Sharing Pain

Transcription

Sharing Pain

Rehabilitation
The Benevolence of
Sharing Pain
C
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
K. Abdurehman
4
hief
Minister
V.S.
Achuthanandan’s visit to
Kasaragod gave a great relief
to the people facing the
dangerous after-effects of endosulfan, a
pesticide used to spray in cashew
plantations, for more than two decades. It
left trails of death and destruction in many
parts of Kasaragod. Quite obviously then
Achuthanandan’s trip to Kasaragod gave
hope to the families of victims who were
fighting with death and disease. The
affected people welcomed the Chief
Minister and Agricultural Minister
Mullakkara Ratnakaran with hope and
expectation.
The people of the area greeted Chief
Minister’s announcement of Rs.50,000 as
compensation to each family. Affected
people, their families, young and old...
every one assembled at Vani Nagar
Government School, Padre. Chief Minister
mingled freely with them listening to the
grievances and sufferings. He consolded
them in whatever way he could.
It was heart touching to see victims with
all kinds of deformities being brought to
the school by their family members.
According to the studies conducted by
various departments 135 deaths were
reported. Besides the compensation
announced by the Government, a
comprehensive project formulated jointly
by the Health and Agricultural departments
will be implemented. The announcement
of the government that it would not allow
to use poisonous chemicals and fertilizers
in any part of the city came as a big relief to
the people.
The Chief Minister drew a comparison
Cashew plantations are
spread out in eleven
panchayats of Kasaragod
district. These areas
were polluted due to the
air-spraying of
endosulphan. Studies in
the area have revealed
the presence of high
levels of poison in soil
and water. Traces of
poison are also present
in the blood samples of
human beings and
animals.
reported from this area. Earlier it was said
that causes of diseases found here were
genetic in nature. But it proved wrong
when it was found that the affected have
not even remote blood relationship. The
students of Vani Nagar UP school
themselves represent the horrifying story
of the endosulfan tragedy. Majority of the
students are mentally retarded and also
suffering from some kind of physical
handicap.
The writer is District Information Officer,
Kasaragod.
KERALA CALLING
convenor. District Medical Officer and
Social Welfare Officer will be special officers
in the cell. Website will be launched to create
awareness among the public about the
activities and fund requirements of the cell.
The objectives of the cell is to ensure
continuity in treatment, effective
rehabilitation, relief measures and
implementation of income generating
projects. The cell will also compile the
details of the diseases recorded earlier in the
medical camps with PHC records, monitor
September 2006
of endosulphan deaths with the Bhopal
gas tragedy in which hundreds of people
lost their lives. He said the government
would examine the possibility of taking
legal action against the company
manufacturing endosulfan.
The Chief Minister also announced a
project aiming at the treatment and
rehabilitation of the victims. In order to
make the treatment more effective, various
projects would be implemented using both
Rs.50 crore set aside in the budget and Rs.5
lakh aid from the panchayat.
An independent unit “Endosulphan
Victims’ Relief and Remediation Cell” will
be constituted. The cell will function under
the full control of the district panchayat.
District Panchayat President will be the
chairman and District Collector will be the
the treatment and continuity in treatment,
supply visual and hearing aids, impart job
oriented training, set up small scale
industries, distribute food for destitute
families and will execute socio-economic
survey to collect the details of endosulphan
victims not included in the existing list of
victims.
As part of the project, Rs.35 lakhs
would be spent for social welfare activity,
Rs.10 lakhs for survey and Rs.2.5 lakhs
for other purposes. The district panchayat
will also direct the grama and block
panchayats to formulate similar projects.
Cashew plantations are spread out in
eleven panchayats of Kasaragod district.
These areas were polluted due to the airspraying of endosulphan. Studies in the
area have revealed the presence of high levels
of poison in soil and water. Traces of poison
are also present in the blood samples of
both human beings and animals. Owing
to this situation, infants are prone to various
diseases. Mental retardation, physical
handicap and cancer have been widely
5
Festival
It is Onam time again! It is the time when the whole Kerala is calling you
to visit the Kerala, “God’s Own Country”! It is the time
when every Malayalee’s “heart strings become lute” and when all the
notes create music, and all the music leads to ecstasy!
Onam
Musings
Prof. C.G. Ramachandran Nair
A
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
s a festival, Onam is unparalleled in the world. It is celebrated by
all Keralites, wherever they find themselves,— in Kerala, in the
rest of India or in any foreign country. Onam transcends geography!
It also breaks down all artificial barriers of religion, caste, creed,
cult, profession and so on. There is a magical uniqueness about Onam. To
parody Sir Walter Scott, one may indeed sing:
Breathes there the Keralite with soul so dead
That never to himself hath said
-This is my own, my own Onam?
No, there breathes no such Keralite!
6
The Origin of Onam
The origin of this great Indian festival, quintessential to Kerala and
Keralites, is shrouded in history and mystery. According to one legend, the
great Asura king Mahabali once ruled ancient Kerala. During his benign
reign, Kerala was like heaven, flowing with milk and honey. All humans
were equals. There was no dishonesty, no deception anywhere. The gods
became jealous of Kerala which had then rivaled the real heaven. They
pleaded with MahaVishnu to find a solution. The powerful protector God
MahaVishnu took up a human incarnation as Vamana and approached
Mahabali with a request for a dan (gift) of three measures of land. The
generous Asura king at once conceded the request. Thereupon, Vamana
measured Earth with one footstep and Heaven with another. For the third
footstep, there was no space. Then Mahabali offered his own head! Vamana
pushed the generous Mahabali down to the netherworld. But he granted
Mahabali a boon that the king could visit his dear land of Kerala once a year.
The day of Mahabali’s annual visit marks the Onam day. The successors of
his former subjects, the modern-day Malyalees, put up their best
appearances—in dress, gaiety and
generosity- on the Onam day, to impress
their former King that his old land is still
doing well. Satisfied, the King returns to
his netherworld, only to re-visit his dearly
beloved land during the next Onam!
Thiru Onam
Thiru Onam ( The Holy Onam) is
celebrated on the particular day in the
month of Chingom, when the moon finds
itself in the stellar constellation of the star
Onam (Sravanam in Sanskrit). Although
this day witnesses the pinnacle of
celebrations, the actual celebrations start 10
days earlier and continues for about three
more days after the Onam day. This is the
Ona-kkaalam (Onam season). Most
Malyalees wish to come home to Kerala
during this season. This also coincides with
the rice harvest season of Kerala, when rice
fields have their golden rice grains
harvested. There is merriment everywhere.
Although this day
witnesses the pinnacle of
celebrations, the actual
celebrations start 10 days
earlier and continues for
about three more days
after the Onam day. This is
the Ona-kkaalam (Onam
season). Most Malyalees
wish to come home to
Kerala during this season.
It is also the season of bananas. There is
plenty of food everywhere.
Onam games
During Onam, there is also fun and
frolic, through games of many kinds. One
folk poet sings:
panthu kali, pakita kali
an-pillerkanandam
Kannezhuthu mailanchikkuri
Pen-pillerkanandam
The poet says that boys take delight in
ball games and dice games, while girls are
concerned more with cosmetics and beauty
care . This may have been the case in ancient
Kerala; modern boys and girls have other
pastimes too now, as every body knows!
Onam nostalgia
There is no Malayalee, be he a
young person of 25 or a middle aged one
of 45 or an old person of 70 plus, who is
without nostalgic thoughts about the
Onam in his younger days. These nostalgic
KERALA CALLING
Ona Pookkal
Onam is also a festival of flowers. Floral
arrangements ( poo-kkalams) are seen in the
Onam weather
Onam arrives in Kerala at a delightfully
fine season weather-wise, The heavy SouthWest Monsoon rains are just over and the
North-East Monsoon has not yet started.
As the poet sang,
Mazha mari theliyumpol
Thiru Onam namukkellam!
(When the rains are over and the skies
are clear, we all have our Thiru Onam!)
Further, the moon is almost in
opposition to the sun in the Zodiac and so
we would have nights with plenty of
moonshine at night. This is the Ona
Nilavu (Onam Moonshine) ,loved by all
romantic Keralites! (And, aren’t all Keralites
romantic to some extent? In God’s Own
Country, this is natural, isn’t it?)
September 2006
Ona Sadya
Of particular interest to the gourmet is
the feast on the Onam day, the famous
Ona Sadya. It is a traditional Kerala
rijstafel, a feast of rice and curries. The rice
must be of the topmost quality, cooked just
right. The traditional curries include dal(
parippu), ghee, papats, aviyal, olan, kalan,
erisseri, thoran, inchi tayir, mango pickle, lime
pickle, ginger pickle, banana chips, sweet
chips, pachadi and so on, with four or more
different puddings or payasams, etc. To
this list are now-a-days added also sambar,
koottukari, various stews and other curries
of South India. Recently there is also a
tendency to add several North Indian
vegetarian dishes too. To the Malayalee, an
Ona Sadya is something he must perforce
have every year. To the non-Malayalee, it
will be a gastronomic experience of a lifetime!
courtyards of all houses in villages ( and
also in cities where there is enough space!).
The kalams ( which are circular shaped and
cemented with cow dung in olden days)
begin on the Atham day, ten days before
Onam. The number of flower beds ( pookkalams) increase from one on Atham day,
progressively adding one more each day and
reach ten on the Onam day. This “flower
show” is mainly an activity of children. The
children can be seen loitering every where
collecting flowers for the next day! All types
of flowers are used such as thumpa, mukkutti,
otichu kuthi, eetamakki, deepastambham,
nelli as also rose petals, and larger flowers
like lotus and ambal
7
Festival
S. Uma Maheswari
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Who can think of an Onam feast
on plates or dinner sets?
Without banana leaves, there
cannot be any real Ona Sadya!
8
memories, of course, vary from person to
person. My own fond memories include
collecting blue nelli flowers. along with
several friends, from extensive paddy fields,
gorging myself endlessly with ripe bananas,
participating in active physical games like
nadan panthu (games using home made
balls),listening to the panar musicians
singing Onam songs, and so on. I have
enjoyed Onam in Kerala, and have also
taken part in Onam celebrations in other
parts of India. My memories of Onam
celebrated in foreign lands is especially
precious! I remember waiting with other
Malyalees in the midnight before Onam
day once in Abu Dhabi . We were awaiting
the arrival of fresh banana leaves by air cargo
from Kerala. We needed these leaves for
our Onam feast the next day. The
merchant who promised to sell them to us
was in fact giving a running commentary
:Sir, the plane has landed. I will get my
consignment of banana leaves in one hour.
Please wait!”. Indeed the banana leaves
arrived in his shop by 1 A.M. and we had
our requirement satisfied and we were
happy. For, who can think of an Onam
feast on plates or dinner sets? Without
banana leaves, there cannot be any real Ona
Sadya! I remember an Onam celebration
in Germany, when a German lady guest
was eating our Kerala curry, with tears in
her eyes—tears caused by the hot spices—
, but still saying “ How tasty, marvelous!”!
And I remember the Onam feast we once
had in the Indian YMCA in London, when
some London-based Keralites who had not
visited Kerala for several years were still
talking about the “modern Malayalam
poets” like Vallathol! They had not heard
of Ayyappa Panikkar or Katammanitta or
Balachandran Chullikatt! Memories
flood—the grand Ona Sadya in New York
attended by hundreds of POKs (Persons
of Kerala Origin) and so on. But the
sweetest memories are, of course, those of
the Onam in my village in my childhood
years!………….. So, let us all enjoy our
Onam!
I
t is as if the fairy has wielded her magic wand over this tiny strip of land-the
God’s own country. The swelling clouds of monsoon fades, the flowers bloom,
and the streams giggle. Nature and Malayalee are prepared to receive the
legendary King Mahabali on the Thiruvonam day.
What is the legend?
Mahabali’s reign was a period of uninterrupted peace, plenty, and prosperity.
This reign of Nature was brought to close by Vamana the fifth incarnation of Lord
Vishnu-one of the Divine Trinities.
Why?
Mahabali was an Asura King against whom and whose prosperous reign the
Devas entertained jealousy and hatred. They expressed their concern to Lord Vishnu
and requested Him to cripple Mahabali’s increasing popularly. Lord Vishnu accede
to their request and assumed the form of
Vamana and appeared in front of Mahabali.
The King was madly enamored of Vamana’s
glided youth. The King welcomed Him
and was prepared to fulfill His desire.
The boy demanded nothing but
three feet of land. At once, the demand
was
conceded.
Vamana the dwarf,
assumed his real
gigantic figure. He
measured the whole of
the earth. It fell short of
three feet. To compensate the shortage
Onam
thus occurred Vamana trod upon Mahabali
and pushed him to the infernal regions.
However, the popular outcry
consequent upon this event was
so great that the ex-ruler was
eventually allowed to return to
Earth once in a year, which is
celebrated as Thiruvonam.
During the reign of Mahabali,
the whole year round was marked
by pomp and revelry. On his annual visit,
his subjects welcome him
wholeheartedly.
The purpose of Mahabali’s re-visit
to the earth is to see how the country
prospers in his absence. However, in
order to convince him are we not going
too far?
Right from caricaturing Mahabali,
Festival
S. Uma Maheswari
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Who can think of an Onam feast
on plates or dinner sets?
Without banana leaves, there
cannot be any real Ona Sadya!
8
memories, of course, vary from person to
person. My own fond memories include
collecting blue nelli flowers. along with
several friends, from extensive paddy fields,
gorging myself endlessly with ripe bananas,
participating in active physical games like
nadan panthu (games using home made
balls),listening to the panar musicians
singing Onam songs, and so on. I have
enjoyed Onam in Kerala, and have also
taken part in Onam celebrations in other
parts of India. My memories of Onam
celebrated in foreign lands is especially
precious! I remember waiting with other
Malyalees in the midnight before Onam
day once in Abu Dhabi . We were awaiting
the arrival of fresh banana leaves by air cargo
from Kerala. We needed these leaves for
our Onam feast the next day. The
merchant who promised to sell them to us
was in fact giving a running commentary
:Sir, the plane has landed. I will get my
consignment of banana leaves in one hour.
Please wait!”. Indeed the banana leaves
arrived in his shop by 1 A.M. and we had
our requirement satisfied and we were
happy. For, who can think of an Onam
feast on plates or dinner sets? Without
banana leaves, there cannot be any real Ona
Sadya! I remember an Onam celebration
in Germany, when a German lady guest
was eating our Kerala curry, with tears in
her eyes—tears caused by the hot spices—
, but still saying “ How tasty, marvelous!”!
And I remember the Onam feast we once
had in the Indian YMCA in London, when
some London-based Keralites who had not
visited Kerala for several years were still
talking about the “modern Malayalam
poets” like Vallathol! They had not heard
of Ayyappa Panikkar or Katammanitta or
Balachandran Chullikatt! Memories
flood—the grand Ona Sadya in New York
attended by hundreds of POKs (Persons
of Kerala Origin) and so on. But the
sweetest memories are, of course, those of
the Onam in my village in my childhood
years!………….. So, let us all enjoy our
Onam!
I
t is as if the fairy has wielded her magic wand over this tiny strip of land-the
God’s own country. The swelling clouds of monsoon fades, the flowers bloom,
and the streams giggle. Nature and Malayalee are prepared to receive the
legendary King Mahabali on the Thiruvonam day.
What is the legend?
Mahabali’s reign was a period of uninterrupted peace, plenty, and prosperity.
This reign of Nature was brought to close by Vamana the fifth incarnation of Lord
Vishnu-one of the Divine Trinities.
Why?
Mahabali was an Asura King against whom and whose prosperous reign the
Devas entertained jealousy and hatred. They expressed their concern to Lord Vishnu
and requested Him to cripple Mahabali’s increasing popularly. Lord Vishnu accede
to their request and assumed the form of
Vamana and appeared in front of Mahabali.
The King was madly enamored of Vamana’s
glided youth. The King welcomed Him
and was prepared to fulfill His desire.
The boy demanded nothing but
three feet of land. At once, the demand
was
conceded.
Vamana the dwarf,
assumed his real
gigantic figure. He
measured the whole of
the earth. It fell short of
three feet. To compensate the shortage
Onam
thus occurred Vamana trod upon Mahabali
and pushed him to the infernal regions.
However, the popular outcry
consequent upon this event was
so great that the ex-ruler was
eventually allowed to return to
Earth once in a year, which is
celebrated as Thiruvonam.
During the reign of Mahabali,
the whole year round was marked
by pomp and revelry. On his annual visit,
his subjects welcome him
wholeheartedly.
The purpose of Mahabali’s re-visit
to the earth is to see how the country
prospers in his absence. However, in
order to convince him are we not going
too far?
Right from caricaturing Mahabali,
every aspect of celebration of Onam has
totally changed.
“Our attitude toward Mahabali has
changed. Legendary Mahabali is a
handsome King. Today we portray him as
a pot bellied comedy figure and a symbol
to laugh at. His is not a figure to caricature.
It is not fair to ill-treat the guest,” said His
Highness Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda
Varma, the head of the Travancore Royal
in myriad hues. Now pookkalams are
arranged using dahlias and zinnias available
in the market and shrill call of poovili is no
longer heard. Again, how many of us have
the facility of a courtyard? Breaking up of
the joint family and apartment culture a
natural sequel to this are the main reasons.
From the devotional offering at the
courtyard, the Athappoo, has shifted to the
lobbies of posh hotels, which is a clear
in advance and the entire day is set apart
for fun and frolic and to programs dished
out by various channels. For the women it
is also an escape from the hassles of cooking.
******
Onam is also an occasion for the family
get-together. After the feast women ornate
themselves, engaged in swinging mad, and
performed Thiruvathirakali. In addition,
they paid visits to the dear and near ones.
Family.
indication of the changing values.
******
Onam feast had a very bizarre style. For
the old timers it is a delectable trip down
the memory lane. It included 64 items eight
varieties of each of eight dishes. To
accommodate this overwhelming menu
three huge plantain leaves were spread one
below the other. Now it is the age of the
plastic plantain leaf.
Today, the knowledge of these
traditional recipes is acquired from cookery
shows organized by TV channels and from
recipes columns that appear in dailies and
periodicals during Thiruvonam.
On normal days, Malayalee is more
dependent on Pizza corners and fast food
out fits. Catering centers have become so
popular that Malayalees arrange the feast
Now it is age of mobile phones and
internet. Hence e-onam has become
popular. Instead of visiting households, one
can send SMSs, MSMs and e-mails. After
the feast, it is time for the siesta or films in
the mini screen telecast amidst
advertisements.
******
Malayalee was synonymous with
simplicity. There was a time when we
counted every pie before spending. Today
for living in style, he needs more money
and the Malayalee is prepared to spend.
In the case of attire, traditional
Handloom sari is replaced by weaves from
other states of India, like Ikat, Tanchoi,
Balucheri, Chanderi, Tusser, Gadwali,
Kotki, Patola, Sambalpuri, Pochampalli,
Venkatagiri, fine cottons with block prints
then and now
September 2006
KERALA CALLING
*****
Ten days before Thiruvonam, floral
decorations adorn the courtyard. The
formation of the floral carpet had its own
tradition. The culture and spirit of Onam
reflected in the flowers selected for
arranging them.
Thumba the little flower with its pristine
whiteness, the kakkappoo with bluish violet
of the eternal skies, the mukkuthi with the
shades of sandal, the lively red of the
chemparuthi, the ascetic saffron of the thechi
had its own significance in the reverential
act of arranging the pookkalam.
However, these flowers are slowly but
surely vanishing from our courtyard. Cacti,
begonia, and anthuriams now replace the
blossoms that once adorned the floral carpets
9
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Festival
10
and printed silks. For the teenagers the market is flooded
with ultramodern ready costumes, like jeans and denims
lehanga choli, cargo, wide variety of T-shirts, salwarskameez and sherwani-kurthas.
******
Malayalee’s spending spree is not limited to clothes
for which the turn over during Thiruvonam is 500 crores.
Since Manmohanomics, Indian society is exposed to
sweeping changes across the world. The fever of living in
style has quickly conquered us. Besides dress, Hi-fi
products have become a fad. Those who posses them
form a different hierarchy in the society namely the double
elite or the supreme elite. Sensing this the manufacturers
and distributors come with new offers and exchanging
schemes.
To accommodate the products like Home theatre house
needs to be palatial. People are prepared to spend much
on interior decoration. Carved and richly furnished living
rooms, with rugs on the floor, and objects of décor has
become common. To prepare French pizzas, grilled nonvegetarians, pastries, and burgers kitchen has to be ultra
modern with all gadgets including micro-oven. These are
the indicators of the purchasing power of a Malayalee
revealed during the Onam season.
Disregarding the lowering value of the Indian
currency, the salaries of non-professional show wide
disparity. Festival advance, to the government employees
is limited. At the same time, MNCs are offering very high
salaries to the youngsters.
As a consumer, he gets what he intends. The concept
of luxury has changed and so the perception of the people.
It is a pity to see the middle class struggling to fulfil
the desire of acquiring them. For the salaried class buy
now and pay later has become the buzzword. Post Onam
periods are a torrid time for the salary class.
Brightly lit window display beckons. Discounts and
irresistible offers tempt. The credit card holder with less
discipline is sure to land in trouble.
*****
For the women the lure of the yellow metal is a
fascination. They throng the jewellery shops and spend
on the latest brown-polished ornaments and the onegram gold ornaments. With these on, how can one refuse
to look good? Therefore, you need cosmetics.
