledge may be defined as the ability to transform resources
to our advantage and it has become the most important factor
determining our standard of living, more than land, tools, or labour.
For the last 200 years, neo-classical economics has recognised
only two factors of production: labour and capital. This is now
changing. Information and knowledge are said to be replacing
capital and energy as the primary wealth-creating assets, just as the
latter two replaced land and labour 200 years ago. In addition,
technological developments in the 20th century have transformed
the majority of wealth-creating work from physically-based to
"knowledge-based.”
Knowledge-based economy
Today most technologically advanced economies are
knowledge-based. Not only do they generate new wealth from their
8 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
innovations, but they create vast
numbers
of
employment
opportunities. As a consequence,
societies are now transformed into
what many theorists have viewed as
true knowledge societies.
The
emergence of knowledge societies,
however, is not a spontaneous event
but a gradual process in which
societies acquire new traits and
features. Knowledge has become more
fundamental and strategic for most
spheres of life and it is modifying or
even replacing the factors that have
been constitutive of social action.
India possesses one of the five
largest scientific communities in the
world and accounts for about half of
the scientific production of the
developing countries as a whole. But
the developing countries together
represent only seven per cent of the
world’s mainstream scientific output,
of which close to 80 per cent is
produced in Asia.
Though the initial euphoria about
its achievements and credentials in
several
socio,
economic
and
demographic spheres is on the wane,
even today Kerala is believed to be a
model of development. The setting has
significance for two reasons. First, the
state has initiated a number of
programmes, in order to chart a new
path for its development by taking
advantage of the demand for
information technology (IT) the world
over. The new IT policy document
makes it clear that the growth of Kerala
in the coming years will be
increasingly driven by the knowledge
and service-based sectors where
information flow will be a key
determinant factor of success.
When knowledge is the key for
progress
and
development,
its
generation and the structures which
facilitate or hinder it become
important. Added to this is the socioeconomic ambience that stems from
the process of globalisation. Scientific
and technical knowledge produces
incremental capacities for social and
economic action or an increase in the
ability to.
Knowledge Economy Vs.
Traditional Economy
It can be argued that the
knowledge economy differs from the
traditional economy in several key
respects:
The Kerala vision of a knowledge-
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
9
based economy is argued to be
realised only when it is based on the
foundation of a robust industrial
economy. But, for knowledge in the
State to be truly beneficial, the focus
of IT must fall at the right place, in the
right quantity, at the right time and for
the right purpose.
The Indian software industry has
followed an impressive track over the
past
decade.
Entrepreneurs,
bureaucrats and politicians are now
advancing views about how India can
transform itself into a knowledgebased economy by riding the
information
technology
(IT)
bandwagon.
There is no dearth of fascinating
stories about IT-enabled changes. But,
there is little discussion about whether
such changes are sustainable and
effective. This may not be possible
when there are areas where
developments continue to lag. For
example, 79 per cent of India's
population lives in villages with limited
basic infrastructure. Over 60 per cent
of the population is considered literate,
but with literacy being defined as the
ability to read and write simple words
in any language, acquired with or
without formal schooling.
10 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
The Indian software industry has followed an
impressive track over the past decade.
Entrepreneurs, bureaucrats and politicians are
now advancing views about how India can
transform itself into a knowledge-based
economy by riding the information technology
(IT) bandwagon.
This criterion is almost irrelevant
in the context of Kerala. Here the
universalized schooling has provided
the right setting for a knowledge based
society contrary to the general Indian
situation.
Hence Kerala can be
projected as a place to use IT as a
vehicle for social and economic
transformation. Let us not worry about
the usual treading from the traditional
economy to the knowledge-based
economy. But the value addition in
literacy or general education is alleged
to be lagging here. The IT and the
education policy of the State has to be
designed so that the state is benefited
in a balanced way.
IT, job growth and
government policy
Indian IT firms have focused on
developing and delivering IT services
to advanced economies. Even if India
became the world's software factory
and the most optimistic projections of
IT-related jobs (including jobs in call
centres and design centres) were
upheld, this industry will employ at
most a few million people. But as
Kerala is a consumer State, which has
limited traces of an industrial setting
the IT sphere can be a major
contributor to the employment
statistics.
True, IT industry holds limited
potential for wealth to trickle down to
the poorer sections of society unlike a
manufacturing
unit
which
may
provide few opportunities for the
uneducated also. In an unbalanced
situation the rapid growth of IT will
lead to a digital divide where the rich
and educated are empowered and
enriched by IT and the poor are
oblivious to its impact. To offset this
imbalance the basic necessities of the
society like education has to be
sustained.
China is not known for its strengths
in IT, although it now has some
presence in the area. But, what China
has accomplished in terms of its core
industrial base is striking. Foreign
direct investment (FDI) in China is
very high and Chinese exports grew
enormously providing employment to
hundreds of people. These jobs have
improved the living standards for a
substantial fraction of Chinese society.
There is much we need to learn from
China about how the manufacturing
sector can deliver robust and equitable
economic growth. India can do this
easily but for a state like Kerala
environmental issues, high density of
population
and
the
fragile
environment poses problems for
establishing a manufacturing industry.
But in a literate society the direct
benefits to IT are likely to flow to
everyone and the trickle-down effects
of IT (such as cleaning and
maintenance staff for IT firms) are
likely to be favourable for the few
uneducated. As Kerala is a city-state it
can easily garner the advantages of the
cosmopolitan orientation of the IT
industry.
Knowledge and Culture
A
Knowledge
Economy
is
characterised by a culture of
innovation. For such a culture to take
root innovation must be rewarded and
intellectual
property
must
be
protected. Unfortunately for Kerala
innovation in consumption behaviour
is astonishingly positive but the
attitudinal innovation or thirst for
societal change is marginal. A culture
that
truly
enhances
innovation
supports the view that to try hard and
fail is perfectly fine. Yet, the Kerala
psyche has historically been averse to
blessing the risky venture. This attitude
transcends into the corporate arena
also. As IT needs frequent changes and
winds of competition sweep this
industry, the attitudes of the Keralaites
have to be tuned in a similar way.
Here arises the issue of intellectual
property. IP is not a purely economic
issue; it also has important cultural
dimensions. The economic angle can
be addressed with stronger patent laws
and punitive procedures. However, the
cultural angle will decide whether
such protection can be enforced
meaningfully. Addressing the cultural
angle is a challenge.
Knowledge and Education
One of the reasons for fall in quality
of our education is poor performance
in the advancement of higher
education especially in such areas as
engineering,
medical
and
management. Government investment
in higher education has not been able
to go up because of scarcity of
resources. This has affected the
provision of facilities, quality of
teachers and thrust in research. The
opening of self-financing colleges has
reduced the government's financial
liability, but cost of high quality
education has grown enormously
creating an imbalance in the society.
It is true that there is unemployment
but the frightening issue is there are
not enough qualified people for
advanced jobs. This is a matter of
serious concern calling for urgent
remedial action.
The challenge is to ensure that the
expanding higher education also
changes, not only to meet emerging
demands of different kinds but also
leads to creativity and innovation. It is
here that use of satellite technology,
remote- sensing, information and
communication technology (ICT) for
diffusion
and
management
of
knowledge can play a very important
role as high-quality knowledge can be
made to reach a wide audience of
concerned persons, be it professionals
and millions of framers and in the case
of medicine and health, doctors,
patients and communities. The
emphasis on knowledge management,
diffusion and interaction using
modern technology has not come a
day too soon.
Apart from all other settings to
build a knowledge society and to be a
major player in a fiercely competitive
knowledge-driven world, we have
become innovators ourselves in
another
area
also.
Significant
innovations have come up in free
software also.
The government’s
position pronouncing categorically
that it sees free software as a unique
opportunity to build a truly egalitarian
knowledge society. 
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
11
CURRENT
A M Sajith
The Language
Dilemma
T
he Global Malayalam Mission
needs to overcome cross cultural
barriers that limit the Language
learning process of Malayali children
abroad.
The initiative by the Government
of Kerala to promote Malayalam
language learning among Keralites
residing outside the State is a
hospitable gesture to be welcome
globally by all lovers of Malayalam. It
is not only the duty of the government
but an obligation by the World Malayali
community to prop up such a move
and make it a success. The Global
Malayalam Mission inaugurated by the
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan at
Delhi is the beginning of a new era that
tries to solve a major challenge faced
by the Malayali children living abroad.
A girl child from Kerala who is
residing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, once
raised the question why there were no
huge waves in the Red Sea where her
family usually spend their weekend
evenings. She was so fascinated by the
huge waves at the beaches of Kollam
and Kozhikode that effaced their
Culture is closely related
with our language.
Language is more than just a means
of communication.
It influences our culture and our
thought process.
12 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
‘Kadalamma’ scripts engraved on the
sand. The reasons for not having such
huge waves in the Red Sea like in
Arabian Sea, were being explained
though she might not understand
much.
The difference she observed in the
two seas was actually the difference of
the cultures she had seen in the two
worlds - One is her own and the other
is the one she was thrown into. The
problem lies on whether she can
chose the one rightly.
Culture is closely related with our
language. Language is more than just
a means of communication. It
influences our culture and our thought
process. Language helps us to get the
right perception of reality. Cross
cultural comparisons have proved that
our culture, through language, guides
us in seeing the spectrum in different
ways. It is clear from such linguistic
studies that the terminology used by a
culture primarily reflects that culture’s
interests and concerns.
Let me point out an instance from
culture studies that have well proved
this fact: Indians in Canada’s Northwest
Territories typically have at least 13
terms for different types and
conditions of snow, while most nonskiing native Southern Californians use
only two terms- ice and snow. That
does not mean that the English
language has only two terms. This is
applicable
to
every
language
including Malayalam, especially when
we study the language habits of Non
resident Malayalis. A child who is born
and brought up in a country where
there are no huge waves in the sea, the
word ‘Thiramaala’ in Malayalam will be
difficult for him to understand. There
lies the importance of language study
through real life situations and cultural
link is needed for that.
Now, the Global Malayalam Mission
organised by the government of Kerala
is reaching out to children outside
Kerala, the aspect of culture should
prominently be included in the effort.
It is a belated but very beneficial
mission for the great diaspora who has
been contributing a lot to our
economy. It gives great impetus to the
champions of Malayalam language
outside Kerala and even outside India
to promote our language, values and
culture.
Recently I was invited to give away
a presentation on Creative Writing to
a group of Malayali students. The event
was conducted by an organisation
working among the Keralites in
Jeddah. At the end of the speech, the
students were given an assignment to
write an essay based on a photograph
shown to them. All the students, except
one or two, preferred to write in English,
even though they wished to write in
their own mother tongue. They openly
admitted that they had no confidence
in writing Malayalam and feared they
could not find out the exact words
suitable to a context.
This is one of the major challenges
to be faced by the Global Malayalam
Mission activists around the world. Not
only the lack of confidence but lack
of real life situations, lack of Malayalam
books and many other problems lie
behind the learning process of
Malayali students abroad. When
compared to Western countries, it is
said that the Gulf region is better
equipped to face such a challenge
with more Indianised system of
Education and better chances for
cultural exchange. Majority of Malayali
children have to return for higher
education after completing the higher
secondary is really a blessing in
disguise.
The abundance of Malayalam TV
channels airing in Gulf region is also
helping the children to understand
their mother language well. It is not
only the language that matters, but
other things too. If they can identify
V S Achuthanandan or Yesudas on the
screen, it is mainly because of the
popularity of TV channels among the
community in Gulf. The government
can utilise this favourable situation to
promote Malayalam learning by
producing
TV
programmes
and
telecast them in prime time Gulf. Other
media like newspapers and internet
can also be made part of this
programme.
Parent attitude is very important for
better understanding of mother
language, some Malayalam language
teachers working in Indian Schools in
the region pointed out. Home
atmosphere plays a crucial role in
developing the language ability. Many
parents claimed that they encouraged
their children to speak Malayalam at
home and tried to inculcate the
indigenous cultural values in their
lifestyle. It is very difficult to retain such
values in a globalised world where
western cultural values and lifestyle
gained an upper hand. When we are
proud of our children speaking English
well, we must be ashamed of their
inability to communicate in their
mother tongue properly. They should
be prepared to reach a level of
standard in the usage of words and
sentences without any hesitation.
