Stopped your studies? Start again with Kerala State Literacy Mission

Several people who could not continue their studies for various reasons, reach the school to take up equivalency and certificate courses.

Published: 14th February 2018 01:16 AM  |   Last Updated: 14th February 2018 04:08 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: The Government Boys Higher Secondary School is abuzz nowadays during weekends. 
Thanks to Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority (KSLMA), several people who could not continue their studies for various reasons, reach the school to take up equivalency and certificate courses.Equivalency programmes are organised with a view to provide an alternative education that is on par with the formal system of education while the three new certificate courses, Pacha Malayalam, Acchi Hindi and Good English, launched by the KSLMA last month, cater to those who are interested in improving their language skills.

N M Omana, 50, who is studying for Plus One, said, “After I got married, I couldn’t study. My husband suffered from psychological issues. However, the urge to study was always in me and the alternative education turned out to be a great boon.” Arimbur resident V V Deepa, 40, is gearing up to pursue her degree, having completed Plus Two.

“I had to discontinue pre-degree after I fell ill during my examination. Later I got married. However the Literacy Mission opened the doors for us and now I would like to study more,” she said. KSLMA Public Relations Officer Pradeep Kumar said as many as 479 people are studying under equivalency and certificate courses at school.

Meanwhile, the certificate courses in Pacha Malayalam, Acchi Hindi and Good English too evoke a good response. While 46 people joined for Pacha Malayalam, 22 started learning under Good English.
KSLMA coordinator Priya Manikandan said the student strength for the programme has increased manifold

Mala Synagogue, cemetery declared protected monuments

The Cultural Affairs Department has decided to include the 1,000-year-old Mala Synagogue and cemetery at Vadama village in Chalakkudy  in the list of protected monuments thus signalling a victory for

Published: 22nd January 2018 01:19 AM  |   Last Updated: 22nd January 2018 07:06 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: The Cultural Affairs Department has decided to include the 1,000-year-old Mala Synagogue and cemetery at Vadama village in Chalakkudy  in the list of protected monuments thus signalling a victory for the long-running campaign for its conservation.

C Karmachandran,  Mala Paithruka Samrakshana Samithy president, said the people’s struggle was against encroachments and destruction of the rich Jewish history linked with the region. According to him, the government had issued the gazette notification declaring it as a protected monument on December 26 last year.

Karmachandran said the historical monument is in a state of neglect and plans are afoot to establish a park on the western side of the four-acre cemetery. A Sports Academy was proposed later. The monuments witnessed large-scale encroachments, the samithy said. The authorities had turned the Synagogue first into a school and community hall later.

“The Jewish settlement in Mala holds a lot of significance. The presence of Jews in Mala has been recorded for more than 1,000 years. It is believed there were over 40 Jewish households  in Mala,” Karmachandran said.

“However, it was on the basis of a pact following the discussions  between the then Mala panchayat president A D  Joseph and Jewish community representatives at the Israeli Consulate in Mumbai, the panchayat was entrusted with the protection of the monuments.  The pact had been inked before the Jews left for Israel in 1955. As per its terms, the panchayat should maintain the monuments using own funds. Enough protection should be given by constructing the walls around the land and boards declaring the historic importance of the land should be set up,” he said.

P K Sukumaran,  Mala gram panchayat president, said they  had got an intimation from the government regarding the declaration of the Synagogue and cemetery as protected monuments and the Archaeology Department’s expertise should be utilised for  the same. The upswing here is the panchayat will be receiving the funds and they have plans to construct walls, which are decrepit

Transgenders in Kerala open up about their plight at theatre festival

When the Kochi Metro was flagged off on June 17, 2017, it was also a dream start for 23 transgender employees, who embarked on a journey towards respectability.

Published: 21st January 2018 01:07 AM  |   Last Updated: 21st January 2018 08:22 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: When the Kochi Metro was flagged off on June 17, 2017, it was also a dream start for 23 transgender employees, who embarked on a journey towards respectability. Seven months on, the dream has turned sour for some, including Daya Gayatri, who enacted her plight on stage at the 10th International Theatre Festival of Kerala here on Saturday.

It was no easy task for Daya to make it to the rehearsal of the play ‘Parayan Maranna Kadhakal’, which was showcased for the first time at the theatre festival.Daya has been lodged at Viyyur jail ever since she was picked by the police on January 6 during a raid at a Kochi lodge, which was the alleged hub of an online sex racket.

“I just couldn’t find better accommodation. I was unaware that the lodge was being used for illegal activities. All that I wanted was to have a roof over my head to rest after work,” said Daya. She got bail about a week ago to take part in the festival and will return to prison on Sunday. “I not only lost my job and accommodation, the police took away the money I had kept aside for a sex change operation, my gold jewellery and certificates,” she said.

Another transgender working with Kochi Metro was humiliated in public and lost her job after the raid.
Of the 23 transgenders who were initially employed by the Kochi Metro, 10 had quit due to various reasons. After the recruitment of 18 more transgenders, the total is now 31.Transgenders have plenty to talk about. All such grievances were on display as ‘Parayan Maranna Kadhakal’ narrated the unsung tales of transgenders.

On the first day of rehearsal, the group of 15 transgender actors had a tough time convincing the family members of Chinnu Shani, one of the main characters in the play. Chinnu’s family did not want her to act in the play and the group had to be at its persuasive best to convince them. “My family members are ready to accept that there is a change in me, but they believe it’s a mental state of mind that can be changed. They blame other transgenders for my situation, but that’s not the case at all,” Chinnu said. Directed by Chennai-based Sreejith Sundaram, the storyline is weaved around real-life incidents such as atrocities, humiliation and betrayal that transgenders have faced from the police, family, friends and society. 

Ranju Ranjeema, a well-known make-up artist and part of the troupe, said she used to enact the scenes with her friends when she was young.  The play is to let the world know what transgenders are going through, she said. “This is a stage from which we want to speak out loud and clear that we are also part of this society. We should be accepted. We won’t be the last and there will be many more who will be born even after we are gone,” she added.Other transgenders acting in ‘Parayan Maranna Kadhakal’ are Sweety Bernard, Sheethal Shyam, Hedi Zadiya, Miya Sivaraman Monisha, Maneesha, Harani, Abi, Honey Arogi, Deepti Kalyani, Ranju Mol Mohan and Ayisha

A perfect 10 for Gaayathri Menon

Gaayathri Menon mesmerised the crowd with her golden voice and scored A grade in all the 10 events in which she participated at the 58th Kerala School Youth Festival.

Published: 11th January 2018 01:28 AM  |   Last Updated: 11th January 2018 07:11 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: Gaayathri Menon mesmerised the crowd with her golden voice and scored A grade in all the 10 events in which she participated at the 58th Kerala School Youth Festival.

While the student from BSS Gurukulam at Alathur in Palakkad scored A grade in six individual events, the other four came in group events. Undoubtedly, she was the star singer at the youth festival in the high school category. Gaayathri, who started taking part in arts festivals as a UKG student, owes credit to her mother Beena Ramesh, a music teacher at Ananganadi HSS in Ottapalam.

She won individual A grade in Malayalam poem recitation, classical music, Ashtapathi, Kathakali Sangeetham, Sanskrit song and Chambu Prabhashanam. In the group events, her team won A grade in Malayalam, Urdu and Sanskrit group song, and Vande Mataram. “Singing is my passion and I will continue to pursue it by taking up the profession of a language or arts teacher,” said Gaayathri.

“Participating in 10 events was exhausting. But eventually, all the hard work has paid off.”It is not for the first time that Gaayathri is being recognised. She had been a finalist in ‘Sun Singer’, a talent show on Sun TV, and was also noted for her singing skills in Surya TV’s ‘Bol Baby Bol’ contest. She has been the Kalathilakam at the Sanskriti fest for five straight years.

Lack of originality takes the fun out of mimicry contest

Mimicry has always been a crowd-puller at the Kerala School Youth Festival.

Published: 11th January 2018 01:26 AM  |   Last Updated: 11th January 2018 07:11 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: Mimicry has always been a crowd-puller at the Kerala School Youth Festival. But the overbearing influence of TV programmes and lack of originality in the acts presented this time left the judges and audience a disappointed lot. The saving grace of the event was the high participation of female performers. In fact, they outshone the boys. Of the seven girls who participated in the event, three of them went on to receive A grades. Boys got the remaining two.

Many of the participants mimicked the voices of Sasi Kalinga, Chemban Vinod Jose, Vinay Forrt, Mammootty and Parvathy. Some of them brought up current issues such as cyclone Ockhi and the Kasaba controversy surrounding Parvathy’s comments against Mammootty.

“We were expecting something better, but it was a case of more of the same. It was disappointing to see them mimicking the same old sounds of trains, animals and actors,” said L Jayalakshmi, a member of the audience.

Actor and mimicry artiste Joby and Padmanabhan Thampi, who judged the event, told Express that the influence and predominance of TV programmes on the performers was evident in the acts. “We expected some originality in the acts by the children, which was lacking. But they are a talented lot and can improve,” said Joby.

“Mimicry is associated with fun and joy, but those aspects were missing from the acts. They were acting within the frame and weren’t ready to step out of it. You can shine only with an out-of-the-box performance,” said Thampi.

Endosulfan victim scores ‘A’ grade in mimicry

The Endosulfan menace took away Jeevan Raj’s vision. But he always has a smile on his face and makes others laugh.

Published: 11th January 2018 01:23 AM  |   Last Updated: 11th January 2018 07:11 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: The Endosulfan menace took away Jeevan Raj’s vision. But he always has a smile on his face and makes others laugh. No wonder, the student from Government HSS, Kasargod, was one of the five who got A grade in mimicry at the Kerala School Youth Festival here on Wednesday. Jeeven didn’t have to look far for inspiration. At last year’s youth festival, his brother Devikiran – another victim blinded by endosulfan – won first prize in classical music.

Jeevan touched the hearts of judges and the audience by flawlessly mimicking various sounds. While he started the act by paying respect to the victims of cyclone Ockhi, he did not forget use the platform to remind the audience about the problems faced by people due to endosulfan. According to Jeevan, it was the people of his native Enmakaje village who encouraged him to dabble in mimicry. As he listened to more sounds and started mimicking, they appreciated his efforts. It was enough to give him the confidence to compete at the youth festival.

Though he participated at last year’s edition in Kannur, he failed to win one of of the top spots. However, he overcame his limitations and managed to grab the attention of the judges this time

‘My Stamp’ is souvenir of choice

Snail mail may have gone out of fashion, but stamps have become a surprise hit at the Kerala School Youth Festival thanks to the Department of Post’s unique initiative

Published: 10th January 2018 04:28 AM  |   Last Updated: 10th January 2018 07:21 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: Snail mail may have gone out of fashion, but stamps have become a surprise hit at the Kerala School Youth Festival thanks to the Department of Post’s unique initiative.

The department has set up a stall at the main venue where personalised sheets of postage stamps called ‘My Stamp’ are sold. The stamps are personalised by printing a thumbnail photo of the customer as well as images and logos of institutions, artworks, heritage buildings, etc.

Thrissur Head Post Office postmistress Elsy P K said the facility was introduced for students who received A grade at the festival. Visitors can also get personalised stamps. Parvathy, a student who received A grade, was excited to have a personalised stamp with her name and photo.

The winning streak continues

For Bharadwaj Subramaniam, winning has become a habit. In 2016, he bagged first in the classical music competition in the state school youth festival.

Published: 10th January 2018 04:27 AM  |   Last Updated: 10th January 2018 07:21 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: For Bharadwaj Subramaniam, winning has become a habit. In 2016, he bagged first in the classical music competition in the state school youth festival. He repeated the performance in 2017. This year, too, was no different for the Class 10 student of Sreekrishnapuram Higher Secondary School, as he scored A grade in the event and continued his winning streak.

Hailing from the family of Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar and as the grandson of Vellinezhi Subramaniam Bhagavathar, both famous carnatic singers from Palakkad, it was natural for Bharadwaj to have a talent for singing.

He learned singing from his father Vellinezhi Subramaniam, who has judged the school festival and is a known classical singer. For Bharadwaj, the school festival provides him a platform to express what he learned. Through listening and practising singing, he aims to expand his knowledge base

Despite appeals, Devika finally wins battle, hearts

At a time when increasing number of appeals have turned out to be a bane for organisers of the Kerala State School Youth Festival, here is one girl who never chose to appeal despite missing out on a c

Published: 10th January 2018 04:27 AM  |   Last Updated: 10th January 2018 09:24 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: At a time when increasing number of appeals have turned out to be a bane for organisers of the Kerala State School Youth Festival, here is one girl who never chose to appeal despite missing out on a chance to represent her school at the state-level five years in a row. For five consecutive years, Devika Suresh, a student of Girideepam Bethany High School in Vadavathoor, Kottayam, did she take the appeal route to attend the state fest. But rather than appealing, she worked harder and reached the state fest for the first time this year. And she made quite the impression, scoring A in three closely-fought dance competitions.

Devika bagged the top grade in Kerala nadanam, bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. What makes her success sweeter is the fact she participated in the events in quick succession without taking rest, as performance by contestants who came via appeal delayed the events. So by the time one competition in which she was participating got over, it was time to perform in the next.

Interestingly, Devika has been participating in the youth festival since she was an upper primary student.  On why neither her parents nor she appealed despite bagging second place for five years, Devika said, “I believed there was no need for it. I came first at the district competition at the upper primary group. I believed in myself and was never disappointed for not getting through to the state level.”

Anirudhan, the protagonist in Chavittu Nadakam’s rejuvenation

When it comes to Chavittu Nadakam, Anirudhan N (62) and his family members are in high demand during the time of Youth Festival.

Published: 09th January 2018 01:17 AM  |   Last Updated: 09th January 2018 07:15 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: When it comes to Chavittu Nadakam, Anirudhan N (62) and his family members are in high demand during the time of Youth Festival. Hailing from Gothuruth, Ernakulam, which is believed to be the birthplace of the Latin Christian classical art form, the family has made a rich contribution to this dance-drama.Chavittu Nadakam was introduced at the youth festival in 2012, when it started fading out as an art. Only a few showed interest in participating it at the beginning, but more schools followed suit, thanks to Anirudhan and his family, who thus gave it a new lease of life. Four generations of his family are now into it and they teach aspirants across the state its nuances.  

They have their own family troupe called Ammanchery Natrajan Memorial Chavittu Nadaka Sangham. His father K K Natrajan was a member of the Gothuruth Yuvajana Samithi, a troupe which performed Chavittu Nadakam on the first Republic Day function, after travelling to Delhi in a ship for 30 days. Anirudhan said he started learning Chavittu Nadakam from exponents Ambalathi Houso Joseph, Kokanthara Paulose, Padmatumal Joseph and E C Jospeh at a young age. 

He passed it on to nearly 200 students until last year and has 90 wards at present. Chavittu Nadakam was mainly performed by male artists, but Anirudhan changed that perception too, by introducing an all-woman team. The folklore academy honoured him in 2009 for his contributions.

A ringside view of the cultural extravaganza for half-a-century

Unbelievable, but true nonetheless: An 84-year-old arts aficionado who has attended every edition of the State School Arts Festival since 1968. However, even 50 years on, P K Raghavan’s enthusiasm for the cultural extravaganza, billed as the largest of its kind in the entire Asian region, has only grown with each passing edition.

Published: 08th January 2018 01:03 AM  |   Last Updated: 08th January 2018 07:16 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: Unbelievable, but true nonetheless: An 84-year-old arts aficionado who has attended every edition of the State School Arts Festival since 1968. However, even 50 years on, P K Raghavan’s enthusiasm for the cultural extravaganza, billed as the largest of its kind in the entire Asian region, has only grown with each passing edition.

The octogenarian has also proved a lucky talisman for BSS Gurukulam School, Alathur, which had won five back-to-back titles in the High School section at the festival.  Raghavan is such a household name among students of the school who seek his blessings before taking part in the competitions. His advancing years notwithstanding, Raghavan prefers to travel alone  and his companions are mainly students of  the school from Palakkad. “I have been to the venue of all the State School Arts Festivals held since 1968. Prior to it, I participated as a student in events, including chenda and edaka,” he told Express at the Fine Arts College, one of the venues.

Raghavan said he was also associated with the arts fest as a certificate writer for 20 years (1967-1987) when he retired from job as a teacher in an aided school. “My interest in the festival has not waned even after all these years. Surrounded by the young talents, I have never felt the growing years and age has never come in the way  during the back-to-back visits to the youth fest,” he said.

Reflecting on his three-decade long experience as a visitor to the arts fest venues, Raghavan said the competition among the participants was more intense these days. He also said the introduction of grading system has taken the zing out of the competition. This is despite the fact  the grading system has several advantages. Raghavan’s family, comprises two sons and a daughter with whom he stays- he lost his wife some time back – had been initially surprised by his fascination for the school arts festival but they have now realised he derives immense pleasure out of it.

Poor arrangements at Sahitya Akademi leave children, audience miffed

Even on the second day of State School Youth Festival, stage 10 ‘Manchadi’ in Sahitya Akademi saw protests citing poor arrangements by the organisers.

Published: 08th January 2018 01:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 08th January 2018 07:16 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: Even on the second day of State School Youth Festival, stage 10 ‘Manchadi’ in Sahitya Akademi saw protests citing poor arrangements by the organisers. It brought disappointment not just to the participants from various school, but to the people who flooded the venue with the hope of enjoying nadanpattu.

The venue courted controversy on the first day of the festival. The team performing oppana was deeply disappointed with the stage and mike facilities that were arranged.

Even though the issue concerning the participants was brought to the notice of the organising committee and chairman V S Sunil Kumar, Minister for Agriculture, by the participants, parents and teachers, no steps were taken in this regard. While a huge crowd had gathered to hear folk song, they were forced to stand in the sun. The delay further dampened the mood. While the team comprises at least seven people, unavailability of microphones further took the sheen out of the event.