Men are in no way behind. Louis Philippe, Allen
Solley, Peter England, and Reid & Taylor, are the popular
brands available in the Kerala market. Their campaigns
with enriched visuals, grasping catchwords and jingles
influence the consumer minds.
Every Malayalee wants to perceive the stylish global
changes and emulate them locally. Thus what we celebrate
today is not the traditional Onam but the consumer
Thiruvonam.
Onam
The bountif
Seema Divakaran
O
nce again the popular folk song is heard in Kerala.
Keralites are cherished by the sweet memories of a
period of peace and prosperity in the distant past.
When Maveli, a celebrated emperor of the Asuras
ruled, all men were equal, they were leading a life of happiness
and nobody had any misery – thus goes the song.
Whatever be the truth behind this legend, Onam has for
last several centuries been a grand national harvest festival in
which all sections of the people participate with extreme
jubilation. After heavy rains of ‘Karkadakom’, the sky become
clear blue, the brooks and streams come alive, spitting forth
gentle white foam and the flowers are in full bloom. It is time to
reap, celebrate and rejoice. The harvest festival of Onam
corresponds with the Malayalam new year, ‘Chingam.’
The strength of ‘Edavapathi’ (South West Monsoon)
vanishes, the clouds chill and gloom of Karkadakom retreats and
Chingom breaks in, in coincidence with the lunar asterism. This
is supposed to be the most apt time for the harvest of the crop as
well as for soaring seeds for the next crop.
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Festival
10
and printed silks. For the teenagers the market is flooded
with ultramodern ready costumes, like jeans and denims
lehanga choli, cargo, wide variety of T-shirts, salwarskameez and sherwani-kurthas.
******
Malayalee’s spending spree is not limited to clothes
for which the turn over during Thiruvonam is 500 crores.
Since Manmohanomics, Indian society is exposed to
sweeping changes across the world. The fever of living in
style has quickly conquered us. Besides dress, Hi-fi
products have become a fad. Those who posses them
form a different hierarchy in the society namely the double
elite or the supreme elite. Sensing this the manufacturers
and distributors come with new offers and exchanging
schemes.
To accommodate the products like Home theatre house
needs to be palatial. People are prepared to spend much
on interior decoration. Carved and richly furnished living
rooms, with rugs on the floor, and objects of décor has
become common. To prepare French pizzas, grilled nonvegetarians, pastries, and burgers kitchen has to be ultra
modern with all gadgets including micro-oven. These are
the indicators of the purchasing power of a Malayalee
revealed during the Onam season.
Disregarding the lowering value of the Indian
currency, the salaries of non-professional show wide
disparity. Festival advance, to the government employees
is limited. At the same time, MNCs are offering very high
salaries to the youngsters.
As a consumer, he gets what he intends. The concept
of luxury has changed and so the perception of the people.
It is a pity to see the middle class struggling to fulfil
the desire of acquiring them. For the salaried class buy
now and pay later has become the buzzword. Post Onam
periods are a torrid time for the salary class.
Brightly lit window display beckons. Discounts and
irresistible offers tempt. The credit card holder with less
discipline is sure to land in trouble.
*****
For the women the lure of the yellow metal is a
fascination. They throng the jewellery shops and spend
on the latest brown-polished ornaments and the onegram gold ornaments. With these on, how can one refuse
to look good? Therefore, you need cosmetics.
Men are in no way behind. Louis Philippe, Allen
Solley, Peter England, and Reid & Taylor, are the popular
brands available in the Kerala market. Their campaigns
with enriched visuals, grasping catchwords and jingles
influence the consumer minds.
Every Malayalee wants to perceive the stylish global
changes and emulate them locally. Thus what we celebrate
today is not the traditional Onam but the consumer
Thiruvonam.
Onam
The bountif
Seema Divakaran
O
nce again the popular folk song is heard in Kerala.
Keralites are cherished by the sweet memories of a
period of peace and prosperity in the distant past.
When Maveli, a celebrated emperor of the Asuras
ruled, all men were equal, they were leading a life of happiness
and nobody had any misery – thus goes the song.
Whatever be the truth behind this legend, Onam has for
last several centuries been a grand national harvest festival in
which all sections of the people participate with extreme
jubilation. After heavy rains of ‘Karkadakom’, the sky become
clear blue, the brooks and streams come alive, spitting forth
gentle white foam and the flowers are in full bloom. It is time to
reap, celebrate and rejoice. The harvest festival of Onam
corresponds with the Malayalam new year, ‘Chingam.’
The strength of ‘Edavapathi’ (South West Monsoon)
vanishes, the clouds chill and gloom of Karkadakom retreats and
Chingom breaks in, in coincidence with the lunar asterism. This
is supposed to be the most apt time for the harvest of the crop as
well as for soaring seeds for the next crop.
‘Upperi’, ‘Pazhamnurukku’,
‘Pradhaman’. When we harvest
the ripe banana bunches during
this Onam, we should make our
housesteads ready to plant
suckers. Then only we can harvest
for the next Onam season.
An array of vegetables are also
planted earlier, so as to harvest
them during Onam. For ‘Ona
Sadhya’ which is a pure vegetarian
affair, includes ‘Arisheri, ‘Aviyyal’,
‘Thoran’, ‘Sambhar’ etc. Even if
now the vegetable required by us
come from Tamil Nadu,
cultivating vegetables in the
homesteads and fields was a major
agriculture practice in early days.
Another important event of
Onam is the ‘Pookkalam’, where
flower mats are laid in front of
the house to welcome King
Mahabali. It is very interesting to
note that the spectacularly
cheerful nature blooms hundreds
of flowers during Onam season.
ful harvest festival
The writer is Asst. Director, Agriculture.
KERALA CALLING
Mukkutti, Thumba, Chethi, Konkkini,
Chemparuthi etc. are used to lay floral
carpets in the courtyard of every houses. It
is a usual practice in schools, colleges, offices,
public places etc. to conduct ‘Athapoo’
competition. Even if the new stars among
cut flowers like orchids and anthurium
came to the forefront, our traditional flowers
has not lost its importance, despite the fact
that it is not cultivated in our State,
according to our requirements. While
celebrating the Onam festival of secular
hues let us not forget the present trend of
consumerism which is growing among us,
even if we are blessed with all congenial
conditions suitable for development and
self sufficiency. Let us sow seeds in our fertile
soil so as to reap a good crop in the coming
years too.
September 2006
Rice is the most important
crop which comes to
harvest during Onam.
There was a practice in
older days to boil and dry
‘Ona Nellu’ in the Chothi
day, which comes before
Thiruvonam. The relation
between Chingam and
‘Puthari’ is also famous.
The ‘Niraputhari’ ceremony
is held during this period
after the harvest of first
crop in paddy.
Rice is the most important crop which
comes to harvest during Onam. There was
a practice in older days to boil and dry ‘Ona
Nellu’ in the; Chothi; day, which come
before Thiruvonam. The relation between
Chingam and ‘Puthari’ is also famous. The
‘Niraputhari’ ceremony is held during this
period after the harvest of first crop in
paddy. The rice for ‘Puthari’ is prepared by
boiling, drying and milling to fresh
harvested paddy from the fields. There is a
practice of sharing the yield from the first
crop during Chingam with the neighbours
also. A grand lunch is also arranged with
this function.
After rice, another important crop
which is essential for Onam is plantain. The
bananas ripe into colour during Onam. The
freshly cut leaf is essential for Onam.
Banana is used for the preparation of
11
Cover Story
SOLID WA
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Management Issues and Suggestions
for Kerala Conditions
12
Sanoop Gopikrishna,
Dr. K. Sasi Kumar
transportation and disposal of the solid
waste.
D
Problem of solid waste
management (SWM)
The major source of solid waste
generated in urban areas of the state can be
categorised as – house hold garbage, and
wastes from shops, markets, hotels, streets,
canteens, wedding halls, slaughter houses
and poultry farms. Besides, hazardous biomedical waste from hospitals and labs form
a significant proportion of the solid waste
which is composed of both biodegradable
and non-biodegradable; toxic and non-
evising and implementing an
appropriate strategy for waste
management especially in
urban areas is a burning issue,
which caught the attention of the
government and the public recently.
This task at present is entrusted mainly
with Urban Local Bodies (ULB). The
geophysical peculiarities of land of Kerala
and the demographical – sociological
conditions of the people of Kerala aggravate
the problem of waste generation, collection,
toxic substances.
If biodegradable solid wastes are
allowed to accumulate untreated, the
decomposition of the organic materials they
contain can lead to the production of large
quantities of malodorous gas. In addition,
untreated solid waste usually contains
numerous pathogenic or disease – causing
microorganisms that dwell in the human
intestinal tract. It also contains nutrients,
which can stimulate the growth of aquatic
plants, which may contain toxic
compounds.
Indiscriminate disposal of metallic and
STE
Present Scenario
The complexity of this problem and
consequences of not completely
implementing appropriate solutions to this
problem have been recognised by
authorities and management experts.
Similarly, there is no lack of appropriate
legislations, court decisions or rules and
regulations relating to the management of
disposal of solid waste.
Well-designed investigations were also
conducted regarding the magnitude and
plausible solution to this problem. One
such investigation conducted by The
Energy and Resource Institute (TERI)
reports that the annual per capita municipal
solid waste generation in India is projected
to grow from 1 to 1.33 percent, which
would lead to a generation of over 260
million tonnes of wastes by 2047 – a five
fold increase over 1997 levels1 Further, the
report says that an additional 1400km2 of
land is needed to dispose this waste, most
of it in urban areas. This is only an awful
picture of the metro- cities! The Bio-medical
waste (Management & Handling) 1998,
The municipal solid waste (Management
& Handling) 2000, Kerala panchayathi
Raj (Slaughter house & meat stalls) – 1996,
1998 (amended), Kerala Plastic substance
Act and the like are some of the rules for
managing the problem of solid waste.
In Kerala, generation of municipal solid
waste, industrial hazardous waste, biomedical waste and agriculture waste have
been rapidly increasing due to population
growth, lifestyle changes, economic
development, changes in agricultural
activities and changed consumerism. But
the waste management techniques have
not kept pace with the increasing quantities
of solid waste due to many reasons.
KERALA CALLING
Plausible Solutions for Solid
Waste Management (SWM)
An important objective of Solid Waste
Management System (SWM) is to gain
insights into the ‘alternatives’ or
‘innovations’ within the formal and
informal SWM to reduce waste in terms of
minimising waste, maximising re-use and
recycling activities, and to promote
ecological sustainability.
The most important techniques
available for solid waste treatment /
management are: Source Reduction
programmes, Recycling, Composting,
Converting waste-to-energy and Land
filling. These techniques are being adopted
in Kerala in certain regions by resourceful
authorities, individuals and enthusiastic
practioners. But they are only an
insignificant minority compared to the
magnitude of the problem. It is worth while
to understand the different problems
associated with SWM by unsuccessful or
reluctant majority. Some of the issues and
problems of SWM are listed below.
Inaccurate quantification of the waste
generated, inappropriate categorisation of
solid waste and estimation of the quantity
of the same.
Adoption of unsuitable techniques of
waste collection, storage, segregation,
transportation, treatment and disposal.
Accumulation of untreated wastes at
unsuitable and public places. Inordinate
delay in collection at source and time gap
between collection and final disposal.
Inappropriate and inadequate technique
being adopted in the disposal of plastic
articles, e-waste, condemned electronic
gadgets, etc. Apathy of the public –
individuals, community and society at large,
public bodies. Lack of proper planning in
the selection and implementation of
suitable techniques of disposal. Unscientific
way of site selection in storage and final
disposal of solid waste (whether the
techniques used are for recycling,
conversion of waste-to-energy, sanitary land
filling, production of organic manure and
the like). Not attempting to use scientific
modern techniques such as Global
Positioning System (GPS) in route selection
of transportation and collection of solid
waste. No attempt is being made by the
authorities to make a judicious selection of
macro level and micro level planning in the
management of solid waste. Not enforcing
laws and court decisions promptly and
taking follow-up action by authorities.
Inadequate utilisation of the public in
effective participation in the solid waste
management programme (private or
public), education of the public in creating
awareness programmes, implementing rules
and laws. Lack of leadership of the
personnel such as heads and members of
September 2006
plastic articles may choke the drains and
rivulets blocking the free flow of rainwater
thus causing wide spread floods such as
calamitous flooding happened in Mumbai
recently.
For these reasons, immediate removal
of solid waste from its source of generation,
followed by treatment wherever necessary
and disposal is not only desirable but also
imperative in a civilised society.
For attending this problem it is very
essential to ponder over such pertinent
questions as from where, by whom, when,
by what means such colossal waste is being
generated and how not attending the
elimination of this waste is going to affect
the future of the life of beings in this earth.
13
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
local administration, institutions, etc. No
periodic assessment of the ongoing
programmes of SWM are being made
regularly and scientifically so as to chalk
out follow-up programmes for the
effectiveness of the SWM. In certain
instances the quantum of solid waste
generated cannot be accurately estimated
due to influx of floating population,
frequent occurrence of religious and
political conventions, festivals where huge
crowd gather and litter the place.
14
What should be done
The problems and issues identified as
above point out the necessity of selection,
planning and implementation of suitable
and viable techniques for SWM
programmes. This should be considered as
utmost necessity for any rural and urban
development programme. It is worth
mentioning here that suggestion for
programmes of SWM have to be considered
as collaborative venture of authorities,
NGOs and public at large. Some of the
suggestions offered for successful SWM
programmes here have taken into
consideration the problems of
environmental pollution, health hazards,
economic viability, responsibility of
different sectors of people, institutions and
industry and future welfare of the
humanity.
Solid waste from different sectors such
as hospital waste, wastes from households,
hotels, canteens, wedding halls, shops and
markets require different treatment.
Most important techniques for SWM
which are adaptable in Kerala are the
following:
Household waste: The 3R mantraReduction, Reuse and Recycling of solid
waste should be practiced and be the
responsibility of the members of every
house. Some of the viable techniques
possible are: reduction of solid waste at
source as far as possible, separation and
collection of different categories of waste in
different bags or bins, not to dump or throw
it away indiscriminately outside the house
premises or waysides and attempts be made
to convert bio degradable solid waste into
either manure or into biogas fuel or as a last
resort, dump it in municipal dust bins
promptly. Special attention must be given
not to carry the waste in plastic bags or in
non-biodegradable containers to dispose of
or dump at the public dustbins.
A change in consumer habits such as
using one’s own ecofriendly carry bags to
purchase provisions, fruits & vegetables,
eatables and other daily necessities and in
as much as quantity as possible our purse
permit (i.e. bulk purchase). Purchase of ‘use
and throw away’ articles has to be
discouraged and avoided. Reusable
materials such as wastepaper, plastic articles,
old metal utensils, broken glasses, and other
metallic articles can be kept neatly in
separate bags so that it can be sold to
hawkers or can be arranged to be collected
by neighbourhood groups at agreed times
for disposal to appropriate dealers or
recyclers.
Waste from hotel, canteens and wedding
halls: The same policy of segregation of
waste in separate bins must be insisted. The
two most important techniques of SWM
for these three sectors are setting up bio-gas
plant and using waste food articles as feed
for piggery.
Shops and markets: Segregation at source
is to be insisted in shops and markets
wherever possible (bakeries, vegetable
markets and the like). Setting up bio-gas
plant may be promoted. Non biodegradable waste may be send to the
‘resource recovery units’
Hospitals: Propagating the concept of Ecofriendly hospitals is highly necessary in this
context. Though the controlling body
insists on segregation of hospital waste at
source, disposal of the same is not done
satisfactorily at present in many hospitals.
Judicious use of the disposal by the use of
‘incinerator’, by sending to ‘resource
recovery units’ and by setting up of
anaerobic digester can be adopted. It is
better to establish common solid waste
treatment facilities in every district for the
treatment of biomedical waste as a viable
solution to this problem.
The role of authorities and
the public
Finding adequate solution for SWM is
the joint responsibility of authorities,
experts, NGOs and the public. However
the mantel has to be borne by the
government incorporating the expertise of
Environmental Engineers, Technocrats, and
co-operation of the NGOs and the public.
The responsibility of the authority and the
public are highlighted here.
Social marketing: Social marketing is an
effective tool through which government
or authorities bring about social change in
a planned manner such as percolating ideas
and messages to the mass or community,
seeking public involvement for efficiently
and economically operating waste
management programme, organising
suitable educational programmes and
giving wide publicity to create public
awareness. Social marketing can be
effectively conducted through mass media,
door to door campaign or small group
campaign, securing the co-operation of
brand ambassadors, and conducting
planned public educational programmes.
Activities to propagate collection,
segregation, and disposal at source; to adopt
community bin system; small scale bio gas
production; chemical-free farming and Eco
friendly consumership; to abide by strictly
the rules and laws, to face the consequences
of law breaking; to create awareness of
plastic menace; to practice some easy
methods to tackle rubbish; to use
ecofriendly material substitutes, etc can be
taken up in such planned campaigns and
programmes. The responsibility can be
taken up at grass-root level by such groups
as Kudumbasree, Ayalkoottam, and
roads and by lanes and the disposal
destination is not very far off. Selection of
vehicle and route for transportation of waste
should be done in such a way that the
expenditure incurred shall not exceed 50%
of the total cost for SWM. (At present
transportation shares about 60-80% of the
total cost)2
ii) Training of children to deal with waste
is very important. It is the responsibility of
the school to help in making children wasteconscious. Inclusion of environmental
education as a part of curriculum at
different levels of education in Kerala is a
welcome attempt in this direction.
iii) Techniques of SWM found successful
in other places may be adopted in Kerala
only after careful consideration of their
adaptability in our conditions
(geophysically and economically). No hasty
decision shall be taken especially when large
scale disposal of waste is considered.
iv) Proper use of wasteland and land
bordering highways and railways may be
attempted so that biodegradable waste can
be profitably utilised.
The aforesaid issues, problems and plausible
solutions concerning SWM reveal that it is
a global problem not confining to our state
alone. The solutions of these problems
require a concerted effort that must come
from different quarters – government,
policy makers, administrators, management
experts, technocrats and the public. This
problem of SWM may be an Augean task
but have to be dealt within a scientifically
planned way keeping in view a broad
future outlook. Since SWM is considered
as one of the thrust areas of Jawaharlal
Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
(JNNURM), an economically viable and
development oriented waste management
plan have to be scientifically designed and
Eco-efficiently implemented.
KERALA CALLING
The writers are *research scholar institute of management in
kerala, TVPM
**professor Dept. of Commerce, University
of Kerala
References:
1.
Anand Chiplunkar (2006). Water and
Waste management – A Comprehensive
Approach, JNNURM – underway. Indian
Infrastructure, 7, 48.
2.
Bhide, A. D and Sundavesan, D.B
(1983) Solid Waste Management in developing
countries. INSDOC.
September 2006
Residents Associations and the leadership
for this may be taken up in a decentralised
manner (example-people participatory
programme).
Rules and Laws: It is the responsibility of
the government and authorities of local
bodies to enforce strictly the existing rules
and laws and to bring out new laws
wherever necessary to implement effectively
SWM. Institutions and citizens who break
the laws must be severely booked.
New rules and regulations need to be
formulated and implemented are suggested:
i) Installing biogas plants compulsory
for new housing flats, multistoried
buildings and shopping complexes; ii)
Identifying and locating the menace of
illegally run slaughter houses; animal and
poultry farms and bringing them under
law; iii) Implementing the idea of ‘pay-asyou throw’ waste indiscriminately and
enforcing rules regarding differential
treatment of toxic and hazardous wastes
and rules relating to plastic menace; iv)
Huge waste accumulated due to festivals,
crowd pulling meetings, etc can be
disposed by entrusting the responsibility
to the concerned organisations themselves
and this should be made mandatory before
permission is granted by the authorities.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR):
Government intervention is necessary to
implement EPR on products such as
electric bulbs, tube lights, batteries,
computers, TV sets, Plastic containers and
bottles, medical drugs and other toxic
consumer items which cannot be handled
individually or locally and which need
expertise in their disposal. Such disposable
items of hospital wastes as, used syringes,
bedding, gloves, etc may also be brought
under EPR rule.
Some innovative practices in collection,
distribution, treatment and disposal of solid
waste worth trying are given below:
i) Different coloured community bins
may be placed at convenient places
preferably at a distance of not more than
100 meters apart for the collection of
segregated waste. The capacity of these bins
should be at least 50% in excess of daily
collection. Sufficient crew members may
be entrusted with the task of prompt
collection and transportation. Small vehicles
may be preferred to transport garbage
especially when they are collected from small
15
eWaste
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Poses a Health Hazard
16
Cover Story
Dr. Sainudeen Pattazhy
F
ruits of our high - tech revolution are pure
dangerous poison if these products are
improperly disposed instead of being recycled
at the end of their useful life. “ Ted Smith
(Founder Silicon Valley Toxic Coalition) E- waste or
electronic waste means the electronic products nearing
the end of their useful life. Discarded or obsolete
electronic products like PCs, TV sets, VCRs, VCDs,
Cellphones, Stereos, Fax machines, Copiers, Microwave
ovans, Walkman, Electronic lamps, Audio equipments,
Batteries etc. are all the examples of electronic wastes.