The problem of curriculum also
raises some difficulties. Most of the
Indian Schools abroad follow the
CBSE syllabus where Malayalam is
taught as a third language after English
and Hindi. The children start learning
Malayalam at third standard only and
the parents have to find out alternate
classes in the early stage. This creates
many practical difficulties to them and
proper language learning remains a
dream. Third standard students here
study the text book for the first
standard. The lagging continues up to
the high school level where they make
a leap upto two levels. For instance, an
eight standard student learns the text
book for the sixth standard, but a ninth
grade student has to learn the text
book for the same class.
Cultural organisations of Malayalis
abroad can also contribute a lot
towards this grandeur objective of the
Government of Kerala. There are some
unorganised attempts to promote
mother language among the Malayali
children residing in Gulf countries but
the absence of continuous and
comprehensive programmes bound
them into small spheres. We have to
open new horizons of language
learning through interactive measures
for which voluntary organisations in
the region should be taken into
confidence and make them a part of
the mission. The government can
ensure availability of Malayalam
literary books at least in the Indian
Embassy libraries situated at the
capitals and major cities outside India.
Such co-ordinate efforts can make
fruitful results which in the long run
may be identified as the best
contribution to our Language and
Culture. 
The writer is a journalist based in Jeddah.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
13
BITS&BYTES
Norway world's
best place to live,
Niger worst
Norway has retained its status
as the world's most desirable
country to live in, according to
U.N. data released recently
and ranks the sub-Saharan
African states as the least
attractive places. Data
collected prior to the global
economic crisis showed that
people in Norway, Australia and
Iceland had the best living
standards, while Niger,
Afghanistan and Sierra Leone
scored worst.
Many countries experienced
setbacks in the face of
economic downturns, conflictrelated crises and the HIV/AIDS
epidemic even before the
impact of the global economic
crisis was felt. The life
expectancy in Niger was almost
half when compared to
Norway. For every dollar
earned per person in Niger, $85
was earned in Norway. Literacy
rate and life expectancy
average in the war-ravaged
and poorer countries are very
low when compared to that of
the nations classified in the
medium level.
14 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Britain’s
Supreme Court opened
Britain’s Supreme Court opened when 11 judges were
sworn in at Parliament Square. The day marked the
end of a 130-year association between the highest
court in the land and the House of Lords that is a
major milestone in British legal history.
The court is independent of Parliament and the Law
Lords and will hear the most important cases. The
change brings the UK into line with many other
countries around the world. The new court will act as
the final court of appeal in all matters other than criminal cases in
Scotland. The actual business and workings of the justices will be
watched closely to see if the move across Parliament Square will
affect the way it decides cases. A group of influential solicitors and
barristers is launching a blog to monitor the Supreme Court’s
decision-making.
Once sworn in, the 12 justices will not be allowed to return to the
House of Lords until they have retired. Justices appointed in future
will not be members of Parliament and will have no link to the House
of Lords. It’s the latest major reform to Britain’s constitution.
Dolphins national aquatic animal
The Government of India has declared
dolphins a national aquatic animal in order
to save the rare freshwater species from
extinction. The Union Environment and
Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh said that
the dolphins have been declared as our
national aquatic animal as it represents the
health of the rivers, particularly Ganga.
The decision was taken at the first meeting of
the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)
chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to
streamline steps to rejuvenate the river Ganga.
These dolphins are mainly found in the Ganges and
Brahmaputra river systems. Various human activities
like building dams, pollution etc pose threats to
their habitat.
The United Nations has released a
stamp and envelop marked with United
Nations' seal, designed by a world
famous Miami-based artist Ferdie
Pacheco, with Mahatma Gandhi in red,
blue and gold on the International Day
of Non-Violence on his 140th birth
anniversary at the function organised by
the Indian Mission.
"Much of the work that we do in the
area of human rights owes its genesis in
the struggle against racial
discrimination, which he focused on,"
Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Ambassador
to the UN, said. President of the General
Assembly Ali Treki stressed upon Gandhi's
commitment to communal harmony
between Muslims and non-Muslims.
Events were organised on Gandhi's
birthday all over New York City. "Gandhi
has to be celebrated all over the world
because his message echoes around the
globe," said Prabhu Dayal, the Consul
General of India in New York.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
U N released stamp
of Mahatma Gandhi
Third worst monsoon in
over hundred years
Data available with the India Meteorological Department
(IMD) shows 2009 as the third worst monsoon year since
1901 with 23 per cent of rainfall deficiency across the
country.
“The rainfall deficiency was 25 per cent in 1918 and 24 per
cent in 1972,” IMD director (weather forecasting) Medha
Khole said. She also said that the absence of some key
favourable conditions were responsible for this. “There was
a lack of cross equatorial flow and the rainfall deficiency
was very high in June and it could not make up in the
remaining months of the season."
Deputy Director General meteorology, IMD, A B Mazumdar,
said the number of pro-rainfall systems were less. “Low
pressure areas and depressions, which help in
strengthening the monsoon, over the Bay of Bengal, were
less and the monsoon trough was not well organised,” he
said and added that the height of the trough was shallow
which also resulted in the poor rains.
Turn down the volume
The European Union ordered MP3 and mobile phone makers to
turn down the volume on their gadgets due to the risk of
millions of teenagers going deaf. Some music players can batter
eardrums with high volumes and manufacturers were given two
years to come up with a solution for this.
As a first step, new devices would be changed to cap the sound
levels as soon as buyers take them out of their wrappers with a
setting of 80 decibels as default. "It can take years for the
hearing damage to show, and then it is simply too late." These
standards make small technical changes to players so that by
default normal use is safe and consumers who chose to override the default settings will be given clear warnings so they
know the risks they are taking.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
15
COVERSTORY
T
Manoj K Puthiavila
he Financial Policy of our State offers
thrilling dreams, new values and change in
the entire society.
“Damn..!
Objection,
objection,
objection…!”
The furious officer threw the file away. “No
project is possible unless this hopeless
Finance Department is shattered.” He cursed
the entire Department. His peon stood
astonished and slowly his expression gave
way for sympathy towards the helpless officer
who was well known for his commitment.
There was a preconception that the
primary duty of the Department of Finance
is to control expenditure by objecting to any
16 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
proposal without considering its merit or
social need. This was a major hurdle in the
path of development administration and a
major cause for delay.
But now the era of mindless objections
are over. Things have changed basically. The
regulatory department has now become the
driving force behind the development of the
state. Till yesterday, Finance Ministers were
conventional enemies for all other ministers.
But Dr. Thomas Isaac, the non-conventional
Finance Minister, has broken the convention
and now the Finance Department is a friend
for all.
“We
cannot
ignore
the
development needs. The duty of the
Finance Department is to find
resources for them. This approach is
different from the past. The basic
approach was to limit programmes to
the available resources. Now the focus
has changed to increase the resource.”
Dr. Isaac illustrates the major policy
shift he has made in his department.
During the last three and a half
years there was no treasury ban. Ways
and means restrictions have been
given up. No DA arrears or pending of
pensions. No hesitation in augmenting
various pensions and other welfare
schemes. Everything happens even
without any demand or protest. This is
really a new experience for our State.
The Finance Minister explains that
the welfare measures are important
and no compromise is possible in this
regard. “Rice should be given to the
poor at the rate of two Rupees per kg.
Debt relief schemes should be
implemented. Welfare pensions must
be raised. Casualties of the recession
should be tackled. However these
measures can not be financed through
That laughter has now
given way to a gentle
smile of appreciation.
The Rs 25,000 reward
declared for those
reporting an incident
of corruption at
Walayar has been
lying unclaimed for
the last one year.
Earlier, employees
were willing to go any
length to get posted
in Walayar. Today,
nobody wants a
posting there.
debt.”
... What then is the way out? Well,
there is only one - boost the state’s
revenue.
And that’s precisely what he is
doing. The first step was to increase tax
collection. It has doubled in three
years. This has been met primarily
through raising the efficiency of the tax
collection. And the last two budgets
really offered many reliefs.
And how did he pull it off? One
simple step was putting an end to the
age-old practice of permitting stay on
the payment of taxes and allowing
officials to collect taxes without fear
or favour. Though the new system
enraged the tax evaders, ultimately
they had little option than to comply.
Another major drive in this regard
was to check corruption. The check
posts, the traditional centres of
corruption, were targeted first. When
the notorious Walayar check post was
declared corruption free, majority of
the people and the media laughed at
it.
That laughter has now given way
to a gentle smile of appreciation. The
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
17
Rs 25,000 reward declared for those
reporting an incident of corruption at
Walayar has been lying unclaimed for
the last one year. Earlier, employees
were willing to go any length to get
posted in Walayar. Today, nobody wants
a posting there.
The Walayar check post has a
number of interesting anti-corruption
stories. An officer of another
department who was transferred to
their departmental check post in
Walayar recently took a bribe of Rs 25
from a lorry driver. On learning this, a
group of drivers stormed into his office
and forcefully took the money away
from his table, saying it was a
corruption-free post and they would
not allow the malice to spread all over
again! In the beginning of the
“Posts will be set up in all parallel
passages near the check posts.”
The tax collection system is also
being made foolproof. E-filing and Epayment are very much in vogue in the
Sales Tax department. Computerisation
and networking are successfully
completed. The new system is
beneficial to both the traders and the
Government. Nearly 200 employees,
who would become surplus are being
redeployed in the department itself to
increase efficiency.
Most of the reforms are mutually
beneficial to the public and the
Government. The best example is the
one time settlement scheme for
regularisation of land reclamation
undertaken before the passage of the
new law banning any further
campaign, there were reports of drivers
being slapped by officers for
attempting to bribe them!
The check post at Manjeswaram, on
the northern border with Karnatakam
is also declared corruption free.
Now the crusader moves on to
another Augean stable at the southern
end, the Amaravila. The action has
already started at Amaravila this
October. The Aryankavu Check post is
the next target.
“By next year, all check posts in the
State will be declared corruption-free,”
a confident Dr. Thomas Isaac says.
conversion. They are sharing a portion
of their benefit, but it does contribute
to the development of the State.
Another notable initiative is the
Grand Kerala Shopping Festival which
brought in a reasonable amount to the
State’s coffers. This time it is expected
to rise.
“But the mobilisation of the tax
revenue has limits,” says the Minister.
“The idea is to raise them so that
welfare measures can be enhanced
without increasing revenue deficit. But,
what
about
the
developmental
investment?”
18 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
So, now the focus is shifting to nontax revenue.
One of the major innovations in
this regard is the de-silting of sand and
silt accumulated in dams, which has
actually reduced their storage capacity.
Removing and utilising the sand for
construction activities and the silt for
agricultural purposes will also help
ensure
water
availability
for
agricultural, industrial and domestic
purposes, augment power generation,
reduce the demand for new dams and
protect forests in a big way. The most
important benefit is the sand itself,
which will bring down the price of the
river sand, boost up the construction
industry and help the Government
housing projects. According to the
primary assessment there should be
sand and fertile mud for around Rs
12,000 crore!
For all development in the
agricultural and industrial sectors,
quality infrastructure is a prime
precondition. There was no money
available for these projects and they
were progressing at a snail’s pace. But
now, the Government have given
sanctions for projects worth Rs 5000
crore.
“If we spend in the same tune for
three years the change will be
dramatic.” Dr. Isaac dreams of an
entirely new Keralam.
We can take loans for this. But there
comes the borrowal limit. “However I
do not believe in ceiling for fiscal
deficit as long as revenue deficit is zero,
at any rate, not the present three
percent.” So he sought another option.
People are encouraged to deposit their
savings in the treasury.
“I am very much confident in our
people. Do you know? 108 land owners
of Perinthalmanna have given advance
sanction to take their land for the byepass which was lagging for the last 25
years. Once the people are assured that
their deposits will be fully utilised for
infrastructural projects and not
meeting current expenditure, they will
cooperate” The economist-turnedMinister asks whether the Keralites
The most criticised
unification of
retirement time will
help keep the
treasury money in
surplus throughout
the current year of
recession.