In fact, at least 12 microphones are required for the event. Similarly, there were no potable water and proper light facilities in the venue, much to the chagrin of the participants, their guardians and the public. Usha, who came with her mother from Erattupetta in Kottayam, said it is unfortunate the arrangements are inadequate. She had come to see her sister perform. However, they had to stand for hours in the sun as the number of seats was limited.

Organisers hopeful of Unesco recognition

In a bid to get global recognition for the Kerala State School Youth Festival – considered as Asia’s largest school-based cultural event – the organising committee has written to Unesco, demanding cultural status

Published: 05th January 2018 01:09 AM  |   Last Updated: 05th January 2018 07:44 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: In a bid to get global recognition for the Kerala State School Youth Festival – considered as Asia’s largest school-based cultural event – the organising committee has written to Unesco, demanding cultural status for it.District Collector and organising committee coordinator A Kowsigan has written to Unesco director-general Audrey Azoulay, seeking to consider the festival as the cultural event of Asia, by recognising the event’s magnitude and the participation of students in such large numbers.

According to Director of Public Instruction K V Mohan Kumar, the state government has been successfully conducting the festival since 1956. The festival has encouraged students to discover their true potential and many hidden talents have come to the fore, he said. Nowhere else in India, or for that matter Asia, has a cultural event of such magnitude is conducted, which sees the participation of a large number of students, teachers, parents and other members of society, he said. 

Though the organisers are yet to receive any response from Unesco, they are hopeful of getting it anytime soon.Considering the successful implementation of the event, officials from other states have approached us with an aim to conduct similar festivals in their states, he said.Education experts from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are here to witness various events. Goa’s culture minister has shown interest in the festival and personally called to inquire about it. It shows that the festival has garnered huge attention all over, he added.

Tie-up with Tourism Dept
In a bid to popularise the Kerala State School Youth Festival across the world, the organisers have joined hands with the tourism department.
They are trying to woo tourists from India and abroad to get a first-hand experience of the festival.

Circuses will cease to be ‘jumbo’ fun henceforth

Captive elephants had indeed been the mainstay of big circus companies for a very long time. But not any longer.

Published: 31st October 2017 01:14 AM  |   Last Updated: 31st October 2017 11:54 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: Captive elephants had indeed been the mainstay of big circus companies for a very long time. But not any longer. The Central Zoo Authority(CZA) has refused to issue ‘no objection certificates’ to all the circuses for keeping the elephants, besides coming out with specific norms on elephant rehabilitation and rescue centres for the state governments.

The documents available with Express show the authority which deputed a team to evaluate the captive animal facility in various circuses, including Rajmahal, Ajanta, Natraj, Kohinoor, Great Golden Circus, Great Appollo Circus and Empire Circus, had found major violations by the circus companies following which their recognition was cancelled.  

Brij Kishor Gupta, Evaluation and Monitoring Officer, Central Zoo Authority, confirmed to Express the licences of all the zoos had been cancelled. However, he refused to divulge anything more. Some of the circus companies had challenged the authority’s decision to deny the right to maintain elephants for the performance purposes. However, the expert team stood its ground as the atrocities against the animals was continuing.

Apparently majority of the big circuses, including Asian and Rambo Great Bombay Circus and Jumbo Circus had already sent their respective captive elephants to  government rehabilitation centres. Crippled by CZA’s refusal to renew the licence, some of the oldest circus companies like Gemini, Rajkamal and Rayman had closed down.

Additionally, the Central Zoo Authority has announced the Captive Elephant Welfare Committee will be authorised to periodically inspect all Elephant Rehabilitation Centre and submit the report to the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state/UT for certification of norms by the ERC concerned. The authority clarified the norms will be over and above the Guidelines for Care and Management of Captive Elephants issued by the MoEF

Couple, who waged ‘jihad’ for love, to live happily ever after

For Kakkassery, Pavaratty natives, Nishamudheen,23, and Haritha, 18, being united in marriage has not  been the mere  fulfilment of unconditional love, but the sheer elation of having made it in the f

Published: 22nd October 2017 12:57 AM  |   Last Updated: 22nd October 2017 07:39 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: For Kakkassery, Pavaratty natives, Nishamudheen,23, and Haritha, 18, being united in marriage has not  been the mere  fulfilment of unconditional love, but the sheer elation of having made it in the face of adversity. The couple, who had been trolled on the social media with their romance being dubbed as an instance of  the so-called ‘love jihad’, besides the case lodged by Haritha’s parents against the marriage, became  man and wife on Friday at the registration office at Mullassery here. It was a recent High Court order  which paved the way for the couple to tie the nuptials.

Nishamudheen was a fitness trainer at a local gym when he fell in love with Haritha, who was still in school,  in 2014. As soon as Haritha’s family got to know of the affair, attempts were made to sever the relationship. There were even efforts by Haritha’s kin to give a communal colour to the love interest, Nishamudheen told Express.  

Narrating the harrowing ordeal, Nishamudheen said he had to leave abroad in search of better prospects shortly after his relationship with Haritha became public. According to Nishamudheen , he had gone out with Haritha and one of her cousins while on a short holiday here. But after Haritha’s family came to know about it, they pressured her to lodge a false case against him by threatening to harm him. A POCSO(Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act)  case was lodged against Nishamudheen based on the complaint and he was remanded in judicial custody.

Later, Haritha was sent abroad by her parents for completing her studies and on her return she moved in with Nishamudheen. However, the family filed a habeas corpus and the court allowed Haritha to stay with her parents with conditions. Haritha said she had also received a call from Shruthi, the inmate of the controversial yoga centre at Tripunithara, who tried to dissuade her from marrying Nishamudheen.

“We decided to go ahead with the marriage under the Special Marriage Act. Since she could not be present, Nishamudheen and the witnesses signed.  A letter was submitted to the Marriage Officer stating she could sign on another date. Accordingly another day was fixed. Meanwhile, the incumbent Marriage Officer had been transferred out and the new Marriage Officer did not allow them to sign the register following the objection raised by her parents,” she said.

Following this, Haritha and  Nishamudheen moved the High Court again. Haritha’s parents too filed a habeas stating she had not signed the register.  Besides, they filed a writ claiming there was an attempt to take their daughter to Syria to join the ranks of the so-called Islamic State(IS). Her parents also submitted a copy of a leading daily to substantiate the charge Haritha was a victim of ‘Love Jihad’ .

“However, it was a baseless charge. There was also a campaign against us on social media.But the HC recently issued an order in their favour saying she should be allowed to sign the marriage registration certificate and police should make all necessary arrangements for the same. The court order and the marriage was the victory of their love and a major setback to those who are calling the relationship ‘love jihad,’ they said.

Crackers weigh down jumbo

Cocking a snook at regulations about parading elephants at festivals, a grand display of the animals was held on the sidelines of the St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral’s annual feast here this week.

Published: 08th October 2017 08:42 AM  |   Last Updated: 08th October 2017 08:42 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

THRISSUR: Cocking a snook at regulations about parading elephants at festivals, a grand display of the animals was held on the sidelines of the St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral’s annual feast here this week. Not just that, fireworks display was conducted atop a wounded tusker. As many as 24 elephants were paraded during the church feast on October 2 and 3 without getting due permission and ensuring proper security, Heritage Animal Task Force secretary V K Venkatachalam said.

He said if more than 15 elephants were to be paraded, a fitness certificate from the forest veterinarians and permission from the District Collector were needed. However, in this case there was no permission, he said. To make matters worse, a wounded elephant was also paraded.

Heritage Animal Task Force secretary V K Venkatachalam said the elephant, Cherpulassery Rajasekharan, which had sores all over its body was paraded and a fireworks display was conducted atop the tusker.

“As per rules, nobody has the freedom to display fireworks near the elephants and any pyrotechnic display should be done at least 100 metres away,” he said. “But the feast organisers misused the freedom by hosting the show atop the animal.”

The fiery sparkles or incendiary components of the fireworks could have caused injury to the animal or even made it panic, causing damage and loss of lives. In 2009, during the festival, a six-year-old elephant had killed his mahouts, said Venkatachalam.

A Jayamadhavan, ACF, Social Forestry, said they were unaware of such a function and they received no application in this regard. If a festival has been conducted in such magnitude, it is illegal and it would be investigated, he said. “The elephants cannot be paraded without getting fitness certificate and proper permission.” Venkatachalam said they have taken up the matter with the director of Project Elephant under the Ministry of Environment and Forests and written a letter to them. A copy of the complaint has also been forwarded to the Animal Welfare Board of India, the Chief Wild Life Warden, Kerala Police chief and Governor.

It was also forwarded to the district collectors of Kollam (as the elephant was brought from there) and Alappuzha (where Rajasekharan was taken after the festival). In his letter, Venkatachalam said “no texts of Christianity favoured the use of any animals as part of its festivals. But here, they have used the elephant as a show of pomp. The organisers also refused to pay heed to the prelates who had displayed a huge hoarding in front of the church, warning believers to desist from parading jumbos on the premises.”
Venkatachalam appealed to authorities to punish the violators without delay. District collector A Kowsigan has called a meeting of the elephant monitoring committee on October 9.

Fr Joseph Cheruvathur, the vicar of the Cathedral, said the elephant was not part of the church programme. “Permission was taken for other events, but the parade was not part of the schedule. Church has nothing to do with it,” said Fr Cheruvathur

Tigers on the prowl in Thrissur town; rain fails to spoil mood

The rain beating down on Thrissur failed to deter people from gathering in huge numbers to witness the ‘Pulikali’ performers walking down the street at Swaraj round with tigers

Published: 08th September 2017 01:18 AM  |   Last Updated: 08th September 2017 07:23 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: The rain beating down on Thrissur failed to deter people from gathering in huge numbers to witness the ‘Pulikali’ performers walking down the street at Swaraj round with tigers, leopards and panthers painted on their trunks on Thursday.It began drizzling in the afternoon and continued raining well into the night, delaying the performance by several hours. 

People, though drenched, waited patiently to see over 200 artists who were all set to walk the streets with make-up on their bodies, lifelike faces of tigers, panthers and leopards painted on their chests and plump bellies and tiger stripes on their arms and legs. When they did, the sight enthralled everyone gathered there. 

People jumped in joy with the tigers, tigresses and leopards who roared the tunes of the percussionists. 
On their part, the artists feared the downpour will spoil the paintings on their bodies. Understandably so, as the work took a patient sitting of around seven hours. But they did not disappoint fans.

Though the event was organised after spending more than `12 lakh, the coveted prize for winners was not what the artists craved as they regaled the crowd. Instead, they seemed to be content with winning their hearts.Synonymous with Onam  festival now, ‘Pulikali’ has garnered popularity in Thrissur and is slowly gaining acceptance in other parts of the state. 

Women’s team grabs  people’s attention
A team of 12 women, the tigresses, were all the rage in this year’s ‘Pulikali’.   Their number grew from a paltry four from last year, their first appearance in the event. The increased participation of women performers – who were dressed as tigresses and leopards and jumped to the tune of the percussion instruments – was well-received by all. The women stood neck-and-neck with men and did not disappoint the crowd.

KSSDA to supply seeds from state-owned farms, agencies to farmers in Kerala

The move gains significance as it means the KSSDA will no longer purchase seeds from private agencies, as has been the practice for several years.

Published: 29th August 2017 10:43 AM  |   Last Updated: 29th August 2017 10:43 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: In a major initiative towards self-dependency, the Kerala State Seed Development Authority (KSSDA) has decided to supply quality seeds produced entirely in government farms and procured through agencies like National Seeds Corporation to farmers from this year. 

The move gains significance as it means the KSSDA will no longer purchase seeds from private agencies, as has been the practice for several years. It will ensure quality and certified seeds from government agencies are supplied to farmers. 

“The decision to partner with private companies to supply the seeds was made when seed production was low at government farms. The practice took off and continued for years to the point around 60 per cent of the seeds was procured directly from private firms for approximately Rs 39 per kg,” KSSDA additional director A A Prasad told ‘Express.’

But the government decided to put a stop to the practice from this year after the seed scam involving senior officers was exposed and poor quality of seeds was supplied to farmers which ultimately affected the yield.

On the seed requirement of the state, Prasad said, “Per hectare of seeds requires around 80 kg of seeds, which means farmers across the state will require around 16,000 tonnes of seeds in all. Thrissur alone needs 600 tonnes of seeds,” he said.

Keeping this demand in view, seeds have been already prepared at 33 government farms. To counter any shortage, KSSDA has signed an Memorandum of Understanding with the National Seeds Corporation which has been entrusted with the responsibility to supply the seeds. KSSDA will also sign an agreement with Karnataka and a few other states to ensure seamless supply of required number of seeds. 

Prasad said, “At present, we have seeds in sufficient quantity to distribute among farmers who will sow them in the coming months.” He said farmers had also switched the cropping pattern from single cropping to double cropping, especially in Kole fields.

“The farmers demand the number of seeds which is required for double cropping. Though they should inform us of their requirement six months in advance, they often do not do so. Then they complain about not getting seeds,” he said, adding, “KSSDA is nevertheless ensuring timely fulfilment of the farmers’ demands with the help of government agencies.”

N K Subramanian, secretary, Kole Farmers Association, welcomed the move saying farmers could sow the seeds produced in government farms with complete faith.“Farmers were initially apprehensive of seed shortage due to low yield and draught. But KSSDA resolved their doubts. Sufficient quantity of seeds is available,” he said

Subsurface dykes to protect liquid assets

Subsurface dyke is built in an aquifer with the intention of obstructing the natural flow of groundwater, thereby raising its level.

Published: 20th August 2017 02:07 AM  |   Last Updated: 21st August 2017 08:51 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: It is time to take notice of the ground reality. While the massive decrease in ground water because of overexploitation and poor rainfall is turning into a major concern, the Ground Water Department has come up with proposals to construct subsurface dykes to recharge groundwater and reduce wastage. Subsurface dyke is built in an aquifer with the intention of obstructing the natural flow of groundwater, thereby raising its level. According to the Groundwater Department, there has been a decrease in subsurface water level compared to the previous year.

Jose James, Superintendent Hydro Geologist of the Groundwater Department in Thiruvananthapuram, told Express the department has proposed construction of subsurface dykes and the government is also seriously planning to implement it across the state.  He said the groundwater acquifers are getting overexploited due to reduction of surface water and low rainfall, which is down by 30 per cent this year.  Even though there is no alarming decrease, the water levels in 67 per cent of the observation open wells have indicated a reduction of water level across the state.

The officer said the department has 871 observation wells, including open wells and bore wells. While there has been a reduction in rainfall, the overexploitation of groundwater is turning out to be a cause for concern. According to Jose, they have been directed to identify places where subsurface dykes can be constructed. It is a very effective way of restoring ground water level. The ideal location for the dyke is a well-defined, wide, greatly sloping valley with a narrow outlet having loose soil or porous rock on top with massive impervious rocks below. He said the challenge is identifying such places without affecting people or agriculture. Geologists have been directed to find such areas in each district.

Hydro Geologist Santhosh of the Groundwater Department, Thrissur, said such structures have to be constructed three metres below the acquifers. The groundwater thus collected can be diverted to dry underground fissures and even to wells. This would help save the water which would otherwise end up in the sea. This has been successfully done in the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Kannur. He said they have identified a location in Thiruvilwamala where it is feasible to have sub surface dykes. Social and environmental activist K K Devadas said even though the Town and Country Planning Act insists every building should have rainwater harvesting facility for getting approval for construction, the rules are hardly implemented.

Paucity of qualified hands impairs forensic probe in criminal cases

According to the K T Thomas Panel, scientific officers should make up at least 10 per cent of the total strength of the police force.

Published: 15th August 2017 01:57 AM  |   Last Updated: 15th August 2017 09:27 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: This is one dubious distinction the Kerala Police could gladly do without – it is perhaps the only police force in the country not to have appointed candidates with forensic science qualification as scientific officers. Even the recommendations of the Supreme Court and Justice V S Malimath Committee to increase the strength of suitably qualified forensic scientists, besides those of Justice K T Thomas Committee set up by the state government have been glossed over. According to the K T Thomas Panel, scientific officers should make up at least 10 per cent of the total strength of the police force.

Consequently, the number of scientific officers in Kerala State Forensic Science Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram and the Regional Forensic Science Labs here and in Kannur totals a mere 64 instead of the stipulated 500. M S Sivaprasad, secretary, Indian Criminology and Forensic Association, told Express none of the universities in Kerala offers the forensic science course. In stark contrast, several varsities outside the state started offering the course almost half a century ago.

Despite the Kerala High Court order in 2014 which said the government should consider those who had successfully completed the forensic science course for the post of scientific advisors, it has not spurred any action. Moreover, physics, biology, chemistry, botany and zoology master’s degree holders are still being recruited as scientific advisors. Sivaprasad said this is affecting evidence collection and also undermining criminal investigation. As per K T Thomas Panel’s recommendation, the state’s 19 police districts should each have a minimum of one scientific officer.

However, in several districts, there are no officers and the forensic team from the neighbouring district has to be summoned in the event of an emergency. Sivaprasad said in the absence of enough hands, over 5,000 cases are pending at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram. A similar situation prevails at the regional labs. Annamma John, former associate director, Thrissur Regional Forensic Science Lab, said a State Institute of Forensic Science should be set up at the earliest.