Computer equipments is a complicated assembly
of more than 1,000 components, many of which are
hazardous and toxic. A major culprit in the hazardous
waste areas is the computer monitor and television
cathode ray tube ( CRT), which contains five to eight
pounds of lead. Of the nearly 5 million PCs in India,
1.3 8 million are estimated outdated and it could soon
be added to the waste stream. The non-biodegradable
refuse from e-waste and other sources often ends up in
Iand- fills or in incinerators where toxic substances like
residues of lead, cadmium, lethal mercury, carcinogenic
asbestos, tin plates, arsenic, PVC and plastic waste,
lead and cadmium batteries etc. contaminate the land,
water and air, posing serious health problem and
affecting the environment. The fundamental
dynamism of computer manufacturing that has
transformed in the second half of the 20th century,
especially the speed of innovation also leads to rapid
product obsolescence. Various companies constantly
generate new software, programs and products that
fuel the demand for more memory and power with
the result that the average lifespan of a PC has shrunk
to a mere two years. It is estimated that the volume of
cellphone handsets will surge to over 100 million and
PCs to 25.5 million in 2007. Obviously, it is cheap
and convenient to buy a new PC than to upgrade the
old one. A recent investigation revealed that much of
the electronics turned over for recycling in the U.S.A.
ends up in Asia where little or no regard for the
environment or workers health and safety. The major
reasons of such exports are: cheap labour, lack of
environmental and occupational standards in Asia and
in this way the toxic effluents of the developed nations
would flood towards the world’s poorest nations. Now,
the discarded electronic items are being recycled with
recyclers digging in to the chip for Gold and Platinum.
Lot of hazardous chemicals are being used which are
heavy metals and also chemicals like cyanide for
extraction of Gold. This is the reason why it is proving
to be so lucrative. In each computer, according to an
estimate, there is 5 gms. of gold which can be recovered.
Actually, the quantity of gold available in a
“
computer is much more than that of the
quantity available in regular gold mines.
Health hazard:
The obsolete technology contains
hazardous materials like lead, mercury,
cadmium, and arsenic which pose great
threats to the human being. The risk factors
of E-toxins related to our health and
environment are damage to lungs and
kidneys, and peripheral nervous systems,
birth defects, asthmatic bronchitis,
increased risk of cancer of the blood and
lymph systems, acute and chronic effects
on plants, animals and microorganisms.
Nearly 50 to 80 per cent of e-waste
recycling and waste management
organisations and environmental regulatory
agencies. It is estimated that 75 per cent of
electronic items are stored due to
uncertainty of how to manage it.
These electronic junks lie unattended
in store-houses, offices etc. Later on, they
get easily mixed with house hold wastes
which are finally disposed off as land fills.
Hence, become even more imperative to
manage this waste properly and
scientifically. The generation point must
be the check point by adopting waste
minimization techniques as following:
Inventory management: Proper
can result in significant waste reduction
which can be accomplished by
reviewing current operational
procedures or lack of procedures.
Volume reduction:
To include these techniques that remove
the hazardous portion of a waste from a
non-hazardous portion. These
techniques are usually to reduce the
volume and thus cost of disposing of a
waste material. The techniques that can
be used to reduce waste volume can be
divided in to two general categories.
sources segregation:
It is simple and economical technique.
control over the materials used in
manufacturing process is an important way
to reduce waste generation. By reducing
both the quantity of hazardous materials
used in the process and the amount of excess
raw materials in stock the quantity of waste
generated can be reduced by two ways.
¦ All materials be approved prior to
purchase and evaluated.
¦ Ensure that only the needed quantity is
ordered.
Production process modification:
In this step, reduction in waste generation
can be accomplished by changing the
materials used to make the product or
by the more efficient use of input
materials in the production process or
both. Improvements in the operation
and maintenance of process equipment
Wastes containing different types of
metals can be treated seperately so that
the metal value in sludge can be
recovered.
waste concentration:
It may increase the likelihood that the
material can be recycled, using
techniques like Gravity vaccum
filteration, Reverse osmosis.
Recovery and Re use:
This technique could eliminate waste
disposal costs, reduce raw material costs and
provide income from a saleable waste. Waste
can be recovered on site or at off site recovery
facility, or through inter- industrial
exchange. However, recycling of hazardous
products has little environmental benefit if
it simply moves the hazards in to secondary
products that eventually have to be
A recent investigation
revealed that much of the
electronics turned over
for recycling in the U.S.A.
ends up in Asia where
there is little or no regard
for the environment or
workers’ health and
safety.
KERALA CALLING
E-waste management:
Project Agastya and the Environment
and Health Foundation of Bangalore in
India have launched an awareness drive on
e-waste. Findings ways to keep electronic
waste out of land fills is a challenge now
facing electronic equipment manufactures,
September 2006
collected for recycling in the Western
countries is not recycled domestically, but
instead is placed in container ships bound
for countries such as China, India, Pakistan
etc. This form of recycling is used due to
cheap labour and lack of environmental
standards in Asia. It is several times cheaper
to ship CRT monitors to China than it is to
recycle them in the US. Computer junk is
growing and imminent crisis is about to hit
the US and they are at a loss to know where
to unload this stuff.
17
Cover Story
Waste is Wealth
Ashly Jose
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Here is a new slogan for Kerala- WASTE
IS WEALTH. Pollution of water became a
curse for Kerala. Though this is Gods Own
Country dogs and cows became the villains
of the dirty streets. The roads, rivers and
towns are flooded with dirt for the whole
year. Continues struggles are going on in
the municipalities and corporations for
finding a solution for waste disposal.
If the state and the people are adopting
a healthy waste management system we can
change the garbage into
organic manure. We can
show the waste
management system of
North
Paravur
municipality as an ideal
example.
The
Municipality is making
organic
compost
manure from the waste
collected from the town
and selling it at a rate of
rupees four per
kilogram. Now a days
the possibility and
popularity of organic
18
disposed off.
Efforts that could deal with
e-waste:
¦ Computer equipment manufactures
should offer ‘take back’ programs.
¦ Encouraging computer reuse and
recycling.
¦ Greater use of alternative products, such
as LCD panels and plasma screens for
television and computers.
¦ Design products for longevity, Up grade
ability, repair and reuse.
¦ Increasing public awareness by labelling
products as ‘ environmental hazard’ .
¦ Promote ecofriendly practices, such as
upgrading or repairing electronic
products instead of buying new ones.
¦ Create computer components and
peripherals of bio-degradable materials.
¦ Utilize technology sharing particularly
farming is increasing widely over Kerala. It
is observed that the agricultural production
will increase at a rate of two fold while using
organic compost.
With experiments under way to utilise
recycled waste materials in different forms,
the Rajagiri College of Social Sciences at
Kalamassery has laid a 150-metre long,
3.25-metre wide road on the campus by
adding 150 kg of plastic waste to materials
required for road construction. Bangalore
had become the first city to use the plastic
waste as they had constructed a one km
road in 2002.The merits of such a road are
two-fold - it enables good use of the plastic
waste and reduces the quantity of
construction materials, particularly tar.
In Tamil Nadu, shredded plastic is
available for Rs.12 per kg. The Tamil Nadu
Government gives subsidies to the
industries that manufacture it. Thus, even
PVC waste is segregated, recycled and used
in the manufacture of domestic tiles. What
better way to make good use of recycled
non-bio degradable waste, especially plastic,
the disposal of which is a woe.
Drinking water shortage is a major
limitation now a days in Kerala There is
enough scope for waste water treatment in
for
manufacturing
and
demanufacturing.
¦ Companies should spread awareness
among consumers regarding potential
threat to public health and the
environment posed by their products.
The government is responsible for
providing adequate system of laws, control
and administrative procedure for hazardous
waste management. The existing laws
regarding the disposal of e-waste should be
revamped. Research and development
activities must be encouraged, standard of
hazardous waste management,
environment monitoring should also be
taken care of. Government must impose
strict regulations and penalties against law
flouters and those outsiders who dump ewaste in the country. Generators of e-wastes
should take responsibilities of wastes, if
hazardous, should provide management
option. All personnels involved in handling
e-waste in industries including those at the
policy, management, control and
operational level should be properly
qualified and trained.
Most important idea is of preventing
waste rather than managing waste. What
can be done here to prevent e-waste is: the
electronics can be donated for reuse and
for extending the lives of valuable products.
But there products should be in working
condition before they are donated. Reuse
also benefits society. Donation of such
articles to low income families, schools etc.
who can ill afford to buy them; will surely
be a philanthropic act. e-wastes should
never be disposed with garbage and other
house hold wastes. This should be
segregated at the site and sold or donated
to various organizations. NGO, should
adopt a participatory approach. While
Literature
our hospitals, factories and in hostels.
These treated water can be used again
in the bath rooms or for gardening.
Now it is proved that the
contents in the hospital waste such
as syringes, needles and plastic can
be used for power generation.
Hospital waste becomes a curse for
the city dwellers. In order to recover
energy from solid waste,
Pathanapuram Grama Panchayat has
initiated an innovative step by
establishing a waste to energy plant
for meat and fish market. Here the
power for street light is generated
from the solid waste from the market.
The problem of mounting
plastic waste, which has proved
inflexible with garbage disposal
managers, may yet be tackled if a
novel method being pursued by the
Government materialises.
The
Government
has
approached Kochi Refineries to look
into the technical feasibility of using
organic polymers as additives in
bituminous mixes to add strength to
road and pavement surfaces. It has
been found by studies that bitumen
mixed with organic polymers lends
longer fatigue life to surfaces.
The author is associated with Fathima
HSS, Mamala, Thengakal, Idukki.
Dr. Lekha Kumari K.
T
he social interactions in the
literary text ‘Kayar’, using
Discourse Analysis manifest the
cultural and political scenario
of the era and its evolutionary changes.
Discourse is language use relative to social,
political and cultural formations. It directly
implies how language meaning and society
inter relate. Discourse Analysis makes how
the text can communicate creatively in the
task of making and inferring meaning.
Under the revolutionary changes in the
media of communication, language itself
becomes ‘marketable commodity’. Anyone
can market it through their skills of linguistic
and textual manipulation. The techniques
in discourse analysis brings out new insights
into the nature of literary communication
than that of traditional grammatical and
phonological analysis of literary text.
The Discourse Analysis of a novel often
framed in a very complex network. The
discourse in the different angles, of a
novelist, narrator or through the characters,
made it complicated. The main factors in a
discourse analysis are the text, its context,
the speech acts and turn taking. More often
The Discourse Analysis of a
novel is often framed in a very
complex network. The
discourse in the different
angles, of a novelist, narrator
or through the characters,
makes it complicated. The main
factors in a discourse analysis
are the text, its context, the
speech acts and turn taking.
the novelist himself through his turn
takings made the discourse, very powerful.
Takazhi Sivasankarapillai, one of the
greatest Malayalam litterateur, narrates his
deepest insights of life through a broad
canvas and as a keen observer, he depicts all
the changes of transformation or
developments in all dimensions of our
society (Kerala) back from two fifty years.
The novel emphasises the deep-rootednessof man to his soil. Though the novel
denotes the history back from two fifty
years, it portraits the small village of Kerala,
Kuttanadu. Takazhi, being a typical
‘Kuttanadan’ farmer, really inspires from the
changing attitudes towards every aspects
of social life. More than that his official life
as an advocate helps to create this huge
novel ‘Kayar’. In addition to that Panambilli
Govinda Menon who suggest to write a
novel describing the degradation of the
Nair families under the joint family system.
In his preface, Takazhi says that Kayar
is a huge novel which describes the story of
Kerala society back from two fifty years up
to the new land reformation. The text shows
the strong social conscious developed from
different circumstances in the life. He tries
to tell the story of man’s lust towards the
soil and a gradual degradation for the
agricultural outlook. He tells the story
through thousands of characters. Through
these characters he points out all the
happiness, sadness, disappointments,
weakness, failures and success of human
minds. The deep insight into the human
psychology and societal outlook derived
from his text clearly brings out his
intelligence and life experience.
The strong frame work constituted by
the text, its context, speech acts, turn
takings of the novelist and the discourse as
a whole made the language of Kayar very
strong and powerful. The social significance
of discourse lies in the relationship between
KERALA CALLING
The writer is lecturer S.N.College,
Kollam
E-mail:[email protected]
Kayar
September 2006
buying e-products, care should be taken
if they are made with fewer toxic
constituents, energy efficient,
utilization of minimal packaging , after
leasing or take back option and they are
certified.
In the final analysis, e-waste has
reached critical proportions in the West
leading to stronger laws. This is still to
be done in our country where there is
no strong agency to combat e-waste
tide. With the estimated number ofPCs
in India, touching up to 80 million by
the year 2008, its high time we plan
for the management and prevention of
this tide of e-garbage, well in advance.
Not only will it save some anticipated
disaster but will also show us a way to
tackle this menace.
Reflection of the Society
In
19
Cover Story
Waste is Wealth
Ashly Jose
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Here is a new slogan for Kerala- WASTE
IS WEALTH. Pollution of water became a
curse for Kerala. Though this is Gods Own
Country dogs and cows became the villains
of the dirty streets. The roads, rivers and
towns are flooded with dirt for the whole
year. Continues struggles are going on in
the municipalities and corporations for
finding a solution for waste disposal.
If the state and the people are adopting
a healthy waste management system we can
change the garbage into
organic manure. We can
show the waste
management system of
North
Paravur
municipality as an ideal
example.
The
Municipality is making
organic
compost
manure from the waste
collected from the town
and selling it at a rate of
rupees four per
kilogram. Now a days
the possibility and
popularity of organic
18
disposed off.
Efforts that could deal with
e-waste:
¦ Computer equipment manufactures
should offer ‘take back’ programs.
¦ Encouraging computer reuse and
recycling.
¦ Greater use of alternative products, such
as LCD panels and plasma screens for
television and computers.
¦ Design products for longevity, Up grade
ability, repair and reuse.
¦ Increasing public awareness by labelling
products as ‘ environmental hazard’ .
¦ Promote ecofriendly practices, such as
upgrading or repairing electronic
products instead of buying new ones.
¦ Create computer components and
peripherals of bio-degradable materials.
¦ Utilize technology sharing particularly
farming is increasing widely over Kerala. It
is observed that the agricultural production
will increase at a rate of two fold while using
organic compost.
With experiments under way to utilise
recycled waste materials in different forms,
the Rajagiri College of Social Sciences at
Kalamassery has laid a 150-metre long,
3.25-metre wide road on the campus by
adding 150 kg of plastic waste to materials
required for road construction. Bangalore
had become the first city to use the plastic
waste as they had constructed a one km
road in 2002.The merits of such a road are
two-fold - it enables good use of the plastic
waste and reduces the quantity of
construction materials, particularly tar.
In Tamil Nadu, shredded plastic is
available for Rs.12 per kg. The Tamil Nadu
Government gives subsidies to the
industries that manufacture it. Thus, even
PVC waste is segregated, recycled and used
in the manufacture of domestic tiles. What
better way to make good use of recycled
non-bio degradable waste, especially plastic,
the disposal of which is a woe.
Drinking water shortage is a major
limitation now a days in Kerala There is
enough scope for waste water treatment in
for
manufacturing
and
demanufacturing.
¦ Companies should spread awareness
among consumers regarding potential
threat to public health and the
environment posed by their products.
The government is responsible for
providing adequate system of laws, control
and administrative procedure for hazardous
waste management. The existing laws
regarding the disposal of e-waste should be
revamped. Research and development
activities must be encouraged, standard of
hazardous waste management,
environment monitoring should also be
taken care of. Government must impose
strict regulations and penalties against law
flouters and those outsiders who dump ewaste in the country. Generators of e-wastes
should take responsibilities of wastes, if
hazardous, should provide management
option. All personnels involved in handling
e-waste in industries including those at the
policy, management, control and
operational level should be properly
qualified and trained.
Most important idea is of preventing
waste rather than managing waste. What
can be done here to prevent e-waste is: the
electronics can be donated for reuse and
for extending the lives of valuable products.
But there products should be in working
condition before they are donated. Reuse
also benefits society. Donation of such
articles to low income families, schools etc.
who can ill afford to buy them; will surely
be a philanthropic act. e-wastes should
never be disposed with garbage and other
house hold wastes. This should be
segregated at the site and sold or donated
to various organizations. NGO, should
adopt a participatory approach. While
Literature
The
Government
has
Dr. Lekha Kumari K.
T
KERALA CALLING
Kollam
Kayar
September 2006
certified.
tackle this menace.
In
19
Literature
The
Government
has
Dr. Lekha Kumari K.
T
KERALA CALLING
Kollam
Kayar
September 2006
certified.
tackle this menace.
In
19
September 2006
KERALA CALLING
20
linguistic meanings and the wider context.
Analysing discourse is often making
inference about inferences. Discourse
Analysis brings out the forms of language
into social context and how they are
organised as patterned entities. It makes use
micro level elements (linguistic, textual,
inter textual) to explain macro level (societal,
cultural, ideological) processes.
The sequence and structure are the
main concern of the discourse analysis. It
mainly emphasis how texts and discourses
are organised as patterned entities. The
patterning of discourse thus means the
construction of social structures and
ideologies. The social factors such as sex,
age, locality, social stratification etc affect
and differentiate linguistic behaviour.
The text begins with the cleaning of
‘Erumatra madam’ for ‘Classipper
Kochupilla’(Page 18). It is quiet surprising
for ‘Kodantra Muthasan’ to clean the
Erumatra madam for a non-brahmin.
‘Muthal pidikkaran’ supervise and Asan
clears the doubts regarding the ‘Classipper’.
The text shows the strongest cohesion of
past present and future. From the very
beginning of the text, it can be inferred
several interpretations. The context is two
fifty years back. The words like arkko,
angane, vendi, matrame frames within the
network of social, cultural and ideological
processes. The ‘Mutalpidikkaran’ arranged
stay for a non-brahmin person, ‘Classipper
Kocupilla’ in the Erumatra madam. The
Classipper Kochupilla is a servant under
‘Ponnu Tampuran’ carried the duty of
survey settlements. At that time, it is very
difficult to arrange a ‘madam’ for nonbrahmin. Takazhi intellectually, through a
small piece of word ‘arkko’ to denote such a
social change. The person is a servant under
Ponnu Tampuran. So he acquires a higher
status in the society and it helps to live in
the ‘madam’. The text also preferred the
meaning of the changes in the traditional
agricultural system.
The text often made strong by the turn
taking of novelist himself. Takazhi’s
intellectual, unanalysable, psychological
insights of human character made the
speech acts and turns very powerful
(Page21). The classifier is a servant under
‘Ponnu Tampuran’ carry the duty of survey
settlement. So Adikari, Mutalpidikkaran
and Kodantra Asan were eager to make
necessary arrangements in the madam for
him. Adikari is a superior person compare
to Kondandra Asan and Mutalpidikkaran.
Takazhi through his turn takings,
beautifully pictuarise the social status of
Adikari which is higher compare to other
persons. Takazhi by saying that the towel
of Asan and Mutalpidikkaran is fell down
from shoulder to waist when they saw the
Adikari. The turn taking and comments of
novelist often make the discourse very
powerful.
With the help of prosodic and
paralinguistic cues one can interpret several
social elements. The interpretation in turn
The text begins with the
cleaning of ‘Erumatra madam’
for ‘Classipper Kochupilla’.
It is quiet surprising for
‘Kodantra Muthasan’ to clean
the Erumatra madam for a nonbrahmin. ‘Muthal pidikkaran’
supervises and Asan clears
the doubts regarding the
‘Classipper’. The text shows
the strongest cohesion of
past, present and future. From
the very beginning of the text,
it can be inferred several
interpretations.
requires a background knowledge and it is
within judgement of expectedness. There
is not an ultimate meaning for any message.
But from the systematic patterning, it helps
to collect strong evidence for the social basis.
From the text (Page21), it is easily assume
the higher status of Adikari and ‘Classipper
Kochupilla’. Although they acquire a
higher status, they differ in their social
context.
In an analysis of discourse, the text
naturally focus attention to the social
relationship of interactants. During the
interdependence of social actors in the
speech act, behaviour of one participant
defines and constructs social relations and
identities for the other members of the
group. The different persons ‘Adikari,
Kodantra Muttasan, Mutal pidikkaran
Classipper Kochupilla’ etc in the text posses
different social status. The identity of social
actors reflects in a social interaction are
multiple and dynamic, flexible and
changeable in the course of interaction.
The discourse analysis on the literary
text Kayar interacts within the framework
of societal, cultural and political ideologies.
From the text, one can communicate the
change of feudal system to Bourgeois and
Petit Bourgeois. Also through the characters
he pictuarise the change developed in the
traditional agricultural systems and its
impact on the social and cultural life of
Keralites. The role of Temple and Churches,
regarding the development of social life
among the people of Kerala. From the text,
it can also be inferred the evolutionary
changes in the Nair society of Kerala, the
revolutionary changes undergoes in the
caste system and its reflection in the society,
and the changes that takes place in the
relation ship of men and women in the
society of Kerala. As a whole the novel
brings forth the evolutionary changes in
the social cultural and political outlook of
Keralites.