Various institutions
under the Ministry of
Finance also have
been reformed and
reorganised by
themselves in tune
with the spirit of the
policy changes
initiated by the
Ministry. The Kerala
Financial Corporation
(KFC) is a stellar
example.
who have deposited Rs 1.5 lakh crore
in the banks won’t shift a few thousand
crore out of it to the state treasury
having a better interest rate. This is also
a basic change in the finance policy.
The completely computerised and
networked treasury system will be
reorganised and made consumer
friendly. ATMs are to be set up at all
treasuries by the end of this financial
year. The monthly bulk disbursement
of salary and pension which usually
leads to overdrafts and ways and
means difficulties can be avoided.
The most criticised unification of
retirement time will help keep the
treasury money in surplus throughout
the current year of recession.
Various institutions under the
Ministry of Finance also have been
reformed
and
reorganised
by
themselves in tune with the spirit of the
policy changes initiated by the Ministry.
The Kerala Financial Corporation
(KFC) is a stellar example.
KFC, which was infamous for its
anti-industrialisation attitude and
usurious character, is now very
entrepreneur-friendly. KFC is now
unbelievably liberal in sanctioning
loans and that too, at an interest rate
of seven per cent! The maximum rate
is 11 per cent. They are getting
sufficient monetary support and have
also diversified their schemes.
Another organisation, the Kerala
State Financial Enterprises (KSFE), has
started a number of innovative
schemes like the ‘Pravasi Chitti’, a chit
fund for NRKs. Now they are running
kuries for Rs 10,000 crore! Three years
back it was just Rs 3000 crore.
The controversial lottery market
commands a size of Rs 3000- 4000
crore. But 90 per cent of this money
was being served with illegal
companies. The Kerala State Lotteries
has been making steady head way. The
competitive State Lottery Department
which increased sales fourfold has
captured the market through its new
lotteries, special and bumper offers,
intensified activities and other new
initiatives. Efforts are also to punish
errant lottery companies. Besides this
a welfare fund for lottery sellers has
been set up with a Government
contribution of one per cent of sales.
Changes are taking place in the
Insurance Department also. All these
departments and organisations are
being redefined as agencies of
financial policies and not as financial
institutions.
Another commendable change is
the initiatives and healthy interference
in the field of trade which was totally
neglected in the past. The attempt to
make Kerala a shopping destination
will certainly promote the industrial
sector as well. The real aim is to
increase the sale of ‘made in Kerala’
products.
It was the departments under the
Ministry of Finance that first
announced the Citizens’ Charter in the
State. Social Audits at all the treasuries
in the State and Walayar check post
were an extremely novel experience
to our people. The transparency
brought
by
such
efforts
is
revolutionising not only the Finance
Department but also the entire
administration. 
The writer is Editor, Vyavasaya Keralam
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
19
M
COVERSTORY
R Hali
ore food from less land, less
water, less animals and less workforce
is becoming the emerging new order
in the farming sector world over. At
the same time the dreadful report on
the consequences of global warming
and climate change are threatening
the very existence of human life.
During the emerging context of a
probable catastrophe, no effort is
bigger than the tasks aimed to create
food security by enhancing the
productivity of all farm produce and
ensuring the equitable distribution of
the same to all the needy.
Glory and glamour of Kerala in
the farm map of the nation is very
colourful as a State that devote 84 per
cent of its net sown area for
commercial
crops,
and
make
available 80 per cent of its farm
produce to markets outside the State
by providing strong agri export
support to the country. Fortunately or
unfortunately such a prominence
given to commercial crops has made
it a permanent dependent of the
Union Government for the supply of
the most precious among the agri
commodities, i.e. , food grains. Since
its creation in 1957 till date, State is
20 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
depicted by Indraprastha media as
the most grain hungry part of the
nation due to the fact quite often the
pressure exerted by the State for grain
allotment become very loud due to
political currents and cross currents.
Success of Green Revolution had
its impact in different states of the
nation in different styles. North Indian
states like Punjab, Haryana and UP
became suddenly the granaries
overflowing with grain, while states
like Kerala had a different kind of
experience. Trade channels started to
bring good rice and sell here for a
cheap price in plenty, there by making
the local rice production an
unattractive
and
loss
making,
occupation. This has really compelled
the rice farmers to leave the fields
leaving it either fallow or rent it out
for other occupations ranging from
banana cultivation to conversion of
large tracts for the construction boom.
Paddy fields soon started to disappear.
Rice area came down from 9 lakh
hectares to less than 3 lakh, forcing
Kerala to buy even 80 per cent of rice
required.
The adverse impact of the total
neglect of rice field has virtually
converted the State to a consumer
land importing huge quantities of rice,
pulses, meat, egg, fruits, vegetables and
condiments from other states. In short,
Kerala is identified as a state among
the worst hit if a paucity for food
situation emerges in the country.
The present unusual steep rise in
the cost of essential commodities felt
in the State could be identified as a
warning to the above anticipated
troublesome situation.
 The efforts of the State to boost the
production of grain, vegetables and
other agriculture commodities must
be viewed keeping the above
situation in the backdrop. Reviving
rice culture in the lands left fallow for
two or three decades is a titanic task
undertaken by the Government. It
must be hailed as very bold step in
the right direction. This needs a very
cautious approach to win a very
sustainable achievement.
 The most significant indication of
the fruitful nature of the effort put in
by the agriculture department with
the popular slogan' All for Rice
Culture'
has
accomplished
an
increase in the area of paddy from
2.28 lakh hectares to 2.34 lakh
hectares in 2008- 09. Such an area increases after a four
decade long negative experience could be made only with
a strong backing of farmers. The increase though is not very
big, clearly reveals that 'If there is a will, there is a way'.
 In the current year, it will cross 20000 hectares as the field
level co-ordination system built up has started to move well.
Several useful administrative measures taken up need
sustainability and the reclamation process could be
extended to at districts where farmers are willing to come
forward for united action.
 Modernisation has become a reality and machineries
are welcomed everywhere without any resistance. Reviving
of the group farming spirit of the yester years will improve
the situation.
 The role of local self-governments have gained very great
prominence, and it requires more reorientation, since rice
culture in most of the fields could be done twice in an year
followed by a good vegetable crop wherever irrigation
facilities exist. This must be taken up as a special food security
drive that already has made a good beginning in several
districts.
 Perhaps the biggest source of inspiration for the revival
of rice fallows came from the policy of enhancing the
procurement price of paddy. During the last three years the
escalation of procurement price made a big jump to Rs12/
kg from a meager Rs.7.50. Wherever procurement and
prompt payment could be properly linked with harvesting,
the revival process has attained an unusual degree of
sustainability, and no effort should be spared to spread the
new wave of confidence created. If this could be done, the
area earmarked for fallow land reclamation could be
Contd. on Page 28
During the last three years the
resounding and reassuring success made
by the state in the livestock front
deserves very special mass appreciation.
○
During the period the milk production got a
big leap form 21.4 lakh metric tonnes to 24.6
lakh metric tonnes. Thanks to the introduction
of over 33000 milch cows, 1480 heifers and
3680 crossbred cows of prime quality to our
farms coupled with programmes like
Pashugramam, Milk Shed Development and
Tsunami development which have received a
warm welcome from dairy farmers.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
A silent revolution in the Vet front was created
making Kerala a unique 'disease controlled
tract of the country by introducing massive
preventive health vaccination has already
attained national significance.
○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○
Formulation of a new breeding policy,
modernisations of farms, district veterinary
centres, taking steps for commencing a new
state of the art feed factory at Karunagappally
etc. has brought the livestock sector from
sideline to limelight of the economic
development.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○
Kerala scored another first in the sector by the
formation of Dairy Farmers' Welfare fund
Board:' By the year end more than 50000
farmers will be getting pension.
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
It is heartening news to add that Milma's
turnover crossed 10 billion recording a profit
of over Rs.20 crores by wiping off its past loss
making records.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
21
Contd. from Page 21
Rearing real .....
doubled in all tracts along with Kuttanadu
and Kole.
Organisation of Agro clinics,
introduction interest free loans for rice,
organized use of machinery for land
preparation
and
harvesting.
Commencement of insurance systems
etc are novel items, but the shortage
of food commodities and steep hike
in price of essential commodities quite
often overshadowed the impact of
such programmes among the masses.
But
one
of
the
outstanding
achievements is the significant
progress accomplished by the VFPCK
(Vegetable and Fruit Promotion
Council Kerala), which has made
tremendous progress in creating a
farmer-oriented production cum marketing
system for banana, plantain and
vegetables. 1.2 lakh farmers are actually
participating round the year in the system
with an annual turnover of over Rs.3 billion.
The turnover of a market in Ernakulam
exceeds Rs.3 crores in a year. Several units
hold such breathtaking figures as
accomplishments. The council's marketing
system provides the best possible price for
the produce and also extends insurance
cover and compensation package. Above
all, it creates a golden linkage between
the producer and the trade at a market
place belonging to the farmers.
The farming sector in the State is
passing through a situation filled with
anxiety and uncertainty. All the cash
crops ranging from rubber to ginger
and coconut to coffee are under the
22 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
shadows of huge threats. Nobody comes
forward to predict specifically the future
of the commodities due to the new regional
and global trade treaties signed. The small
farmers as well as the planters are shy and
afraid to invest in the crop culture, since
most of them are perennial with a
gestation period of 5-7 years. This
uncertainty created by public policies is
more dangerous and destructive than that
sometimes occur due to excess rains or
drought or deluge. The solutions for tiding
over the anxieties are not simple problem
to be handled by the agronomists by
suggesting methodologies for enhancing
the productivity alone. Productivity hike is
a sweet solution, but it is one of the most
difficult one to accomplish by a peasantry
which is already seeking shelter under mass
suicides whenever unbearable crop losses
and debt traps spread dark clouds of
uncertainty in life.
Livestock farming is a major sector
providing significant contribution for
the development of rural economy of
the State. During the last three years the
resounding and reassuring success made
by the State in the livestock front deserves
very special mass appreciation.
The last but the most significant
accomplishment is Kerala's entry into
the global Hi Tech dairy farm sector,
an act done with a visionary spirit. Kerala
gets the unique opportunity to build and
operate the first Hi-Tech dairy farm in the
public sector in India with very strong
support from Government of India and
construction of works are proceeding fast.
The livestock sector in Kerala is ready
for a big takeoff since we possess the basic
technological
and
organisational
infrastructure for developing into the most
dependable sector for all round rural
development extending various benefits to
the entire community. One could feel a new
wave of enthusiasm in the crop culture and
livestock sectors. But more farmer- friendly
public policies, generous development
programmes and liberal protective
measures are the three most important
needs required to transform the
enthusiasm to prosperity builders.
COVERSTORY
E
ven as the global economy
continues to ride the fears of a slower
recovery, the Kerala story looks like a
bit different. Or is it? Industrial
segments in Kerala, traditional or new
age, have been subject to tight scrutiny
by the money segment all through the
start of the slowdown. It continues to
be so. But isn’t there a silver lining
somewhere in between?
A look at the mainstream industrial
segment in the State provides fresh
instances of players sweeping away the
ill effects of recession. The impact
cannot be set aside as silly, it indeed is
annoying and continues to be so. Yet,
government-aided mechanisms come
Sanjeev Ramachandran
The slowdown, coupled with inaccuracies in purchase price,
export price and such market-related phenomena, has led the
industry to the brink. However, Government intervention has
started proving helpful in effective firefighting.
Recession
Not Hurting
In a year when
recession worsened,
the State’s tourism
sector was able to post
a growth of 16 per cent
- or so say the 2008
numbers. The state had
been expecting a 20
per cent fall during the
period owing to fears
of less numbers of
western travellers
opting for a holiday
due to the recession.
about as harbingers of all things good,
at least for the vulnerable arenas. And,
as a result, the consumers are not
losing hope either.
Take for instance the coir industry
segment. There is not any doubt
whatsoever, as to the amount of illeffects the slowdown has brought with
it. The slowdown, coupled with
inaccuracies in purchase price, export
price
and
such
market-related
22 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
phenomena, has indeed led the
industry to the brink. However,
government intervention has started
proving helpful in effective firefighting.