Director of Forensic Science Lab, K P Jayakumar told Express the existing rules did not provide for forensic science graduates to be recruited as scientific advisors. However, the government has decided to go in for an amendment of the prescribed qualifications for candidates and the new order is likely to be issued within six months. Jayakumar said even the Central Forensic Science Lab had started recruiting forensic science graduates only a year ago. Since then the government had been giving it a serious thought

River Management Fund remains underutilised

No action taken to protect the river banks or stop illegal sand mining; a meeting to be held to decide on the fund utilisation

Published: 13th August 2017 10:19 AM  |   Last Updated: 13th August 2017 10:19 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: Even while several river banks are being encroached upon not to mention the very many instances of illegal land occupation across the state, the corpus provided under the River Management Fund remains largely underutilised in all the districts.The information gleaned through RTI said as on July 2017, `137.07 crore remains unused with the administration as River Management Fund.
Curiously in Thrissur,Palakkad and Malappuram through which the Bharathapuza and several smaller rivers pass,the total amount remaining unspent  comes to `86.27 crore, with the break-up being `20.92 crore, `14.43 crore and `50.91 crore,respectively   Among all districts, Malappuram has the  biggest allocation under the River Management  while Alappuzha with `1.29 crore has the lowest. 

The allocation for other districts is as follows: Thiruvananthapuram(`20.62 crore), Kollam(`11.86 crore),Pathanamthitta(`5.9 crore), Idukki(`5.11 crore), Kottayam `3,20 crore), Kasargod(`1,72 crore), Ernakulam(`7,83 crore, Kozhikode(`9,63 crore) and Wayanad (`3.75 crore).Green campaigner K K Devdas told Express it is unfortunate despite having such a corpus the district administration did not initiate any steps to clear the encroachments or even protect the river banks. 

He said the money allocated under the River Management Fund is generated mainly from sand  mining carried out legally. A portion of the amount collected for the sand through issuing of passes goes to the River Fund.  “We have brought the issue of growing number of violations and illegal activities which has taken place in Thrissur to the District Collector’s attention. However, not enough has been done to protect the river banks or stop illegal sand mining. “In Cheruthurty over 2 km of river bank has been encroached upon and it has been brought to the attention of Collector who was unaware of the same despite his office having replied to the RTI related to it,” Devdas said. 

Kusumam Joseph, social activist and coordinator of National Alliance for People’s Movement, said even the local bodies which are supposed to protect rivers are destroying them.
Citing the example of Annamanada panchayat, she said they had constructed a park and community hall by encroaching upon the Chalakkudi river. K Rajan, secretary, Kerala River Protection Council, said the violations are continuing unchecked across the state and there has been no step to protect the rivers. 
The River Management Fund is being misused and diverted for purchasing staff vehicles, he said. 
In Kozhikode the fund was used to purchase the vehicle and when we asked them how it could be used they said the vehicle was needed to check illegal activities

Plight of jumbos throws up an elephantine problem

Amid the hype and hoopla marking World Elephant Day which was observed on Friday, the fate of captive elephants in Kerala presents a sorry spectacle. 

Published: 12th August 2017 01:25 AM  |   Last Updated: 12th August 2017 09:25 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: Amid the hype and hoopla marking World Elephant Day which was observed on Friday, the fate of captive elephants in Kerala presents a sorry spectacle. Till August this year, a staggering 17 jumbos had died in the state which works out to nearly two elephants every 30 days during the intervening eight months, according to the Heritage Animal Taskforce (HAT), an NGO, which has championed the cause of pachyderms. Besides, 179 wild elephants had died of various causes, the NGO said quoting various reports. There is also a major discrepancy in the report on elephant population submitted by the government in the Supreme Court two years ago which had put it at 609. However, this has come down to about 540 now as per the latest figures. 

V K Venkatachalam, secretary, Elephant Task Force (ETF), said the condition of captive elephants is really pathetic. This is despite the jumbo owners minting money, especially, during the festival season. The foresters and vets in the Animal Husbandry Department are complicit in the atrocities perpetrated on the animals, he said.  Several of the dead jumbos had been victims of ill-treatment by mahouts. The animals are forced to remain on their feet for hours which takes a heavy toll on their health. Feeding processed food is also a major villain since it gets stuck in the animal’s gut.

Most of the captive elephants which died belonged to the 25-40 age bracket. But there is no mechanism to find how the death occurred. The postmortem is just an eyewash, Venkatachalam said. In many cases the true reason for the death is kept under wraps to protect the owners, who could be fined, he said. Though the Director, Project Elephant, had called for details of elephants which died this year the state government refused to play ball. 

Venkatachalam said there is a State ETF and District ETF consisting of the Forest Secretary, DFO, representative of the mahout and Chief Veterinarians which should be convened every year. However, since 2015 no meeting had been convened, he said. Even in the wake of disturbing number of elephant deaths, hardly any attempts have been made to deconstruct the   issue to get a proper understanding of the actual reasons behind the spate of jumbo deaths.Rajeev Rajan, Chief Conservator of Forests(CCF), Central Circle, said regular checks are  conducted to ensure elephants are treated well. Also, stringent action is being initiated in cases of cruelty to the animals. Rajan said attempts to draw parallels with the veterinary care available in the West will be overdrawn since those are evolved societies.

24 elephants died in ’16
The number of elephants that died in the past three years (2016, 2015, 104) was 24, 26 and 14 respectively. According to V K Venkitachalam, general secretary of the Heritage Animal Task Force, almost all the elephants that died during that period were due to prolonged torture. The elephants that died were in the age group 22-48. The average life expectancy of a captive elephant is 80 under normal circumstances, he said

Thrissur district authorities turn a blind eye to encroachers on government land

A year after the Land Revenue Commissioner issued an order to identify encroachment on revenue land in the statre and take necessary action, no punitive action has been taken in this regard. 

Published: 22nd July 2017 01:35 AM  |   Last Updated: 22nd July 2017 09:06 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: It appears the district administration is in snooze mode despite allegations of massive encroachment on government land. A year after the Land Revenue Commissioner issued an order to identify encroachment on revenue land and take necessary action, no punitive action has been taken in this regard. 

Based on the July 26, 2016 order, a team comprising the additional tahsildar, taluk surveyor and the section clerk was formed in Thrissur, Chavakkad, Mukundapuram, Thalapilli and Chalakkudy taluks. They were headed by the Deputy Collector. However, activists allege the lack of will on the part of authorities to take stringent measures have led to massive encroachment. 

A case in point is the banks of the Bharatha Puzha at Nambiar Pallam in Nedumpura village of Vallathol Nagar grama panchayat. Social activist K Devadas told Express even though he had submitted a report to the authorities pointing out massive encroachment of the river banks by land sharks, no action has been taken till date. 

“When the Nambiar Pallam-Mundaya canoe service was stopped, people started encroaching upon the river bank.”  The bank used to be 20 feet below the main road. However, the whole area has been filled in and cash crops are grown here. Shops have also come up and they have been given electricity connection and building numbers. 

Despite alerting the district authorities and Revenue officers, punitive measures are yet to be taken, said the activist. Replying to an RTI query, the village officer said he had submitted a report to the tahsildar saying a preliminary review reveals encroachment and it needs to be surveyed, Devadas said. 

Similarly, farmer and social activist T N Mukundan filed a case in the Lokayukta sitting at Kottayam on Thursday citing encroachment by actor Dileep. He accused the actor of constructing the D Cinemaas movie complex in Chalakkudy on government poromboke land. Despite the Land Revenue Commissioner’s order to investigate and submit a report in 2015, no action has been initiated, he said. The Lokayukta has given notices to the actor and 13 others and has directed Revenue officers to submit all the records. 

District Collector A Kowsigan told Express encroachments are identified and addressed at the village and taluk level. “The encroachments are identified and action is taken. However, these cases are hardly reported. But many cases such as Munnar and D Cinemaas encroachments have come to the limelight,” he said. Encroachments in Vallathol had not been brought to his attention. He said he would ask for a report and check if the land has been encroached upon

Bid to deploy students in private hospitals in Kannur flayed

The United Nurses Association  and the United Nurses Students’ Association have strongly condemned the Kannur District Collector’s order to deploy nursing students  in private hospitals

Published: 17th July 2017 08:18 AM  |   Last Updated: 17th July 2017 08:20 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: The United Nurses Association (UNA) and the United Nurses Students’ Association have strongly condemned the Kannur District Collector’s order to deploy nursing students in private hospitals in view of the strike. The Collector issued the order on the ground the government hospitals were handling patients over and above their stated capacity. The nursing students will be deployed in private hospitals for five days beginning Monday.

M V Vishnu, state president of United Nurses Students Association, told Express by deploying students to handle patients, the district administration and government was putting the life of patients as well as the career of students at risk.

“The students are not registered and any error on their part will have grave implications. Not only will their careers be jeopardised, they will also face serious legal repercussions,” he said.“The decision to take strong disciplinary action, including dismissal from course, in case a student is absent for ward duty is a gross violation of their rights.”“The students’ association along with the members of the UNA will stage a  protest against the order,” Vishnu said.

Meanwhile, the UNA asked how the government can deploy students when it has been batting  for the need to have trainee nurses in hospitals for some time now.“The management and the government are arguing the nurses fresh out of college cannot be directly employed at hospitals. However, now the government itself is planing to deploy students with no registration. The government will be answerable in case anything happens to a patient,” UNA state secretary M V Sudheep said

Fever cases rise, but where are the medicines?

Even as the number of H1N1 cases has increased in Kerala, the availability of tablets including Oseltamivir has fallen short in the pharmaceutical shops

By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: Even as the number of H1N1 cases has increased in the recent past, the availability of tablets, especially Oseltamivir (commonly known as Tamiflu) for treating H1N1 and viral influenza diseases, in all the pharmaceutical shops across the state has fallen short.Patients are forced to hop in and out of medical shops to check the availability of medicines. Earlier the tablets were supplied to only few and not all pharmacies were allowed to stock the tablets. As the number of cases increased, the government changed the class of the tablet from Schedule X to Schedule H1.

“Considering the importance of the tablet it has been changed to schedule H1 allowing all the medical shops to keep stock of the tablets,” said P M Jayan, assistant drug controller. “This change was brought two months back and was informed to all pharmacies. However, the stock of medicine might be comparatively low considering the demand and the supply ratio due to the outbreak of the diseases. But, the company has ensured it will reach out to all retails and wholesale shops.”

“Even though the doctor prescribed the tablet, it was not available in many medical shops,” said Kunhi Kannan, a resident of Kannur. “I could only buy the medicine after a frantic search. However, the cost of the tablet was high. They charged Rs 35 per tablet and did not even give a receipt.” 
Rashmi, whose daughter is under treatment at a private hospital, said she had to go into several medical shops, before getting the tablet. 

A few also complained high rates were charged as the tablet was not available. The tablet was sold at a rate as high as Rs 40.Manoj, in charge of supplying the medicines from Cipla across the state, said, “There had been a shortage of medicine in the last three months.” “However, in a week, the company has supplied 10,000 strips to many medical shops in the state. There is a demand for about 20,000 strips and will be made available soon. Retailers need to be aware of this.”

All Kerala Chemist and Drugs Association, president A N Mohan said, “The owners are apprehensive about the prices of the tablets due to GST.” “There is no clear idea about the class these tablets have been listed and the retailers themselves are confused. As the outbreak was sudden and the manufacturers did not have enough medicines to supply. Usually, the shops keep stocks of medicine depending on the requirement of medicine and its demand. Likewise, many shops are aware they can now stock the tablets after taking licence for it. The association will create an awareness on this so that medicines are soon available.”

1.5 lakh nurses from across Kerala threaten to join strike in Thrissur, demand wage revision

 A majority of about 1.5 lakh nurses working in various hospitals in Kerala are threatening to join the ongoing strike that began in Thrissur and later spread to other places at a time when Kerala shi

Published: 07th July 2017 08:30 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th July 2017 11:13 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajithExpress News Service

THRISSUR: A majority of about 1.5 lakh nurses working in various hospitals in Kerala are threatening to join the ongoing strike that began in Thrissur and later spread to other places at a time when Kerala shivers from an assortment of fever. 

Things have come to such a pass as nurses have been paid a pittance for many years, ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000. This, after they spent up to Rs 4 lakh to finish their course and are straightway burdened with the EMI spectre where the monthly outgo is often more than what they earn. (For a Rs 4-lakh loan, around Rs 5,000 will be the EMI). All they are asking for is a monthly salary of Rs 20,000 which is less than what a last grade employee in the government sector earns. 

At the entry level, a bulk of them earn anywhere between Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 and, after the training period Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000. Most of them earn below Rs 20,000 even after putting in over 10 years of service. 

When the token strike started in Thrissur on June 17, the salary of the nurses at Daya Hospital at Thrissur was Rs 10,000. The strike was called off a day later at the hospital as the salaries were revised upwards to Rs 17,000. But in other hospitals the nurses are still on strike as their salaries remain what it was about a month ago. In fact, the Christian institutions which run a bulk of the hospitals in the state set the ground for the nursing community to raise a banner of revolt. 

Ruling out any compromise on their demands, nurses working in hospitals managed by the Catholic Church on Thursday rejected the decision taken by the Labour Commission of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) to revise their pay scales. The KCBC Labour Commission meet the other day had decided to revise the nurses’ pay scale and announced the formation of an 11-member committee to frame the pay scale.

Aneesh Mathew Vernani, a nurse at Jubilee Mission Hospital in Thrissur and vice-president of the United Nurses’ Association (UNA), said they would not stop protesting until all their demands were met. 
He said the minimum wages should be provided as per the recommendations of the committee constituted by the Supreme Court. 

“The Balaraman Committee and Veerakumar panel conducted extensive study on the matter. It is up to the government to implement their recommendations,” he said. “We do not want another committee by the Catholic Church to decide our pay scale,” he said. He said the strength of nurses, especially of male nurses, had not been increased while the total strength had drastically decreased in hospitals ever since the nurses raised their demands.

Kerala veterinary university to launch second startup project before Onam

The Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) will launch its second startup project at Cherpu in Thrissur.

Published: 15th May 2017 02:29 AM  |   Last Updated: 15th May 2017 02:29 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: The Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) will launch its second startup project at Cherpu in Thrissur.

The project envisages the integration of the agriculture, livestock, and the fisheries sectors to ensure availability of safe food products through good agricultural practices. The Directorate of Entrepreneurship of KVASU is the implementing agency.

“The products will be marketed as safe-to-eat without the use of antibiotics and pesticides,” KVASU entrepreneurship director T P Sethumadhavan told Express “The pesticide and antibiotic levels will be monitored at the instrumentation laboratory of KVASU at Mannuthy.”

The startup will emphasise production, processing, value addition, high-value agriculture and e-commerce. Sales centres will be established in Thrissur and other urban centres.

“Training will be given to 50 entrepreneurs at the Mannuthy campus. We expect the second startup project to take off before the next Onam season. With the basic objective of creating agri-smart villages in the state, the university is planning to implement startup projects across the state in a phased manner,” he said.

The success of the first startup in Pullazhi is spurring KVASU on, with as many as 30 entrepreneurs associated with it. The products are marketed through their sales centre at Olari and the counters of the university. The products include milk, meat, egg, fish, rice and vegetables, along with other value-added products.

Gopinatha Kolangatt, one of the entrepreneurs and a farmer part of the first project, said they are having a turnover of Rs 10,000 per day. The situation is such they are unable to meet the demand. The farmers benefited hugely from the project as they are able to get a good price for their products.

“With many people ready to pay a little extra for a product which is safe and healthy, it’s a win-win situation,” he said.

US-based Malayali to capture the essence of  Pooram

As a kid, Rajeevan Panakal came to watch the Thrissur Pooram perched on the shoulders of his father. He was so mesmerised by its sights and sounds he fell in love with it.

Published: 03rd May 2017 01:19 AM  |   Last Updated: 03rd May 2017 03:56 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

THRISSUR: As a kid, Rajeevan Panakal came to watch the Thrissur Pooram perched on the shoulders of his father. He was so mesmerised by its sights and sounds he fell in love with it.

Today, the US-based Thrissur native is on a mission to capture the essence of the festival in a 3D documentary with crystal clear sound. Oscar-winner Resul Pookutty is also part of this ambitious project.

Contrary to general perception, very few people are aware of this festival abroad, said Rajeevan who is settled in the US since 1981.

“Even in the US where several people from the state are settled, they have little knowledge about the Pooram. Many got to watch the festival only for a few hours after a Malayalam channel started its operation there.

However, they were misinformed. That is how I got the idea to make a film utilising the latest technology and the best people in the field,” he said, aiming to highlight the culture and tradition of Thrissur.

 
The managing director of Palmstone Multimedia, Rajeevan said sound is an important element of the festival. After winning the Academy Award, Pookutty had expressed his desire to capture the sound at Thrissur Pooram during an interview. “We discussed the project with him and decided to use the latest technology to capture even the minutest sounds,” he said. 

Under the supervision of Pookutty, more than 80 technicians from Hollywood and Bollywood have already begun work. They would separately capture the sound of instruments, both in isolation and during the Pooram, said Rajeevan.

Another team has been working for the past 24 days capturing footage of preparations like cleaning of ponds, poojas, meetings, parasol-making and the construction of the pandal. 
Cameraman Unni Malayil said the biggest challenge is to capture it in 3D. All the cameras have to be synchronised. Otherwise, the whole shoot would go waste, he said

Mahe liquor outlets pin hopes on amendments

ven as a legal battle has led to the closure of all the liquor outlets along the national highway in Mahe, their owners are pinning hopes on the move of the Central and state governments to either bring an ordinance to bypass the apex court order which led to the situation or to ‘denotify’ the highways into major district roads which would allow the outlets to remain at the existing places. 

Published: 04th April 2017 01:09 AM  |   Last Updated: 04th April 2017 02:36 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

KANNUR: Even as a legal battle has led to the closure of all the liquor outlets along the national highway in Mahe, their owners are pinning hopes on the move of the Central and state governments to either bring an ordinance to bypass the apex court order which led to the situation or to ‘denotify’ the highways into major district roads which would allow the outlets to remain at the existing places. 