The text is constructed as a structural
representation of events in a particular
period of time and thus makes the stronger
frame. The text we analyse are always filtered
by the social conscious of the writer. They
are in themselves a form of social
reconstruction. For Mikhail Bhaktin, all the
discourse is multicoated, as all words and
utterance derived from the historical,
cultural and genetic heritage of the
speakers. And this discourse from the way
these words and utterance have been
previously interrupted. The language and
culture have long been intertwined and the
links between them are traceable in the text.
It carries history and identities and thus
direct to a social, political and cultural
outlook. The perception of literary
discourse of every kind presuppose certain
intellectual, aesthetic emotions. The strong
cohesion of past, present and future may
give birth to a surprising literary creation.
References
Takazhi, Kayar, DCB II nd 2005, Ed. by
Adam Jaworski Nikolas Coupland
The discourse Reader ,
Routledge
Publication 1999
Health
Fighting
Dr. D. Radhakrishnan
TB
T
uberculosis is a Global
Emergency. TB kills 5,000
people a day–2 million each
year around the world. One
third of the world’s population is infected
Tuberculosis kills more women
than all causes of maternal
mortality combined. In some
areas, women face special
problems of access to
tuberculosis diagnosis and
treatment because of stigma and
limitations on mobility.
on mobility. In an otherwise healthy
person, the risk of active tuberculosis after
infection with the tuberculosis bacteria is
approximately 10%. In a person who is
infected with both the tuberculosis bacteria
and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, the
a cure rate of 95% was achieved, which
inspired the state to extend the programme
to other Districts also.
Six districts namely, Thiruvanantha
puram, Kottayam, Thrissur, Malappuram,
Kannur & Wayanad have started the
P.K. Sreemathi, Minister for Health, releases the patients charter for TB Care in a function held at Medical College Thiruvananthapuram
on International Standards of Tuberculosis Care (ISTC).
service in 1998 it self. By the beginning of
2000, five more Districts had come under
RNTCP. They are Kollam, Kozhikode,
Palakkad, Kasargode, and Ernakulam. In
Alappuzha and Idukki programme started
in December 2000. Thus Kerala became
the first major state to be fully covered by
RNTCP in India.
In the year 2001 the programme got
consolidated in the Government health
service. The activities were mostly
concerned with the strengthening of the
programme in the General Health Service.
KERALA CALLING
lifetime risk of active tuberculosis is at least
50%.
The TB Control Programme was going
a very slow pace till October 1994.
Government of Kerala gave top priority to
the programme and allotted the required
funds for the implementation of the
programme without waiting for the formal
release of funds by World Bank.
Pathanamthitta District was one of the five
pilot districts in the country where the
programme was launched in October
1994. In the pilot district of Pathanamthitta
September 2006
with TB. More than 100,000 children
will die needlessly from TB in a year.
Hundreds of thousands of children will
become TB orphans this year. HIV and
MDRTB will make the TB epidemic much
more severe unless urgent action is taken.
South East Asia accounts for nearly 40%
of all tuberculosis cases.
Tuberculosis kills more women than all
causes of maternal mortality combined. In
some areas, women face special problems
of access to tuberculosis diagnosis and
treatment because of stigma and limitations
21
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
In the year 2002, major thrust was given
to extend the programme to other sectors
and initiatives to involve private
practitioners, Medical Colleges, ESI
Hospitals and NGOs, which has now
started showing results.
District TB Society and State TB
Society have been formed for the easy flow
of funds and smooth implementation of
the Programme. The Government of India,
through a World Bank loan, provides the
necessary fund to State TB society. Funds
are allocated to the concerned districts TB
society for undertaking various activities for
implementation of Revised National TB
Control Programme.
The districts have District TB Centres
(DTC) headed by district TB Officer
(DTO). As per the RNTCP guidelines
districts have to register their own TB
societies in which the District Collector is
the chairperson and the district TB officer
(DTO) is the member secretary. Each
district has Tuberculosis Units (TU) one
each for every 5-lakh population usually
based in Taluk Headquarters hospitals.
They are the sub districts for RNTCP
implementation. Medical OfficerTuberculosis Control (MOTC) is the
designated medical officer responsible for
the activities under TU area. There is
paramedical staff viz. Senior TB Supervisor
(STS) and Senior TB Laboratory Supervisor
(STLS) to assist MOTC and to supervise
the activities in the TU area. The microscopy
centres (MC) are the units under TUs for
22
Performance of RNTCP- Kerala State-1997-2006
Year
Population Total
covered
cases
Total
Annualised
case
detection
rate/lakh
population
Smear
positive
cases
1997
12 lakh
499
1998
52 lakh
1999
41.6
313
26
85
2854
55
1224
24
83
166 lakh
9247
56
4070
25
86
2000
216 lakh
15885
73.5
6846
31.7
86
2001
320 lakh
23136
72
9698
30.8
89
2002
320lakh
23916
75.5
10040
31
88
2003
320 lakh
24875
77.7
10861
34
89
2004
322 lakh
25428
80
11095
34
88
2005
330 lakh
24979
76
11092
34
85
330 lakh
6345
77
2727
33
83
330 lakh
6205
75
2756
33
82
2006
1st Qtr
2006 2
Total
nd
Qtr
163369
each one-lakh population (usually block
PHCs), which have facilities for diagnosis
by sputum microscopy and treatment of
Tuberculosis. There are Directly Observed
Treatment (DOT) centres under MCs
where the patient swallows the tablets in
front of a DOT provider. Anyone who is
accessible and acceptable to the patient and
answerable to the
The RNTCP infrastructure in Kerala State
health system can
Sl. No Item
Number
become a DOT
provider. Multi
1
Number of districts covered
14
purpose health
2
Population covered
330 lakhs
workers (MPW),
Anganwadi
3
District TB Centres (DTC)
14
w o r k e r s ,
4
Tuberculosis Units
67
community
5
Medical Colleges Involved
6+ 7(Pvt.) = 13
volunteers and
members of non5
Microscopy Centres
485
governmental
6
Senior TB Supervisors
67
organizations
7
Senior TB Laboratory Supervisors
74
(NGO) and other
Community
8
Laboratory Technicians
381
Volunteers act as
9
Treatment Organisers
33
DOT providers.
10
Binocular Microscopes
538
This has helped in
decentralizing the
11
X Ray Machines
56
TB diagnosis and
12
Two wheelers
61
treatment.
13
Four wheelers
15
The overall
Annualised Cure
Smear
rate%
positive case
detection
rate/lakh
population
70722
management of the programme in the State
is by the State TB Cell (STC), which is
headed by the State TB officer (STO). A
Medical Officer and clerical staff on contract
form the rest of the STC team.. World
Health Organization is providing Technical
support for the Programme through WHO
Medical Consultants. There is a State TB
Demonstration and Training Centre
(STDC)
under
STC
at
Thiruvananthapuram, which is headed by
its director.
Areas of concern
Expansion. The entire Government
Health Services got covered by RNTCP in
the year 2000. The expansion to other areas
started after that. Medical Colleges, Private
Sector, NGOs and ESI are the other sectors,
which already got involved in RNTCP.
Attempts are being made to involve more
sectors.
Efforts to meet the global target of case
detection by involving other sectors
Private Hospitals
Private Hospital involvement started in
a small way in 2001 with a few Hospitals
functioning as DOTS Centres. In 2001
Kannur district achieved the status of the
first district to involve all major private
hospitals and laboratories in RNTCP,
which later became an international model.
The interest and enthusiasm shown by
Indian Medical Association was a major
factor in this experiment. With the
involvement of Private hospitals in the
district the case detection in the district
increased by 48%. Encouraged by the
success of the project, the State TB Cell
decided to involve the IMA at the State
Level. At present more than 300 Private
Hospitals including private labs in the State
are involved in RNTCP.
ESI
The ESI Corporation has joined
RNTCP entirely. In the state 17 ESI
hospitals and dispensaries have been
identified to start the Programme. Training
of Medical Officers and Lab Technicians are
underway. Three ESI Hospitals have already
started functioning as Microscopy Centres.
Medical Colleges
All the six Government. Medical
Colleges in the State and Two Cooperative
Medical Colleges, and all most all private
Medical Colleges having clinical functions
are involved in the RNTCP as Microscopy
Centres. All the Government Medical
Colleges and Co-operative Medical College
have contractual staff appointed by the
District TB Society.
NGOs
The year 2002 also saw active
involvement of a number of NGOs in the
State. Indian Medical Association - Kerala
State Brach is taking a keen interest in the
programme. Rotary international has taken
RNTCP as their theme for the years 2002
and 2003. There are 53 major NGOs
taking active role in the districts and they
include NGOs like Nehru Yuva Kendra,
Lions Club etc.
S
eptember 8 –Global/International
Literacy Day heralds literacy as a
strong weapon for human
development and against poverty and
hunger. The universal declaration of
human rights affirms that “everyone
has the right to education”, yet literacy
remains a low priority for national
governments and international
community. It is calculated that 860
million of the worlds adults do not
know how to read and write. More
than 57.3% of above adults are
women, thus impeding development
of children and family. It is also
reported that more than 100 million
children do not have access to
education. These figures represent an
affront to human dignity and a denial
of the right to education. They stand
as major barrier to eliminate poverty
and attaining development.
Commissioned studies by the World
Bank on primary education in
developing countries reported increase
in net enrolment rates in developing
countries from about 82% of the
relevant age group to about 86%. This
expansion came through supply – side
interventions like new schools and
class rooms within easy walkable
distance ,more teachers and involving
local community.
To be literate is to be a human right
and a constitutional right to the
citizens. The present achievement in
enlarging the net of literacy is only a
step in the bottom of a ladder where
much strenuous climbing has to be
done. Out of all commitments and
support systems, political will is
paramount. Economic analysis reveals
the highest returns on investment in
human resource development. A
literate individual, family, community
and society would be an asset in all
dimensions of human empowerment.
Freedom from ill health, poverty,
malnutrition, superstition and above
all current evil forces of terrorism are
attainable through universal literacy
movement. The current years theme is
“Literacy, the path out of poverty”.
Above 815 million people suffer from
hunger and malnutrition, mostly in
developing world indicating a perfect
relation between illiteracy, hunger and
malnutrition. In India, 75% of children
are under weight due to inadequate
nutrition. India has the highest number
of under weight and low weight children
and their prevalence is almost double
that of Sub-Saharan Africa. About 1/3rd
of Indians faced hunger during 2005.
Eight percent of rural and dalits faced
hunger often and 27 to 37%
sometimes. Kerala leads in literacy rates
(90.92%) followed by Mizoram
(88.49%) and Chandigarh (81.76%).
Female literacy is also the highest in
Kerala (87.86%) followed by Mizoram.
Literacy ratio in India has increased from
18.33% in 1951 to 65.38 % in 2001.
Female literacy also increased from
8.86% in 1951 to 54.16% in 2001.
Kerala is a model to other 28 states and
six union territories. Kottayam is the first
district in the country which recorded
100%literacy. There has been devoted
and committed investment, with 12373
schools run by over 1.77 lakh teachers.
Students enrolment during 2003-04
was 4.88 million. A drop out of 1.36%
is a worrying factor, which needs be
looked into. High literacy associated
with high life expectancy and low child
mortality in Kerala proves the right
linkage between literacy and human
development. The much quoted Kerala
model of development with emphasis
on complete literacy was drawn with
peoples participation, involvement of
NGOs and a committed governance.
Role of religious organizations is also to
be lauded here. Rehabitation of
dropouts, upgradation of scale of literacy,
use of ICT, every home a knowledge
centre are a few visions to be realised.
The writer is Former Vice Chancellor,
Kerala Agricultural University.
KERALA CALLING
The writer is State TB Officer.
Prof. K.V. Peter
September 2006
Funds
Under the Phase-II of the Revised
National TB Control Programme, which has
commenced on October 2005, State
received Rs.50 lakhs in 2006-07 and
during the financial year 2006-07 State has
so far received Rs.184 lakhs. Out of this
Rs.133 lakhs were allotted to Districts for
the implementation of various programme
activities. Under the Phase-II Expenditure
for various activities (October2005 to
March2006) were Rs.15 lakhs at State and
Rs.90 lakhs at Districts.
Global Literacy Day
23
hospitals and laboratories in RNTCP,
which later became an international model.
The interest and enthusiasm shown by
Indian Medical Association was a major
factor in this experiment. With the
involvement of Private hospitals in the
district the case detection in the district
increased by 48%. Encouraged by the
success of the project, the State TB Cell
decided to involve the IMA at the State
Level. At present more than 300 Private
Hospitals including private labs in the State
are involved in RNTCP.
ESI
The ESI Corporation has joined
RNTCP entirely. In the state 17 ESI
hospitals and dispensaries have been
identified to start the Programme. Training
of Medical Officers and Lab Technicians are
underway. Three ESI Hospitals have already
started functioning as Microscopy Centres.
Medical Colleges
All the six Government. Medical
Colleges in the State and Two Cooperative
Medical Colleges, and all most all private
Medical Colleges having clinical functions
are involved in the RNTCP as Microscopy
Centres. All the Government Medical
Colleges and Co-operative Medical College
have contractual staff appointed by the
District TB Society.
NGOs
The year 2002 also saw active
involvement of a number of NGOs in the
State. Indian Medical Association - Kerala
State Brach is taking a keen interest in the
programme. Rotary international has taken
RNTCP as their theme for the years 2002
and 2003. There are 53 major NGOs
taking active role in the districts and they
include NGOs like Nehru Yuva Kendra,
Lions Club etc.
S
eptember 8 –Global/International
Literacy Day heralds literacy as a
strong weapon for human
development and against poverty and
hunger. The universal declaration of
human rights affirms that “everyone
has the right to education”, yet literacy
remains a low priority for national
governments and international
community. It is calculated that 860
million of the worlds adults do not
know how to read and write. More
than 57.3% of above adults are
women, thus impeding development
of children and family. It is also
reported that more than 100 million
children do not have access to
education. These figures represent an
affront to human dignity and a denial
of the right to education. They stand
as major barrier to eliminate poverty
and attaining development.
Commissioned studies by the World
Bank on primary education in
developing countries reported increase
in net enrolment rates in developing
countries from about 82% of the
relevant age group to about 86%. This
expansion came through supply – side
interventions like new schools and
class rooms within easy walkable
distance ,more teachers and involving
local community.
To be literate is to be a human right
and a constitutional right to the
citizens. The present achievement in
enlarging the net of literacy is only a
step in the bottom of a ladder where
much strenuous climbing has to be
done. Out of all commitments and
support systems, political will is
paramount. Economic analysis reveals
the highest returns on investment in
human resource development. A
literate individual, family, community
and society would be an asset in all
dimensions of human empowerment.
Freedom from ill health, poverty,
malnutrition, superstition and above
all current evil forces of terrorism are
attainable through universal literacy
movement. The current years theme is
“Literacy, the path out of poverty”.
Above 815 million people suffer from
hunger and malnutrition, mostly in
developing world indicating a perfect
relation between illiteracy, hunger and
malnutrition. In India, 75% of children
are under weight due to inadequate
nutrition. India has the highest number
of under weight and low weight children
and their prevalence is almost double
that of Sub-Saharan Africa. About 1/3rd
of Indians faced hunger during 2005.
Eight percent of rural and dalits faced
hunger often and 27 to 37%
sometimes. Kerala leads in literacy rates
(90.92%) followed by Mizoram
(88.49%) and Chandigarh (81.76%).
Female literacy is also the highest in
Kerala (87.86%) followed by Mizoram.
Literacy ratio in India has increased from
18.33% in 1951 to 65.38 % in 2001.
Female literacy also increased from
8.86% in 1951 to 54.16% in 2001.
Kerala is a model to other 28 states and
six union territories. Kottayam is the first
district in the country which recorded
100%literacy. There has been devoted
and committed investment, with 12373
schools run by over 1.77 lakh teachers.
Students enrolment during 2003-04
was 4.88 million. A drop out of 1.36%
is a worrying factor, which needs be
looked into. High literacy associated
with high life expectancy and low child
mortality in Kerala proves the right
linkage between literacy and human
development. The much quoted Kerala
model of development with emphasis
on complete literacy was drawn with
peoples participation, involvement of
NGOs and a committed governance.
Role of religious organizations is also to
be lauded here. Rehabitation of
dropouts, upgradation of scale of literacy,
use of ICT, every home a knowledge
centre are a few visions to be realised.
The writer is Former Vice Chancellor,
Kerala Agricultural University.
KERALA CALLING
The writer is State TB Officer.
Prof. K.V. Peter
September 2006
Funds
Under the Phase-II of the Revised
National TB Control Programme, which has
commenced on October 2005, State
received Rs.50 lakhs in 2006-07 and
during the financial year 2006-07 State has
so far received Rs.184 lakhs. Out of this
Rs.133 lakhs were allotted to Districts for
the implementation of various programme
activities. Under the Phase-II Expenditure
for various activities (October2005 to
March2006) were Rs.15 lakhs at State and
Rs.90 lakhs at Districts.
Global Literacy Day
23
Obituary
An Idealistic Ordeal
T.P. Sasthamangalam
KERALA CALLING z September 2006
W
2626
hen a Person disappears behind
the World’s stage, we often ask
our self-who was that passed
away personality? When the expired person
is a celebrity, the importance increases. In
regard with recently expired “Thirunelloor
Karunakaran” this question is very
appropriate .But it is not easy to get an
exact single word answer about this
personality, since his personality and ability
cannot be described in one or two
words.
Basically he is a poet and a lyric
.Even he was a master in prose,
translator and a noble Teacher.
Above all he carried out his political
philosophy and worked till his last
breath very sincerely for it. He never
counted designations, he believed in
working hard always pays well for
existenance, His thoughts and
words were always for that existence.
He was always there to sing for
the poor. Their have’s and
have’nots, small small happiness love –its success and failure, all these
were depicted in his poems. The
ripples in lake, the divinity in village,
chill moon light and the golden
sunlight increased the tone and
quality of his poems and the sound
of revolution echoed in his poems.
His simple expression diction was his
strength. During his School days he started
his poetry writing, during this period he
was involved in writing .From the
childhood days he was involved in
communist party activities. In his childhood
days he formed the coir employee union.
He has his own famous poetic strip
depicting their life styles. In the same
manner, same theme was included in some
of his works in fifties like “premam
madhuramannu,dheeramannu(1956)”
and “Rani(1957)”. Rani received a good
appeal since it picturised overwhelming
sympathy wave. This story was told many
times in stages by the “Kadhaprasangam
artists”. Poet himself answers why the story
was retold in many stages and many times
he himself is fascinated by the beauty of
heroine “Rani”.
In the poem he asks “from where did
this girl have so much of beauty” and he
answers it’s far away from the golden spark
of the sky. May be after Changampuzha
who inculcated music touch in poems
would be Thirunelloor. He used simple
words to communicate his message. His
place was always in the heart of his readers.
Thirunelloor Karunakaran (1924-2006)
“To buy some land and make a hut and
marry her traditionally with thali and mala
in utmost decency”, this poem was sang
and resang by all keralites who read his write
ups.
The translation of “meghasandeham”
must have really astonished even the
original writer Kalidasan which came out
in1959.In the translation the poet added a
strip which increased the readers appeal for
poem. It had excellent readability and
continuity.
When train reached for the first time
in his village, he and his villagers were very
much excited and he even wrote a poem
based on it, “adyathe theevandi”
He was a man who liked to keep Onam
always in the front of the house in the
“Onapookkalam”.The mix up of blooming
beauty of world ,everlasting love and the
clear crystals of tears in poems was his
passionate lullaby. Besides poems he gifted
a lot of lyrics to “Kairali “.Those lyrics are
compiled as a book which is known as
“Anthimayangumpol.” We can see around
40 lyrics on different topics which always
established the presence of poet..
In 1957 Thirunelloor became very
famous for his lyrics for the film “Achanum
Makanum”. Later on for compiling
lyrics he associated with P Bhaskaran,
Thirunayinar Kurichi and
Madhavan Nair. Majority of lyrics
are really memorable. After the work
of “Achanum Makanum” he
hesitated to write lyrics for cinema
otherwise he would have been
famous like P Bhaskaran, Vayalar, and
ONV.
Under the guidance of Prof
Ilamkulam Kunjan Pillai he gained
depth knowledge in Malayalam
language and Literature and hence
he wrote “Bhasha Parinamavum
Sidhanthangalum”.
As a University Faculty his
position was indispensable. He was
a Professor in University College for
many years and has rich number of
students. Nobody will ever forget a
teacher like him who used to walk from
one end of the platform to the other while
lecturing within and outside the Syllabus.
He was a knowledgeable teacher who always
answered student’s queries patiently. He was
a legend who taught Malayalam Grammar
in a very interesting delivery method .It
was really difficult to find such a noble
teacher even in those days.
He was a personality who never kept
down his ideals under any circumstances.
He was very particular not to disturb
anybody during his last journey and that’s
why he surrendered down the earth for. In
these days who will be here in this world,
which lives with discipline during lifetime
and even keeps it during death.
Translated by Manju Rose Mathews
Obituary
Ayyappa Panikar (1930-2006)
determine the meaning of a word. He
combined love of facts with poetic
enjoyment of style and diction. He
respected the individuality of words – their
sound, their form, their usage in context
old and new. He had a special respect for
the student whose essays showed a
searching for the right word.
His communicative skills were equal to
his knowledge of literature and allied
subjects. Hence, his lectures lit with flashes
of surrealistic wit, shedding light in
unexpected directions, and now and then
startling with novel insights were a unique
experience to his students. They enjoyed
the pure pleasure of contact with a superior
intelligence. Sometimes he could hurt too
with a scathing comment.