The situation a few months ago had
been alarming. The industry, according
to Minister for Coir G Sudhakaran
himself, witnessed a fall in export of
coir products to the tune of Rs 50 crore
on a year basis. The quantity wise fall
then stood at close to 9000 tonne. With
such a situation poised to push the coir
industry to the unfathomable depths,
government intervention in the form
of steps to meet the crisis in the sector
has helped the industry stay afloat, at
least for now. The State Government’s
measures aimed at procurement of
coir and opening of vending outlets
have proved successful.
Similar is the case with many of the
traditional sectors. They seem to stay
afloat even as hit gets harder. A cursory
glance at what the tourism sector in
the state is going through makes the
picture a bit clearer. If there is one
segment that has been bypassed by
the severity of the slowdown, it is the
travel sector in the state. In fact, by
lining up measures to tackle bad times,
Kerala Tourism, in fact, side stepped
doomsday predictions by a large
extent.
Improving
performance
through well-crafted and immensely
luring packages, the travel industry
stayed afloat. There have been multiple
irritants along with the recessionary
trends for Kerala Tourism. Terror fears,
negative travel advisories, a not-soimpressive law and order climate, the
scare of the H1N1 virus and the like
joined hands with Kerala Tourism to
make things look patchy. However, it
was not to be so as the segment itself
has
proved.
New
destinations,
improved
hospitality
and
development of better infrastructure
did herald good tidings for Kerala
Tourism, so to say.
In a year when recession worsened,
the State’s tourism sector was able to
post a growth of 16 per cent -- or so say
the 2008 numbers. The state had been
expecting a 20 per cent fall during the
period owing to fears of less numbers
of western travellers opting for a
holiday due to the recession. The fact
is that Kerala saw an increase in the
number of foreign tourists by nearly
80,000 in 2008 compared to the 5.16
lakh visitors in the previous year.
Domestic travellers too saw to it that
the numbers rose. The government
believes that “the 16 per cent growth
attained during a period of economic
turmoil is testimony to the upper hand
the State has in the tourism sector.”
Various industrial segments have
more or less similar stories to tell. It
would be tough to point out a total
collapse as a byproduct of recession,
in Kerala. The construction sector,
though things may not be rosy as they
Contd.... Page 26
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
23
Contd..... from Page 23
used to be, is slowly seeing demand yet
again. The number of high rises coming up
stands proof to this phenomenon. Price
fall and the related phenomena
notwithstanding, the construction sector
seems to be inching back on demand.
Among the new-gen sectors, IT is
treading a mixed path. While having had to
log on to trouble caused by the fall of
counterparts in the western world and
related developments such as salary cuts
as well as job losses, the companies
operating out of various technology hubs
in Kerala are looking at the governments
efforts to tide over the crisis.
A recent seminar organised by CII on
IT in Kerala – Challenges and
Opportunities, Kerala’s Chief Secretary
Neela Gangadharan took the lead in
24 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
stating that the job scene in Kerala is well
and fine, and that it will see over two lakh
jobs in the IT scene over the next five year
period. She added that the State
government has already kicked off
measures to set up over 200 rural IT Parks,
termed Techno Lodges, in the next 2-3
years. That is quite a number, indeed, when
analysed in these times of recession.
Talking of the consumer angle in
recession, Kerala’s consumers deserve all
praise for sidestepping the ill effects and
staying courageous enough to weather any
storm. Recession or not, shop till you drop,
seems to be the slogan. Jewellers, textile
vendors and the hospitality players make
hay even when the slowdown sun beats
heavy on them. The consumer is king, and
no economic story can be written effectively
without having him in mind. True in this
case too.
While the Government has been
formulating policies and staying committed
to help the state side-step the slowdown
phase and speed up recovery in the most
effective manner, the consumer has a nice
narration on what recession is all about.
This, they do by letting their spending
capacity speak louder.
COVERSTORY
Anil Philip
Elephants become
Horses
Even during financial meltdown, the State
owned Enterprises under the Ministry of
Industries and Commerce continue on their
remarkable march to profitability.
26 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
T he
fortunes of our public sector
depend a lot on government policy. But
just how much of an impact does
government policy have on stateowned companies? Does it help the
of Industries & Commerce continue on
their remarkable march to profitability
and success having shown excellent
growth
and
commendable
performances during 2008-09.
In 2008-09, 41 PSUs reported an
exceptional
improvement
in
performance to show net profit of
Rs.169.45 crores with a turnover of
Rs.2105.01 crores as against a net loss
of Rs.69.49 crores in 2005-06 under the
previous government. The number of
profit making units has gone up to 28
in 2008-09 from only 12 in 2005-06.
There is an increase of 16 per cent in
the turnover and 111 per cent increase
in profit as compared to the previous
year. This was achieved when the
Indian industrial sector has registered
a growth rate of 2.4 per cent as per the
Index of Industrial Production. The
above positive trend continues this
year also. For the first five months of
2009-10, the net profit is Rs.75.5 crores
which shows a 600 per cent
improvement over the corresponding
period of the previous year. This is a
reflection
on
the
effective
implementation
of
government’s
proactive industry friendly policies.
Another remarkable initiative is the
collaboration and strategic tie-up with
Central PSUs and this is already
reaping benefits. The handing over of
KELTEC, Trivandrum to BrahMos;
collaboration of TELK, Angamaly with
NTPC; involvement of SAIL with Steel
Complex Ltd., Kozhikode; restructuring
of KEL, Kasargode through a JV with
BHEL and Joint Venture of Autokast
Ltd. with Indian Railways are some
successful examples.
Some of the policy decisions that
have helped strengthen the State
Owned Enterprises are given below:
Professionalising Management
There were two important issues
before the Government; attract
management experts at the senior
level and improve the skills of the
existing officers. A selection board was
state-managed companies to perform
better?
‘PSUs in Kerala do better’, ‘State
PSUs making progress’, ‘Govt to grant
autonomy to profit-making PSUs’ - well,
these are some headlines that one
would have seen in the recent past.
Even in the face of the global financial
meltdown and consequent domestic
recession, the State owned Enterprises
in Kerala which are under the Ministry
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
27
constituted for this purpose and
appointments were made through
open advertisement and interview.
Search
Committees
were
also
constituted to identify experts of
various sectors and some efficient
people were selected through this way
also. For capacity building of second
line
management,
training
programmes are being implemented
under the aegis of Public Sector
Restructuring & Internal Audit Board
(RIAB).
One Time Settlement
Government has taken special
steps to settle short term and long term
loans of PSUs from banks and other
financial institutions. This has brought
a big change in the financial positions
of these companies as they could
restart operations with the banks with
a clean balance sheet.
Performance Monitoring
The PSU review meetings are held
every month (for the last three years)
with the Industries Minister, Secretaries,
Chairman and Secretary of RIAB
attending the same. This has proved to
be an effective tool for improving the
performances of the companies. RIAB
28 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
makes a meticulous follow up and
offers assistance for the execution of
the decisions from these meetings.
Annual Budgeting
From 2007-08 onwards, a correct
practice of making budget in advance
was implemented. These exercises
have helped the companies to
strengthen their internal systems and
to develop an overall view of
operations.
This Government
has made financial
provisions to the
tune of Rs.50 crores
in the 2009-10
budget. The Kerala
Financial
Corporation is also
funding
modernisation
projects of the PSUs
as loan at 8.5 per
cent interest.
Audit Strengthening
Government prepared a panel of
Chartered Accountants and directed
the companies to appoint internal
auditors from this panel only, with a
direction to change them after three
years. A fast track system was adopted
to complete the pending audits which
have proven to be very effective.
Harnessing Synergy
Government initiated special steps
to harness the synergy of PSUs and to
organise their operations on terms of
mutual
benefits.
Since
many
companies are operating in similar
fields, combined sourcing of raw
materials, providing technical support
and avoiding competition with each
other could be achieved.
Budgetary Support
This Government, in contrast to the
previous government, has taken a very
supportive stand and made financial
provisions in each year’s budget for the
rejuvenation and revival of viable PSUs.
Rs.50 crores has been provided in the
2009-10 budget. The Kerala Financial
Corporation
is
also
funding
modernisation projects of the PSUs as
loan at 8.5 per cent interest.
to form a single company.
Re-opening of Closed Units and
Regaining of Assets
Government prepared a plan to
regain the assets of those companies
which were closed for a long time and
those under liquidation so as to make
use of such assets for industrial
purposes. The revival of Trivandrum
Spinning Mills and starting of Kerala
Soaps are some examples.
Modernisation plans
Merger and Amalgamation
A proposal to merge companies of
similar line of production and to
harness the synergy is under serious
consideration. This will reduce the
overhead
expenses,
improve
cooperation in technology, manpower,
marketing and finance. Moreover, a
bigger organisation will be more
capable to meet the challenges of
markets. Kerala State Industrial
Products Trading Corporation is
merging with Travancore Titanium
Products Ltd., Sitaram Textile Mills and
Trivandrum Spinning Mills are being
merged with Kerala State Textile
Corporation Ltd. Four subsidiaries of
Kerala State Electronics Development
Corporation
Ltd.,
viz.,
Keltron
Component Complex Ltd., Keltron
Magnetics Ltd., Keltron Crystals Ltd.,
and Keltron Resistors Ltd., are merging
Fifteen Companies are going for
modernisation projects with the help
of Government assistance. Many other
companies are in the process of
modernisation
with
their
selfgenerated funds. KMML, Keltron, KSTC
are some of these PSUs. To combat the
current recession, the Textiles Units are
also being modernised.
The government hopes that the
successful example of Kerala PSUs will
usher in substantial private sector
investments in the near future. The
commitment of the Government has
amply proved that PSUs can succeed
in Kerala if the right policies are in
place
with
political
will
and
professional support. 
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
29
COVERSTORY
K
erala is a consumer as well as a
welfare state. From the first
Government to rule the State since
Independence, the parties in power
have been careful not to take the
welfare of the people lightly.
Today,
after
62
years
of
Independence, this fact is all the more
relevant as the integration of
Panchayati Raj institutions are under
way. Meeting the aspirations of the
common man of the State is a
necessity for any Government to be
successful. And the present one in the
saddle has been tirelessly working to
implement such welfare measures.
Bouncing back
Similarly, the industrial sector in the
State has seen a revival of sorts. Stateowned public sector units that were
shortlisted either to be sold off or shut
down were revived.
30 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
Bimal Sivaji
It was in the Information
Technology sector that the state has
made a quantum leap in the past few
years. Many new companies have set
shop in Technopark, the showpiece IT
part situated in the State capital. New
Infoparks have been announced,
bringing cheers to the students of
higher education.
As part of the Government’s efforts
to make the State totally computer
literate, Akshaya Kendras are being set
up in every village. The common man
can now become computer literate at
a subsidised rate at select computer
training centres across the State.
Services from the Government are now
available on a new portal and the
public can get information on various
Government schemes and apply for
certificates, records and documents.
Land recovery
All these years governments
showed reluctance in recovering
revenue land. But the present
Government was able to recover
15,000 acres of land all over the State
within three years. This is intended to
be distributed to landless poor and
Adivasi families in the State.
Education
Another remarkable and visible
achievement has been in education.
In the face of crass commercialisation,
general education has been revamped
to ensure qualitative growth. Taking the
legislative route, the government
ensured that the self-financing
colleges in the State gave precedence
to social good over mere profit making.
This step ensured that higher
education was within the reach of the
common man. Another achievement
has been the single window scheme
for admission to Plus Two and the
general public has been benefited as
it avoided last minute rush for
admissions.
In the pink of health
In the health sector, one of the
most remarkable achievements has
been the issue of insurance card
covering the BPL community. This
comes at a time when diseases such
as dengue, Japan fever and HINI have
been taking a lion’s share of the
income of a family. Around 21.79 lakh
people would be benefited. Families
While the government
is in the process of
upgrading 115
community health
centres across the
State, 300 state-run
hospitals would also be
refurbished to ensure
that the services
rendered there would
meet Indian Public
Health Standards.
can avail treatments at pre-fixed rates
for over 750 ailments at private
hospitals, community health centres,
medical college hospitals and general
hospitals.