Arun Sebastian, president, Mahe Liquor Merchants Association, said the court order has not only affected their outlets, but would also cause a dip in the state revenue.

He said there was a move by the Central government to soon introduce an ordinance to pass the Draft Model  Policy on Alcohol and Alcoholic Beverages – 2006, which would help the outlets in the municipalities to remain at the existing spots.

 
Similarly, the state government too can denotify the state highways, he said.   C Ashok Kumar, legal officer, Mahe Liquor Merchants Association, said the issue has been taken up with the Centre. 

By denotification of the state highways the government can overcome the court order, as has been done in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Chandigarh.  The closure of the 32 outlets in Mahe has caused a loss of Rs 60 lakh per day and over 500 people have been rendered jobless.

VACB orders QV into Kuchipudi results

It is for the first time that the VACB has ordered quick verification in connection with the Kalotsavam results.

Published: 22nd January 2017 05:17 AM  |   Last Updated: 22nd January 2017 05:17 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

KANNUR: The Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau has ordered a quick verification (QV) after primary investigation revealed discrepancies in the judgement and role of a middleman in influencing the results of the State School Kalotsavam. It is for the first time that the VACB has ordered quick verification in connection with the Kalotsavam results.

The Vigilance had taken note of the Express report exposing discrepancies in the results of kuchipudi competition. Prasanna Madhu, mother of Uthara, a contestant from Alappuzha, had raised the allegation that owing to bias in judgement, her daughter got only B grade in kuchipudi, even as she came first in kathakali and second in mohiniyattom. Uthara, is a student of NS BHSS, Mannar, Alappuzha.

Prasanna Madhu had revealed that, much ahead of the school fest, kuchipudi dancer and teacher Anshad Aziz, had predicted her ‘results’ when she refused his offer to train her daughter. Anshad had promised that she would get a prize if he was given a chance to train her.  The Vigilance wing considered the complaint based on the Express report and carried out a primary investigation and thereafter ordered quick verification. The QV has been ordered following the directions of Vigilance director Jacob Thomas, Vigilance sources said.“The case seems to be strong and there is a  possibility of filing an FIR. The complainant was summoned and details collected,” sources added.

Prasanna said she had given a complaint to the Vigilance about the outcome of the event even before the judgement was announced. The issue was also taken up with the Director of Public Instruction, who had found merit in it and directed her to file an appeal against the results. The outcome of the appeal would be announced only on the final day.

Prasanna said her daughter got only B grade in the competition. At the same time, another student from the same school, who was trained by Anshad for a week and who came to the state event through appeal, won the ninth place in the kuchipudi event.

Prasanna alleged that the five students trained by Anshad had worn an ornament below the ‘arapatta.’ They had not worn that ornament in the past events that took place in the district and other levels. His students wear some specific marks and ornaments so that the judges could identify them, she said.

Anshad never retains the same students every year. Instead he takes students from various places and they win prizes in kuchipudi or gets A grade, Prasanna said.

Shadow of fixing over kuchipudi event in Kerala youth festival

Even as the Vigilance claims no allegations or discrepancies against the judges have come up before it, fresh charges have been raised against judges of the kuchipudi event and a dance teacher who rep

Published: 21st January 2017 04:16 AM  |   Last Updated: 21st January 2017 04:16 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

KANNUR: Even as the Vigilance claims no allegations or discrepancies against the judges have come up before it, fresh charges have been raised against judges of the kuchipudi event and a dance teacher who reportedly acted as a middleman to influence the results.

Prasanna Madhu, mother of the contestant Uthara from Alappuzha, has come up with the allegation that judges were influenced as a result of which her daughter got only ‘B’ grade in kuchipudi, even as she came first in kathakali and second in mohiniyattam.

She said a kuchipudi dancer and teacher named Anshad Aziz had predicted her daughter’s result when she refused to  train under him. Anshad had promised Uthara a leading position if he coaches her. The issue has raised several eyebrows in the wake of allegations regarding touts influencing judges to get favourable results even before the start of the event. The government subsequently stepped up vigil to prevent such incidents.

All’s not well with Vimal Jyothi students too

Students outfits, including ABVP and SFI, have also called for a protest

Published: 14th January 2017 05:43 AM  |   Last Updated: 14th January 2017 05:43 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

 KANUR: Students of Vimal Jyothi Engineering College, Chemperi, near Sreekandapuram here on Friday came out in the open against the management, which levied huge fine over petty issues. In violation of rules, the college earned over Rs 9 lakh a year by charging penalties on students. Condemning the harassment, the Muslim Students Federation raised strong protest in front of the college on Friday, which ended up in confrontation with the police and ‘people’, allegedly called by the management to suppress the protest.

Students outfits, including ABVP and SFI, have also called for a protest. The students on condition of anonymity revealed to Express about the prisonlike atmosphere of the institution. The college has imposed ‘disciplinary’ restrictions in the campus such as sporting beards. In one instance, the management suspended four students who failed to remit Rs 2,000 for not attending prayer meetings.

Similarly, a fine to the tune of Rs 100 is collected for late arrival for one period. Likewise, a student who keeps away from class for one day (6 periods) has to shell out Rs 600 or more. A student not turning up after the holiday has to pay Rs 1,000. Mishal, a former mechanical engineering student, was not allowed to write internal lab test for not giving in to the demand of removing the beard.

Mishal’s parents were summoned several times for this. “I was harassed and the management refused to listen and said it cannot mend rules for a few students,” he said. Express has in its possession various documents that support the claims of the students. When Express tried to contact the college principal he was unavailable for comment. The college authorities too refused to speak on the issue

Brick by brick, grief marches into a soldier’s house under renovation

It was just 10 days back, that 35-year-old C Ratheesh left his home at Kotoliparam near Mattanur in Kannur promising his wife Jyothi and mother Omana that he would return soon.

Published: 19th December 2016 01:24 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th December 2016 02:09 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

KANNUR: It was just 10 days back, that 35-year-old C Ratheesh left his home at Kotoliparam near Mattanur in Kannur promising his wife Jyothi and mother Omana that he would return soon.
However, Ratheesh will never be coming back, as this soldier was gunned down along with two others in a terrorist attack at Pampore in Srinagar. The terrorists fired at the army vehicle Ratheesh was travelling in on Saturday.

Naik C Ratheesh of the 44 field regiment in Madukkari, was on deputation and attached to the 33 Rashtriya Rifle, for field service at the Bandipore sector in Srinagar for the past three years. He was about to be relieved from his deputation and was suppose to join his parent regiment at Madukkarai in Coimbatore soon.The army said that his body would be flown to Kozhikode airport from where it would be brought to his village by road. The body is expected to arrive at the airport by 8 am. When Express visited the village, unaware of the death of her only son, mother Omana was busy working inside the house, where construction work was under way on the house.

Even though there was a huge crowd gathered at the ground just adjoining the house, clearing the bushes and overgrown shrubs, to prepare the space for place his mortal remains for public view, Omana did not have the slightest hint on the reason behind it.

She believed the words of a relative, who informed her that the youngsters were preparing the ground for some sports tournament.

The villagers have kept the matter so much under wraps, that nobody has gone to the house or was allowed to meet the mother to comfort her on the death of her son.His wife Jyothi, who was at her house in Kuttiyatoor, too was unaware of the death. However, she was complaining that Ratheesh was not answering her calls, as their six-month-old cried in her hands.

Ratheesh’s relative K P Babu said that since Ratheesh was posted in Kashmir, he was not getting sufficient leaves to spend time with his son and family.
The son was born three years after their marriage and it was a special moment for him, Babu said.
Ratheesh had come on a week’s leave during November-end to take a look at the renovation work going on in the house.

But he went back, promising that he would return soon as he would be relieved of his field service and it was a just a matter of days that he would join his regiment in Coimbatore.  
Babu recalled that Ratheesh’s childhood was never easy. Being the only son, he had come up the hard way after the demise of his father, while he was still very young.

His mother worked as a labourer and put him in school. But after the tenth standard, he decided to join the Army considering the bad situation at home. The family has been just recovering from its difficult days and was getting settled.

E M Ramakrishnan, another relative, said that Ratheesh had called his mother a few minutes before the incident and had asked her about the developments of the house work. There was no hint of any trouble in Kashmir, he said.

His friend Shaji remembered him as a calm and composed person, who hardly spoke much to the people. Though he was interested in sports, he spent more time with the family on his leave days.
His colleague Subedar V V Rathankaran of his regiment too remembered him as a soft-spoken person, who never interfered much in any matter other than his work. He was very calm and obedient and loved volleyball, he said.

While the village saw unusually heavy traffic,  there lingered a sense of the sombre, of loss and pride for the martyr in the minds of people here.

Octogenarian in high spirits after winning 17-year battle

Eighty-year-old T V Gangadharan, a retired municipality commissioner from Mahe, was overjoyed with the Supreme Court order to shift liquor outlets at least 500 meters away from national and state high

Published: 16th December 2016 02:22 AM  |   Last Updated: 16th December 2016 02:22 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

KANNUR: Eighty-year-old T V Gangadharan, a retired municipality commissioner from Mahe, was overjoyed with the Supreme Court order to shift liquor outlets at least 500 meters away from national and state highways in the country.

For, he won a 17-year-old battle against the liquor demon, which destroyed the life of his brother and several near and dear ones. His fight began in 1999, when he filed a petition in Madras High Court seeking prohibition of liquor outlets. But, it was only in 2001, that the  matter was taken up.

“In the court, the licensees argued that closing the outlets would hurt their huge investments, while the government said it made huge revenue via liquor sale and that people from Kerala, too, depended on them,” said Gangadharan, who is secretary of the Mahe Prohibition Council.

The court, however, struck down the arguments saying the sale could be in proportion to the state’s people and they should not worry about people from Kerala. It then prohibited all outlets near highways in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. The Pondicherry government challenged the verdict in SC. 

“It was unfortunate to see government violating all rules. Outlets came up less than 300 meters from religious and educational institutions. Instead of ensuring people’s well being, the government’s wrong policies are pushing people into a situation where their health and family are getting affected,” he said.
For him, the SC order could not have come at a better time.  “The order is a great way to end the year. It would be the last time that Mahe tourists celebrate a ‘spirit-filled’ New Year,” said Gangadharan, who dedicated the order to his brother, who passed away two months back

Unusual spurt in railway ticket sale

Published: 13th November 2016 01:28 AM  |   Last Updated: 13th November 2016 03:31 AM  |  A+A A-By C P SajitExpress News Service

KANNUR: Post the announcement of demonetisation of currency notes of higher denominations, an unusual surge has been witnessing in railway ticket purchase at the stations falling under the Palakkad division.
“There is a huge increase in the sale of tickets and the trend is ubiquitous in almost all stations under the division. We are expecting a surge in the cancellation of tickets in the coming days,”a senior railway official told Express on conditions of anonymity.

The gross daily earning at Kozhikode passenger reservation system was Rs 7.78 lakh on 7 November, this went up to Rs 8.16 lakh on November 10. Likewise, at Kannur, the gross earning increased from Rs 5.89lakh to Rs 7.76lakh from November 7 to November 9. Following is the palpable changes in earnings registered at other stations during the past three days: Mangalore Satellite Centre: Rs 1.94 lakh to Rs 3.42lakh, Mangalore Centre Rs 5.68lakh to Rs 6.28 lakh.  At Shoranur, the earnings almost doubled from Rs 74,000 to Rs 1.48 lakh within this short span of time. “The senior officials are looking for the reasons behind this drastic increase in the earnings through ticket sales,” he added.

Restrictions on ticket cancellations
Of late, Railway has issued an order restricting cancellation of tickets above the value of Rs 5,000 at the railway counters.“For the cancellation of tickets above the value Rs 5,000, the passengers will be issued Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR). They are supposed to approach the Divisional Senior Commercial Manager and submit the TDR along with the original tickets. The reimbursement will be made directly to the bank accounts of the applicants and the money won’t be given at the counters,” he said. The official admitted that reimbursements for cancellation of tickets worth over Rs 5000 were made at counters by mistake in about 8 cases. “Action would be taken against the railway employees who were responsible for the same,”he added.   

Jailers say bidi baron is behaving himself in prison

Kerala bidi baron Mohammed Nisham has been accused by his siblings of threatening them on the phone from prison.

Published: 22nd October 2016 07:27 PM  |   Last Updated: 22nd October 2016 07:30 PM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

KANNUR: The controversial Kerala bidi baron Mohammed Nisham, jailed for ramming his Hummer into a watchman Chandrabose, is back in trouble. This time he has been accused by his siblings of threatening them on the phone from prison.

Nisham has allegedly been operating out of prison with two phones, but jail authorities insist he has no access to any phones.

But the superintendent of the Kannur jail, Ashok Kumar told New Indian Express that there just was no possibility of Mohammed Nisham making any phone calls from inside the jail.

READ MORE: Mohammed Nisham: The Rise and Fall of a Tobacco Tycoon

“Nisham is lodged in block number 10 of the jail. It is a totally isolated cell and there is no possibility of police personnel helping him get access to a mobile phone as they can be easily tracked by the cyber cell of the police. No one has seen Nisham making calls from the cell,” the jailer told New Indian Express.

To nail the authorities’ claim, Nisham’s brothers have furnished the phone numbers used by the beedi baron, along with details of the phone conversations.

The jail authorities say Nisham may indeed have made calls to his brother but not from within the jail but perhaps while being taken to a Bangalore court by bus two days ago, on October 20, using a friend’s mobile phone.

To a question how the ‘friends’ had come to know that Nisham was being taken to Bangalore, the jail superintendent said there was a possibility that his impending court appearance in court was reported much in advance.

This is not the first time that the jail authorities have come under fire for Nisham’s ways in prison. Earlier there were reports that the jail authorities gave only light work to Nisham and allowed him to fetch food from outside.

Meanwhile, the DIG is expected to visit the central jail after chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan,ordered an inquiry into the matter.

E P Jayarajan in soup for seeking teak worth Rs 24 crore for temple

In the missive addressed to Forest Minister K Raju, Jayarajan sought the wood for the Irinavau Chuzhali Bhagavathi Temple.

Published: 22nd October 2016 01:17 AM  |   Last Updated: 22nd October 2016 10:22 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P SajitExpress News Service

KANNUR: Even before his unceremonious exit from the state Cabinet has receded from public consciousness, CPM leader E P Jayarajan found himself in the middle of yet another row, over his alleged demand for exquisite teak wood free of cost for renovation of a temple near his residence at Irinavu here. And the cost of the wood, which the CPM stalwart allegedly sought as a freebie, has been put at a whopping `24 crore.

According to sources, the Forest Department had received a letter from Jayarajan, who was the then Industries Minister seeking wood for the temple. His family members are reportedly the temple committee trustees.

In the missive addressed to Forest Minister K Raju, Jayarajan sought the wood for the Irinavau Chuzhali Bhagavathi Temple. And it was pointed out in the letter that the temple did not have enough resources and hence listed under the D category of Devaswom Board.  Since the temple had been cash strapped, Jayarajan said he was forwarding the request for 1,200 cubic metre of wood free of cost to the temple.

The letter which was received in October first week  was forwarded to the Kannavam Forest Office, where teak wood is abundant. Sources said the letter did not mention any specific wood, but since the letter was forwarded to the Kannavam Forest Office, under which there was a teak plantation it had been assumed that the temple trust was on the lookout for teak wood. However, the request was turned down citing various reasons.

When contacted DFO P Sunil denied having received any letter from the minister or from the temple authorities. However, another forest official here said that a letter from the minister had indeed been received and the same was forwarded by the Forest Department.
Seeks to clear air

Jayarajan told Express, “In the past while I was the MLA, the Forest Department on the basis of a special request had sanctioned wood for making pillar for Cherukunnu Temple. Similarly Karivetti wood was also sanctioned for making an idol of Pazhassi Raja which is going to be installed now.”  

The CPM leader alleged that there was a concerted move to create controversies to besmirch his name.  He also denied  that he had written a letter seeking wood for the temple and pointed out  that it was not his ancestral temple. “When the temple committee approached me with the request for renovation, I issued a covering letter and forwarded their request to the Forest Minister asking him to look into their application. I never demanded any favours from the minister,” he said.
MDB stand

Sajjeev Maroli, president, Malabar Devaswom Board, too confirmed that the temple had meagre resources and hence was listed under the D category.

They lost a good father, husband and samaritan

Published: 15th October 2016 01:12 AM  |   Last Updated: 15th October 2016 04:37 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit | ENSExpress News Service

KANNUR: O T Suchitra has been inconsolable during the last five days and the tears fail to dry up. Wife of CPM leader K Mohanan, who was brutally killed in a toddy shop at Valangichal where he worked as a cashier on Vijayadasami day, she broke down when Express met her at her house.

Suchitra and her two children still can’t believe that the husband and father met with a brutal end. A man who always took the lead to help those in need and distress, irrespective of party affiliation, Mohanan, according to them, ‘’had no enmity towards anyone that somebody would do such a thing to him. Though he faced some threats 10 years ago, things were peaceful all these years.”

“Never did he say anything that made us feel that he was under pressure or threat. Now, everything happened suddenly and it has shattered our lives,’’ said Suchitra.  “He never disrespected or showed cruelty to those who believed in other ideologies. But    two months ago he was a little upset, when a false case was foisted against our son when a BJP activist was hacked,” she said. “Our son had no role in the incident and he was framed  owing to political enmity against Mohanan,’’ she alleged.

BJP-RSS leaders visit vandalised houses

Published: 15th October 2016 01:11 AM  |   Last Updated: 15th October 2016 04:37 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit | ENSExpress News Service

KANNUR: It was a picture of terror unleashed in the houses of BJP workers at Pathiriyad, Paduvalyi and Shankaranallur in Vengad panchayat in Kannur that welcomed the team of BJP and RSS leaders who arrived here on Thursday morning along with the media.