His interests were many – literature,
specially poetry and criticism, drama both
as literature and theatre, cinema, kathakali,
various other ancient arts, also translation,
travel, lecturing. Naturally he had friends
and admirers the world over.
With his ‘Kurukshetra’ and other poems
he gave a jolt to Malayalam poetry which
was comfortably settled in a kind of
repetitive romanticism. He brought in the
many-branched anti-romantic, modernistic
stance. He was unsparing in knocking down
illusions, or in directing a spout of acid at
pretensions. He could juggle with words,
discard metres, or break their back. He
brought in a new freedom into the writing
of poetry. As he grew older disenchantment
Precious Memory
B. Hridayakumari
KERALA CALLING
seemed to become a philosophy with him.
He was strong enough to imbibe it himself.
I am astounded when I think of the
tireless work he did. There was hardly a
moment when his mind or his pen took a
rest. There are hundreds in this city who
have felt in his discourses the power and
sharpness of his intellect, enjoyed the
creativity in his ceaseless punning and
quibbling, and shared a joke with him. He
was an inspiring model as a researcher,
scholar and teacher. In poetry he pioneered
significant trends. As a friend and colleague
he has become a precious memory.
September 2006
A
yyappa Panikar and I were together
in the University College,
Thiruvananthapuram, first as
students doing the English Honours course
and a few years later as teachers, till he left
from the University’s institute of English.
Panikar as a student was a rather shy young
man but as a teacher he was a vicarious
presence in the staff-room. Not that he ever
talked or laughed much. But his flashes of
wit and humour evoked peals of laughter
from us, and often gave us food for thought.
We, his colleagues, delighted in drawing
his attention to something or other to
trigger off his criticisms. By the end of the
nineteen fifties he was well-known
intellectual with a large circle of friends,
many of them writers and artists. Before he
was thirty he was a presence in the Kerala
literary scene and in the capital city’s
intellectual life.
As a teacher Panikar worked so hard
that he became a scholar in whatever he
taught. A voracious reader gifted with
penetrating intelligence, his watchwords
were clarity and exactness. I remember how
many dictionaries he would consult to
27
Agriculture
R. Hali
F
ood grains really hold the key that
keep hunger and famine away
from human race. It will be so
startling a fact to hear that the
world at present hold enough grain for
consumption only for just forty five days.
Management of grain crops, its harvesting,
storage and transportation to every remote
corner of the world where ever human
beings need it is thus a fascinating but fate
Undesirable
developments creating
unbearable natural
disaster and economic
distress
Elimination of
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Rice Fields
28
deciding factor and continuous process.
India was one of the most hungry
regions of the world, buying, pleading and
begging for food grains to feed its millions
from different grain rich countries, some
three decades ago. Thanks to the bold and
imaginative joint action undertaken
together by politicians, scientists and hard
working peasants we could wipe off the
most shameful begging face of the nation
and emerge as a food exporter of repute
and food donor of great magnanimity.
Sustained grain production, it must be
noted is a very difficult effort facing several
unexpected damages and some times more
difficult than construction of a gigantic
dam. Round the year land preparation, back
breaking transplanting, fatigue generating
harvesting etc... have to be undertaken
braving unpredictable climatic conditions.
Grain culture calls for human involvement
in every area of activity and in India even
60 years after independence, 65%
population depend on agriculture for their
livelihood security. Farming accommodates
65% of population of our country while
only 9 Lakhs people are engaged in United
States. It is less than 2% of the population
in U.K and 5% in Germany and so, a level
playground in the farming sector cannot
be achieved in the near future whether you
support World Trade Organisation or the
opening up of the economy of our country
in more and more sectors for foreign
investment.
Indian political system and governance
has several soft corners which even the worst
critics of the Central - State relationship
fails to note. One bright example is the fact
that the generous hike in the productions
of grains has made states like Kerala which
solely depend the Central Government for
uninterrupted grain supply, suddenly
became the most grain rich parts of the
country. Rice is available in plenty in every
part of the state for a very competitive price;
thanks to the green revolution. This has
resulted in the shrinkage of rice area and
cultivation rice in the state.
High wages, shortage of labour, huge
hike in the cost of inputs are really the
important causes for the shift in the rice
culture by making it an unwanted,
unattractive debt creating enterprise. So all
those who could generate money otherwise
in the state has left from the rice culture
area. Saddest of all the undesirable
development is our lethargy to think, study
and discuss the after effects of this fall in
the rice area from over 8 lakhs hectares
¦ Farmers should be organized by groups,
forefront with the involvement and
under the leadership of the State level
agencies, District panchayat, Block
panchayat and Grama panchayat.
¦ New programmes like popularising
aromatic rice, medicinal rice, safe rice etc
should be organized by linking it with
the marketing agencies.
The ultimate objective should be that
‘padashekaram’ wise and they should be
motivated and helped by giving
assistance for infrastructure build up so
that they could grow two crops of rice
and one crop of vegetable every year.
¦ Institutional mechanisms must be made
for enhancing the fertility of soil organic
matter content. Assistance may be given
the rice farmer should get a decent return
by adopting rice culture as an enterprise
and it should be made risk free by
providing insurance care that work.
Enhancing rice culture to 5 lakhs
hectares may sound formidable but it is
task which could be accomplished if
attempted to with a strong political will,
efficient administrative support and farmers
involvement. This programme should be
hailed as a Grand Rice Renewal Movement.
The new generation should not
consider rice cultivation as an easy exercise
as it is performed by brown skinned, poorly
clothed less educated people. They have
there own strong points and the most
important is their capacity to brave
scorching sun, pouring rains, pitch
darkness, biting cold and look after the crop
they love from nature’s fury. Paddy, there is
a saying associated with poverty and grain
farming in general is an enterprise mostly
in the hands of people who experience
famine and hunger very often but their
involvement is a must if you want to
produce it from the soil. Nature too has got
very rigid rules. To produce one ton of rice
you need more than 500 tons of water but
the consumer is getting it for Rs. 2/Kg
thanks to the strong political will behind
the decision. At the same time you are
paying Rs. 15/- for a bottle of water with a
smile.
The near total elimination of rice
culture in Kerala is sure to create huge
ecological calamities like deluge, depletion
of ground water wealth and drinking water
scarcity. It will also shrink our garden land
cultivation, home stead farming, back yard
poultry, cattle rearing, dairy farming and
several avocations. Rice culture is now giving
way to large scale reclamation and all
transactions in the rice area takes place
between real estate personal and
construction firms. It is also resulting in the
levelling of hills and hillocks leading to
several ecological disorders. All those who
live in Kerala are aware of the great disaster
looming large around us but no one is
coming forward to protect the paddy fields
and rice farmers. Perhaps these two may
soon become extinct from the ‘God’s Own
Country’. Are we moving from a Green
paradise to a Black devil land.
The writer is a freelance farm journalist;
former Director of Agriculture Kerala and special
consultant to M S Swaminathan Research
Foundation, Chennai.
KERALA CALLING
for improving irrigation, organic
manures and mechanization support.
¦ Harvesting, processing and marketing
support also may be made as an integral
part of the programme.
¦ Effective linkages may be made between
all development agencies working in the
technology transfer, input assistance,
funding, harvesting, processing and
marketing.
¦ Supporting schemes for assisting the
farmers groups may be formed and the
NGO’s and organisations like
Kudumbashree units, farmers
associations may be brought to the
September 2006
during 70’s to less than 3 lakhs hectares in
2001. No state in the country has recorded
such a steep fall in rice area and here
everybody connected with rice ranging
from farmers to poets and the leaders of
environment movement are behaving like
silent viewers of the decay of the most
charming greenery of the state.
Elimination of the rice fields is just like
severing the lungs from the human body.
It is very dangerous.
¦ We must maintain at least 5 lakh hectares
under rice, billing any cost to protect the
ecology, environment and drinking water
availability.
29
Society
P. K. Devan
“
I
n Manantoddy Town itself, a fanner
of “Erumakkaran (Buffalo herder)
caste recently locked up in a room 5
labourers of his, 3 Adiyas and 2
Paniyas and beat them up for not doing
the work assigned to them, but went out
worked for another man in the bazar for
daily wages” (From The Paniyas : An exslave
tribe of South India by Dr. Aiyappan).
It was what happened to many of the
adivasis, the sons of Wyanad soil, who
engaged in Kundalpani during the times
of Britishraj and during two decades since
independence. As a kind of bonded labour
system it was found be practised in various
parts of India. In Kerala it was seen only in
Wayanad of Malabar. The practice of
bonded labour system is known by
different names in the different regions in
our country. In Rajastan, it was called
‘Sagri”; in Andhra “Vette”; in Orissa ‘Gothi’;
in Karnataka ‘Jetha’ in Madhya Pradesh
‘Naukri Nama’; and in Wayanad
‘Kundalpani’ or ‘Nippupani’.
Kundalpani was actually a system of
slavery under which the Paniya and Adiya
tribals were com-pelled to work for a
particular Nair or Gowdar or any other
Ao,1969).
Starts with ‘Valliyurkav Panaro’
Under the system of Kundalpani the
recruitment of the Paniyas as bonded
labourers was done by advancing an
amount at the Valliyurkav Bhagavathy
temple (this temple is located 3 kms away
from Mananthavady town in North
Wayanad) Annual Festival in March. A very
large proportion of the crowd that
assembled in the temple premises then was
the tribals (most of them, Paniyas and
Adiyas) and non-tribals involving Nair
employers. Through his reputed work “The
Paniyas”, Dr. A. Ayappan gives us a true
picture of the slave trade of the Paniyas
during the Valliyurkav temple annual
festival.
“The number of the Paniya men and
women on the periphery of the crowd
which I saw in 1940 may be at least about
1500 and most of the family groups found
employers, received advances which are
called “Nippupanam” (engagement
money) and placed their thumb impressions on the agreement, the contents
of which none of them could read. The
object of the employers in making the
Paniyas place their thumb marks on the
Kundalpani
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
By-gone days of bitter adivasian slavery
30
Hindu higher caste employer for a fixed
term. It is interesting to note that there were
20 ‘Devaswams’ in Wayanad and majority
of them were owned by Hindu Nair and
Warrier castes. The tribals were attached to
their landlords, particularly Nair and
Warriers as agricultural serfs.
According to the Shilu-Ao-Committee,
the system of bonded labour amongst the
Paniyas of Kerala and Madras has assumed
over the years, the character of a sacrament,
the bond between the tribal and his master
being consecrated before the presiding of a
temple well known in the area (Shilu-
document was to impress on them that the
agreement was legal and binding on the
workers and if they did not honour it, the
police would be after them”.
This kind of advancement or
‘Nippupanam’ to adivasis was popularly
known in Wayanad as “Valliyurkavpanm”.
After putting their thump impressions, the
Paniyas had to pledge by standing in front
of the Sreekovil of Valliyurkav temple that
they would serve a particular employer till
the temple festival in March of next year.
Through the verses of their traditional song,
“Kakkappattu”, on can see the heart
beatings of a ‘slave Paniya’ , who stood
helplessly in front of the temple sreekovil
for making such a pledge:
“Vallookav
Bhagavathikku
Janmamayitulla padathilu
Moovayiram Vithuvithakkannudu
udane parayannu Chinnu anneram
Enne onnum cheyyaruthu valluracha
Ivide adimayayi nikkum njanu
Vallooru adimayayi ninnu Chinnu”
Even after the disappearance of the
practice of Valliyurkavpanam by 1946,
the system of recruiting adivasis by the
The writer is Lecturer in Sociology, N.S.S.
College, Pandalam.
KERALA CALLING
and annually a small quantity of rice as
proof of his continuing right in the slave.
In the third kind of ‘Pattam slave’, the
owner of the slave rents him out for an
annual sum of eight ‘Panams’ for a man
and four ‘Panams’ for a woman.
‘Valli’ was the popular name for the
mode of daily payment to a Paniya or Adiya
slave by his Nair ‘Janmi’. Under the valli
system daily wages were paid at the rate of
2½ sers (1 ser is equal to 1 litre) of paddy
for a man and 2 sers for woman. At the end
of every two-week period they used to be
given a day off with wages and some oil for
their hair.
Thus starts the kundalpani works of
an adivasi. Underfed and malnourished
those adivasis had gone to work hard in the
paddy fields and plantations of the
employers from sunrise to sunset. But the
life and toil of the Paniyas and Adiyas were
closely tied up with the rhythms of the
seasons and farming operations in Wayanad.
Towards the beginning of ‘Medam’ (April)
commences the sowing of seeds in the
fields for certain varieties of paddy like
‘Tondi’, ‘Chomala’ and in ‘Karkitakom’
September 2006
employers (after that adivasis were called
up on to summon in the home of the
employer) for ‘Nippupani’ continued upto
three decades ago. Those adivasi labourers
were also paid Nippupanam prior to the
commencement of their work.
Kinds of work and “Valli Payment”
Under the Kundapani system the
adivasi labourers were compelled to do all
kinds of works by the ‘Pappan’ or Nair
employer. If a Paniya or Adiya was reluctant
to obey the orders of his employer he was
severely beaten up by the latter. These
helpless men lived in little howels,
constructed for them by their Pappans in
the paddy fields or near the threshing
grounds. The adivasi slaves were divided
into three categories ‘Janmam slaves’,
‘Kanam slaves’ and ‘Pattam slaves’. In the
Janmam types, the ownership was absolute
and unconditional. Janmam slaves fetched
the highest price - 250 to 300 Panams
(Rupee 1=3.5 Panams). If the slave had
two or three children, 10 panams would
be added to his price. In the ‘Kanam’ type,
the adivasi slave was mortgaged and the
owner received two-thirds value of the slave
month (July-August) for the kinds of
paddy, ‘Jeerakasala’ and ‘Kayama’. In the
month of ‘Edavam’ (June) Adviasi labourers
begin paddy field works like ploughing and
in ‘Mithunam’ (July) transplantation takes
place everywhere in Wayanad. After the
transplanta-tion is completed the employer
presents his ‘Kundalpani’ workers with
cotton sheets to be used as blankets.
‘Muthari’ (Ragi) is harvested in Chingam
(August-September). By the end of
Chingam transplantation works of paddy
plants come to an end and the month of
‘Kanni’ invites famine to tribals as they have
no works to do in the paddy fields or
elsewhere. Then comes the months of
Thulam, Vrichikam and Dhanu for the
Paniyas and Adiyas to involve in the works
connected with harvesting of paddy.
During the months of Makiyaram,
Khumbam, the Nippupani labourers are
involved in certain works in the coffee
plantation like plucking of coffee, pepper
etc. There marks the end of the annual
agricultural cycle by the ‘Uchal Festival’
ceremonies taking place in the month of
Kumbam.
Besides these common agricultural
operations, the Paniyas and Adiyas engaged
in ‘Kundalpani’ had to do so many other
works as per the direction of their
employers. Domestic works such as
sweeping and cleaning of utensils, cattle
tending, taking the duty of watchman in
the paddy fields and coffee plantations
during harvest seasons etc were also done
on a meagre valli remuneration by those
slave adivasis during the dark days of
Kundalpani.
At the end of the week (Saturdays) these
kundapani labourers were also paid the
balance of their wages either in kind (valli)
or in cash (as per the prevailing price of
valli per litre). During Onam, Vishu and
Uchal festivals the adivasi workers were
given feasts by the employers. Their
working hours were limited from 7.30 am
to 11.30 am and from 2.00 pm to 6.00
pm with a feasible lunch during noon. For
the next kind of work ‘Porame Pani’
(overtime work) of full 10 hours the
workers were provided a good lunch and
coffee by the employer. Rs 2.(or 3 sers of
paddy) was also given to each worker for
his overtime work. Besides, employers
having large acres of paddy fields used to
give 5 ‘Potis’ (sacks of paddy) of paddy to
every husband-wife pair employees at the
end of all paddy field works in a year.
31
Health
To Prevent
Malnutrition
The theme of world breast feeding week 2006
is ‘making it known to people’
Tessy Kurian, Cijo Joseph
KERALACALLING
CALLING
KERALA
September 2006
2006
September
O
32
32
n the health status map of
India, Kerala stands first
as the best performing
state on major social
indicators - life expectancy, literacy
and health parameters. Infant mortality
rate in Kerala is very low, compared
to the national average of 72 and it is
better than any other state. Kerala
became the first Baby Friendly State
in the World in 2002 which shows the
care given to child survival and
nutrition.
A study conducted in Kottayam the most literate district of Kerala
reveals that breast fed babies are
healthier than artificially fed infants.
According to the classification of
malnutrition laid down by the Indian
Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) the
prevalence of malnutrition in the study
area was significantly lower among
breast fed infants (4.62%) than
artificially fed infants (25.70%). This
finding must be an eye-opener to
young mothers who give birth to the
future wealth of the country.
Breast milk contains all the
nutrients a baby needs for the first 6
months. It contains the most suitable
protein and fat for a baby in right
quantities, more lactose than any other
milks enough vitamins and water.
Vitamin supplements are not necessary
and no additional water is required
even in a hot desert! Colostrum and
breast milk protect babies against
infection. In fact colostrum is the “first
immunisation” for the newborn. It is
well documented that breast fed babies
have less diarrhoea and fewer
respiratory and middle ear infections
than artificially fed babies. Artificially
fed babies are 10 times more prone to
asthmatic attacks. Introduction of
proteins of animal source below the
age of one year is known to produce
TH2 - which is one of the reason for
asthmatic attack whereas exclusive
breast feeding for the first 6 months
produces THI - which gives an infant
protection from asthma. Frequent
respiratory infections, asthmatic
attacks etc. will reduce the food intake
of infants. The higher incidence of
diarrhoea (14.2 times more) in
artificially fed infants causes loss of
nutrients and all these factors may
result in malnutrition.’
Apart from these qualities in breast
milk, we may consider the
convenience of breast feeding. Breast
milk is always ready and needs no
preparation and it never goes sour or
bad. It cannot be adulterated.
The growing pressure of
population, the breakdown of joint
family system and increased
consumption of convenience food
affect an infant’s health status. The
replacement of the traditional baby
food (eg. raggi with jaggerry, banana
powder etc.) by convenience food and
increased consumption of food
supplements lead to excessive calorie
and protein intake and low fibre
consumption. This causes childhood
obesity, diarrhoeal problems and
constipation. The wrong practice
followed by young mothers, caretakers
or grand mothers, faulty breast feeding
techniques, food prejudices and taboos
adversely affect the nutritional status
of infants.
It is a paradox that an infant born
in a rich family turns out to be
1. Chitkara A, J,(1993), “ Economic Value of
Breastfeeding in India”, Economic and Political
Week. June 26, pp.1390-1393.
The best method of
preventing malnutrition
among infants is to impart
knowledge to mothers or
care takers of the infant.
2. Elizabeth, K E (2002) Nutrition and Child
Development, Pras Medical Publishing,
Hyderabad, p. 131
3. Ghosh. S (1997), Nutrition and child care
-: A practical guide, Jape brothers. New Delhi
4. Jain Kalpana (2001), “Infant Mortality Rate
rising in most states”, Social Welfare, 28th Jan.
5. Palmer G. (1993), The Politics of
Breastfeeding, Pandora press, London.
6. Parvati (2001), Malnutrition in Indian
Children, Social welfare, Sept. 28
1.Rajammal P. Devadas, .. (2001), “Fighting
Malnutrition”, The Hindu, 21st Aug.
8. Tessy Kurian, (2004), “The Economics of
Breastfeeding”, Piravi, Souvenir, National
Neonatology Forum, Kerala, pp.57-59
The writers are
*Reader & Head of Dept. of Economics, B K
College for Women, Amalagiri, Kottayam.
**Lecturer, Department of Food Science & Quality
Control, St. George College, Aruvithura,
Kottayam.
KERALACALLING
CALLING
KERALA
on feeding practices? To be a successful
mother in bringing up a healthy baby
it is better to learn as much about it as
possible before delivery, when she is
not exhausted from caring an infant
around-the-clock. The role of media
both audio and visual also is
significant. Young generation is more
vulnerable to advertisements. Health
Department should conduct
programmes on child nutrition.
Grand mothers or caretakers of
the baby must be informed of the
feeding interval and methods of
feeding and weaning required for
a healthy child.
Along with the advertisements
of the multinational company
popularising the complementary
feeds, advertisement to popularise
and to display the ‘natural way’ of
protecting the baby against
malnutrition must be restored to.
If a multinational company
developed a product that was a
nutritionally balanced and
delicious food, a wonder drug that
both prevented and treated
disease, cost almost nothing to
produce and could be delivered
in quantities controlled by the
consumer needs’, the very
announcement of their finding
would send their shares rocketing
to the top of the stock market.
The wealth and influence of the
scientists involved would increase
dramatically. Women have been
producing such a miraculous
substance, breast milk, since the
beginning of human existence! (G.
Palmer, Politics of Breast feeding)
It is seen that the domestic animals
we see around (eg. cow, dog etc.) are
not known to get any asthmatic attacks.
It is due to the fact that their offsprings
consume only their mother’s milk till
their gastro intestinal tract becomes
mature. We are the only mammals who
run after other animals’ milk or
products out of it to give our precious
babies!