While the government is in the
process of upgrading 115 community
health centres across the State, 300
state-run hospitals would also be
refurbished to ensure that the services
rendered there would meet Indian
Public Health Standards. In an effort
to root out corruption in the
distribution
of
medicines
in
Government Hospitals a Medical
Service
Corporation
has
been
launched. Free cancer treatment
programme for children, School Health
Programme, Counselling programme
for adolescent girls and health cards
for children studying in Government
schools are the other programmes
under implementation in the health
sector.
Tourists are welcome
Responsible tourism has become
the key word for the government so
that not just the private stakeholders
in a tourism project but also the
general public too benefit from the
State’s investment into this sector. The
State has seen a 19.43 per cent
increase in tourist arrival despite the
economic downturn.
Infrastructure
The roads in the State are sporting
a new look and in many places it has
even been widened to make it four
lane. Although a lot remains to be
done, land acquisition for road
widening has been a major issue faced
by the State Government. The
Happy farmers
First,
First, the
the Government
Government has
has been
been able
able to
to stem
stem suicides
suicides by
by
farmers
across
the
State.
This
is
one
of
the
most
farmers across the State. This is one of the most visible
visible
achievements,
achievements, one
one that
that has
has seldom
seldom been
been highlighted
highlighted by
by the
the
media
or
by
the
so
called
pro-development,
pro-liberalisation
media or by the so called pro-development, pro-liberalisation
lobby.
lobby.
Even
Even as
as the
the Government
Government demanded
demanded that
that the
the Centre
Centre fix
fix the
the
procurement
procurement price
price of
of paddy
paddy on
on aa par
par with
with that
that of
of wheat,
wheat, it
it
raised
raised it
it to
to Rs.8.50
Rs.8.50 per
per kg.
kg. The
The Government
Government also
also declared
declared aa
moratorium
moratorium on
on debt
debt recovery
recovery from
from farmers
farmers and
and the
the Kerala
Kerala
Farmers’
Farmers’ Debt
Debt Relief
Relief Commission
Commission was
was set
set up.
up. It
It was
was
constituted
constituted to
to look
look into
into the
the various
various grievances
grievances of
of debt-ridden
debt-ridden
farmers
farmers and
and to
to take
take steps
steps to
to free
free them
them from
from the
the debt-trap.
debt-trap.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
31
monsoon rains damaged and in many
places completely destroyed the network
of roads. But these were repaired in no
time and transport was completely restored
in a month’s time. As more and more
people are travelling for studies and work,
good roads have become a necessity rather
than a luxury and the Government is doing
all it can to develop this infrastructure.
The land-locked districts of Kottayam,
Idukki and Pathanamthitta was granted a
boon in the guise of an inland mini-port
at Nattakom near Kottayam, the first of
its kind in the country. The port is expected
to help boost the cash crop industry in the
region.
In an effort to compete with the private
inter State transporters, the Kerala State
32 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
Road Transport Corporation has bought
new air conditioned Volvo buses to run
services to Bangalore, the destination of
many IT professionals from the State.
KSRTC Volvo buses are also plying to
Palakkad making travel by bus a pleasure
for people of the State. The KSRTC is also
revamping select bus stations in the State
and work has started at Angamaly and
Thiruvananthapuram on this front.
Citizens’ call
Perhaps no other facility would
highlight the importance that the
government is giving to the common man
that the innovative initiative of the
Government called Sutharyakeralam.
This project was conceived to
bridge the gap between the public and the
government. The Chief Minister responds
to the public’s grievances that have been
screened and selected after scrutiny. The
programme is telecast on Sundays between
7:15 pm and 8 pm in Doordarshan Keralam.
All data are collected at a call centre and
an online public interface and recorded in
a database. The data will serve as a
guideline for development initiatives of the
future governments.
ECONOMY
Dr MP Sukumaran Nair
ECONOMIC
slowdown
Efficient operation of public
sector is intended to
achieve the State's
objectives of minimising the
market distortion, ensuring
lowest tax on the people
and the fullest optimization
of resources.
32 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Efforts on
W
hat is the best government?
That which teaches us to
govern ourselves.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The Public Sector Enterprises
(PSEs) in India have contributed
immensely to the national self-
reliance and will continue to
play an important role in the
economy. This is because of the
social causes for which these
institutions were incorporated
following
the
national
independence that remain stark
realities even today, hence the
contemporary socio-economic
system needs the support of
these institutions to enrich the
life of the common man. In the
ensuing
industrial
climate
under the globalized economic
environment
and
global
economic slowdown the role of
public sector has come up for a
fresh round of discussions.
Hitherto experience points that
public sector has to take a
deviation from current practices
and embrace a world of
knowledge,
information,
practices and outlook to
improve the bottom line
delivering prompt and quality
services.
Efficient operation of public
sector is intended to achieve the
State's objectives of minimising
the market distortion, ensuring
lowest tax on the people and the
to Revive
fullest optimization of resources. The
public sector must be transparent and
its resources should maximize their
social rate of return. Out of the 214
central public sector enterprises
(CPSEs) and state level public
enterprises (SLPEs), only some of them
achieved excellent operating results
with increasing turnover and profits.
Performance 2007-08
According
to
the
Public
Enterprises Survey 2007-08, out of 242
central public sector enterprises, 214
are operational and the total
investment in the CPSEs is Rs 455409
crores as on 31.3.2008 which is 8.31 per
cent higher than the previous year. Out
of 214 CPSEs, 160 CPSEs operated with
a profit of Rs. 1081925 crores (12.13 per
cent increase) and 53 units incurred
loss while this number was 60 last year.
During 2007-08, the CPSEs contribution
to the central exchequer went up by
11.6 per cent to Rs.165994 and the
reserves and surplus, net worth, foreign
exchange
earnings
and
market
capitalisation also increased.
The CPSEs held Rs 95349 crores in
cash as bank balance at the end of
2008, which is more than 220 per cent
from 2004.The Government wanted
the surplus to be invested in mutual
funds or be paid to Government as
interim dividends.
The Government received a huge
return by way of direct taxes and
dividends. Despite increase in effective
tax rate for CPSEs from 28.9 per cent
in 2004 to over 31.4 per cent in 2008
net profit increased and the effective
tax rate in private sector companies
declined to 22.9 per cent. A recent Dun
and Bradstreet survey shows that PSUs
outperformed the private sector
companies in terms of dividends,
profits and remittance.
Revival efforts
The
Common
Minimum
Programme (CMP) of the Government
proposes to extend full managerial
and
commercial
autonomy
to
successful, profit-making companies
operating
in
a
competitive
environment. The CMP suggest that
privatisation
should
increase
competition and that there must be a
direct link between privatisation and
social needs.
The Government constituted a
Board for Reconstruction of Public
Sector Enterprises (BRPSE) to advise
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
33
the Government on ways and means
to strengthen public sector enterprises.
It was asked to consider all around
restructuring of the units and evaluate
proposals of administrative ministries
for their revival. 62 cases have been
referred to the BRPSE and they have
given recommendations for 53 cases
which include 51 revival plans and two
closures. The Government has already
approved 31 revival plans and the two
PSE closures which require a
government assistance of around Rs
8,910 crores. Its performance has been
dismal due to lack of commitment
from the part of the Government.
First, the internal factors may have
to be addressed and then the market
for the product or service should be
analysed. If positive ,improvements like
producing at rated capacities and
above, optimising all kinds of
resources
including
manpower,
achieving peak energy efficiency,
reducing
wastage
and
rework,
sourcing raw material and inputs at fair
costs, maintaining less of inventories,
avoiding
loss
in
transit
and
maintaining the brand equity can be
made effective from within.
support.
Losses
incurred
during
consecutive years lead to net worth
erosion. There are instances in which
public sector corporations who have
made regular profits for over decades
slipped into black and then red and
still continue to operate at the same
scale of production. Though such units
achieve the targeted production
performance, overall financial results
remain bad. Even then they are
capable of meeting all expenditures
and payments to Government by
surveys
identified
massive
casualisation of labour in the
organised sector, even when units are
performing well. National level efforts
for re-skilling of employees and skill
up-gradation missions undertaken by
the industrial training institutes are
important in this perspective. The
investment
in
Research
and
Development in every industry sector
in the country is not commensurate
with its growth potential and to
facilitate the R&D in this sector, the
Government shall support those
installments of loan and interest are
defaulted. Such kind of an operation
for long put pressure on working
capital requirements and thus the unit
plunges into a spiral, stopping the
production. During restructuring, it is
reasonable that loan availed in the past
was used to build up capital assets that
may be treated as a grant and with this
a request for reduction or waiver of the
accumulated interest may be made. At
times though the Government obtains
loans from international agencies at
low rates it is extended to public sector
enterprises at much higher rates of
interest.
companies
fostering
innovation,
energy conservation, environmental
compliance
and
those
seeking
alternate fuels including hybrids. The
present economic crisis demand that
government shall adopt such policies
that creates new demand domestically,
expand and diversify operations of the
CPSEs and generate massive job
opportunities in the manufacturing
and infrastructure sectors.
The public sector atmosphere gets
delayed and in commercial decisions
such delays are always costly and in
situations where there are clear
financial
advantages
to
the
organisation no cases need be
registered. Most ailing units are unable
to undertake essential modernisation
projects even when it may yield quick
and better returns for want of fund
Capital infusion
Many consider restructuring of
public sector enterprises as another
effort for infusing fresh capital into
these unworkable units to pay for the
employee wages and continue to run
on a loss. In the present context, a
politician will definitely be asking for
a strategy for continued operation to
see that the unit after the restructuring
proposals may become self-standing
in the foreseeable future, however proemployee and pro- public sector he
may be.
Working capital support is another
common demand and erosion of
working capital may be due to a
change in the policy in that sector
making the operation unviable like
reduction in import duty, adhering to
trade related WTO stipulations etc.
Sometimes the request may be for a
Government guarantee for lending an
increased
working
capital
loan
34 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
Influence of External Factors
One of the greatest challenges
before the industry today is increasing
labour productivity. National sample
support. In such cases supports may
be given.
Professionalismabundantly lacking
Provision of subsidy to encourage
an investment and later withdrawing
it after the plant became productive is
damaging the existence of the unit. In
such cases where policy changes
cannot wait shall be a onetime
compensation.
The concept of Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) was introduced
as per the recommendation by the
Arjun Sen Gupta Committee during
1987-88 to ensure clarity in the
functioning of CPSEs and balance
between
accountability
and
autonomy for better results.. If the MOU
system could be revamped to critically
address the vital operating parameters
having a high incidence of economic
significance, many of the presently
sick units will start breathing air and
essential support for growth may be
extended after careful scrutiny and
assessment of its sustainability.
Often, units which are repairable
will get damaged beyond repairs due
to the long wait for the approval of
restructuring campaign from the
government. As a result, managements
shall decide to close activities in loss
making areas. Disposal of unwanted
assets shall be taken up as a priority
agenda in the restructuring process.
Revaluation of assets, prime location
property etc may help to access more
bank supports. High cost non-critical
manpower areas may be identified to
see if such services can be outsourced.
Privatise or perish?
The first generation economic
reforms since 1992 are aimed at the
change
over
from
state
led
development
to
market
led
one.Contrary to the expectations of the
proponents
of
private
capital,
Government
intervention
became
essential in overcoming collapses that
could
have
shaken
the
very
foundations of their financial systems
even in developed countries.
Investment bank Bear Stearns Cos
America's fifth-largest investment bank
and the one hit hardest by the subprime mortgage mess were bailed out
Public expenditure on
wanted projects is
the best practical way
of increasing demand
and creating
employment.
Interventions of
national governments
across the world
under free market as
well as socialist
regimes shall serve as
eye-opener to all.
by the Federal Government and JP
Morgan through extension of loans.