Sixteen houses in CPM strongholds were completely damaged. The attacks reportedly took place after the funeral of slain CPM leader Mohanan. The victims said the attackers came in groups of  20 to 30 armed with swords and other weapons.

A team led by BJP-RSS leaders P K Krishnadas, M Ganeshan, P Sathyaprakash, K Ranjith, P Gopalankutty Master, Harikrishnan and Valsan Thillenkeri, met the families who were hit by the violence.

Still trembling in fear, the victims had shocking stories to narrate. “I sensed something wrong, when some persons  wearing masks came asking for my husband and not finding him started showering abuse.  Suddenly, they started destroying the window panes and  entering the house.  In fear I ran to the road. When I returned in the evening, everything was damaged. But they came once more in even more numbers and yet again damaged the house and threatened to kill my husband,’’ said Radhika, wife of Shaji, a key witness in a murder case in which CPM workers are the accused.

Manseed aka Omar al Hindi and the Qatar connect

Published: 04th October 2016 01:18 AM  |   Last Updated: 04th October 2016 02:13 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit | ENSExpress News Service

KANNUR: As the NIA team is extensively spading for more details of the activities of Manseed alias Omar Al Hindi of Aniyaram, Kannur, the agency officers have found that Manseed took the name as Omar Al Hindi after allegedly associating with IS activities in Qatar where he was working.
 Like Abdullah Rasheed of Padna, Kasargod, who married a Christian girl after converting her to Islam, Manseed too got married to Maria, a Christian from Philippines, who converted to Islam and took the name Mariam while working in Qatar.

Abdullah Rasheed is said to be the leader of the 21-member group which left for Syria from Kerala in July 2016 to join IS.  Mariam, wife of Manseed,  told ‘Express’ that she couldn’t understand for what reasons Manseed was arrested by NIA.  Mariam married Manseed in 2013 after she met him at one of the Islamic study centres in Qatar. She denied that her husband had links with the IS. Surprisingly, none of the family members knew about his new name Omar Al Hindi.  “We have been facing problems since our arrival in Kerala on September 30. I lost my tablet phone which had important notes about Islam and other study materials. Only halfway from Nedumbassery airport did we realise that our tablet was missing. After reaching home, we went back to the airport next day and  registered a complaint with Nedumbassery police station on October 1.”  She said that an eight-member team of NIA conducted a thorough search of their house and took a few things away. “They seized our passports, three mobile phones and a few other documents,” she added.

Mariam was attracted to Islam after arriving in Qatar, where she came to join a company as call centre agent. Though professionally a nurse, she decided to work in that private company. It was Manseed who proposed to marry her when he met her at Qatar. “Never during my stay did I have the slightest hint of him having any connection with IS,” she said. 

NIA arrests Manseed and his wife Mariam; alleged links with ISIS

Life does not seem to be the same after NIA arrested Manseed and Mariam with alleged links to ISIS.

Published: 03rd October 2016 06:37 PM  |   Last Updated: 03rd October 2016 06:37 PM  |  A+A A-

KANNUR: It is her third visit to Aniyaram in Kannur, but everything seemed to be going wrong from the beginning to Mariam, wife of Manseed, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency from Kanakamala near Panoor in Kannur.

A devote christian from Philippines, Maria, before she changed her name to Mariam and converted to Islam while working at Qatar, was at a total shock, when she realised that her husband, whom she met in 2013 at one of the Islamic study centre and married him, was picked up by the NIA with others. Express met the family of Manseed at their home on Monday, when they opened up their heart to reveal that they strongly believe he had no connection with ISIS and he has been trapped in the case.

Mariam said that they have been facing problem since their arrival in Kerala on 30 September. “I lost the tablet phone. I had important notes about Islam and other study materials. We realised that the tablet was lost, when we were half way through the airport. We contacted the authorities. Since we were half way through, a day after resting at home, we went back to the airport and also registered a complaint at the Nedumbassery police station on September 1.” Since both were on a short stay here, we decided to get back home as early as possible and stay with the family.

But the day after we came back to home, the NIA team including eight people barged into the room without any warning, carried inspection and took few things away. “They did not even allow to change the dress and wear burque to cover over selves as it should be followed under the Islamic law.” she said.. They took the passport, three mobile including her and few other documents with them, citing that they have taken Manseed into custody for inquiry along with others who are suspected to have a role in ISIS module, she added. Speaking about them, Mariam said that she was attracted to Islam after arriving in Qatar, where she came to join a company as call centre agent. Though professionally, a nurse, she decided to work in a private company. After converting to Islam she married Manseed, who proposed to marry her. But never during her stay did she had the slightest hint of him having any connection to people or with ISIS, she said. She was in Kerala twice during these year and it was her third visit, Mariam said.

However the incident was totally shocking and she decide to go back to Qatar as visa will be over in another week. Manseed, sister and his family members who were in total shock, said that on the day NIA arrested Manseed, he was awaiting his friend, who were suppose to come for lunch to their house. He told that he was on his way to Mahe bridge to pick his friend as they were unaware of the place. He told to prepare the food and he will be back with them to have lunch, said Meharunnisa. his sister. Since he did not find the friend initially, he asked to wait before preparing the food. But he called again to inform that he has met them and will be there soon. However instead of him and his friends a group of NIA agent arrived at home later, whom his father Mahmood recieved pleasantly. It was through them that they got to know about the arrest at Kanakamala.

“We are still surprised why did he go to Kanakamala, when he told that he was in Mahe bridge. He has no links with the ISIS and never spoke about anything that can make us feel that he was radiclised,” She said. “He has fell into a trap and there is no reason to suspect him to join the ISIS. He was very much attached to his family, she added. Mehrunnisa said that they moved to the new house in Aniyaram four years back, The house was still under construction and work was incomplete.

He has been the bread winner of the house and if he was making money through joining the ISIS, the house or the family will not have been in this situation, she added, His father, who was assistant chef in Bangalore, before stopping the work after affected by paralysis, said that none in the family ever had any suspicion of him having any connection with ISIS. Though they heard about the organisation through television, his son joining it is impossible. He worked hard through by working as paper boy and painting of houses, before leaving to Qatar, where he is working as office assistant in company.

The family requested that they should be allowed to speak with him and get to know the truth. Meanwhile their neigbhour Mahesh, said that they did not interact much with others. All here know Manseed to be working abroad and only recently that they saw his wife coming with him here. Since they were always covered burqa it was difficult identify them. But there was nothing to suspect them of such activity and his arrest was a shock. Interestingly the arrest had instilled fear in the minds of people, who even refused to tell the house of the accused.

Cat’astrophe hits Kannur land

Even as the local bodies across the state, emboldened by the recent ‘shoot at sight’ order, are scrambling to deal a death blow to the feral stray dog menace, cats in Kannur are slinking fast into the ‘hit list’, one bite at a time

Published: 25th August 2016 05:30 AM  |   Last Updated: 25th August 2016 05:30 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: Even as rabid dogs are rattling people across the state, and the government is planning to cull the dangerous ones en masse, Kannur district presents a different picture.  Here it is not dogs but cats that call the biting shots. Close on the heels of cats are foxes and mongooses leaving the poor dog in fourth place. 

If the statistics from the Health Department is any indication, cats and other animals including mangooses are more dangerous than dogs and these animals have been involved in most of the bite cases reported in the past several years in the district.

While the government is planning to kill the dogs, there is an immediate necessity to understand the changing ecology, which is bringing behavioural changes in animals, said zoologist Jafer Palot.  Going by the details, questions can be raised with regard to which animal is more aggressive and involved in more number of bite cases. Here it is cat. Now should the government start killing cats as well,he doubted. The dogs are aggressive in pack and they have a natural instinct to attack.

No study has so far been conducted on the changing environment around us and there is an urgent need to identify the real reason behind such changes,

Government veterinarian Ravindran said improper disposal of solid waste and destruction of the natural habitats of the animal are the reasons for their increasing aggressiveness. Unless the issue is properly addressed the growth of dog population or behavioural changes in animals and their propensity to attack will continue, he said

Sobhayatras, ‘renaissance’ rallies taken out with splendour

Published: 25th August 2016 05:30 AM  |   Last Updated: 25th August 2016 05:30 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: Amidst tight security, ‘Sobhayatras’ conducted by the Balagokulam and ‘Nammal Onnu’ processions organised by the CPM as part of the Chattambi Swami Jayanthi, took to streets with pomp in various places in Kannur, much to the delight of the huge crowds which gathered to witness the cultural events on Wednesday.

Though there were Intelligence reports that there was a likelihood of clashes, the events passed off peacefully. The Balagokulam, which has been conducting the Maha Sobhayatra for the past 36 years, had a generation of youth and old participating in the event. The celebrations which began in the morning saw the distribution of Payasam and special prayers. Young children from less than a year to older people dressed in various costumes depicting Little Krishnas, and floats depicting mythical characters rolled down the streets much to the delight of onlookers. The participants took to the streets carrying saffron flags and chanting songs in praise of the Lord. It was not just a scene from Kannur town alone as the Maha Sobhayatras were conducted across the district in 10 places, while around 300 Sobhayatras were taken out by the Balagokulam across the district.

CPM showcases renaissance leaders

The CPM which had announced plans to showcase the contributions of renaissance leaders by taking out ‘Nammal Onnu’ processions too took to the streets across the district. The CPM event was organised to spread the message of anti-communalism and convey the contributions of renaissance leaders to the younger generation. The presence of red coloured Krishna and Balaram in Thaliparamba, became the talking point and grabbed the attention of people, even as the CPM reiterated that the procession was not to pitch against the event organised by the Balagokulam.

However CPM district secretary P Jayarajan who attended the function at Bakkalam near Thaliparamba, dismissed the interpretations on the presence of Red Krishna and Balaram and stated that it should be considered as an art form only and did not convey any other messages. Similarly floats raising various issues, including atrocities on Dalits, beef row and other issues of social relevance were showcased during the  processions. Children participated in huge numbers with placards of renaissance leaders, including Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, Chattambi Swamikal and political leaders like AKG, EMS, B R Ambedkar, cultural and literary stalwarts Kumaran Asan, Swami Vivekananda, Mannath Padmanabhan and others, with their messages to society.The CPM’s cultural processions were taken out in 206 places and unlike in the past, the organisers said that they were careful that the event did not become a controversy. It was intended to send a message to the people, they said.

Meanwhile, the police kept a close watch on the event. To ensure law and order, a large number of  police personnel were deployed across the sensitive areas.

‘It isn’t easy to achieve what Sreejesh has’

By C P Sajit

KANNUR: It is not every time that a name pops up in the game of hockey from a state like Kerala to represent at the highest level. Almost three decades after Manuel Fredericks, one of the greatest Indian goalkeepers,  yet another player’s name would be resonating at the highest level of Olympic games.

The announcement on Tuesday naming P R Sreejesh as the captain of the Indian hockey team for Olympics could well be a seismic moment for Kerala hockey. In any sport, having a role model plays a key role and hitherto lacking a home-grown figure, Sreejesh could provide that to the aspiring hockey players in the state.

Who else can be more happy than Manuel Fredericks himself, who was the goalkeeper and the only Olympian from the state to win a medal at the highest platform in the 1972 games. Express spoke to Manuel Fredericks who was in Kannur on Tuesday with a petition. He has been running from pillar to post of the corporation offices and district administration seeking help to get a piece of land to construct a house, which he has been denied by subsequent governments despite all his achievements.

Without a sign of the ordeal and suffering that he has been facing through, the news of Sreejesh’s  elevation made him beaming.

“It is a great day for the people of the state, who are always passionate about the games. It is not easy to achieve what Sreejesh has made. All kudos to him,” said  Manuel Fredericks.

However he cautioned that the position comes with a lot of responsibility and pressure. The expectation of the nation would be on him once they enter the arena. But having seen him play closely through many tournaments and the discipline that he maintains, Frederick has all hopes that he can unite the team and achieve the unbelievable.

There are two teams in the pool which are already qualified and Sreejesh as a captain and goalkeeper has the huge task of reaching the quarter finals. But whoever be the opponent, the ball has to beat him to decide the fate

A proactive manager shows the way forward

Published: 26th June 2016 04:52 AM  |   Last Updated: 26th June 2016 04:52 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: At a time when several aided schools in the state are seeking government nod for closure, a school manager from Kannur has shown the way forward. Sunil Kumar K, manager, Morazha South ALP School, has inspired many to run problem-hit schools. Mushrooming of private schools and changing parental perception had cast a shadow on Morazha school.

Sunil Kumar decided to upgrade the school, which now offers classes from pre-primary to Class V.

He sourced funds from contract works he undertook elsewhere – building compound walls, digging wells and taking up sundry manual work.

“I have been in the saddle for over two decades. The dropout rate has been drastic only in the past 12 years – mostly because students, parents prefer private schools. Since 2000, I have been taking up contract work. By the start of an academic year, I will save enough money to meet the expenses to upgrade and renovate the school,” he says.

“My great grandfather started the school to provide education to all. I wish to follow in his footsteps,” he said. The school which has over 400 students will soon complete 100 years. “During the start of each academic year, the school requires a minimum of `3 lakh. The PTA, well-wishers and former students play a big role in supporting the school,” he says.

LDF has more reasons to cheer

Published: 20th May 2016 08:07 AM  |   Last Updated: 20th May 2016 08:10 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: While LDF candidate K K Shailaja defeated UDF and JD(S) candidate K P Mohanan by 12,291 votes in Koothuparamba, the Congress(S) and LDF candidate Kadannapally Ramachandran emerged victorious against UDF candidate Satheeshan Pacheni with a margin of 1,196 votes.

However, the LDF had a big disappointment in Azhikode, where its candidate and mediaperson M V Nikesh Kumar faced defeat at the hands of IUML candidate K M Shaji. Shaji, who won the seat by a slender margin of 493 votes in the 2011 Assembly elections, increased his margin to 2,294 votes this time. Congress rebel candidate in the segment P K Rajesh garnered just 1,518 votes.

 UDF candidate in Thalassery A P Abdullakutty could not repeat history as he lagged behind CPM’s A N Shamseer by 34,117 votes.In Dharmadam, Pinarayi Vijayan secured a huge margin of 36,905 votes.The incumbent MLAs C Krishnan in Payyannur, James Mathew in Taliparamba, T V Rajesh in Kallyassery and E P Jayarajan in Mattanur won with thumping margins. E P Jayarajan, who was in the fray from Mattanur constituency, showcased one of the spectacular victories. For UDF, the only respite came from Irikkur, Peravoor and Azhikode, where  K C Joseph, Sunny Joseph and K M Shaji respectively won the elections. K C Joseph will be representing Irikkur in the Assembly for the eighth consecutive term. However, his lead dwindled to 9,647 from 11,757 in 2011

An Endless Wait for Land Ownership

By C P Sajit

KANNUR: For the past three years the sisters Karthyayani and Shanthakumari, who jointly own a land at Thimiri village under Hosdurg Taluk in Kasargod has been running from pillar to post to get their land surveyed and to fix the boundary. However, their pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears. They jointly own a single piece of land of 1.04 acres . The patta is genuine, there are no legal complications. However, there is no proper demarcation. As it was idle for some years, there were doubts of encroachment too.  They applied for a resurvey to determine the boundary, but was turned down saying they could not find the land plan and were redirected to the Taluk Survey office.“We applied on November 22, 2013. But there were no action till March 26, when the survey department sent out a notice under Form 12 for carrying out the survey.

However, the survey was not conducted despite the presence of surveyor saying they could not spot the boundary stones. Later another notice was sent for land under a different survey no. , but no mention of the earlier land. There were no officials from village office present either. The surveyor carried out the demarcation and pointed out the survey mark in the presence of neighbours. Nothing else happened. After that we approached the District Collector, the taluk office sent another notice under Form 13. Interestingly, the village office feigned ignorance and was further advised appeal to district survey.””We strongly suspect that officials are purposely avoiding the survey here and there is foul play.

A proper inquiry should be made,” says Shantha. Sooraj, Village Officer, said that the owner did not approach them afterwards . However the Assistant Village officer opined that they should further appeal at the district surveyor or file a suite in the civil court. “Why should we, we have all the documents and there is no objection from anyone,” the sisters ask.

Fierce Fight in 5 Seats in Kannur

Keenly-watched contest is on the cards in Kannur, Azhikode, Koothuparamba, Irikkur and Thalassery constituencies.

Published: 16th April 2016 06:39 AM  |   Last Updated: 16th April 2016 06:39 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: Even though the election fever is picking up with both the major fronts, UDF and LDF, starting their campaign in all the 11 constituencies in Kannur, the focus is on  five major constituencies that are likely to witness a tight contest.

Strong contenders and rebel presence, especially in UDF, make the contest a keenly-watched one in Kannur, Azhikode, Koothuparamba, Irikkur and Thalassery constituencies.

Except Thalassery, all the other constituencies at present are under the hold of the UDF. However, the contest will not be a cakewalk for UDF this time.

The personality of the candidates and the developmental promises play a pivotal part in these constituencies.

Meanwhile, LDF is facing a tough fight in Thalassery, with the nomination of A P Abdullakutty. In Kannur constituency, the contenders are LDF candidate Kadannappally Ramachandran and UDF candidate Satheeshan Pacheni. The LDF, which never won the elections in this constituency, sees a ray of hope this time. They are hopeful of changing the history, following the victory they received during local body elections.  Meanwhile in Azhikode, the election heat picked up when the LDF candidate Nikesh Kumar  entered the fray to compete against IUML candidate K M Shaji. It would be a contest between the young and dynamic personalities, which has gained statewide attention.  Similarly in Irikkur, K C Joseph, who entered the fray for the eight time, have to resist a major challenge within the party. The CPI candidate K T Jose is making the most out of the internal bickering in UDF here.