Reference:
September 2006
2006
September
malnourished! We must realise that the
major contributory factor to
malnutrition is not poverty but
ignorance. In Kottayam district where
female literacy is the highest in India,
12.29% mothers are not aware of the
importance of cholostrum!
Positioning of babies before and
after feeding is important. Babies can
be put in the right lateral position after
feeding, which will prevent aspiration.
Prone position is not recommended
as it is found to be associated with
higher incidence of Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome (SIDS) in some
cases.
Breast milk alone is inadequate
beyond 6 months of age. Food
supplements must be given along with
breast-feeding. Adequate weaning
methods will prevent malnutrition.
However, enthusiasm to start
complementary feed earlier than 6
months may offset the advantage of
exclusive breast feeding and should ‘be
definitely discouraged, it is the timely
complementary feeding that ensures
good foundation of health in infants.
A balanced diet should provide
around 60-70 per cent total calories
from carbohydrates. Preferably starch,
about 10-12 per cent from proteins and
20-25 per cent from fat. The weaning
foods should include vegetables or
fruits, which are rich sources of
micronutrients such as iron, iodine
and vitamin A. Fruits and vegetables
also provide several non-nutritional
factors like fibre and phyto-chemicals.
Green leafy vegetables and other yellow
or orange vegetables and fruits help in
the prevention of micronutrient
malnutrition.
The best method of preventing
malnutrition among infants is to
impart knowledge to mothers or care
takers. Integrated Child Development
Scheme (ICDS) workers, educational
institutions, NGOs, research
organisations
and
medical
practitioners should popularise the
importance of breast feeding and
proper feeding practices to be followed
by mothers. All medical personnel
should encourage breast-feeding. .
When to start educating mothers
33
33
Animal rearing
Livestock products
In search of Rural Markets
Dr. T.P. Sethumadhavan
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
I
34
ndian livestock sector is in a
transitional stage. The pace of shift
from traditional to market system is
a gradual process. Livestock sector
contributes 30 percent of the total income
from agriculture in the country, whereas in
southern states it is more than 40 percent.
Annual growth rate in livestock sector is
more than four times in agriculture.
Commodity share is 3.53 as against 3.5 in
agriculture. More than 70 percent of the
rural households in India depend on
livestock sector for supplementary income.
Economic review suggests that
women carry out more than 90
percent of the activities related to
care and management of livestock.
Analysis of the trends over the
last two decades indicates that the
growth in poultry and dairy
sectors has exceeded the growth
in cereal production. This may be
due to rapid urbanization,
population growth, rising levels of
income and falling prices of
livestock products. There are
certain indications, which suggest
that the demand led livestock
growth is expected to continue
and by 2020 more than 60
percent of meat and 50 percent of milk
will be produced in the developing
countries. China and India are likely to
emerge as the primary producers of meat
and milk respectively.
India has 187.38 million cattle, which
is about 15% of the world cattle
population, of which around 12. 07 % are
crossbred. Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, Kerala,
Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab
account for 60 percent of the crossbred
cattle population. 96.62 million Buffalo
population in the country comes around
56 percent of the world Buffalo population.
Even though India is the largest milk
producing country in the world.
Productivity per animal is only less than
50 % of the world average. This is mainly
due to poor level of nutrition and low
genetic potential for milk production and
health care. Projected gap between
demand and supply of green and dry fodder
presents a challenge for fodder production
in the coming years. Studies done by
NDDB revealed that 45% milk is
consumed as liquid milk, 28% as Ghee, 6
percent as butter, khoa and 7 percent as
dahi and 2.6 % as milk powder. In general
consumption expenditure on milk and
milk products is next to cereals and is rising
steadily over the years. Demand elasticity
estimates of Indian dairy industry for milk
and milk products combined are 1.65 in
rural and 1.15 in urban India. (Dutta and
Ganguly 2000). Moreover expenditure
elasticity of demand for milk and milk
products for lower income class is
considerably greater.
Livestock markets in the world are
changing dramatically. In the developed
world demand is relatively stable and there
are increasing concerns over the systems of
livestock production and safety of livestock
products. The picture in the developing
country appears markedly different.
Demand for livestock products is predicted
to increase by 5 % or more per annum.
This demand for livestock products will be
met from different sources, largely domestic
but also international. How poor can
capitalize on this?
So-called livestock revolution is both
an important opportunity and a serious
challenge for the global community.
Based upon the exploitations from
current livestock trade pattern, it is expected
that most of the projected increase in the
livestock demand will be met from within
the developing world. Meeting this
demand will require enormous increases in
supply of feeds and other inputs, scaling
up of livestock production,
processing, distribution and
marketing and much improved
systems for assuring the quality
and safety of livestock products
for the consumers. Avian Flu,
SARS, Foot and mouth Disease,
etc, is influencing the changing
patterns of livestock production
associated with livestock
revolution.
How poor will benefit from
the increasing consumption of
livestock products will depend
on a number of policy,
technology and research choices.
There is evidence from several
countries that small holders are
very competitive under the right
circumstances (Delgado et al 2001).
Market opportunities for the poor can
be greatly improved by paying specific
attention to social equity and environmental
issues that are at present largely ignored.
Selective investments in infrastructure, cooperatives, contract farming arrangements
and other pro poor market mechanisms.
Public support is required for appropriate
health and food safety systems that benefit
the poor. These changes will require new
ways of doing business and strategic
research that targets the priority concerns
of the poor. There is great potential for
increasing the assets, incomes and food
redefine the role of marketing as creating,
communicating and delivering value to the
consumer. Value addition of livestock
products should be based on consumer
needs and taste, like fat free milk for cardiac
patients, chocolates for children, quality
cheese for international market, etc.
Measures to be taken to reduce the cost
of production and to improve the quality
of livestock products to make them
internationally competitive.
If the farmer has to sustain and if his
products have to find a good market the
The writer is Asst Director, Department of
Animal Husbandry & Visiting Scientist,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington D C, USA.
KERALA CALLING
cost of production has to come down and
the quality of the products has to be
improved so that it can capture the
competitive market. It means that costeffective farming system has to be adopted
and efficiency of production has to go up.
Veterinarians have a significant role to play.
The new innovations in technology and
marketing should be brought to the
farmer’s doorsteps. Techniques that will
reduce cost of production and enhance
production per animal should be developed
and should be viable and sustainable. The
increased cost of inputs and labour pushes
the cost of production high.
Genetic improvement must be
achieved at the same time maintaining the
genetic diversity. Selection of breeds
adaptable to the existing agro-climatic
conditions that can thrive on
unconventional feeds and fodder should
be given priority. Biotechnology tools
should be effectively utilized to harvest
maximum output with less extensive
inputs. Conservation of locally available
germplasm that has lot of good traits should
be attempted.
The production system that would
optimise farmers return through judicial
use of farm wastes should be developed.
Integrated farming with pig, duck, and fish
has been shown to be very rewarding. The
enhancement of production should be
centered on small farmers. Reducing the
calving interval and a targeted minimum
calving interval should ensure maximum
return to the farmer.
Effective utilization of feed and crop
residue and other agricultural products
should be given paramount importance.
Improving the availability of
nutrients in feed for the animal
using enzymes, growth promoters,
use of chelated minerals etc.
should be thought of. Feed is an
important constraint for livestock
production in India and green
fodder and paddy straw are scarce
commodities. Effective planning
should be made for collection,
processing, storage and
distribution of paddy straw at the
same time enriching its quality.
Seasonal surpluses should be
exploited and effort should be
made for uniform availability
throughout the country. Concerted effort
should be made to make use of the available
land for fodder production. Effective
utilization of available crop residues,
industrial wastes and unconventional
fodder should be made. There is good
scope to develop meat industry and its
export potential is very good. Livestock for
meat should be identified, male animals
should be specially reared for meat purpose
and veal production should be augmented.
Utmost care should be taken to ensure
the quality of the products. We cannot
think of export of the dairy or meat
products without assuring quality. Strict
hygienic measures at the site of production,
during transport and storage should be
maintained. Quality assurance laboratories
should be established for meat, milk, feed
and other products. We should have real
surpluses of livestock products. Value
added products should be developed to
capture the market.
September 2006
safety of the poor from livestock
production, marketing and consumption.
While giving emphasis to production,
marketing of the livestock products were
not given due attention. Scientific
breeding, feeding, management and
disease control has been given due
importance. When the issue of
sustainability arises marketing will come in
to picture. Livestock products except
around 15 % of the milk produced are
mainly traded through unorganized sector.
In order to explore the rural market for
livestock products our
production strategy need to be
market oriented in nature. It
should be in tune with local,
domestic and international
market. Production and
branding of traditional livestock
products, which fetches good
price, should be promoted.
There are certain pre
requisites for popularizing
market oriented production
strategy for livestock products
in the country. It should be
economically viable. Cost of
production has to be reduced
considerably without affecting the quality
of products. Changes in the extension
approach, market forecasting system, value
addition, awareness on diseases affecting
trade of livestock products, consumer
behavior, production of livestock products
based on the demographic characteristics
of the population, good manufacturing and
retail practices, best production practices
and implementation of food safety norms,
etc need more emphasis.
Extension approach should be need
based and participatory in nature. It should
be an integrated systems approach having
problem-solving dimension. This so called
strategic extension approach should make
all efforts to improve the production while
giving due attention to marketing. Farmers
need to be given more awareness on value
addition, food safety norms, branding and
problems and prospects of marketing
including the four cardinals of marketing
like product, price, promotion and place.
As told by the world marketing ‘Guru’
Philip Kotler in today’s world of IT
explosion branding is becoming more
important than before. One needs to
35
Society
Dowry System
A Post Liberation Analysis
Dr. Jose A.
T
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
he Prohibition of Dowry Act which was passed in 1961,
after women’s organisations had fought and exerted
pressure defined dowry as “any property or valuable
security given, or agreed to be given, either directly or
indirectly (a) by one party to a marriage to the other party to the
marriage, or (b) by the parents of either party to the marriage or by
any other person at or before or after the marriage as consideration
for the marriage of the said parties.”
Add to this is the clause, “any presents made at the time of a
marriage to either party to the marriage in the form of cash,
ornaments, clothes or other articles shall not be deemed as dowry
unless they are made as consideration for the marriage of the said
parties.”
It is with the aid of this clause that the offenders of the Dowry
Act have under the guise of ‘presents’ shamelessly demanded
refrigerators, cars, scooters, television sets, videos and other
household goods. In their anxiety to get their daughters off their
hand, parents have compelled in perpetuating this evil.
There are several problems with this
definition, which are best captured from the
context of women’s lives. Many factors
including that most women in reality are
excluded from ownership, control, and
decision making about productive
resources as well as socio-cultural and
36
religious sanctions and taboos sustain the devaluation of women
and underline their dependency and inferior status. Dowry as
female property is contingent upon a woman’s marriage, that is, it
is available to women only on marriage, which draws from and
reinforces their dependency. In practice, it is not a woman’s right
to demand or to determine the amount of dowry; is not always an
“equal” share of the family property and is not necessarily under a
woman’s control let alone her possession.
In most cases, women have little or no control over their dowries
which in turn is symptomatic of the pervasiveness of not only
persistent gender inequality that undermines women and privileges
men but also of violence against women in all stages of the life
cycle, across all spaces. But in the absence of any inheritance,
dowry is a pro-woman institution. Some scholars disagree, pointing
out that dowry was primarily a strategy to deny women a share of
the family’s immovable property to ensue that immovable property
(mainly arable land) would remain within the patrilineal group.
Cost-benefit calculations of being a girl or a boy enter every
day routine and factor in all decisions related to being female
captured in sayings such as, “bringing up a daughter is like watering
a neighbour’s plant.” Daughters are often seen as an economic
drain of families because of the huge dowries and lower prospects
for earning in the labour markets. Once married, their incomes
invariably go to their marital households and socio-cultural norms
do not allow parents to expect any material support from married
daughters. The non-negotiability of marriage implies that parents
are caught in the dowry trap. The consequences of not fulfilling
dowry obligations-both real and anticipated-drive parents beyond
their means. For most parents and women, these consequences
do not end with a daughter’s marriage, but signal life long
obligations and anxiety.
Far from enhancing their status, dowry demands
continue to remain one of the important causes of violence,
harassment and death. The discussion on the changing
nature of dowry cannot therefore be delinked from women’s
well-being. While much of the literature acknowledges the
political economy nature of dowry, the practice is
simultaneously social and cultural. Our contention is
that not all of the changes in the practice of dowry
can be accounted for by a purely economic
perspective. Factoring the non-economic
dimensions of the practice is central in the ways
dominant cultures are constructed,
maintained, and reproduced and thus offers a
holistic and satisfactory explanation of the
in Kerala
The power of the dominant caste
(often also the dominant class)
accumulated through economic,
social, and symbolic capital
enables them to impose the
legitimacy of domination through
their own symbolic production.
Social
Aspect
For
poor
landless families,
under
severe
pressure
from
kinship, neighbours,
and friends, giving
huge dowries beyond
their means was,
“crucial to the
changes.
maintenance
of household
reputation” if not
to increase it,
which ensured the
intercaste spread of
the practice.
The power of the dominant caste
(often also the dominant class) accumulated
through economic, social, and symbolic
capital enables them to impose the
legitimacy of domination through their own
symbolic production. Thus, for example,
for the Brahmins, occupying the highest
position in caste hierarchy, symbolic capital
accumulated through the control of
knowledge production is the main source
of power through which they control access
to other resources. For castes lower in social
hierarchy, the poor and the landless, dowry
represents the merger of material and
symbolic capital by which they hope to
accumulate material and symbolic power,
thus sustaining and reproducing the
practice. In giving huge dowries and
material display, a family signals that it is
capable and important.
Test of Value of Women
From being an upper caste/upper class
KERALA CALLING
Economic Impact
The practice of dowry, building on a
tradition of giving symbolic gifts, has
undergone significant changes to become
extent and
amount of dowry
(given that it is an illegal social
practice), and on the other, by the
complex and often conflicting data on the
impact of economic reforms.
Evidently, the opening up of the
markets in India from the 1990s hastened
the process of economic modernisation,
dramatically increasing cash flows and the
availability of consumer goods even while
fuelling aspirations for a better lifestyle to
own and live in luxury. Greater exposure
to a world beyond the village through
television and films provided a boost to
rising aspirations of life styles of comfort
and luxury resulting in a consumer culture.
This means that, well-off families could
have easily shifted to giving the latest
consumption goods as part of their
daughters dowries because they could
afford it. The problem of course is that this
behaviour is not a function merely of
financial affordability, that is, it is not
limited to only those who can afford or
have the means. An even greater impact of
market liberalisation is the increasing
importance of material status and opulent
life styles as a desired state to be pursued.
Under the pressure of maintaining “face”
and social imitation, the not so well off and
the poor pay a huge price, as economic
reforms have not benefited all and/or to
the same extent, which brings us to some
of the indirect ways in which these reforms
have a bearing on the practice of dowry.
September 2006
Matrimony or Matter of
Money
The distinction between dowry
in olden and modern days becomes
evident. In earlier times, although
obligatory dowry was performed
in all forms of marriages, whether
close kin or otherwise, but was
largely symbolic-token amounts of
cash or small figs in kind-with welloff families giving larger dowry. The
amount depended on what the woman’s
family wanted to and could afford. Modern
dowry comprises demands that far exceed
what families can afford, exploiting its
symbolic obligatory nature and the fact that
they are gifts of love to a woman from her
natal family. Besides being extractive, a
distinct feature of modern dowries is the
inclusion of large amounts of gold, cash,
and consumer goods. To these costs must
be added the cost of conducting the
marriage-still shared but with a higher
proportion to the bride’s family-which has
become an extravagant event. Furthermore,
the importance of life cycle rituals,
performed on these occasions are reported
to have become highly commercialised and
demanded, much like dowries. Very often,
what is expected and agreed upon as
dowries are performed, usually in the first
year of marriage. It is also not uncommon
for grooms’ families not want a dowry at
the time of marriage but to later demand it
from the wife’s natal family.
a coercive practice across all castes and classes.
The processes of modernisation, changing
life styles, rising aspirations, and sociopolitical awareness have played an
important role in shaping these changes,
which have been neither uniform nor
sudden. The changes described so far have
intensified in the last 10-15 years, a period
that coincides with the economic reforms
in India. Our understanding of the exact
nature of this interaction is limited by,
on the one hand, the absence of
reliable macro level data on
t h e
37
Education
Dr.M.S. Priyamol
V
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
iCTERS (Virtual Classroom
Technology on Edusat for Rural
Schools), is an innovative
achievement in the arena of
educational Communication. ViCTERSIndia’s first broadband interactive network
on Edusat for the Schools having 12 hours
telecast, which is introduced by IT@School
Project under general education
department, Government of Kerala.
Satellite media communication will unite
teacher and learner which can be effectively
used in Distance Education. Distant
learning must have the capacity to bridge
the separation and to ensure the two way
communication. The choice “Edusat”
depends on educational intention-the best
method of delivering that intension, the
skill of the people and the technology
available.
“Edusat” is the first up-linked satellite
in the world exclusively reserved for
education, which offered rich and varied
possibilities in the proposed field. “Edusat”
having 1950kgs wt; carried by Geo
Stationary Launch Vehicle (GSL V-I) and
it needs 10. 5hrs, to round up the earth
one time. The Satellite transponder will
downlink sufficient signals to the earth
station a month. Digital connectivity (Estay) is one of the primary specialties of
“Edusat”, this could possible on through
38
practice, dowry has become an all caste/
class phenomenon with dowryless
marriages rapidly on the decline. In
explaining these changes, we showed how
the processes of development impinge
upon class, caste and gender identities;
constantly redefining needs, levels, and
measures of what is condoned. The
tradition of parents giving gifts to
daughters at their marriage has been
vulgarised to its present form to further class
and caste identities. Economic reforms of
the 1990s have not blunted son preference
or done away with discrimination against
girls and women. These have on the
contrary intensified as seen mainly in the
continued devaluation of women in spite
of their increasing contribution; the
perception that they are an economic
burden, and in an intensification of
ViCTERS
An exclusive educational channel for Kerala
newly installed “receiver terminals”.
“Edusat” carries five Ku-band
transponders providing spot beams, one
Ku-band transponder providing a national
beam and six Extended C-band
transponders with national coverage beam.
It will join the Insat system that already has
more than 130 transponders in C-band,
Extended C-band and Ku-band providing
a variety of telecommunication and
television services, but for the education
sector.
ViCTERS channel is unique in the
sense that it caters to students & teachers
on a need based manner. The programmes
are aired on demand, sensitive to school
curriculum and even time-table. Teaching
& Education are a problematic couple in
many countries. The glitter and glamour
of teaching sometimes overshadows
education and IT enabled education many
times drowns education. But in the case of
IT@School, the project was aware of this
malady. Having clearly set the goals on
empowering the teacher & students
through IT enabled education, the project
seeks to achieve selected and conscious
value addition in education, retaining its
human touch and traditional nuance.
The attractive aspect of this channel is
that it airs programmes repeatedly at the
request from students and teachers of
schools. The channel that transmits
programme initially for 12-14 hours will
be converted to a 24 hour channel within
the next 6 months. The educational
content provided by C-DIT, SIET, PRD,
Doordarshan, etc. are child friendly and
gives a wealth of information to the stake
holders. The IT@School Project shares the
studio set up by the Government of Kerala
undertaking, Centre for Development of
Imaging Technology (C-DIT). The video
production group of C-DIT is entrusted
with the task of “LIVE” productions.
Other technical services for video
production are also offered by C-DIT. The
up-linking station equipments are managed
by Technical personnel of IT@School and
ISRO. IT@School has a production team
to puervise these activities. The faculties for
‘LIVE’ classes are deputed by the
departments/organization concerned.
daughter non-preference. Far from being a
symbolic gift, today’s dowry is perceived to
be a key determinant of the quality of
husbands, marital happiness, and security
of a woman’s marriage. In short, the amount
of dowry is the test of the value of woman.
The ‘commodification’ and dispensability
of women transcends all castes, classes, and
religions.
Some Solutions
It is important that:
¦ The Dowry Prohibition Act should be
enforced strictly-its many loopholes
should be corrected. Dowry offenders
should be publicly exposed and
punished in the form of imprisonment
or fines.
¦ A sustained campaign should be
conducted through the communication
media such as radio, television, and
newspapers to arouse the consciousness
of the public against the dowry system
and help eradicate this social evil.
¦ Women’s organisations should come
forward to help and reinstate victims of
unhappy marriages especially where
dowry is the prime cause for harassment.
IT@School has established the set up for
100 Government High Schools located in
remote areas like Attappady hills,
Kannampady, Kattachira, Kissiumum,
Southupara etc. In the next three months,
all the Government High School in the
State will be provided with ROTs by
IT@School Project through Keltron.
This will prevent the helpless brides from
taking their own lives, as well as, give
courage to families who feel that divorce
is a social stigma.
¦ A reorientation in the educational
pattern needs to be brought about. No
longer should the silent, suffering SatiSavitri be held up as a model but
instead, woman should be given her due
dignity and honour in a democratic
society in India. Films, plays and articles
should be written with this in mind.
¦ Parents should inculcate in their children
especially their daughters, an
appreciation of their own worth. Equal
opportunities should be given to boys
and girls and the treatment meted out
to both within the home should be the
same The dignity of labour and ability
to perform simple household tasks will
hold both boys and girls in good stead.