Slowdown and its aftermath
Economic slowdown has engulfed
both
the
developed
and
the
developing world. The real economy
is facing one of its toughest periods on
record, with the IMF predicting that
advanced economies will contract for
the first time in 60 years, causing the
number of unemployed to rise by eight
million across the OECD. In developing
countries, the International Labour
Organisation predicts that the financial
and economic crisis could push more
than 100 million people into poverty.
The crisis brought out the strength
of Indian commercial banking system
in the public sector which had
adequate risk management practices
unlike its counterparts in the
developed countries.
Massive public spending in
infrastructural projects and providing
liquidity in the financial system to
continue economic activity are
important in creating and sustaining
jobs.
The
Central
Government
responded on an initiative with three
fiscal stimulus packages in success.
Public expenditure on wanted projects
is the best practical way of increasing
demand and creating employment.
Interventions of national governments
across the world under free market as
well as socialist regimes shall serve as
eye-opener to all.
The current national economic
scenario demands that the public
sector enterprises survive and grow
withstanding the present economic
onslaught. As signs of recovery are
sighted in several spheres, the union
government shall redefine its strategies
to strengthen it by stabilising and
promoting public sector intervention
in the core and strategic sectors. In
short it shall not vouch what the
second generation reformists uphold
and thereby pave way for stagnation,
disintegration and collapse of national
institutions and public enterprises. 
The Writer is
Government of Kerala
Special
November 2009
Secretary,
KERALA CALLING
35
AWARD
Geetha S Perumon
Honour
Sky High
N
obel Prize is the most prestigious
annual award given globally for
meritorious
service
and
contributions in six areas, namely
peace, literature, medicine, physics,
chemistry and economics. The award
was set up in 1900 under the will of
Alfred Nobel and the award amount is
drawn from the Nobel Foundation. From
1901 onwards, the award was given only
to five subjects. But later as in 1967 the
award for economics was instituted by
Rikch Bank.
The prizes are presented in Stockholm
and Oslo on December 10, the anniversary
of Nobel’s death. The prize money vary from
year to year. The Royal Swedish Academy of
Sciences in Stockholm chooses the Physics,
Chemistry and Economics winner. The Nobel
Assembly at the Karolivska Institute in
Stockholm awards the prize for medicine. The
Swedish Academy in Stockholm awards the
prize for literature. The Norwegian Nobel
Committee elected by the Norwegian
parliament, starting the peace prize.
Nobel Prizes for 2009 were announced
by the Swedish Academy on separate
days from October five to 12. US
President Barrack Obama as the
surprise winner of 2009 Nobel Peace
Prize for his ‘extraordinary’ efforts
wins the award to strengthen
international diplomacy. The prize
is more of a catalyst for positive
change rather than recognizing any
achievement. Obama has held
36 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
ideas on nuclear disarmament and has
advocated dialogue with Iran, North
Korea and even Myanmar. He has put
emphasis on the need for a just
resolution of the Palestinian – Israeli
dispute based on mutual recognition
of the inalienable rights of both
peoples to security and sovereignty.
The peace prize will increase Obama’s
domestic bargaining power and
simultaneously make it hard for him
to abandon the course he has set. The
high level assertion of faith put in
Obama’s sincerity and capability by
the Nobel Committee should make it
easier for him to take lead diplomatic
initiatives in West Asia and elsewhere.
Herta Muller, a member of
Ramania’s ethnic German minority
won the 2009 Nobel Prize in literature.
Ms. Muller was honoured for work that
‘with the concentration of poetry and
the frankness of prose, depicts the
landscape of the dispossessed.” Ms.
Muller made her debut in 1982 with a
collection of short stories titled
Niederungen. It depicted the harsh life
in a small, German-speaking village in
Romania. It was censored by the
Communist Government. Her sensitive
and insightful work reflects life under
the rule of Ceausescu, who was
overthrown and executed in 1989. She
left Romania with the husband Rihard
Wagner in 1987 and new lives and
works in Berlin. Ms. Muller is the 12th
woman to win the literature prize.
Nobel prize in Physiology or
Medicine is awarded to three scientists.
Australian-born Rtizabeth Blackburn,
Brithis-born Jack Szostak and Card
Greider for recealing the existence and
nature of telomerase, an enzyme which
helps prevent the fraying of
chromosomes that underlies ageing
and cancer.
Telomeres are a minute yet vital
factor in ageing. They are like a
nubby, protective cap, filling on
the ends of the strands of DNA
that
are
packed
into
chromosomes. If telomeres
become worn, cells age. But if
telomerase levels are high, the
telomere length is maintained,
and cellular ageing is broken.
A small number of rare but very
destructive diseases, including a form
of severe anaemia, are linked to
defective telomerase, resulting in
damaged cells. Many experts initially
speculated that ageing could be
pinned to telomere shortening but the
process that emerged as something
that encompasses different factors as
well as telomeres. The trio have added
a
new
dimension
to
our
understanding of the cell and shed
light on disease mechanisms. Besides,
they stimulated the development of
potential new therapies.
Three scientists shared the Nobel
Prize in Physics. Charles Kao, a
shanghai-born British American, won
half the prize for a discovery that led
to a break-through in fibre optics.
Willard Boyle, a Canadian-American
and George Smith of the US shared the
other half for inventing the first
successful imaging technology using
a digital sensor.
Indian or of Indian origin to get the
award hails from the temple town of
Chidambaram
in
Tamil
Nadu.
Currently he is a senior scientist and
group leader at the structural studies
division of the MRC laboratory of
Molecular Biology in Cambridge,
England.
Americans Elinor Qstrom and
Oliver Williamson won the Nobel
Economics Prize for their analysis of
Charls K. Kao was cited for
discovering how to transmit light
signals over long distances through
glass fibres as thin as human hair. His
1966 breakthrough led to the creation
of modern fibre optic communication
networks that carry voice, video and
high-speed internet data around the
world.
Boyle and Smith were honoured
for inventing the eye of the digital
camera, a sensor able to transform light
into a large number of pixels, the tiny
points of colour that are the building
blocks of every digital image. Their
charge-coupled device is found today
in devices ranging from the cheapest
point – and- shoot digital camera to
robotic medical instruments equipped
with video cameras that let surgeons
perform delicate operations.
Indian-American
Vekkataraman
Ramakrishnan,
American
Thomas
Steitz and Israeli Adayonath won the
Nobel Prize for Chemistry for their
path-breaking work on mapping the
ribosome, the cell mechanism that
makes proteins. All three have used a
method called x-ray crystallography to
map the position for each and every
one of the hundreds of thousands of
atoms that make up the ribosome. An
elated Ramakrishnan, the seventh
economic governance – the rulers by
which people exercise authority in
companies and economic systems.
Qstrom, the first woman to win the
Economics Nobel since it was
founded and the fifth woman to win a
Nobel award this year – a record for
the prestigious honours. Qstrom
demonstrated how common resources
could be successfully managed by
groups using it. She concludes that the
outcomes are, more often than not;
better than predicted by standard
theories.
Oliver Williamson was selected for
his studies on how organisations are
structured and how that affects the
cost of doing business. Organisations
will play a more prominent role in the
study of economic activity in the near
future. When Corporations fail to
deliver efficiency gains, their existence
will be called din question, large
corporations may, of course, abuse their
power. It is better to regulate such
behaviours directly rather than with
policies that restrict the size of
corporations.
The research of Americans showed
that economic analysis could shed
light on most forms of social
organisation. 
The writer is a science journalist.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
37
SOCIETY
Dr K Madhavan Kutty
T
he first Medical College in Kerala was started in
Thiruvananthapuram in 1951. The controversy as to
whether teachers in the Medical College should be
allowed private practice or not was also started then. .
interaction between the teachers and
the students so that academic
excellence could be fostered.
The concept of medical teaching
Medical teaching and
commercialism
It is an accepted principle the world over, that the
professors of medical colleges should be full time
academicians, who should devote their time and energy
solely for teaching and research. All the great masters of
the medical profession like Sir William Osler. Alfred
Newton Richards, Sir Alexander Fleming, Lord Lister, Sir
Russel Brain, Dr. A. Lakshmana Swamy Mudaliar, Dr. B.C.
Roy, Dr. V.C. Mehta and a host of other belonged to this
genre. The Medical Colleges in Kerala were all designed
as Campus Colleges (most of the Medical Colleges then
in existence were not Campus Colleges) to facilitate
The above noble concept was
destroyed in the very beginning in
Kerala. The minimum working hours of
any full time government is eight
hours, with lunch and tea breaks
throughout India. This was deliberately
reduced to four hours, and this
unwritten (and unknown) rule was
wrested by the Medical teachers by
their political clout. The rest of the time
except for sleeping hours, were used
Medical Teaching
Recaptured
It is an accepted principle the world over, that the
professors of medical colleges should be full time
academicians, who should devote their time and energy
solely for teaching and research.
38 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
by some of the Medical teachers for
private practice which was only a
euphemism for commercial practice
with issue of tokens and collection of
fees from patients. It was argued that
they were doing service to the poor
people by giving them specialised
private help for small sums, where as
in fact people used to go to these
doctors only because they could get
the facilities of the hospitals like
laboratory tests, x-ray and scanning
and surgical procedures by giving
money to doctors which was indeed
a type of bribery.
The success of political will
This illogical system was allowed
to exist, for the past 52 years. It is a great
sense of relief that the Chief Minister
V.S. Achuthanandan and the Health
Minister P.K. Sreemathi have achieved
this unique distinction and they
deserve our congratulations. The main
objection to this was that the
emoluments given to the doctors were
insufficient. This was a rather tricky
problem and the bold step to
spend Rs.100 crores per year
on this was indeed a very
welcome step.
Pay-clinics
One of the two problems raised
today are that middle class patients
who are not able to stand in long
queues and spend a whole day used
to buy their treatment at cheap rates
from Medical College doctors and this
is now not possible. It must be
remembered that they were poaching
into the facilities for the poor.
Nevertheless if there is a problem, it
can be solved by starting pay-clinics
in the Medical College hospitals- in the
evening. Here the patients can be
treated on very low charges and those
doctors who are interested may take
up these assignments. The amount
collected may be divided between the
doctors, associates and the hospital
which can use it for its own
development. This will give an
allowance for those who would
like to earn it. But it will of
course not be tax-free like
private practice.
society are not able to do so. This can
be solved by introducing the honorary
system which was in existence in the
old Madras State which comprised
three -fourths of South India. The
Honorary doctors were given all the
privileges in the Medical College like
wards, lab facilities, instrumentation,
assistants, nursing staff etc. The only
thing was that they were not paid
anything. Most of the doctors of earlier
generations, mentioned earlier, all over
the world including Chennai were
honorary doctors. You cannot have the
cake and eat it too. Various proposals
for both the honorary system and payclinics are available with the
government.
A pay of rupees one lakh per
month appears very meagre for the
present-day medical teachers. But for
a medical teacher who joined service
on one hundred and twenty five
rupees a month, and retired on
Rs.1800/- after working for 32 years
(including eight years as Principal of
four Medical Colleges), it is under
stable. Prices have not increased that
much and with quarters in the campus
one can lead a comfortable life with
these emoluments. 
The writer is former medical education
director.
The honorary system
The second problem is
that doctors who want to
interact with the
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
39
Madhu Eravankara
FILMREVIEW
T
he authentic recreation of history is not
an easy mission, especially if it is done on a
purely realistic level. This was the major
challenge for the veteran scriptwriter M.T
Vasudevan Nair and the director Hariharan
in executing the life story of Veera
Keralavarma Pazhassiraja and the task
stands accomplished. A spectacular film
without the usual addendum of commercial
elements, Pazhassiraja rekindles the
patriotism and honour of each and every
Indian heralding a new landscape to our
much-debated struggle for independence.
Historians do still believe that the first
uprising against the British in India occurred
in 1857.But Pazhassi’s struggle reveals that
even as early as 1795, there was a patriotic
King who led his men against the British for
independence and social justice for the
people. Hariharan’s Pazhassiraja is to be
treated as a noble attempt to find a space
for this great warrior in the forgotten pages
of our history.
Pazhassiraja is indeed a big production,
which Malayalam film industry could never
dream
off.