In Koothuparamba, the election picture changes with the nomination of K K Shailaja of the LDF. The contest here between Shailaja  and K P Mohan has turned into a fight between two popular faces.

The Sound of Silence: Vishu With Difference

Published: 14th April 2016 05:46 AM  |   Last Updated: 14th April 2016 05:46 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: For the residents of Podikkundu in Kannur, this Vishu will be a silent affair. In view of an explosion that had left several houses in the area damaged and the Kollam tragedy, the villagers have unanimously decided to celebrate Vishu sans crackers.

On March 24, a huge blast, caused by illegal explosives, had damaged over 40 houses. The incident had scarred the minds of the people here. “We would like to enjoy the festival peacefully with the family. We don’t want the sound of crackers and bombs.

The explosion has created a deep impact in the minds of people and the residents here have decided not to celebrate Vishu by bursting crackers,” said T V Gopalakrishnan, a resident who stays three houses away from the explosion site in Rajendra Nagar, Podikkundu.

“My mother urges us to come inside the house on hearing the sound of crackers burst by the children. It shows the impact the explosion has left in the minds of aged people,” he said Devinanda, a class 8 student, fears the loud sound of crackers, and feels that the festival can be celebrated without crackers. The residents of other colonies too have extended their support.

Candidature: Confusion Prevails Left and Right in Kannur

By C P Sajit

KANNUR:  Even as the election heat picks up, the confusion for nominating the candidates in various constituencies prevails in both the UDF and LDF in Kannur.

Though the delay in announcing the UDF candidates due to the differences may not be a surprise, the differences of opinion within the LDF that came to the fore is now the talk of the town.

LDF is undecided over the constituencies of Payyanur, Kannur, Irikkur and Azhikode. In the case of UDF, they are dealing with opposition within the party in constituencies of Kannur, Payyanur, Taliparamba, Mattanur, Irikkur, Thalassery and Kalyassery.

Even though the CPM district secretariat had agreed to nominate sitting MLA C Krishnan again and strongly backed him, there was reportedly stiff opposition within the party against him. The names of area secretary T I Madhusudhan and others emerged as contenders for the Payyanur constituency. However, the final decision in this regard is yet to take.

Likewise, a decision with regard to the LDF candidate in Azhikode constituency is also on hold. Though UDF has announced IUML’s K M Shaji, the LDF still faces uncertainty even as the name of Nikesh Kumar, son of M V Raghavan, is doing the rounds. Even though a round of talks was completed, there are suggestions that Nikesh should stand as independent candidate with the backing of LDF.

Similarly, in Kannur constituency, even though the LDF had placed Congress (S) during the last assembly election, the party is demanding for another constituency. This has caused confusion and they are yet to decide on their candidate.

Meanwhile for the UDF, they have multiple names making the rounds. Congress leaders like K Surendran, Satheesan Pacheni, Abdullakutty and K Sudhakaran are in the list of contenders, which has left the UDF in a dilemma.

Meanwhile, in Irikkur, the CPI has refused the offer from CPM. While the CPI is demanding for a better constituency that would help them win more votes, the CPM is persuading them to stand there.  However for UDF, the trouble has begin ever since the name of K C Joseph was suggested, as there was stiff resistance within the party, who demanded another candidate here. The protests were against giving another opportunity to K C Joseph, who has been elected from the constituency for the the past 32 years.

Similarly, the UDF is yet to make an announcement for Taliparamba, Kalyassery, Mattanur, Payyanur, Dharmadam and Thalassery constituencies, where they are looking for a fresh face, to jump into the election fray.

However, even as the dilemma continues within the UDF and LDF, the BJP plans to take advantage of the situation and make strides ahead of others in Kannur

Illegal Building: Thalassery Vigilance Court Orders Probe Against Officials

Published: 24th February 2016 03:55 AM  |   Last Updated: 24th February 2016 03:55 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR:  In its first Judgement, Thalassery Vigilance Court on Tuesday directed Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau to investigate into a case against some government officials who allegedly had granted permission to construct building in the erstwhile Panoor grama panchayat violating the rules and regulations under the Town and Country Planning Act. The VACB officials were also asked to file FIR in this regard.

Vigilance Court judge Justice V Jayaram passed the order. The case was filed by social activist E Maneesh of the Janakiya Samithi against the construction of a building by Thayakkal Andul Latheef at Panoor.

Earlier, Maneesh had filed a complaint in this regard before the Thrissur Vigilance Court in 2014. Though an inquiry was conducted, the court refused to give order to file FIR against the accused citing a provision under the Prevention of Corruption Act, which prohibits initiating action against government officials without getting government order or consent to do so.

However, Maneesh moved High Court challenging the verdict and Justice B Kemal Pasha issued an order in favour. While making the judgement, High Court Bench cited the Supreme Court verdict on Anil Kumar vs Aiyappa case.

Following the High Court order, the case was filed again in the vigilance court. The officials who are under the lens in connection with the case are P Raveendran, secretary, Panoor Grama Panchayat, Ranjith P K assistant engineer, Local Self Government Department, Panoor Section, Vinodan, Verseer, panoor grama panchayat.

The panchayat has been uplifted as municipality in the meantime.

Panoor municipal chairperson K V Ramla said that the municipality has served a notice against the builder for violating the norms.

Kannur CPM at Crossroads

Published: 16th February 2016 05:58 AM  |   Last Updated: 16th February 2016 05:59 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR:  With CPM leader P Jayarajan surrendering before the court soon after his bail petition in the Kathiroor Manoj murder case was cancelled, the party may now have to answer the most important question on who will lead them in Kannur, the stronghold of CPM.

Jayarajan was the face of the party and was considered the strongest leader of all others  to strengthen the party and led the cadres from the front.However, under the present circumstances, there are speculations on who could lead the cadres as the same way as he did, especially at a time when the Assembly elections are  just a few months away.

Though the party is tight-lipped about the issue and the CPM leader M V Jayarajan,  filling up the gap left by P Jayarajan for the time being, several names are making the rounds for the post.

Some of the names, other than M V Jayarajan, are M V Govindan, M Prakashan and N Chandran, who are part of district secretariat. However, M V Jayarajan is now at the top of the list and considered as the strong contender for post.Even there are talks amid people of bringing back P Sasi, who was removed as district secretary, to strengthen the party.

But, as the party is taking every effort to save P Jayarajan,  there are guessing games that are making rounds, especially with no official announcement being made by the party.  Even before the arrest of Jayarajan, the party had to face the blow with leaders like Karayi Rajan and Karayi Chandrasekaran stepping down from their posts of district panchayat president and Chairman of Thalassery Municipality respectively.

This led to criticism within and outside the party as well. This obviously would put pressure on the party to come up with a name that may appeal to the people and instil confidence in the cadres, who are now dejected by the arrest of P Jayarajan.

Rivals to make Hay?

Meanwhile the BJP and Congress, which understand the importance of P Jayarajan’s role in strengthening the party, would be looking to take mileage out of the situation existing in Kannur.  While the arrest of Jayarajan may affect or weaken the morale of the CPM cadres, the rival parties would try to capitalise and strengthen their hold in Kannur.

FSSA Norms Violation: Label Trouble for Jail Food

Published: 02nd February 2016 06:11 AM  |   Last Updated: 02nd February 2016 06:11 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

KANNUR:  Even though the chappathis, vegetable and non-vegeterian dishes made by the Kannur Central Jail prisoners are much in demand, they have been cirulated in the market, violating the regulations framed under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Express checked the counter, where chapathi, curry and biriyani were sold by the jail inmates, and failed to find any label, manufacturing date, name of the manufacturer, date of expiry, price and other such details that required for the packed food. Similarly, customers are not provided any bills.

The jail inmates at the counter said there was no bill that can be provided to the customers.

“Where can you get the food at such cheap price? There is no provision of any bills as they are prepared and sold from the jail,” an inmate said.

Sources in the police department claimed that even though large number of food packets are sold out through the counter and also outside, the exact number of items prepared and sold have not been shown. “There is a possible manipulation of numbers and corruption behind the food manufacturing,” the source added.

According to prison officials, the central jail per day prepares about 25,000 chapatis and selling about 2500 chicken biriyani. Each chapathi packet with 10 chapatis cost `20, while chicken biriyani cost `60. Similarly, the egg, chicken and vegetable curry are sold at the counter at a very affordable rate.

The low cost of food and quality has been an attraction and people including hotel owners were found purchasing at the counter.

However, with no necessary mention of labels and other required information on the chapathi, as well as no purchase bill being provided at the counter, not just violate the rules, in case of any food poisoning or other issues the customer cannot directly point fingers at the jail authority.

Interestingly the food items are sold in the facility under the Kannur Jail Employees Welfare Cooperative Society. But when checked with the Food Safety and Standard Department Express found that the items like chapati and other items are manufactured by the Malabar Freedom Taste Factory, which is inside the jail and has got license only for manufacturing on Oct 26, 2015.

When contacted Jail Superintendent Ashokan Arippa, Kannur Central Jail, said they were out of stocks for stickers and they would get them in few days.

Butterfly Migration in Aralam Sanctuary Declining

Published: 10th January 2016 03:14 AM  |   Last Updated: 10th January 2016 03:14 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: The butterfly migration in the Aralam wildlife sanctuary was found to be on the decline during the past few years. Though the exact reason behind the changing trend has not been ascertained yet through a detailed study, lepidopterists are pointing fingers at climatic changes, especially the increase in pressure in the adjoining areas.

Speaking to Express Jafer Palot, who heads the team conducting the butterfly census organised jointly by the Forest Department and Malabar Natural History Society in the sanctuary, stated that butterfly migration in the region is usually witnessed in December and January. “As the temperature in high altitudes will go down during these months, butterflies will move to lower altitudes en masse during the season. The migration takes place during 10am to 2pm ” he said.   “Of the 327 butterfly species in the state, 252 are found in the sanctuary. Species such as Malabar Rose, Malabar Banded Peacock, Malabar Banded Swallow Tail, Malabar Tree Nymph, Canara Oak Blue and Southern Oak leaf are endemic to the region,” he said.

“The census was conducted through transit line method. Members participating in the census count the number of butterfly that pass through various migratory paths within five minutes. There were times when 45,000 butterfly were counted in a minute.

That means around 28 lakh butterflies migrate during two months. However, the number has gone down in the recent past,” , he opined.

“There could be various reasons for this. The increase in pressure in the migratory areas is one of them. Delayed rain can also hamper the movement of butterflies as the migration will start only after the withdrawal of the northeast monsoon,” Jafer said.  He further said that most of the butterflies migrate from west to east along the Cheenkani river.

“The butterflies mud puddle to absorb the minerals from the sand along the river.  However, sand mining, excess usage of detergents and human interference seems to be affecting the butterflies in these region. But, no study has been conducted to confirm this,” he said.

This year the team has extended the census to Kottiyoor wildlife sanctuary as well.

MVD Moots e-Cab Facility for Better, Safer Travel Experience in Kerala

Published: 07th January 2016 04:26 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th January 2016 04:26 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: In a move that would revolutionise the travelling experience by taxi and autorickshaw in the state, the Motor Vehicles Department, has plans to introduce MVD E-Cab facility across the state.

E-Cab facility is similar to facilities provided by private cab operators such as the Uber and Ola, which are already into the market to facilitiate transport services to the people. However, the plans by the Transport Department is not just to emulate those services, but also to reduce the tension that has raised in the recent time due to insecurity and escalating cost by the private providers. “Many of the private companies entered the marked with a low fare, But these companies, slowly increased their fares once they captured the market and people start depending on them,” said a Senior official sources in the Transport Department. Such experience in other states and also other issues forced the Motor Vehicle Department to think on introducing the E Cab facility, the officer said.

Transport Commissioner Tomin J Thachankary told Express: “We are proposing the plans to the government in this regard, which would help the passengers to get a better service across the state.. The service would include the auto and the cabs across the state.”

Unlike the services provided by the private players, which are not registered and are controlled from some other place, the drivers registered under the E-Cab facility will be monitored by the department and the passengers will have all the security. He said that Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System, would be supplying the software, in which the drivers can register themselves. This would help the department to constantly monitor the vehicle, which would be fitted with the GPS and other gadgets. Those joining may have to pay a small price for this.

Unlike the private players, the drivers would be registered and the department will have complete information about them. This would help them to monitor and at times of any issue they can be easily tracked.

The passengers can log into the website or apps in their mobile to get the vehicles, which are registered under them for the service.

Though it is in line with that of the private players, the system would help the passengers and they can travel without fear.

The system would be as comfortable and competitive as that of private players and people can feel safe travelling, the commissioner said. People would be able to get the service without any worries and at the earliest.

He said the drivers would not be compelled, however those joining them would be monitored and they would get all the benefits through this. For drivers they would get more trips, as they need not look for passengers. The passengers will contact them. “Since the fares would be fixed, the passengers need not have to argue anymore with the drivers and they will know the exact fares,” said Tomin. The vehicle movement would be monitored through control room, which would come up once plans are mooted, he said.

The only challange would be to encourage more cab and auto drivers to be part of it initially. However this would happen once they realise the positive side of the scheme, he said.

Adiyan Community in Kannur Facing an Acute Identity Crisis

Published: 29th December 2015 03:40 AM  |   Last Updated: 29th December 2015 03:40 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR:  At Kunnathoorpadi, the festival offering worship of Lord Muthappan began with much pomp and delight recently. The presence of people from Adiyan Community is a compulsory element in the festival, and the community is given priority to do pooja and other rituals.  Adiyan is a tribal community constituted of the early inhabitants of the hilly terrains and dense forest regions.

However, the community members are now facing an identity crisis, as they suddenly woke up to the fact that they have lost the tribal status officially, and just belong to OBC. But the old records and mythology associated with Lord Muthappan still record them as tribals.

The people in the community, who were given  tribal certificates until 2007 in Thalassery taluk and up to May 2013 in Taliparamba, cannot claim the tribal status now. They were told by the officials that they belong to sub-caste of Thiyya community, which has been categorised under the OBC and all the certificates already issued have been nullified and cannot be accepted. The members of the community are spread in the hilly regions, as they were nomadic in nature, and many of them had settled in Taliparamba, Irrity and Thalassery taluk. However, the Kerala Institute for  Research, Training And Development Studies (KIRTADS) has identified the tribe only in Wayanad in its study, neglecting historical records that categorically  indicate the large presence of Adiyan community in Kannur.

“The government and authorities are insulting the community. There are only around 143 families and many members are not well-educated,” said  P Unni, secretary, Kannur District Adiyan Samudhaya Samajam.

‘’The people in the community were issued certificates until 2013. However, without citing reasons and giving improper excuses, they stopped the practice. The issue was brought to the attention of the High Court, and the community got a favourable judgement. But even after that, the community certificates were not issued. This has made life miserable for people as they cannot get any benefits and all their rights have been taken away,’’ he said.

According to him, the community members originally inhabited in Kunnathoor forest and Puralimala in Kannur District.

They used to move  around for cultivating ‘Punam’. They hunted animals and ate forest produces. They have their own way of living and culture and they lived secluded till the settlers came to those areas. Adiyan Tribal people lost their land and livelihood when new settlers encroached on their areas. Though  the Adiyan Tribal people were not used to mingle with others traditionally, later, they were left with no option as they had lost their cultivation and land. However, they are still marginalised in the mainstream society. 

The festival at Kunnathoorpadi gives much importance to the members of Adiyan community, said social activist Vinod Payyada.  ‘’It can be considered as a first reform movement, as the lord himself has given them priority. The community in Kannur has been mentioned in several records,including those of the British. However, I don’t understand the reason behind the move to  take away the tribal status from the community,’’ he said.   KIRTADS, which was requested for Anthropology study by the district administration, suggested that that the Hindu-Adiyan Community in Kannur District actually belongs to Hindu Thiyya Caste and that they had falsely  obtained Scheduled Tribe Community Certificates. It also said in the report that the real Scheduled Tribe, Adiyan people are inhabiting in Wayanad District and the Hindu-Adiyan persons belonging to Kunnathoorpadi do not belong to Scheduled Tribe Community.  According to Vinod, the customs and culture do not match with the community in Waynad and are more similar to those of Thiyya. He argued that the reforms carried out by the government, and inter-caste marriages could have changed their lifestyle. ‘’But it cannot be the reason for denying them tribal status,’’ he added.  When ‘Express’ contacted a senior official of Scheduled Tribe Development Department, he admitted, on condition of anonymity, that there can be mistakes, however the move to deny certificate to the community was based on the suggestion put forth by the KIRTADS.

A War Hero Gets His Due 67 Years Post Martyrdom

When the Kannur Zila Sainik Board recently invited eighty-year-old R K Achuthan Nambiar to the district collectorate and honoured him, it was the greatest day in his life.

Published: 20th December 2015 05:59 AM  |   Last Updated: 20th December 2015 10:30 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

KANNUR: When the Kannur Zila Sainik Board recently invited eighty-year-old R K Achuthan Nambiar to the district collectorate and honoured him, it was the greatest day in his life. The honour was given not for his personal achievement, but for the supreme sacrifice his older brother R K Narayan Nambiar, made for the country on the battlefield in 1948 in Jammu and Kashmir.

On the day when his mother received a telegram stating that 28-year-old Narayan was missing in a military action, Achuthan was a small boy studying in school. The world came crashing down upon the family of five. Besides the personal loss, the family also lost the lone bread-winner. The family used to meet ends with the small amount of money sent by him. Those were the days of hardship and getting a square meal was a big thing, recalls Achuthan.

Honour for the sacrifice of Narayan means a lot for him as several successive governments which came into power not only just forgot him but also failed to help the family which was in distress.