The young men and women of
tomorrow should be trained to face life
as partners and not as superiors and
inferiors.
¦ Inter-caste marriages and love marriages
should be encouraged.
¦ Lavish expenditure and show of wealth
at weddings should be criticised.
Educated young men and women
should be made to realise that the
exchange of money and goods in their
names is a personal affront to their
intrinsic worth.
The young men and women of today
can change the image of woman as a
commodity for sale and restore her dignity
and honour. The process of change has
already begun, one sees it in the awareness
and reactions of a generation that has
begun to think and question age-old but
meaningless customs and traditions.
References
1. Basu, M. Alaka (1999). Fertility decline
and increasing gender imbalance in India,
including a possible South Indian turnaround.
Development and Change, 30(2). 237-263.
2. Savitri, R. (1994). Fertility decline in
India: Some issues. Economic and
Political Weekly, 29(19), 1850-1852
3. Srinivas, M.N. (1984). Some reflections
on dowry. Delhi Centre for
Women’s
Studieswww.hsph.harvard.eduiOrganisations/
healthnet/Sasia/forums/d owry/article/reflec, 11/
29/02.
4. Sharada Srinivasan (2005) Daughter or
Dowries The changing nature of dowry practices
in South Indian. World development. Vot. 33.
5. Jessie B. Tellis Nayak “Indian
Womanhood Then and Now” Salprakashan
Sanchar Kendra-1983.
The writer is faculty Dept. of Economics,
K.E. College Mannanam.
KERALA CALLING
The ISRO has augmented the uplinking Station in time for another channela non interactive one. The technology
deployed is similar to the Direct-to Home
(DTH) technology used in other TV
channels. Education videos, as per the
Kerala syllabus and curriculum, are
primarily aired during school timings. The
programs are developed with the objective
of not replacing the existing teachers of our
schools but to strengthen their hands.
Teacher could use the TVs inside their
classrooms to give that much desired multisensory approach to made classroom
teaching a joyful experience. The project
envisions a tri-partite intervention with
teachers, students and ViCTERS inside the
classroom. After school hours,
the students, who could afford
that, rush to tuition teachers or
search for guide books. Those
who cannot afford it have left
with no other option but to
consume what ever they get in
the classroom.
Satellite communication
plays a great role in the
development of society. Its
influence creates an awareness
and leading to an involvement
at an intellectual level. Mass
media not only affects minds of
the people but also capable of
developing desirable attitudes and thoughts
of people for switching by the social change
and transformation. Satellites have brought
a revolution in educational communication.
Information retrieval has for instance, been
turned into child’s play for the media man.
In this series ViCTERS will playa vital role
as the part of technology enhancement
moreover ever cherished goal of equity and
excellence in education.
September 2006
The project has set up 15 EDUSAT
Training Centres (ETCs) of its own. The
Sarvasikhsha Abhiyan (SSA) Kerala has also
set up 19 more such ETCs. Every ETC is
equipped with a LCD projection system,
Multimedia, Computer, audiovisual
systems and Satellite receivers combinedly
called a Satellite Interactive Terminal (SIT).
Now there are 75 SITs
throughout the State. The 13
Secondary
Schools
of
Lakshadweep, which follows the
Kerala Syllabus, were recently
connected to the Kerala network.
It provides great relief for the
authorities who had waited for the
vagarious of sea to subside to send
their teachers to Ernakulam for
Teacher Training- once or twice in
a year. The interactive terminals are
sued for teacher’s training,
department reviews and for
monitoring.
The ROT is capable of
receiving programmes from educational
institutions located in South Indian
regional beam. It currently receives
programmes of DSERT, Karnataka and
from Rupavahini Corporation of Sri Lanka.
Under a special assistance package of ISRO,
400 ROTs + TV s were installed in almost
all the Government Secondary, Upper
Primary and lower Primary Schools of the
Malappuram district. There after the
39
Education
Dr.M.S. Priyamol
V
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
iCTERS (Virtual Classroom
Technology on Edusat for Rural
Schools), is an innovative
achievement in the arena of
educational Communication. ViCTERSIndia’s first broadband interactive network
on Edusat for the Schools having 12 hours
telecast, which is introduced by IT@School
Project under general education
department, Government of Kerala.
Satellite media communication will unite
teacher and learner which can be effectively
used in Distance Education. Distant
learning must have the capacity to bridge
the separation and to ensure the two way
communication. The choice “Edusat”
depends on educational intention-the best
method of delivering that intension, the
skill of the people and the technology
available.
“Edusat” is the first up-linked satellite
in the world exclusively reserved for
education, which offered rich and varied
possibilities in the proposed field. “Edusat”
having 1950kgs wt; carried by Geo
Stationary Launch Vehicle (GSL V-I) and
it needs 10. 5hrs, to round up the earth
one time. The Satellite transponder will
downlink sufficient signals to the earth
station a month. Digital connectivity (Estay) is one of the primary specialties of
“Edusat”, this could possible on through
38
practice, dowry has become an all caste/
class phenomenon with dowryless
marriages rapidly on the decline. In
explaining these changes, we showed how
the processes of development impinge
upon class, caste and gender identities;
constantly redefining needs, levels, and
measures of what is condoned. The
tradition of parents giving gifts to
daughters at their marriage has been
vulgarised to its present form to further class
and caste identities. Economic reforms of
the 1990s have not blunted son preference
or done away with discrimination against
girls and women. These have on the
contrary intensified as seen mainly in the
continued devaluation of women in spite
of their increasing contribution; the
perception that they are an economic
burden, and in an intensification of
ViCTERS
An exclusive educational channel for Kerala
newly installed “receiver terminals”.
“Edusat” carries five Ku-band
transponders providing spot beams, one
Ku-band transponder providing a national
beam and six Extended C-band
transponders with national coverage beam.
It will join the Insat system that already has
more than 130 transponders in C-band,
Extended C-band and Ku-band providing
a variety of telecommunication and
television services, but for the education
sector.
ViCTERS channel is unique in the
sense that it caters to students & teachers
on a need based manner. The programmes
are aired on demand, sensitive to school
curriculum and even time-table. Teaching
& Education are a problematic couple in
many countries. The glitter and glamour
of teaching sometimes overshadows
education and IT enabled education many
times drowns education. But in the case of
IT@School, the project was aware of this
malady. Having clearly set the goals on
empowering the teacher & students
through IT enabled education, the project
seeks to achieve selected and conscious
value addition in education, retaining its
human touch and traditional nuance.
The attractive aspect of this channel is
that it airs programmes repeatedly at the
request from students and teachers of
schools. The channel that transmits
programme initially for 12-14 hours will
be converted to a 24 hour channel within
the next 6 months. The educational
content provided by C-DIT, SIET, PRD,
Doordarshan, etc. are child friendly and
gives a wealth of information to the stake
holders. The IT@School Project shares the
studio set up by the Government of Kerala
undertaking, Centre for Development of
Imaging Technology (C-DIT). The video
production group of C-DIT is entrusted
with the task of “LIVE” productions.
Other technical services for video
production are also offered by C-DIT. The
up-linking station equipments are managed
by Technical personnel of IT@School and
ISRO. IT@School has a production team
to puervise these activities. The faculties for
‘LIVE’ classes are deputed by the
departments/organization concerned.
daughter non-preference. Far from being a
symbolic gift, today’s dowry is perceived to
be a key determinant of the quality of
husbands, marital happiness, and security
of a woman’s marriage. In short, the amount
of dowry is the test of the value of woman.
The ‘commodification’ and dispensability
of women transcends all castes, classes, and
religions.
Some Solutions
It is important that:
¦ The Dowry Prohibition Act should be
enforced strictly-its many loopholes
should be corrected. Dowry offenders
should be publicly exposed and
punished in the form of imprisonment
or fines.
¦ A sustained campaign should be
conducted through the communication
media such as radio, television, and
newspapers to arouse the consciousness
of the public against the dowry system
and help eradicate this social evil.
¦ Women’s organisations should come
forward to help and reinstate victims of
unhappy marriages especially where
dowry is the prime cause for harassment.
IT@School has established the set up for
100 Government High Schools located in
remote areas like Attappady hills,
Kannampady, Kattachira, Kissiumum,
Southupara etc. In the next three months,
all the Government High School in the
State will be provided with ROTs by
IT@School Project through Keltron.
This will prevent the helpless brides from
taking their own lives, as well as, give
courage to families who feel that divorce
is a social stigma.
¦ A reorientation in the educational
pattern needs to be brought about. No
longer should the silent, suffering SatiSavitri be held up as a model but
instead, woman should be given her due
dignity and honour in a democratic
society in India. Films, plays and articles
should be written with this in mind.
¦ Parents should inculcate in their children
especially their daughters, an
appreciation of their own worth. Equal
opportunities should be given to boys
and girls and the treatment meted out
to both within the home should be the
same The dignity of labour and ability
to perform simple household tasks will
hold both boys and girls in good stead.
The young men and women of
tomorrow should be trained to face life
as partners and not as superiors and
inferiors.
¦ Inter-caste marriages and love marriages
should be encouraged.
¦ Lavish expenditure and show of wealth
at weddings should be criticised.
Educated young men and women
should be made to realise that the
exchange of money and goods in their
names is a personal affront to their
intrinsic worth.
The young men and women of today
can change the image of woman as a
commodity for sale and restore her dignity
and honour. The process of change has
already begun, one sees it in the awareness
and reactions of a generation that has
begun to think and question age-old but
meaningless customs and traditions.
References
1. Basu, M. Alaka (1999). Fertility decline
and increasing gender imbalance in India,
including a possible South Indian turnaround.
Development and Change, 30(2). 237-263.
2. Savitri, R. (1994). Fertility decline in
India: Some issues. Economic and
Political Weekly, 29(19), 1850-1852
3. Srinivas, M.N. (1984). Some reflections
on dowry. Delhi Centre for
Women’s
Studieswww.hsph.harvard.eduiOrganisations/
healthnet/Sasia/forums/d owry/article/reflec, 11/
29/02.
4. Sharada Srinivasan (2005) Daughter or
Dowries The changing nature of dowry practices
in South Indian. World development. Vot. 33.
5. Jessie B. Tellis Nayak “Indian
Womanhood Then and Now” Salprakashan
Sanchar Kendra-1983.
The writer is faculty Dept. of Economics,
K.E. College Mannanam.
KERALA CALLING
The ISRO has augmented the uplinking Station in time for another channela non interactive one. The technology
deployed is similar to the Direct-to Home
(DTH) technology used in other TV
channels. Education videos, as per the
Kerala syllabus and curriculum, are
primarily aired during school timings. The
programs are developed with the objective
of not replacing the existing teachers of our
schools but to strengthen their hands.
Teacher could use the TVs inside their
classrooms to give that much desired multisensory approach to made classroom
teaching a joyful experience. The project
envisions a tri-partite intervention with
teachers, students and ViCTERS inside the
classroom. After school hours,
the students, who could afford
that, rush to tuition teachers or
search for guide books. Those
who cannot afford it have left
with no other option but to
consume what ever they get in
the classroom.
Satellite communication
plays a great role in the
development of society. Its
influence creates an awareness
and leading to an involvement
at an intellectual level. Mass
media not only affects minds of
the people but also capable of
developing desirable attitudes and thoughts
of people for switching by the social change
and transformation. Satellites have brought
a revolution in educational communication.
Information retrieval has for instance, been
turned into child’s play for the media man.
In this series ViCTERS will playa vital role
as the part of technology enhancement
moreover ever cherished goal of equity and
excellence in education.
September 2006
The project has set up 15 EDUSAT
Training Centres (ETCs) of its own. The
Sarvasikhsha Abhiyan (SSA) Kerala has also
set up 19 more such ETCs. Every ETC is
equipped with a LCD projection system,
Multimedia, Computer, audiovisual
systems and Satellite receivers combinedly
called a Satellite Interactive Terminal (SIT).
Now there are 75 SITs
throughout the State. The 13
Secondary
Schools
of
Lakshadweep, which follows the
Kerala Syllabus, were recently
connected to the Kerala network.
It provides great relief for the
authorities who had waited for the
vagarious of sea to subside to send
their teachers to Ernakulam for
Teacher Training- once or twice in
a year. The interactive terminals are
sued for teacher’s training,
department reviews and for
monitoring.
The ROT is capable of
receiving programmes from educational
institutions located in South Indian
regional beam. It currently receives
programmes of DSERT, Karnataka and
from Rupavahini Corporation of Sri Lanka.
Under a special assistance package of ISRO,
400 ROTs + TV s were installed in almost
all the Government Secondary, Upper
Primary and lower Primary Schools of the
Malappuram district. There after the
39
Tourism
Bekal
The Enchanting coast
Sasi Kumar C. Thalassery
L
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
egend mystery, myth and folklore
join together to create tourists and
a loners paradise at the northern
tip of Kerala. This is Bekal, the
land of Theyyams, sandy beaches, rivers
and forts. A place which has witnessed,
many an event that changed the course of
history, a place which amazes and inspires
to fall in love with. Bekal with its
bewitchingly beautiful Calm sandy beaches
fringed with feathery coconut palms
luxuriant vegetation and the impossing fort
of 17th century perched on the steep banks
of Arabian sea is gearing up to gain a
beckoning spot etched on the Tourist map
of India; thanks to the endless efforts of
District Tourism Promotion Council and
Department of Tourism. The 1000 crore
project announced by the Dept. of Tourism
Govt. of India under the special tourist area
40
project is to turn the land in to a major
tourist location in the state.
The main thrust of the project
envisaged by the Dept of Tourism needs
acres of land for this purpose and 220
acres have already been acquired by the
Govt. of Kerala. And when the project near
its completion, Amusement Parks,
Museums, Hotel Resorts, Health Clubs
sprawling over this verdant rural setting
will start functioning making it a charming
spot in the rejuvenating lap of nature.
Bekal situated on the western brink of
Kasaragod, the land of Yakshagana- the song
of supernatural beings, lies 16 kms South
of Kasaragod town and 1 km North of
Pallikkara Railway station. It is a joy ride
through the highway with sparse human
settlements, interspersed by coconut palms.
The greenery of coconut palms and jack
fruit trees contrast vividly with the roads
running beneath them. As the distance
grows farther, hills and fields all merge in to
one plain. An awe inspiring moment come
when the faint rumble of the Arabian sea
echoes in the air.
When the sun began lighting up a weird
setting on the shore with its rays, a well
preserved cone shaped majestic fort- a
monument steeped in history with ware
houses, buildings, raised mount and a
Hanuman temple appear before us. The
setting recall the days of Ikkeri Rajas the
powerful rulers of Bednore kingdom in
Shimoga, Karnataka. They had come at the
beginning of 17th century spurred by their
commercial and political rivalry with the
Kolatheri Rajas. Bekal witnessed many a
pitched battle. The fort they built is found
to be in good condition and is the best
preserved and possibly the biggest
surviving fort of Kerala. As you enter the
In olden times Bekal formed part of the Kingdom of Ezhimala
(Mooshaka dynasty). In the tides of history it passed on like a
relay baton to Bednore Nayaks, Mysorian Empire and in 1797 it
turned out to be a covetable settlement of the British.
Bekal was a part of Bednore Kingdom
and the place was called ‘Dehalo’ which
means ‘cone’ in Kannada. Since the fort is
cone shaped ‘Dehalo’ might have
originated. Later it turned in to Bekkalo
and Bekal. Even today the place is called
Dekkalo by the Kannada speaking people.
Another funny and interesting story
about the origin of the place very popular
among the rural folk is connected with
Tipu Sultans invasion of North Malabar.
When Tipu was advancing with his troops
happened to see the fort from far away and
shouted to his troops “Dekko villa” which
means “see the fort”. Bekal originated from
Dekkovilla.
Bekal fort is roughly polygonal in plan
‘built with thick walls and mansions made
of laterite slabs. A cone shaped portion of
the fort is promontary projecting in to the
Arabian sea and a high pointed portion of
the fort standing out from the coast line. It
is 300 feet in height with strong
fortification with pivotal points to equip
arms and canons against the advancing
army of enemies. The boundaries of the
fort near the coast line are strengthened with
inner and outer walls and various sentry
posts for soldiers to keep guard and a
circular sentripost projecting in to the sea is
a major attraction. One can witness the
distant panoramic view of the vessels plying
in the water from this sentri post. It is a
pleasure and an eye filling experience.
Arabian Sea came almost up to its base
and a walk along the sea shore boundaries
of the fort watching the waves caressing
the studded rocks and sea shore, listening
to the sound of the waves will hold us
spellbound.
September 2006
KERALA CALLING
Praveen
portals of this fort an awesome silence greets
you. Images of a bygone era zip across your
mind filling you with a sense of wonder.
In olden times Bekal formed part of
the Kingdom of Ezhimala (Mooshaka
dynasty). In the tides of history it passed
on like a relay baton to Bednore Nayaks,
Mysorian Empire and in 1797 it turned
out to be a covetable settlement of British.
Bekal called Bekkalam derived from
legends which are worth mentioning. Dr
Francis Buchanan, the British traveller who
was deputed by Wellesley to undertake the
study of Malabar region opines that the
name Bekal originated from Be (Burning)
and Kall (stone) to form Bekkallu (Burning
stones). The prevalence of burning stones
in large quantities in the area might have
promped Buchanan to arrive at such a
strange view.
41
Praveen
Shrine) oblong in Karnataka style of
architecture. Its surroundings breath the
Ikkeri Rajas ethos powerfully. Worship is
also offered here by the devotees. As the
temple bell rings and lighted lamps waved
it is not difficult to believe that we are living
in the reign of Sivappa Nayak because every
inch of the shrine is instinct with piety,
history and art.
Bekal includes among the five tourist
zones declared by the government of India
under the special tourism area project. Other
Praveen
September 2006
KERALA CALLING
42
The Exact date of construction of the
fort is not known. It is believed that fort
was built during the reign of Sivappa
Nayak, the ruler of Bednore to wage war
against the Kolathiri Rajas. Salattar in his
book “Ancient Karnataka” also mention that
it was Sivappa Nayak (1625-1676) who
constructed the fort. A. Sreedhara Menon
the noted historian also supports this view.
Bednore Nayaks (Ikkeri Rajas 1500 1763) had their capitals at Keladi, at Ikkeri
and Bednore built forts at Hosdurg,
Kumbla and Chandragiri, Bednore Nayaks
who established themselves as an
independent power in South Canera under
Venkitappa Nayak, carried their arms south
of Chandragiri river, exercised their sway
over Hosdurg and Kasaragod area of north
Malabar for some time in the 17th and
18th centuries. The Bekal fort functioned
as a spring board in the territorial expansion
of Ikkeri Rajas and it stands as a monument
to their rule.
The conquest of Bednore kingdom by
the Mysorian rulers in 1763 brought them
very close to the borders of North Kerala.
Hyder Ali attacked Kerala to acquire the
forts originally belonged to the Bednore
Nayaks. In 1781 his son and successor Tipu
Sultan besieged the fort and for a long time
it functioned as Tipus military camp and
‘Huzur’ office during the time of his
invasion of South Kerala. The fort became
indispensable instruments of warfare
during the Mysorian invasion. With the
fall of Tipu Sultan the whole of Malabar
came under British Control.
A modern visitor is fascinated by the
salubrious climate and fabulous scenic
beauty of this area and is nowadays visited
by tourists from all parts of the country
and abroad; not only because of its historical
importance but because of its close
proximity to the sea. In the midst of the
fort lies a high mounting area leading to a
flat terraced structure which give an un
interrupting view of the valley around and
the vibrant sea. May be used as an
observatory tower for specific purpose of
keeping a constant vigil of the Bekal and
surrounding areas. It served as sentinels and
could warn of impending attack.
Adjoining the fort is situated the
Mukhya Praneswara temple (Hanuman
Praveen
Haji Raja Muhammad of Malaysia the
international tourist expert and designer of
major tourist spots all over the world is of
the opinion that Bekal can be changed into
Bekal and not Goa. Providing facilities for
a foreigner to take a sun bath in nude in
the sandy beaches of Bekal is an out dated
idea. They may be persuaded to move in to
the out skirts to understand the art, culture,
heritage, manners, food tastes and folk lore
of the people.
Major tourist sites in around this
enchanted coast is also awaiting them. To
know more about the land and culture one
can pay a visit to Mahaganapathi temple at
Madhur; Malik Dinar mosque at Talankara,
Jain temple at Manjeshwar, Thazhekattu
KERALA CALLING
Standing on the top of
Theyyamkallu in the
Kottacherry range which is
above 2500 feet from sea
level and viewing
evergreen wilderness with
rivulets and waterfalls will
be a thrilling experience. A
distant view of
Thalakkaveri in Karnataka
is another splendid sight
and the scenario here is
breath taking.
mana at Trikkaripur. The forts at
Chandragiri, Hosdurg and Kumbla,
Pandyan KalIs at Trikkannadi, architecture
at Madian Keloth; Palaces of Nileshwar
Raja, Kanchanjunga an artists village
designed by the famous artist
Puninchithaya; Edaneer madam; the lake
temple dedicated to Ananta Padmanabha
Swami at Anantapur (Kumbla) famous for
its large sized stucco images of seated
Vishnu, ivory carvings and representation
of floral motiffs.