The
organisation
and
implementation of each and every shot
needs special heed and attention. The sets,
properties, artistes, extras all cost a lot. A very
stable producer, who has concern only
about the perfection of the shots, is also a
prime requirement of such a big budgeted
project.
Undoubtedly Keralavarma Pazhassiraja
is a living legend in the history of Kerala.
Pazhassiraja belonged to the Kottayam
dynasty of Kannoor. Malabar of the times
was weakened by the attacks of Hiderali and
later Tipu Sultan. So the Kings of Malabar,
including Pazhassiraja, were forced to
support British to fight against Tipu in return
of the offer made by East India Company in
1789 to grant freedom to Malabar. Tipu was
eventually defeated and according to the
agreement of Srirangapatanam in 1792,
Malabar was annexed to Brtish Colony. But
the Company neglected their earlier offer,
40 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
Pazhassiraja
Remake of
History
and in the case of Kottayam, the right
to collect tax was taken away from
Pazhassiraja and given to his uncle and
enemy, the King of Kurumpranattu. The
film Pazhassiraja opens with this
historical background and depicts the
following events in the chronological
order.
In 1795, Pazhassiraja stopped the
tax collection of Kottayam challenging
the Company.
In 1796, the troup led by Gordon
attacked Pazhassi’s Palace and
plundered it. Pazhassi moved to
Wayanad and engaged in guerilla war
with the help of Kurichiya tribes.
Company had no option but to settle
with Pazhassiraja. He returned to his
land but the good days did not last
long. Pazhassiraja had again a tough
time with British and he declared
unconditional war with the Company.
Severe wars were fought between
Pazhassiraja and British. Heavy
damages were caused on the sides of
British and they were forced to sign a
treaty with Pazhassiraja in the
presence of Governor Jonathan
Dunken with the King of Chirackal
as a mediator. As Tipu was killed in
1799, Company wanted to annex
Wayanad to their territory, which was
opposed by Pazhassiraja as it was part
of Kottayam. And this led to war again.
Pazhassi fought bravely claiming a few
victories. The hanging of his aide
Kannavathu Sankaran Nambiar was a
great blow to Pazhassi. But he never
gave up. He had all the supports of the
Nair and Kurichya forces. The new
organised attack under the leadership
of Thalassery sub collector Thomas
Harvi Baber in 1804 gave a new
dimension to the war . He sought the
support of the selfish traitors of the
land too. The Kurichya leader Thalackal
Chanthu was caught and hanged with
the help of these traitors. Pazhassi was
cornered in the forest. But he fought
bravely and was shot dead by the
British in 1805.But Baber was decent
enough to give a honoured treatment
to Pazhassi’s deadbody.
History is truth and the depiction
of the absolute truth alone does not
make a film. The fictional elements,
especially the family drama, added by
the scriptwriter M.T make the film
impressive. Keralavarma Pazhassiraja is
the protagonist of the film and all the
characters centres around him. His
transactions with each and every
characters get importance and
credibility because of the magical
scripting of M.T. Pazhassi’s interactions
with his wife Kaitheri Makkam, elder
sister, uncle, army chief Edachena
Kunkan, army lieutenant Kaitheri
Ambu, Kurichya leader Thalackal
Chantu, the brave Kurichya girl Neeli
and a host of others find visual
expressions in subtle frames in M.Ts
script.
Even though M.T has strictly
followed the historical path, the
humane writer in him has tried to
explore the human sentiments.
Pazhassiraja’s romantic meetings with
his lovely wife Kaitheri Makkam, his
concern over her when she was taking
rest after the abortion, his care to his
wife when she was with him in the
forest are fine instances of M.T’s
reading between the lines. Thalackal
Chanthu’s intimate moments with
Neeli are also well explored. The ardent
relationship of the sub-collector Baber
and his love Dora are beautifully dealt
with. When Baber and his love Dora
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
41
were caught by Pazhassi’s force
accidentally, Pazhassiraja treated them
as guests. It is paradoxical that
Pazhassiraja was shot dead by the
force led by the same Baber ! In fact,
Dora adored the brave Pazhassi. She
could not withstand the atrocities of
the British towards Pazhassi’s men and
left Baber forever.
Perfect casting is the unique
blessing of the film Pazhassiraja.. As a
compassionate King, brave warrior,
unconditional freedom fighter, lovable
and caring husband, younger brother,
and an ordinary simple man who
place himself as equal to his subjects,
Mammotty’s performance is brilliant
and remarkable. Saratkumar with his
well-composed posture has made the
42 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
army
chief
Edachena
Kunkan
immortal. Manoj K.Jayan as Thalackal
Chantu
made
an
unforgettable
appearance. Kaniha as
Kaitheri
Makkam
makes
a
dazzling
performance, especially in the
romantic
song
sequence
with
Mammootty. But Padmapriya’s Neeli
outweighs all the female characters
with her terrible presence. She
performs as a man in her fighting
sequence. Other artistes like Suresh
Krishna, Jagathy Sreekumar, Lalu Alex,
Devan, Hari, Linta, Urmila Unni all
mark their notable presence.
The lyrics by O.N.V. Kurup, Girish
Puthencheri and Kanesh Punoor
tuned to the musical magic of Ilayaraja
are destined to become hits of the year.
Oscar winning Rasool Pookkutty’s
creative sound design provides an
unusual facet to the film. The
wonderful Rajesh Dewan makes the
fighting sequences mind-blowing but
natural. The outstanding cameraman
Ramnath Shetty magnificently did the
difficult chore of visualising the minds
of the scriptwriter and the director.
Sreekar Prasad’s inimitable work as an
editor is in tune with the wild
imagination of the director. The
recreation of the life and times of
Pazhassiraja has turned to be
incredible.
The
projection
of
Pazhassiraja as an Indian film may be
attributed to its technical excellence
coupled with directorial master
craftsmanship. 
MEMOIR
K S Sailendran
Adoor
Bhavani
A genuine life in screen
A
door Bhavani’s contributions are
enough to fill a page in the history of
Malayalam Film. She passed away at
the age of 85, leaving behind around
half a thousand living characters. She
will be remembered for Chakki
Maraikkathi, her role in Chemmeen.
Excellent
character
analysation
capability helped her to become the
role. She was not acting but living on
those characters.
Thikkurissi Sukumaran Nair found
out the well-graced actor in Bhavani
when she came to shooting locations
accompanying her younger sister
42 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
Adoor Pankajam. He introduced Adoor
Bhavani to filmdom with the film
Sheriyo Thetto, released in late 40s.
It was the dramas of KPAC that
molded the actor in Bhavani.
Mooladhanam,
Aswamedham,
Thulaabhaaram, Yudhakaandam were
some of the great hits of KPAC where
Bhavani played major roles. She was
invited to the film Moodupadam of
Chandrathaara
Productions
when
doing leading roles in KPAC dramas.
After Moodupadam, she slowly gained
ground in the film industry.
She had done brilliant roles in films
like
Mudiyanaaya
Puthran,
Thulaabhaaram,
Kallichellamma,
Anubhavangal Paalichakal, Vazhvey
Maayam,
Kadalpaalam,
Kottayam
kunjachan,
Hitler,
Oru
CBI
Diarykkurippu … The list winds up
with Nerariyaan CBI. She showed out
of the common skill in acting. She was
at her best in Chemmeen. Bhavani won
State film award for the second best
actress in 1969 for the extraordinary
performance in both Kallichellamma
and Kadalpaalam. Kerala sangeetha
Nataka Academy honoured her in
2008 for her overall contribution to
theatre and drama. She was also
awarded by Mathrubhumi -Medimix in
2002 with Chalachitra Saparya award.
In the 1980s she started a
professional drama theatre, Maatha.
But it went pieces and brought much
financial strain to her. To make the
grade she started acting again in films.
Adoor Bhavani was bed ridden for
many years with age related ailments.
Minister for Culture M.A.Baby called
on Adoor Bhavani and Pankajam at
hospital January last year to present
them a checque of 25,000 each
towards medical relief. She was not an
actor who blew her own trumpet or
otherwise worked for personnel fame.
She was out of elbows at her last days.
When she felt that the sands are
running out, expressed the wish to
meet her co artistes, but that wish went
in vain. No matter the cosideraton of
others, as she was an actor above
average, the memory will remain in the
mind of film lovers for a long time. 
The writer is Assistant Editor, Janapatham
ETHNICFOOD
Indu narayan
Taste the Variety
Jackfruit
Neyyappam
Colocasia Stem Vada
Colocasian stem-2 cups, cooked well
Potato- one cup, boiled and mashed
Green gram dal- one cup, cooked and
mashed | Bread slices- 2 , soaked in
water and squeezed | Green chillies- 3,
minced | Coriander leaves- one tbsp
chopped fine | Rice flour- one tbsp
Cumin seed powder- one tsp
Coriander powder- one tbsp
For the covering: gram flour- one cup
Rice flour – one tbsp
Turmeric powder- a pinch
Red chilli powder- ¼ tsp
Salt to taste
Squeeze out the water from the
colocasia stem and mash with the
potatoes, green gram dal. Bread, cumin
seed powder, coriander leaves, rice
flour, green chillies and salt. Mix well
and make smell balls. Make a batter of
the covering ingredients. Dip the balls
in the batter and deep fry till golden
brown. Serve hot with coconut-green
chilli chutney.
Tapioca
Bonda
Tapioca one kg | Onions- ¼ kg
| Green chillies- 5 | Ginger- half inch
piece | A handful of coriander leaves
| Lemon juice –one tsp | Salt to taste
| Oil for frying
For the batter: Gram flour- 1 ½ cup
| Rice flour- half cup | Hot oil- 2 tsp
for mixing | Chilli powder- half tsp
| Turmeric powder- half tsp
Seasoning : oil- 4 tbsp | Turmeric
powder, mustard seeds- hlf tsp each
| Curry leaves- 2 sprigs
Cook tapioca and into small pieces.
Chop onion, ginger, green chillies and
coriander leaves. Heat the oil and add
Coconut-green
Chilli Chutney
grated coconut- 2 cups, green chilli- 4 No.s
ginger- one inch piece, salt to taste
curry leaves- a sprig
grind these ingredients well.
jackfruit- 25 (without seeds)
| coconut grated- half | rice 1 ½ cups
(soaked 2 hours) | jaggery- 150 gm
| cardamom-4-5 | ghee for frying
Grind rice with coconut. Add
jaggery and jackfruit and grind
further to a fine paste. Add
cardamom powder and enough
water to get a dropping consistency.
Heat ghee in an appakkara and
pour a table spoonful of batter to
the space provided in the
appakkara and cook on slow fire.
Appam will turn golden brown.
Cook the other also. Transfer to a
plate.
the mustard seeds and curry leaves.
When it splutters add onion, ginger
and coriander leaves. Fry until the
onions are brown. Stir by adding
turmeric and chilli powder. Stir in the
tapioca, salt and the coriander. Remove
from fire, cool and add the lemon juice
and mix. Divide the tapioca mixture
into balls and set aside.
Mix all the batter ingredients together
in a large bowl and gradually add one
cup of water. Beat thoroughly to make
the batter light. Gradually add an
additional 1-1 ½ cups of water and mix
thoroughly until the batter is of a
coating consistency. Dip the tapioca
balls in this and deep fry to a golden
brown.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
43
S Radhakrishnan
Mount Kilimanjaro's
Glaciers Could Soon Vanish
Ring
Around
Solar
System
NASA scientists have
discovered a mysterious
ribbon around the solar
system-a stripe made of
hydrogen-that defies all
current expectations
about what the edge of
the solar system might
look like.
NASA has termed this
discovery as a big
moment for the scientific
community. "We thought
we knew everything
about everything, and it
turned out that there
were unknown
unknowns."
Our solar system is
encased in a sort of
protective layer called
the heliosphere, which
shields us from harmful
cosmic radiation. The
heliosphere is made up of
particles blown through
space by solar winds-if
you can imagine the sun
This is the artist's
view of an
Interstellar Boundary
Explorer spacecraft.
blowing a giant bubble
around the planets, you'll
have a pretty good idea
of what it's like. Last
year, NASA launched the
Interstellar Boundary
Explorer Mission, or IBEX,
which was designed to
take a picture of the
heliosphere. And
according to Fisher, that
picture did not conform
to expectations.