“It was just a year ago that the name of my brother was even included in the war memorial in Kannur,” he says. Achuthan said the family received letters written by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Field Marshall Cariappa and other important documents soon after the death of his brother.

Tale of Two Friends: 26/11 Hero Visits House of the Fallen Comrade

Published: 28th November 2015 04:11 AM  |   Last Updated: 28th November 2015 04:48 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: P V Maneesh is a perfect emblem of courage. Not just because he was an NSG commando or he took part in the operation against terrorists at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai during the horrid hours of 26/11. But because he showed courage to walk back to life from a debilitating head injury which he suffered during that operation.

If he is not a hero, then hardly anyone is qualified to be one. And there is another trait that heroes share – camaraderie.

Maneesh showed it in full measure when he visited the house of A M Subinesh, who was killed recently while fighting terrorists in Kashmir.  Maneesh and Subinesh had shared a much deeper bond. Subinesh used to call up Maneesh regularly, checking on his health and was a genuine well-wisher. His presence through words was a massive encouragement for Maneesh, who was paralysed after injuries that he suffered from a grenade blast.

Maneesh recalled the action days in Mumbai and his subsequent struggles while touching base with Express. Though the thought of people forgetting the contributions of soliders mildly irked him, Maneesh was quick to put it behind. “People may remember me for the action undertaken during the Mumbai terror attack, as it got its due attention from media. But there are many unsung heroes in all the defence forces, who may not have to sacrifice their life but continue to serve their country under difficult conditions,” he said.

Stressing on that point, Maneesh urged for more understanding of a solider’s life.

Then he made a quick glance back to the Mumbai episode. “We received the call when we were in Delhi. Trained for such situations, we quickly geared up for the action and entered the hotel where the terrorists were camping. “Just as the team killed a terrorist, a grenade exploded in front of us and the sharpnel hit my skull and I fainted,” he said.

Maneesh was in coma for a year and when he returned to consciousness he was paralysed. His determination helped him stage a comeback. But Maneesh still gets fits and needs others’ help occasionally.

“Had it not been for my family and friends, I would not have recovered this fast. I am alive and still can do many things,” he said.  He is now attached to the 122 Territorial army.

Breaking the Barriers, Darshitha Babu is Making History

Published: 27th November 2015 04:30 AM  |   Last Updated: 27th November 2015 04:30 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: Proving once again that she will be the top in whatever she undertakes, Darshitha Babu, a resident of Ullikal, Kannur, has passed out in flying colours from the Indian Naval Academy in Ezhimala on Thursday.

She is the first lady cadet from Kerala to receive the ‘Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal’ and the ‘Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (South) Gold Medal’ from the academy.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan conferred the awards during the passing out ceremony on Thursday.

The Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal has been conferred for being the first in overall order-of-merit for the Naval Orientation (Regular) Course, while Chief of the Naval Staff Gold Medal is given for being the best woman trainee of the course.

Among the 200 cadets inducted to the six-month Naval Orientation Course, there were only 21 lady candidates.

Darshitha has reportedly outdone all others to bag the awards.

Her parents Dinesh Babu and Lisy Babu, who came to the passing out parade, said their daughter will be joining her chosen area of Naval Architecture.

“When I decided to join the course in the academy my aim was to be the best, thanks to the support from all corners,” a cheerful Darshitha said. 

It was after completing BTech in Mechanical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering in Kollam, she joined Ezhimala Academy.  While at TKM College she had the distinction of participating in the Republic Day parade, as an NCC cadet.

She said she was thankful of the training she received from the NCC, but said anything wouldn’t have been possible unless her parents had not been supportive in all her endeavours. She had also recieved the Chief Minister’s award for the ‘best cadet’ in NCC.

Darshitha’s dedication and talent were visible even in the school days. Apart from a black belt in Karate, she had trained herself in classical singing and dance and had taken part in state level events.Darshita said she was getting ready for the course of Naval Architect in Vizag, and that it would be a wonderful opportunity.

Tech-Savvy Parties Catch EC in a Net

The State election commission still has not found out a way to keep a tab on the mobile data expenses of the candidates

Published: 28th October 2015 04:47 AM  |   Last Updated: 28th October 2015 04:47 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR: While Election Commission is closely monitoring the expenditure incurred by the political parties during their campaign for the upcoming local body election, the authorities are clueless about checking the money spend on social media, apps and message services, new medium for reaching out to the masses.

Taking a clue from the Lok Sabha election, in which the BJP successfully interacted with the masses through social media, other political parties in the state too have got into the race this time.

These services are not free and the user needs to pay for the mobile data usage. The political parties have formed either an IT cell or a team that can campaign for the candidates through these new mediums.

While, the Election Commission can track the cost of advertisement in print and television, and other campaigning expenses, there is no system in place to filter the amount of money being spent by parties for reaching out to voters through through the social media.

P Gopinath, the election officer in Kannur, said they have no provision to filter or check the amount spent on campaigning through social media. The Election Commission has stipulated expenses for the candidates. For the Panchayat, the expenses can be upto Rs 10,000, while for block and municipality, the candidate can incurr expenses upto Rs 30,000, whereas for corporation, they can spend up cto Rs 60,000. In Kannur, campaigning through social media has become rampant because the Election Commission has directed for a green and clean election — an effort to reduce the use of flex and other plastic materials. The members of the IT cell managed by the parties revealed to Express that more than 300 messages are being send through Watsapp and Facebook every day.

However, Mohanan, an IT expert in Kannur, said the mobile data expenses can be monitored. “Every message send via mobile apps and social media have to be downloaded or uploaded, which incurs cost. Besides, it can be tracked through the IP addresses. There are companies, involved in monitoring such messages. The Election Commission can check the expenses through them,” he said

Narendra Modi Lauds AIR’s Efforts

By C P Sajit

KANNUR:Shredha Thamban Nair is elated over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pat for her during the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme.

“Earlier it was not that often I listened to the radio, but the programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, was encouraging and inspiring. The issues discussed by the PM are of utmost importance that can change the country and make the youth think for the better,” Shredha said.

Topics like Khadi, pot making using mud, which is environment friendly and various social issues discussed by the PM were quite an enlightenment. She said that she has written to the PM to address the problems of aged people, who are illtreated and not taken care of by their family.

K Balachandran, programme head, AIR, Kannur, said  he proposed the matter to the official website of the PM. The suggestion was placed not only to encourage children, but also to lure more listeners for the radio. Interestingly the matter was taken seriously and the PM spoke about the centre and efforts. It was encouraging to listen him speak that the efforts of the centre can be set as a model to be emulated, he added.

PM Pat for Student From Kasargod

Published: 26th October 2015 04:38 AM  |   Last Updated: 26th October 2015 04:38 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR:Not even in dreams did Shredha Thamban Nair, a Plus-I student of Rajapuram Kottodi Government Higher Secondary School in Kasargod, had thought that she would become a topic of discussion and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, would speak about her in the programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’, on Sunday.

Thanks to the efforts of All India Radio, Kannur, for awarding Shredha for writing in detail her views on the PM’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ aired on the radio, besides making her efforts to bring into the limelight by none other than the PM. The matter was taken up with the PMO office, which  responded positively to such initiative.

On Sunday when the Prime Minister began his talk, he started with mentioning the efforts of AIR, Kannur, for encouraging children to write their views and awarding them for it after listening the radio. He said that other centres should also encourage children to write on various topics and provide their feedback, which would help them know what the youngsters feel about various issues discussed by him and others in the programme.

Mentioning the name of Shredha, who after listening to the Prime Minister’s programme,  wrote a six page letter to the AIR expressing her views, he said that the youth should come forward to express themselves.  “I was so thrilled to hear the Prime Minister mentioning my name during the programme. It was such an encouraging and proud moment for me and my parents,” Shredha told Express.

Coming from a small village, it was a great feeling to hear PM speak and discuss about the efforts. The programme has helped to bring up issues that are of utmost importance and there is a need for people to think about it,” she said.

Kochi Kids Humble Modi

“Students of St Mary’s UP School, Chittoor, Kochi, had sent me a letter with a picture of a fingerprint drawing of India map. Initially, I was surprised. But, when I read the letter, the symbolism in the picture dawned on me,” Modi said during ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme

CPM ‘Reaches’ Out to Sabarimala Pilgrims

Published: 06th October 2015 03:45 AM  |   Last Updated: 06th October 2015 04:02 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajith | ENS

Published: 06th October 2015 03:45 AM  |   Last Updated: 06th October 2015 04:02 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajith | ENS

KANNUR: In yet another move to reach out to the people, before the upcoming local body elections, the CPM-backed Initiative for Rehabilitation and Palliative Care (IRPC) has decided to start a ‘help desk’ for the devotees from different parts of the country who offer prayers at various temples here on the way to Sabrimala temple.

The political critics consider this move as yet another chance to attract people towards the initiatives taken by the Left party and lessen the influence of BJP among people. However, CPM district secretary P Jayarajan,  the chairman of the IRPC, dismissed these views pointing that the IRPC is a non-political, non-religious body to serve the people.

He told ‘Express’ that others are now following in their footsteps and trying to reach out to the needy people. He said this initiative of IRPC is certainly going to help the Sabarimala pilgrims, who may have health problems.

Even though a “help desk” was set up in Kottiyoor for devotees during the Kottiyoor festival in the district, it is the first time the IRPC is opening the help desk for Sabrimala pilgrims, ever since its inception in November 2012.

Jayarajan said the beneficiaries will be mostly from Maharashtra, Andhra, Telangana and Karnataka, who will take rest in Kannur on the way to Sabarimala after visiting Parasinikadavu and Sree Raja Rajeswara temples in the district.

82-year-old Malathyamma Remembers MS

Published: 15th July 2015 03:30 AM  |   Last Updated: 15th July 2015 03:30 AM  |  A+A A

By C P Sajit

KANNUR:Age might have taken its toll on the health of Malathyamma, but her memories about the legendry music composer M S Viswanathan are still fresh. 

Viswanathan, during his childhood days, had stayed at a house opposite Malathyamma’s  at Pallikunnu in Kannur, where his grandfather was a warden in the Central Jail and had learned the basics of music from Neelakandan Bhagavathar during this period.  “As a young boy, he was so engrossed in the music that he would get pulled towards the place from where he would hear music,” recollects 82-years-old Malathyamma. “We had a close relationship with his family. If he had to convince his mother Narayanikutty Amma, he would first come to my house seeking my mother’s help,” she recalls.

“There were financial difficulties in their family as his father Subramanian died at a very young age. However, the passion for music in him was irrevocable,” Malathyamma said. “He was very adamant in music related matters and once he had stood on one leg to get a harmonium,” she said recollecting the moments he had brought the instrument to their house. Ramachandran Nair, brother of Malathyamma, who resides in Coimbatore, told Express over the phone that Viswanathan was very keen to know about Pallikkunu even after becoming an acclaimed musician.

 He had learned the basics of music from Neelakandan Bhagavadar, who taught him for free. In fact, Bhagavadar had decided to teach Viswanathan music when he became impressed by the passion of the boy who regularly stood outside his house listing to the music class,” Ramachandran said.

Teacher Turns Keeper of Rare Cows

Published: 29th June 2015 07:31 AM  |   Last Updated: 29th June 2015 07:31 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

KANNUR: While his friends were busy with their routine life, some taking classes and others running around with their hectic work schedules, he decided to do something that he liked the most, rearing cows. M Kunhi Krishnan, a school teacher at Payyanur South ALP School, was so fascinated by indigenous breeds of cows that he decided to take up the task of saving them from extinction by breeding them.

He has nearly eight varieties of rare indigenous cows in his house at Palathara in Payyanur taluk. When he started a few years back, he was unaware of the declining population of Indian cow breeds.

A large number of cows are sent to slaughter houses by the farmers for money, and due to low milk production. This kindled his interest in saving these cows, and in knowing more about them.

“Coming from an agrarian background, my love for cows was natural. But as I gathered more information about cows and their capabilities, I was struck by the facts that they were superior and had greater advantages compared to high milk yielding exotic breeds like Jersey and Holstein-Friesian (HF),” he said.

With each passing day, his increasing understanding and interest in cows encouraged him to get breeds from various parts of the country. “I have invested several lakh to purchase rare breeds of cows like Vechur, Kasargoden, Red Sindi, Gir, Tharparkar, Shaiwal and Kapila from various places. Now I have more than 50 cows in my farm that I bought a few years ago. I am spending a good amount of money to maintain these cows,” Krishnan said.

When compared to high yielding varieties, the expenses on these local breeds is quite less, almost half of what is spent on other breeds. He said a lot of attention should be given to rear these breeds, as they are getting extinct fast. The inbreeding and cross-breeding is speeding up this process.

There is generally a myth that indigenous cows yield less milk, however, the milch breeds like Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Gir and Red Sindhi are high milk producing cows, and suitable for the Indian conditions, he added. He is now planning set up a huge farm in Kasargod, for which a proposal has been sent to the government. The farm would begin in the next three years to cater to pure indigenous breeds. He plans to breed almost 200 indigenous varieties, mainly from Kerala. His two sons, Vaishak and Neeraj, are also supporting him in this venture. They have completed their engineering, but are spending most of their time in this.

The sond pointed out that Indian cattle breeds have recently demonstrated superior milk quality.

Kannur Airport to Provide Space for Defence Wings

Published: 19th May 2015 06:01 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th May 2015 06:01 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR:As several defence and paramilitary forces are establishing centres to strengthen its base in the coastal region of Kannur, the new airport will support the defence departments by providing space to the Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. 

The decision, which was agreed in principle, would see the end of tunnel once the draft plan submitted by the Navy and Air Force would be accepted in the discussions that are expected to take place in the coming days.

With China, flexing its muscles in the coastal regions, especially the Indian ocean, the Ministry of Defence is being cautious while ensuring better facilities around the coastal region. Keeping this in mind, the Army, Air Force, Navy and the Coast Guard have strengthened its presence in South India in the last few years.

While the Navy has an academy here at Ezhimala, the Coast Guard now plans to set up one in the district too. For the Air Force, which does not have any base or office in the district, an area inside the airport would give it presence in the region.

By providing space at the new airport, the defence forces can be at ease to utilise the facilities for their purpose, including strengthening the security and operational efficiency in the region during emergencies.

“The Navy and Air Force had initially requested to allocate about 10 acres of land each for the purpose. With adequate space available and another few more acres planned for acquisition, keeping in mind future airport expansion, the Navy has now again demanded for another 10 acres of land,” said G Chandrammouli, managing director, Kannur International Airport Limited. A decision in this regard would be taken soon. The Navy requires further land to build a residential facility as well. Both the Air Force and Navy will also require the land to set up an apron to park their planes here. There has been no discussions for separate runways yet, he added.

The Coast Guard too has shown interest in this regard and have also demanded for an area to carry out their operations from the airport. The discussion is in preliminary stages, the managing director added.

Despite efforts, the Defence officials could not be contacted for comments.

Boost to Security

The Navy: Requested airport authorities to allocate about 10 acres of land.

Has an academy at Ezhimala. Further land required to build a residential facility.

Air Force: An area inside the airport would give its presence in the region.

Both the Air Force and Navy will also require the land to set up an apron to park their planes

Coast Guard: Demanded an area to carry out operations.

‘Cricket’s Mecca’ Makes a Clarion Pitch for a Proper Stadium

Published: 11th May 2015 06:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 11th May 2015 06:00 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

KANNUR:In the late ‘70s, it was at the bakery in the corner of the M A Road where the young lads would come and gather to discuss cricket. They were no ordinary youngsters, but the players who represented the state cricket team.

There they would discuss the game for long hours. ‘70s were the golden era for cricket in Kannur. Eight players from the district represented the State Ranji team while the north zone team’s all 12 players were from here.

The credit went to the numerous cricket clubs playing serious cricket which created a competitive atmosphere. Kannur was the Mecca of the game from where it spread to other parts of the state. It was Madhavettan’s bakery which used to be one of those clubs and he was also the secretary. The Aaron brothers — Leslie Aaron and Sandy Aaron — along with Raymond Gabriel, Rajagopal Menon and several others formed the Cannanore Cricket Club.That’s history now, though. The situation now is such that in the past 30 years, only one player from Kannurrepresented the state team at the highest level. The Fort Ground, which no longerexists, used to host big leagues and Ranji matches. However, talented players are now in need of a place to practice with the Fort Ground or the Police Ground not available. They are forced to travel all the way to Thalassery, or they decide to retire from the game for better prospects.J K Mahendran becomes nostalgic while recalling those years when cricket was truly the gentleman’s game. 

He was just 12 years old when he picked the bat to play with those who were quite older than him.

Growing up listening to them and learning the game, he was one of the best players in the state those days. He was the first Kerala player to represent the Indian school boys’ cricket team which played against England and Australia. He was fortunate to share the dressing room with the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Amarnath. Now settled in Chennai, Mahendran gives all the credit to Kannur for his successful career.

“Those days our biggest asset was the ground. There was nothing else to divert ourattention. I used to bunk the class and practise in the ground hours together,” he recalls. The ground hosted four Ranji trophy matches and players like Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi played here.

Cinnamon Peelers Relish Memories of a Pungent Aroma

Published: 08th May 2015 06:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 08th May 2015 06:00 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KANNUR:Layers of dust that settled on the rusted metal parts could not take away the pungent smell of cinnamon oil.

The distilling machines installed at the Anjarakkandi estate here, established by Lord Brown of East India Company in 1767 and once considered Asia’s largest cinnamon plantation, has been idling for the past six years.

Cinnamon estates in North Malabar including Anjarakkandi, which once spread over 1,500 acres, played a major role in the spice trade until a decade ago. Indian cinnamon was only second to the one from Sri Lanka and appreciated the world over for its quality. The Anjarakkandi Estate has now shrunk to 300 acres.