Standing on the top of Theyyamkallu
in the Kottacherry range which is above
2500 feet from sea level, viewing evergreen
wilderness with rivulets and waterfalls will
be a thrilling experience. A distant view of
Thalakkaveri in Karnataka is another
splendid sight and the scenario here is
breath taking. A blue print of the highway
from Kasargod to Konnakkad (via)
Kolttacherry to Thalakkaveri has been
prepared by the experts and is awaiting
sanction.
As a first step DTPC has constructed
cottages for tourists at Kottacherri range.
The beauty and splendour of the mist clad
hill ranges of Ranipuram is another major
spot for sight seeing.
Bekal, one of the Northern most village
of Kerala and a backward area in old
Madras Presidency and new Kerala State
in the field of economic development is
now passing through explosive crisis of
development. A place which occupied a
strategic position in the medieval history of
Malabar is now emerging up and taking a
new shape.
September 2006
places are Dieu, Daman, Sindhu Durga
(Maharastra) Mahabalipuram (Tamil
Nadu) and Puri (Orissa). For the
development of Bekal Project, Bekal
Resources Development Corporation
(BRDC) has been formed in 1995 and it
started functioning in 1996. The dream of
BRDC is to make it a full-fledged Tourist
Resort. Infra structure and community
Development Schemes are also a part of
BRDC Project. A water supply Scheme
which will benefit the Uduma, Pallikkara,
Ajannur and Chemmad Villages are under
construction at an estimated cost of 12
crores of rupees. Govt of Kerala has
sanctioned 90 lakhs rupees for beach
modification and the work is on the way.
The sandy beach is provided with
recreational facilities and water front tented
exclusive villas for accommodation which
is the first of its kind in Kerala. In the beach
tourists can take a stroll in the evening
enjoying the colours of sunset reflecting in
the calm waters. BRDC has also started
operating four houseboats with Natpack
assistance in the Valia Paramba backwaters
which extends to Nileshwaram and
Payyannur. Major international hotel
groups such as Delhi based Bharath group.
Mumbai based Khanna, Kochi based
C.G.H. have started constructing hotels
in Bekal. U.A.E based Holiday Group have
also started constructing 50 cottages in
Chemparikka with an estimated cost of 100
crores of rupees. Bharath group has been
allotted site at Uduma and Khanna group
at Uduma Kappil area. The plots has been
allotted on lease for a period of 30 years by
BRDC.
43
Population
An unbridled Horse
V.C. Jose
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
W
44
hen population of the
world crossed the magic
figure of five billion, way
back in 1990, the UN’s
population fund began to observe July 11th
of every year as the world population day.
In spite of concerted effort to curb the
population growth, it is causing alarming
perplexity to the humanity. One would
shudder to think that the question of
population growth is not an Asian or
African issue but a human issue about
the future of his existence in this planet.
Surprisingly, the UN looks up on
the population growth from two
perspectives. On the one hand to
mitigate the menacing overpopulation
and on the other to streamline the after
effect of population explosion. With
this end in view, every year a specific
subject is chosen to commemorate the
day. In 2005, the theme subject was
“gender equality.” But this year’s clarion
call is “Being young is tough.”
It is interesting to note that the
population of the world in 1970 was
merely 760 million. But it reached one
billion around 1800. In this period the
vast majority of the world’s population
was (86 per cent) in Asia or Europe
with 65 per cent in Asia alone. By 1900,
Europe’ share of the world population
had risen to 25 per cent, fuelled by the
population increase that accompanied
the industrial revolution. World wars
accelerated the growth rate. Naturally, a
billion was added between 1960 and
1975; another billion was added
between 1975 and 1987. Through out
the 20th century each additional billion has
been achieved in a shorter period of time.
Human population entered the 20th
century with 1.6 billion people and left
the century with 6.1 billion.
The population of a country is mainly
determined by birth date, death rate and
migration. It is assumed that the present
world population growth rate of 1.4 per
cent, when applied to world’s 6.1 billion
population, yields an annual increase of
about 85 million people. This means that
with the present growth rate, the global
population will remain high for several
decades even as growth rate continue to
decline.
Another exciting feature of the world
population is that half of the global
population is below 25 years of age. This is
the main reason why the UN chosen this
year’s theme to empower the youth and
allow them to participate in nation building
activities.
The executive director of UNFPA,
Thoraga Ahmed Obaid remarked, “Let us
focus on young people and seek ways to
work side by side as partners in
development.”
India and world population
Our country’s share to the global
population is 16 per cent. It is likely to
grow in the years to come. In 1951 our
population was merely 36 crores and by
2001 it has swing to 100 crores. With the
present growth rate of 1.9% or even below
this rate, the population of this country is
likely to double within 60 years. It means
that by 2030, India may exceed
China as the most populated
country of the world.
In 1951, India’s birth rate was
40.8 per cent and death rate 27.4
per cent. But when it comes to
2001, birth reduced to 24.8% and
death rate 8.9% . Life expectancy
showed a remarkable up of 61.8 in
2001 to that 49.9 in 1971. Though
through family planning and social
awakening campaign, the birth rate
could be brought down than
expected, our health system and
education improved quality of life
and so life expectancy.
Old age and population
Kerala stands separate in terms
of birth rate, death rate and life
expectancy with reference to
national averages. In 2001, birth
rate was 18.4 against national value
of 24.8. Death rate 6.2 against 8.9
and life expectancy 70.6 against
61.8. All these have contributed to
the overall increase of 60 +
population. As per 2001 census, 60
+ in the State is 9% of the State total
population. Its direct impact can be seen
on the mushrooming growth of old age
homes both in urban and rural areas.
Utmost care is required in tackling the issue
of aged people, as they likely to constitute a
bigger size sooner than later.
Government
Appointments
Additional Director
P. Abdul Rasheed has been
promoted and appointed as
Additional Director of Information
& Public Relations Department. He
was the Regional Deputy Director,
Kozhikode.
A tropical leafy vegetable
P. Girija
A
Agathi – Redgram Thoran
Ingredients
Agathi leaves
Red gram dhal
Coconut scrapings
Chilli, garlic, cumin
Salt
- 250 gms
- 250 gms
- 100 gms
- 10 gm (Each)
- Method
KERALA CALLING
The writer is subject matter specialist (Home
Science) KVK, Mitraniketan.
KERALA CALLING
Cook red gram dhal. Add cleaned and
diced agathi leaves and coconut mixture
crushed with chilli, garlic and cumin. Cover
and cook for 5 minutes. Season the pugath
with oil and mustard.
Dehydration of agathi leaves
Agathi, since not available through out
the year, can be dehydrated and used
whenever required. They can be easily dried
and stored for use when fresh leaves are not
available. Dried agathi leaves can be mixed
with wheat flour while making dough for
chappaties and weaning foods. For drying,
sun drying and oven drying can be used.
When completely dry, these can be coarsely
powdered by rubbing with hands and
stored in air tight containers.
September 2006
gathi (sesbania grandiflora) is a tropical
tree crop, valued for its leaves and
flowers. This quick growing, soft wooded
tree has ornamental, food and fodder
values. It is grown as a standard for pepper
and betel vines as shade plant for coconut
seedlings and as wind break for banana.
The bark yields good fibre and the plant
parts have medicinal values. Agathi, a native
of Malaysia is grown in parts of Punjab,
Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It provides
larger quantities of many nutrients that are
required for our mental and physical well
being. It is a good source of protein, good
sources of folic acid, vitamin A and
VitaminC.
Agathi attains a height of 3-12 metres.
There are two varieties – one with red
flowers and the other with white flowers.
The form with white flowers is suitable for
kitchen garden. The flowers of red type are
slightly bitter and are mainly used as
medicine. The crop grows best in black
cotton soils. It is also resistant to drought.
Seeds are first sown in the nursery and later
transplanted. Two or three seeds are sown
per hole and later the strangest seedlings is
retained. The plants come to flower by
September – December and fruit during
summer. The tender leaves, pods and
flowers are good for consumption.
Leaves and flowers of agathi are much
valued for their medicinal properties. The
juice of the leaves and flowers are used in
nasal catanil and headache. Leaves are used
for curing sore mouth and skin roughness.
As it is rich in vitamin A and folic acid, it
can be used for prevention of sight
blindness and anaemia. The extract of
agathi leaves can be mixed with milk or
lime juice or honey and can be given to
children for the mal-nutritious diseases.
Agathi leaves and flowers can be used for
making pakodas, cutlet, samosas, stews etc.
People are not consuming agathi because
of its bitterness. Acceptability can be
enhanced by blending with pulses, tubers,
eggs etc. An acceptable as well nutritive
recipe is given below:
September 2006
Migration and population growth
Migration takes place either for food
or shelter or for employment. It is
interesting to learn that almost all
civilizations of the world were the
aftermath of mass migration. In ancient
time, better pastures attracted people.
But in modern world, migration is
mainly for employment. The latest
figures show that United States has 36
million immigrants, who are the main
engine of their population growth.
A recent study conducted by Centre
for Development Studies (CDS)
elicited that from Kerala alone 34 lakhs
people are working in gulf countries or
other nations. The study emphasised
that 85% of the NRI are in the gulf
region, most of them are male
population. On adding the immigrate
population along with the Census 2001
population, male outnumbers female
in our State as against the census figures
of 1058 female per 1000 male.
The increase in rural population
exerted pressure on migration to urban
or cities creating other social issues like
slum formation or overpopulation in
the cities. In our country, 27% of the
population live in the cities. In Kerala
the position is 25.97%. The main
reason for this fall can be attributed to
the low gap of rural-urban divide in
the State.
Agathi
4545
Government
Appointments
Additional Director
P. Abdul Rasheed has been
promoted and appointed as
Additional Director of Information
& Public Relations Department. He
was the Regional Deputy Director,
Kozhikode.
A tropical leafy vegetable
P. Girija
A
Agathi – Redgram Thoran
Ingredients
Agathi leaves
Red gram dhal
Coconut scrapings
Chilli, garlic, cumin
Salt
- 250 gms
- 250 gms
- 100 gms
- 10 gm (Each)
- Method
KERALA CALLING
The writer is subject matter specialist (Home
Science) KVK, Mitraniketan.
KERALA CALLING
Cook red gram dhal. Add cleaned and
diced agathi leaves and coconut mixture
crushed with chilli, garlic and cumin. Cover
and cook for 5 minutes. Season the pugath
with oil and mustard.
Dehydration of agathi leaves
Agathi, since not available through out
the year, can be dehydrated and used
whenever required. They can be easily dried
and stored for use when fresh leaves are not
available. Dried agathi leaves can be mixed
with wheat flour while making dough for
chappaties and weaning foods. For drying,
sun drying and oven drying can be used.
When completely dry, these can be coarsely
powdered by rubbing with hands and
stored in air tight containers.
September 2006
gathi (sesbania grandiflora) is a tropical
tree crop, valued for its leaves and
flowers. This quick growing, soft wooded
tree has ornamental, food and fodder
values. It is grown as a standard for pepper
and betel vines as shade plant for coconut
seedlings and as wind break for banana.
The bark yields good fibre and the plant
parts have medicinal values. Agathi, a native
of Malaysia is grown in parts of Punjab,
Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It provides
larger quantities of many nutrients that are
required for our mental and physical well
being. It is a good source of protein, good
sources of folic acid, vitamin A and
VitaminC.
Agathi attains a height of 3-12 metres.
There are two varieties – one with red
flowers and the other with white flowers.
The form with white flowers is suitable for
kitchen garden. The flowers of red type are
slightly bitter and are mainly used as
medicine. The crop grows best in black
cotton soils. It is also resistant to drought.
Seeds are first sown in the nursery and later
transplanted. Two or three seeds are sown
per hole and later the strangest seedlings is
retained. The plants come to flower by
September – December and fruit during
summer. The tender leaves, pods and
flowers are good for consumption.
Leaves and flowers of agathi are much
valued for their medicinal properties. The
juice of the leaves and flowers are used in
nasal catanil and headache. Leaves are used
for curing sore mouth and skin roughness.
As it is rich in vitamin A and folic acid, it
can be used for prevention of sight
blindness and anaemia. The extract of
agathi leaves can be mixed with milk or
lime juice or honey and can be given to
children for the mal-nutritious diseases.
Agathi leaves and flowers can be used for
making pakodas, cutlet, samosas, stews etc.
People are not consuming agathi because
of its bitterness. Acceptability can be
enhanced by blending with pulses, tubers,
eggs etc. An acceptable as well nutritive
recipe is given below:
September 2006
Migration and population growth
Migration takes place either for food
or shelter or for employment. It is
interesting to learn that almost all
civilizations of the world were the
aftermath of mass migration. In ancient
time, better pastures attracted people.
But in modern world, migration is
mainly for employment. The latest
figures show that United States has 36
million immigrants, who are the main
engine of their population growth.
A recent study conducted by Centre
for Development Studies (CDS)
elicited that from Kerala alone 34 lakhs
people are working in gulf countries or
other nations. The study emphasised
that 85% of the NRI are in the gulf
region, most of them are male
population. On adding the immigrate
population along with the Census 2001
population, male outnumbers female
in our State as against the census figures
of 1058 female per 1000 male.
The increase in rural population
exerted pressure on migration to urban
or cities creating other social issues like
slum formation or overpopulation in
the cities. In our country, 27% of the
population live in the cities. In Kerala
the position is 25.97%. The main
reason for this fall can be attributed to
the low gap of rural-urban divide in
the State.
Agathi
4545
at bringing in more travellers to Kerala
during the lean period has been proved to
be a huge success. Now we are
ambitiously exploring the potential of
Magical Art to lure more visitors to
Kerala.’
The Minister also said that the
Tourism Department was looking
forward to hold extensive discussions
with the Magic Academy to formulate
a pragmatic and viable project in this
regard.
But the announcements alone was
not the only agenda of the function,
noted magician Gopinath Muthucadu
enthralled the audience with his Indian
Magical Rope. The show was a tribute to
the country’s rich traditional magic,
which is centuries old.
The Minister for Home and Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan appreciating Gopinath
Muthukadu after the demonstration of the Indian Rope Trick.
Magic Tourism
KERALA is witnessing a series of
initiatives to lure tourists to Gods Own
Country. So after monsoon tourism, the
new catchword in the tourism sector
is Magic Tourism. And this plan was
disclosed by Tourism Minister Kodiyeri
Balakrishnan while dedicating Asia’s first
Magic Academy Research Centre at
the KINFRA film and video park
Kazhakoottam. And the Minister said on
the occasion ‘Kerala Government
is thinking of using the huge potential of
magic as a means to enhance tourism in
the state. Monsoon tourism aimed
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Ilaneer for Colas
46
KERALA’S own desi and healthy drink - tender coconut water or Ilaneer - seems
to have a bright future particularly after the State Government’s decision to ban
colas in the State. Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has asked the tourism
director to take immediate steps to ensure that maximum publicity is given
to Ilaneer.
Its not being promoted just with the aim of business but also from the point of view of
good health for the people. Directions have already gone to all units of Kerala Tourism
development Corporation (KTDC) to make tender coconut water available keeping in view
the demand. KTDC units will now have tender coconut as one of the items in the main menu.
District Tourism Promotion Councils will implement the project for publicising tender
coconut. The Councils will also help the coconut growers to take part in the project and
ensure its success.
As per the Government decision hotels all across Kerala, resorts, classified restaurants all should promote tender coconut.
From now on all functions organised by the tourism department will have ilaneer in place
of bottled water. Importance would be given to advertisements promoting ilaneer through
print and visual media.
All these steps have been announced following the Government ban on the production and
distribution of Pepsi and Coke. One of the factors that prompted the Government to ban
these products was the study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)
which revealed presence of pesticide content in the Colas.
Ayur Vastra
CLOTHES as medicines ? This
question may strike each one of us.
But, yes this is true. Here’s a new
initiative launched jointly by the
Directorate of
Handloom, Department of
Industries and Commerce and the
Department of Dravyaguna Vijanam
of Government Ayurveda College.
They will be developing handloom
fabrics dyed in herbal medicines. And
one just have to wear these clothes
to get rid of many diseases.
Textiles will be dyed using
natural vegetable dyes, especially
medicinal plants. The concept of
ayurvastra first came to
light following the efforts made by
the Balaramapuram
based Handloom
Weavers Development Society.
Following the bad patch through
which the handloom industry was
going, the society thought of new
ideas to revive the handloom sector.
And when the idea of Ayurvastra
struck them they didn’t wait a bit
and went ahead with the plan. The
experiment proved a huge success
primarily because natural colours
were used instead of chemical dyes.
Demand for Ayurvastra is now
growing not only in India but also in
many other countries.
Celarly Ayurvastra is the wonder
fabric of today and tomorrow.
Special Zones
For Special Things
Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem inaugurating the interactive session on special
economic zones. Industries Principal Secretary T. Balakrishnan IAS, KINFRA MD
A.S. Suresh Babu are also seen.
YOU MAY HAVE heard a lot about SEZ for IT industries and related sectors...but
now new SEZs are coming up in Kerala...and these are just different from the rest.
Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem has said that the SEZ’s would be product
specific - Jewellery, Textiles, Gems and multipurpose products.
While the textile SEZ will come up at Kanjikode in Palakkad district, the gem
and jewellery SEZ at Kalamassery and the multiproducts one in Kasargod.
The Minister said that the Government has so far received approval for six
special economic zones in the state which include three product specific special
zones of KINFRA in the sectors of Animation & Gaming, Electronics and Food
Processing. Apart from these, the ministry has also approved three other proposals
for SEZs at Infopark, Kochi, Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram and a port based
SEZ at Cochin Port.
Experiencing
a summit
KERALA CALLING
control. Even though the
summit was a short duration
affair, it provided an
opportunity to understand
the different cultures,
especially the different work
culture prevalent in different
countries. Ann who was elected to as head
of his working group observed how students
from the US, Honduras, UK did their work
and how talented and constructive each one
of them was. It was really a miniature
version of working in a multinational
September 2006
MARIA ANN MATHEW is happy. And she
has every reason to be happy because she was
not only the student from Kerala but from the
entire south India to participate in Future
Leaders Summit in Washington. Ann deserves
all appreciation for her achievement and for
making the country proud by taking part in an
international contest. About 200 students
participated in the meet from the Asian region.
At the summit student leaders discussed
topics like International criminal court,
problems of refugees, international aid, human
rights, peacekeeping, nationalism and arms
company- Ann
recollected. Every day
the group discussed
various issues and came
out with three forms of
solution -military,
economic and
diplomatic.
This twelfth
standard student of
Rajagiri Public school
Kalamassery aspires to
do MBA and step into
the corporate world.
She loves public speaking. Music is her
passion. Ann’s parents Mathew Joseph
and Ancy Mathew are the people who
have inspired her a lot. She has two
brothers Jose Paul and Job Michael and a
younger sister Cathy Teresa.
47
Lucky Shopping
S
hopping in Kerala has become quite lucrative now provided
luck is on your side. So don’t worry if you are shelling out
a 1000 bucks or more for shopping…you can carry home not
only goods worth the same amount but also prize money, perhaps
rupees ten to 1 lakh. This has been ensured by the Lucky VAT
introduced by the Government of Kerala. 1, 30,000 shops were
registered under Lucky VAT across the State.
According to Finance Minister Dr T. M.
Thomas Isaac the scheme that will ensure tax
compliance among shoppers and is expected
to bring a 50 per cent increase in the VAT
tax revenue. So next time you make purchase
worth 1000 rupees or more don’t forget to
ask for the bill and also the Lucky VAT
coupon. All that you have to do is to scratch
the coupon at the spot and see whether you
are lucky.
Even traders’ organizations across Kerala
have welcomed the scheme. They feel that
this system will increase business activities in
Kerala. So Lucky VAT is indeed lucky for
everyone. And one can even enjoy shopping
Chief Minister Sri. V.S. Achutanandan inaugurates the Lucky VAT in Thiruvananthapuram
in Kerala.
Life & Line
48
P.V. Krishnan
Lucky Shopping
S
hopping in Kerala has become quite lucrative now provided
luck is on your side. So don’t worry if you are shelling out
a 1000 bucks or more for shopping…you can carry home not
only goods worth the same amount but also prize money, perhaps
rupees ten to 1 lakh. This has been ensured by the Lucky VAT
introduced by the Government of Kerala. 1, 30,000 shops were
registered under Lucky VAT across the State.
According to Finance Minister Dr T. M.
Thomas Isaac the scheme that will ensure tax
compliance among shoppers and is expected
to bring a 50 per cent increase in the VAT
tax revenue. So next time you make purchase
worth 1000 rupees or more don’t forget to
ask for the bill and also the Lucky VAT
coupon. All that you have to do is to scratch
the coupon at the spot and see whether you
are lucky.
Even traders’ organizations across Kerala
have welcomed the scheme. They feel that
this system will increase business activities in
Kerala. So Lucky VAT is indeed lucky for
everyone. And one can even enjoy shopping
Chief Minister Sri. V.S. Achutanandan inaugurates the Lucky VAT in Thiruvananthapuram
in Kerala.
Life & Line
48
P.V. Krishnan
Photo feature
Ninabali
Thiriyuzhichil
Traditional
Feast
Photos: Rajan Karimoola
KERALA CALLING
September 2006
Mudiyattam
24
Padayani
Kannyarkali
Ninabali
September 2006
KERALA CALLING
25

Sharing Pain

Transcription

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