The sun goes through
periods of intense
magnetic activity known
as the solar cycle. We see
that activity from Earth
as sunspots, and it
definitely has an effect
on the heliosphere. Since
images from IBEX take
about six months to
compose, that means the
next picture we see of
the mystery stripe may
be considerably different
from the first one.
Recent field studies
conducted atop Tanzania’s
Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa
show that ice loss is
proceeding apace on the
African peak: More than a
quarter of the ice cover
present in the year 2000
had disappeared by late
2007, says Lonnie
year, the researchers
report.
Not only are the ice masses
of Kilimanjaro receding
farther up the peak,
they’re thinning
considerably — a trend
detectable only by
improved ground
Thompson, a glaciologist at
Ohio State University’s
Byrd Polar Research Centre
in Columbus.
From 1912 to 1953, ice
coverage declined by 1.1
percent per year. Between
1953 and 1989, the annual
rate of ice loss jumped to
1.4 percent. From 1989 to
the most recent survey in
2007, the ice-covered area
dropped, on average, a
whopping 2.4 percent per
observations made in
recent years. As
Kilimanjaro’s glaciers thin,
retreat and break into
smaller pieces, the dark
rocks surrounding the
remaining ice will absorb
more sunlight and heat up,
accelerating the melting
trend. At current rates of
melting, permanent ice
fields will disappear from
Kilimanjaro by 2022, the
researchers estimate.
Junk Food Creates Addicts
Junk food elicits addictive behavior in rats similar to the behaviours
of rats addicted to heroin, a new study finds. Pleasure centres in the
brains of rats addicted to high-fat, high-calorie diets became less
responsive, making the rats consume more and more food. The
results may help explain the changes in the brain that lead people to
overeat.
After just five days on the junk food diet, rats showed “profound
reductions” in the sensitivity of their brains’ pleasure centres,
suggesting that the animals quickly became habituated to the food.
As a result, the rats ate more food to get the same amount of
pleasure. Just as heroin addicts require more and more of the drug
to feel good, rats needed more and more of the junk food.
44 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
HORIZONS
H1N1 Flu Riskier for the Old
17,000 Species Face Extinction
The monitor lizard in the
above picture is one of
the species that could
soon disappear in the
wild.
A rare Panamanian tree
frog, a rodent from
Madagascar and two
lizards found only in the
Philippines are among
over 17,000 species
threatened with
extinction, a leading
environmental group said
recently.
The Rabb's fringe-limbed
tree frog, only
discovered four years
ago, is one of 1,895
amphibian species that
could soon disappear
from the wild because of
deforestation and
infection, the
International Union for
Conservation of Nature
said.
The Switzerland-based
group surveyed 47,677
animals and plants for
this year's "Red List" of
endangered species,
determining that 17,291
of them are at risk of
extinction.
More than one in five of
all known mammals, over
a quarter of reptiles and
70 percent of plants are
under threat, according
to the survey, which
featured over 2,800 new
species compared with
2008.
While H1N1 infection results in mild or moderate disease
in most patients — indeed, the most severe cases
account for a small proportion of overall infections — a
subset of patients are harder hit, the data shows. And in
those patients, the disease can often quickly become
life-threatening.
Although the rate of hospitalisation was highest among
infants under two months old, the rate of death was
highest in patients over age 50; H1N1 was least likely to
turn fatal in patients under age 17. Yet with all the
focus in the media on the vulnerability of younger
patients to infection, the elderly may have been
somewhat dangerously overlooked. Although older
patients may not be at high risk
of getting infected in the first
place their risk of death from the
disease may be higher than that
of younger patients, due
primarily to their higher rates of
underlying conditions, such as
heart disease, reduced lung
function, diabetes and
emphysema.
BPA Safer Than
Contraceptives
The plastic additive bisphenol A (BPA) may not
be so bad after all, according to results from a
new animal study.
Some earlier research in rodents suggested BPA,
which is found in polycarbonate plastics, could
act like the hormone estrogen. Those studies
found that exposure to even tiny amounts of
BPA could cause abnormal sexual development.
The latest work, published in the journal
Toxicological Sciences, reached a very different
conclusion.
Researchers fed pregnant rats small amounts of
either BPA or an oral contraceptive and then
studied their female offspring.
Female rats born to mothers who ingested the
oral contraceptive had genital malformations,
reduced fertility, and exhibited some male-like
behaviours.
But the scientists found no such effects from
BPA, even when the exposure was 4,000 times
greater than what most people experience.
Previous studies that found little effect from
BPA have been criticised because they were
funded by industry. This study, though, was
funded and conducted by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
Smos satellite
unfurls
instrument
The Smos spacecraft launched
recently to study the Earth’s
water cycle has passed a key
mission milestone.
The European Space Agency
(Esa) satellite has successfully
unpacked the three-armed
antenna it will use to acquire
its data. Smos will investigate
the hydrological cycle by
measuring changes in soil
moisture and ocean salinity.
It will do this by observing
variations in the natural
microwave emission coming
up off the planet’s surface.
The data is expected to have
wide uses but should improve
weather forecasts and
warnings of extreme events,
such as floods.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
45
IBN award to
Chief Minister
THE AWARD for the best State,
instituted by IBN and Outlook,
was presented to C. Divakaran by
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar
at a function in New Delhi.
Divakaran received the award on
behalf of the government. Kerala
won five of the 12 awards for its
performance in various sectors,
including education, health,
security, law and order, drinking
water supply, women
empowerment, labour and
development of infrastructure
facilities. Five States were
selected for the awards.
C. Divakaran handed over the
mementos to Chief Minister at a
function held at. Chief Minister’s
chamber in the presence of Law
Minister M. Vijayakumar.
The states were classified as big
and small for the selection. Delhi,
Goa, Sikkim, Manipur, Meghalaya,
Tripura, Nagaland and Jammu and
Kashmir were classified as small
States and others including,
Kerala, were billed as big States.
The jury for selecting the states
comprised the former Reserve
Bank of India Governor Bimal
Jalan, Federation of Indian
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry secretary-general Amit
Mitra, the former Securities and
Exchange Board of India chairman
M. Damodaran, the former Indian
Institute of Management,
Ahmedabad, director Bakul H.
Dholakia, writer and social
activist Gurcharan Das, and
Professor in diplomatic studies
Pushpesh K. Pant.
46 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
Graft a past at Amaravila
check-post also
ADDRESSING an induction training
programme for a fresh batch of
officers meant to be posted at the
Amaravila check-post, Finance
Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has
announced a major crackdown on
corruption at check-posts in the
State. The Minister declared the
Amaravila check-post a corruptionfree one and said the same
principles would apply to the checkposts at Uchakkada, Piriyankood,
Kanjampizhinji and Kallikkadu.
The government wished to clear the
atmosphere of corruption that
prevailed in major check-posts in
the State and to institutionalise a
corruption-free and efficient
management system at check-posts.
This is the follow up of the measures
taken at the Walayar and
Manjeswaram check-posts where
stern measures had been taken to
put an end to corruption.
The Minister said the State was
faced with a likely shortfall of
Rs.1,000 crore in tax revenue during
the current year from the budget
estimates on account of the
economic slowdown. The
government has proposed to collect
Rs.12,734 crore in tax revenue
during the current year. Appropriate
reform measures were being
implemented in the tax collection
mechanism to achieve this goal the
Minister said.
State for Sabarimala highway
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT is asked to submit a proposal to the
Union Forest and Environment Ministry to secure clearance for constructing
the Sabarimala highway through forests. Addressing a meeting in
Thiruvananthapuram to review the arrangements being made by various
departments for the forthcoming Sabarimala season, Chief Minister V.S.
Achuthanandan has directed the PWD to forward through the Forest
Department the proposal for constructing the Achencoil-Chittar-Pampa
road. Nearly 1.6 km of the highway passes through forests and hence,
clearance of the Union Environment Ministry is necessary.
IN&
AROUND
Land for 15,000
tribal families
MINISTER for Welfare of
Backward and Scheduled
Communities A.K. Balan has said
that the government will
provide land to around 15,000
tribal families under the
Scheduled Tribes and Other
Traditional Forest Dwellers
(Recognition of Forest Rights)
Act 2006 during the current
year. 97,759 acres are needed
for distribution to the Adivasis
and the government has
received 33,173 applications. A
decision will be taken on at
least half of these applications
this year.
Another BSF battalion comes Kerala
HOME MINISTER Kodiyeri
Balakrishnan has informed that the
Central Government has decided in
principle to set up a second Border
Security Force battalion in North
Malabar.
This has been announced by the
Minister while addressing a function
held at the Secretariat, for handing
over the records of the land
allocated for a BSF reserve battalion
in the State. Discussions with Union
Minister of State for Home
Mullapally Ramachandran for
forming the second battalion in
North Malabar has already taken.
Land scarcity is the major obstacle
for such ventures. The State
government will take the initiative
in identifying land for the battalion.
The second battalion in the State
will help more Keralites in BSF to
get an opportunity to work in their
home State. Food and Civil Supplies
Minister C. Divakaran handed over
the documents to BSF DIG Ravi
Punnoth. K.P. Rajendran, Minister
for Revenue, attended.
Survey is on under the
‘Bhoomikeralam’ scheme in
Kollam, Idukki, Malappuram,
Palakkad, Wayanad, Kozhikode
and Kannur districts. It should be
possible to begin distribution of
land in these districts without
further delay. The effort is to
provide at least one acre to each
Adivasi family. The government
will construct houses costing a
maximum of Rs.1.25 lakh under
the EMS Housing Scheme for each
of these families.
The Minister said steps would also
be taken to make potable water
available in all tribal colonies. As
many as 1,016 colonies are yet to
get potable water. Efforts are on
to supply water to all these
colonies by getting the Kerala
Water Authority (KWA) to
coordinate the activities of
various connected departments.
November 2009
KERALA CALLING
47
KERALA
POSITIVE
IF A PROJET is to become highly beneficiary to
Health insurance
for 22 lakh poor
families
the public, it should be localised according to
the needs of the society. This is what the State
Government is doing as far as the Centre’s
projects are concerned. This is what we see in
the case of Health Insurance Scheme.
The Kerala Government plans to bring 22 lakh
families at the bottom level of society under
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY). Families
in the APL category also can join the scheme on
paying the insurance premium.The norms, as
envisaged by the Centre, keeps out large sections of the poor from
the purview of the RSBY. Therefore, the State Government would
bear the expenses towards the insurance premium of over 10 lakh
more poor families.
This has been announced by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan
while addressing a national conference on the insurance scheme in
Thiruvananthapuram. 11.79 lakh families in the State, coming
under the BPL norms of the Planning Commission, have already
been covered by the modified RSBY.
Day biggest for the big
Binoy Viswom, Minister for Forest, is feeding an elephant as part of the Gajadinam celebrations held at
Kottoor, Thiruvananthapruam.
48 KERALA CALLING
November 2009
FOCUS
Day biggest for the big
K FOCUS
ERALA
POSITIVE
IF A PROJET is to become highly beneficiary to
the public, it should be localised according to
the needs of the society. This is what the State
Government is doing as far as the Centre’s
projects are concerned. This is what we see in
the case of Health Insurance Scheme.
The Kerala Government plans to bring 22 lakh
families at the bottom level of society under
Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY). Families
in the APL category also can join the scheme on
paying the insurance premium.The norms, as
envisaged by the Centre, keeps out large sections of the poor from
the purview of the RSBY. Therefore, the State Government would
bear the expenses towards the insurance premium of over 10 lakh
more poor families.
This has been announced by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan
while addressing a national conference on the insurance scheme in
Thiruvananthapuram. 11.79 lakh families in the State, coming
the BPL
norms
of the
Planning
Commission,
Binoy Viswom, Minister for Forest, is feeding under
an elephant
as part
of the
Gajadinam
celebrations
heldhave
at already
been covered by the modified RSBY.
Kottoor, Thiruvananthapruam.
Health insurance
for 22 lakh poor
families
48 KERALA CALLING
November 2009