Many estates have either been closed down or are in the verge of going to seed. Cinnamon growers in North Malabar have been hit by cheaper produce from Sri Lanka, huge import of cassia, an alternative considered to be a health risk, and the increase in labour cost.

“The estate was leased out 10 years ago, but they too backed out after a few years,” said K Krishnan, administrative officer of Anjarakkandi Medical College, which owns the plantation.

The estate once employed 120 workers, who were tasked with collecting bark and leaves for extracting oil. The bulk of it was exported, but the profits dwindled as the labour cost went up, said Krishnan, who supervised the estate till it was closed down.

Aditya Dev, owner of D V Deo Industries, which once had a flourishing cinnamon business  blames it on cassia and duty-free import of cinnamon from Sri Lanka. “We had 80 acres in Manjeri and 36 acres in Nilambur, where about two tonnes of oil and 3 tonnes of cinnamon barks were produced annually. Import is cheaper, so the business is no more profitable,” he said.

Leonard John, a cinnamon farmer from Kannur who is running a crusade against import of cassia, said he is on the verge of closing down his 30 acres of estate.

“The Health Ministry has done little despite our campaign against cassia which is a health risk because of toxins,” he said.

Where Cricketers are Made

Sussex Cricket Academy in Kozhikode, under the stewardship of C Santhosh Kumar, has been churning out cricketers for the state for over three decades

Published: 09th April 2015 06:05 AM  |   Last Updated: 09th April 2015 06:05 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

It was an untiring journey that began in 1983. C Santhosh Kumar, who was a college boy then, decided to start a club, Sussex Cricket Academy, that could help young and budding cricketers in Kozhikode. All of them in his group were inexperienced players who were just 14 years old.

The journey never ceased and it went on despite all hardships, producing players in various age groups, who went on to represent the state, and the club turning out to be a team to reckon with by winning various championships.

But, behind all these, it was the effort of Santhosh that single-handedly steered the club, despite all the hardships that he faced, to give back something to the sport and those who loved it. Dedicating his life to the game, he decided to forgo a married life that he felt, would place some restrictions on his life.

Though many played and never turned back to him, he never regretted or got disappointed as his sole aim has been to produce quality players who can learn the basics of cricket and build a strong foundation upon which they can grow.

“I was just 19 years old and still studying in college when the decision to start the club was formulated. It was intense passion for the game that made me switch from football to cricket,” he says.

It was interesting in those days, as he had very little knowledge of the game or the rules. Watching television, understanding the game and listening to commentaries helped in the initial days, he recalls.

In the later years, it was sheer experience on and off the ground. Many tournaments were won and the club went on to help players who  regularly came to the club and some others who joined the tournament and went on to play for the state, he says. Santhosh, who is still going strong, feels that Kozhikode can produce world class players, provided that officials governing the District Cricket Association keep their differences aside and work towards the development of the game by supporting the clubs and developing infrastructure in the district.

It was never easy for him to operate the club. Running the club with his own funds and finding a ground to keep the net practice alive was something difficult. Despite switching to various grounds to keep the practice going, he was never disappointed. Finally, help came from the management of Malabar Christian College, which helped him by providing space to support the game and players, he says.

He laments that the district lacks even a good ground and facilities for conducting matches. “Lack of ground and good facilities in the district is quite a stumbling block for the players and if more players are to be produced, better facilities should be arranged,” he opines.

For him the sole aim is not position or recognition, but the sheer commitment to give back something to the game of cricket by producing quality players. The journey continues as he feels proud speaking about the players who contributed to the development of the club.

Rohan and Sabin Pasha, who are representing the state under-19 team, have high regards for Santhosh, who has moulded them from their young age. “We are never discouraged and are allowed to play our game. But he never hesitates to tell us where we go wrong after every game,” says Rohan.

Scripting Its Own Football History

By C P Sajit

KANNUR: Karivellur village has an important place in the history of Kerala for its valour and struggle during the freedom struggle and later, in the political arena. But the village is now up to another effort to bring in social changes by churning out young football players.

The effort, which was started a year ago, has culminated in the establishment of the  Karivellur Football Academy, which is imparting free training to boys and girls who are living in and around the panchayat limits. It all began with the efforts of a few people, who were up in arms against the plans of utilising the playground of the AVS Government Higher Secondary School for national highway development. The efforts of these people, who formed a club, gave way to the first national football tournament on this ground, where teams from across the country participated.

During the end of the tournament, a proposal was raised at the podium for starting an academy that could generate several players. Even though the plan was accepted, it was taken up with a lot of criticism initially from the people who thought that it would not work out due to huge financial commitment. A few others considered it as a waste of time.

But in the following months, the area witnessed a spate of suicides, mostly by young people – 7 in the same week and 107 in a few months. This disturbing scenario inspired them to start an academy that can bring in social changes and help youngsters stay away from drug abuse and antisocial activities, says K Narayanan, chairman of the academy, who is also the past panchayat president and recipient of the Bharat Rathna Rajiv Gandhi Best Grama Panchayat President Award.

“The growing social change due to nuclear family and social fragmentation is causing a huge impact in the minds of people, especially youngsters. It is important to bring them to the mainstream by motivating them and channelising their energy into activities that can bring in mental stability and clear vision for their future. Football is the best way for this,’’ he opined.

Anil Kumar, secretary of the academy, says that the initiative has brought together about 80 children who are coming up from 10 km radius every day. There are 18 girls as well.

“The academy is motivating youngsters to take up the game seriously and make them play at a big level. It also aims at introducing them to a life which is weakening the social fabric. Youngsters are getting addicted to drugs and liquor. Sports brings people together, strengthen relation and understanding between each other. Besides they have huge scope for job opportunities as well in taking up higher education,’’ he says.

Spawning Success

Published: 04th April 2015 06:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 04th April 2015 01:00 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

The sudden need for cultivating vegetables owing to the increase in the use of pesticides and the increasing prices, has encouraged many to start cultivation in a small way. K Sreenivasan and R Rajeswari are two of those farmers, who decided to cultivate vegetables not just for the sake of it, but to  earn some revenue out of it. They chose to cultivate mushrooms, that not many come forward to do.

Sreenivasan, a Gulf returnee, decided to get into the business of cultivating mushrooms about four years ago. The decision to think differently and cultivate it did not go wrong, as turning back he feels it was the right decision.

“I was jobless then and was thinking of doing something that would help generate revenue and give me a lot of satisfaction. It was then that I came across mushroom cultivation,” he says.

It is profitable, provided the farmers have a complete knowledge of it. The chances of losses are high if not done properly and without complete knowledge of it, he says.

“Before starting cultivation, I studied the cultivation process for a year by meeting various experts in Thiruvananthapuram and the agriculture university at Mannuthy,” Sreenivasan is now able to earn over Rs 1500 per day by selling mushrooms.

The demand has increased in the last few years, but Sreenivasan is not able to meet it. The investment is comparatively less, but the most important point is the conditions under which it is being cultivated.

Large quantities of button mushrooms are supplied from places like Ooty, but by the time it reaches here, the colour and quality changes. People hence prefer those produced by him, he adds. Sreenivasan dedicates more than 12 hours for the cultivation.

R Rajeswari, who has been cultivating mushrooms for the past seven years on a small scale, says that unlike earlier, the demand for mushrooms is high.

Like Sreenivasan, she also cultivates milky mushrooms and oyster mushrooms, which yield good result under controlled and monitored conditions.

It was during a private function that she got to know about the cultivation and after attending various classes she decided to cultivate it. But it was never easy as she learnt the nuances of cultivating mushrooms by trial and error.

The major problem is that the shelf life is very less and since it is a fungus, it requires a particular environment under which it can grow.

It requires a proper shed which is controlled and not totally lit. Milky mushrooms can be cultivated in a plastic shed above, while for oyster mushrooms, a shed with roof made of coconut leaves, with lit light in it would be suitable for cultivation, she adds.

Viewing an opportunity in it, she plans to start production on a large scale, wherein she can make mushroom spawns and snack items, which can be sold through the kiosks which she plans to start. As mushrooms are cultivated on a large scale in places like Tamil Nadu, the supply to Kerala comes from these areas, she says. People can benefit and take it as opportunity to earn if they can cultivate it here by properly understanding the process, she adds.

New Brain Scanning Method for Early Detection of Autism

Published: 30th March 2015 06:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 30th March 2015 04:03 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE:For years, scientists have been trying to find out the reasons behind autism and to formulate effective treatment methods.

In a breakthrough, for the first time, a team led by Rajesh Kanna of University of Alabama at Birmingham has used different types of brain scanning techniques to understand how the brain of people with autism is organised and connected.

  “We studied the structure, function, chemical level, and connectivity of the brain of people with autism,” said Rajesh, who hails from Karivellur Panchayat in Kannur district.

  In an e-mail interview    with ‘Express’ from the US, he said that the importance of the study using multimodal neuroimaging-based classification would help to diagnose autism at an early age, when the brain is at formative stage and the intervention will be more effective.

Neuroimaging research will help in improving and supporting the diagnosis of autism, and enhance the pace of diagnostic process, he said.    “The important aspect is its approach in using multiple brain imaging modalities. Such an approach emerges from the fact that behaviorally complex disorders like autism may entail complex neurobiology. Focal brain markers may not explain such disorders. And we may have our best bet in using multiple levels of measurements in order to identify biomarkers for this disorder,” he adds.  

“The findings of this study provided a comprehensive picture of the complex brain pathology in autism spectrum disorders. In advancing the field, this study emphasises that the brain abnormalities in autism may not be confined to a single area, rather, it will be distributed across different areas at multiple levels and layers,” he said.

Uru Building Co Plans to Set Up Pvt Yard near Feroke

Published: 27th March 2015 06:02 AM  |   Last Updated: 27th March 2015 06:02 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: After successfully launching one of the biggest urus manufactured in Asia, the wooden vessel builders ‘Binafa Enterprises’ plans to set up a private yard near Feroke in Kozhikode.

The company — one of the two that make urus for supplying to various countries in the Middle East — took the decision following the good response to the vessel they have constructed and the increasing demand.

Abdul Gafoor, proprietor of Binafa Enterprises, told ‘Express’ that the yard would be coming up on 80 cents of land at Karuvanthiruthy in Feroke, which they have purchased.

The shed where the uru would be built would have 10,000 sq ft area. Gafoor said at least five urus could be constructed there at a time.

However, he refused to comment on the investment that has gone in for purchasing the land and building the yard. Admitting that they were doing good business with the Middle East countries, Gafoor said the interest shown by Emir of Qatar to strengthen their relations with India, besides expanding the business, was a positive sign for the wooden vessel building sector as well.

Every year, at least five urus are constructed in Kozhikode district and sent to Middle East countries.

The scope of expansion is high especially due to the fact that there is good demand from those places, one of the reasons being the less cost compared to that in their countries.

This would not only bring foreign money to the country, but revive the industry which has seen a slump in the recent years due to negligence of the government. The industry provides vast job opportunities as at least 100 people are required to construct one uru and the construction of the smallest uru takes around one year. The companies get about `10 crore annually.

Gafoor opined that the government should step in to support the art of making uru as it required skilled labour. Not many workers are coming forward unlike in the past when the construction of the wooden vessel flourished in the state.

Government support is also needed in getting land where the construction activities can be carried out. Presently, the companies are taking land on lease spending over `60,000 every month.

Similarly, the government can give some relief on tax, besides clearing the sales tax which is refundable, he said. Though the companies have written to the government, nothing positive has happened so far, he added.

Archaeology Department Wants Comtrust to be Made Museum

The department has written to the government, proposing to take over the administrative building and other structures of the defunct factory

Published: 27th March 2015 06:02 AM  |   Last Updated: 27th March 2015 06:02 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: While the ongoing strike at Comtrust, one of the oldest handloom weaving factories, is unlikely to see an end anywhere soon, the Department of Archaeology has written to the government, proposing to take over the age-old building with its looms, to convert it into a museum to highlight its historical importance.

The workers here have been on a strike since 2009, when the management decided to cut down the staff and subsequently close down the company citing that it was unable to recover from its losses and could not continue. Until then fine quality handloom clothes, which had garnered huge appreciation and were in demand within the country and abroad, especially in Britain, had been woven here.

The administrative building and other structures, which have looms and a few machines, have a lot of historical importance. The factory, which is spread over 5 acres of land, was built by the German Basel Evangelical Missionaries in 1844 and was called the mission shop till 1919. It was taken over by the British, who formed the Commonwealth Trust, also called Comtrust.

According to sources in the Department of Archaeology, the building has been constructed according to ‘vastu shastra’. It has been constructed in such a way that it allows natural lighting, minimising power and keeping the place cool. Besides there are lifts to carry parcels and letters, security punching machines, warehouses and a boiling unit, all of which are historically important. Besides, the building which was constructed in 1844 is still strong and is a heritage monument which needs to be protected.

Handloom machines, many of them jacquards, were used here and about 286 employees had worked in the company. More than 200 handloom machines used to work every day, making clothes, which were used by the elite class, including the Queen of England and at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The historical aspects make it an even more important place, which needs to be safeguarded for the coming generations, the reports says.

Interestingly, the report points out that several antisocial elements have made the place their den and some of the costly equipment, which are historically important, are getting stolen from here. Similarly, due to lack of maintenance, the heritage building is losing its sheen and needs care. 

The Department of Archaeology, stressing the immediate need to take over the building, has written about it to the government. But they are yet to get a response, the official says.

When contacted, Gopinath, executive director, Comtrust, said that there was a good demand for handloom clothes earlier. It is so even now. However, the company was under huge debt, from which it was unable to recover and the only choice was to stop work.

He said that even though the company had agreed to pay higher wages depending on the output, there was no change. While there was a huge demand, the products could never be delivered on time, he added.

Farmer Upbeat over Success of Ginger Cultivation in Polyhouse

Published: 19th March 2015 06:05 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th March 2015 06:05 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

When the government came forward with subsidies for polyhouse farming, Ahmed Kutty, a resident of Thondyad, made use of the opportunity, hoping to reap huge profits out of such farming. But it proved to be a disappointment initially. However, he did not give up and rather decided to cultivate ginger, which others have not laid their hands on in polyhouses.

Ahmed believes that it is through trial and error that farmers learn and get themselves empowered.

Though Ahmed, like others, started with cucumber, he did not reap enough profit as the yield turned out to be much below than expected. The main reason cited for it was lack of expertise in growing vegetables in polyhouse, that too under various climatic conditions.

It turned out to be frustrating as already a lot of investment had gone into constructing the polyhouse, in purchasing seeds, etc. 

“It was during that period that I found that the ginger that I had planted in the small islet containing coir pith was coming up well without much effort, except for pouring water and nutrients.It sparked in me the idea to try out ginger cultivation under monitored circumstance with different materials.”

For that he bought coir pith from his friend’s mattress company, which was closed down and which had piles of the material. Similarly, coir pith was bought from Pollachi.

Besides, poly or cement bags were bought, which were filled with a mixture of coir, soil and other materials to cultivate ginger. It was consciously done. In case the plant is affected by any disease, the bags can be separately removed and kept away. This would prevent spread of the disease, he says.  Under continuous monitoring, it grew well and during each process, it was monitored and studied by the Indian Institute of Spices Research. Though now it is being cultivated with the support of a scientist, the fact remains that there are not enough experts who can speak about ginger cultivation in poly houses, he adds.

Ahmed Kutty, however, is a happy man now seeing the fully grown ginger plants; why not, as he gets a maximum of 1.7 kg of ginger from a bag. Now there are buyers for the seeds as well, as the ginger grown in his polyhouse is better than the ginger grown on the field.

With encouraging remarks from the Indian Institute of Spices Research and others, he plans to grow ginger early this year on a large scale.

Go on Damages Hit Ryots Hard

Published: 19th March 2015 06:02 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th March 2015 06:02 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

 KOZHIKODE: If the Agriculture Department implements the latest Government Order (GO) issued by State Disaster Management Department (DMD), the farmers affected by natural calamities will be left in the lurch.The Agriculture Department is now caught  between the two orders and officials are in a dilemma over deciding whether to go ahead with the new order which has drastically cut down the compensation to farmers.

A case in particular is regarding the damage to crops and plantation caused during the recent heavy rains that lashed across the Kozhikode district.  Interestingly, the new order was passed surpassing the previous order 239/12 that reasonably well compensated the farmers, a senior agriculture officer, on condition of anonymity, told ‘Express’. 

The Disaster Management Department in a Government Order 48/14 issued on January 25, 2014 decided to slash the compensation to farmers. As per the orders, it has been decided to reduce the compensation by 3.6 per cent in case of a banana plant, while for the same for coconut tree has been reduced by 9.79 per cent.  Interestingly, as per the guideline orders of the Natural Disaster Management, the govt has fixed the compensation of `9,000 for seasonal crops, while for the perennial crops, the farmer would get `12,000 compensation per hectare of land.

Uru for Qatar Royal Family Ready to set Sail

Published: 19th March 2015 06:02 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th March 2015 06:02 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: It was a historic moment for the workers of the boat-building yard at Beypore on Wednesday when they gave the finishing touches to one of the biggest urus (wooden boat) in Asia. The hand-made wooden boat will soon be on a historic voyage.

Ordered by Sheik Mohammed Bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, from the royal family of Qatar, it is an engineering marvel, which has shaped into such a large boat.

In this hand-made dhow, the keel is the most important, which decides the construction of the whole boat. In this case, the uru is 140 ft long at the keel, 200 ft in length and 14 ft high from the keel, with about an 18 ft high cabin above the deck. The earlier biggest uru which set sail into the sea was 180 ft.

Abdul Gafoor, the proprietor of Binafa Enterprises, who got the orders to make the ship, said that it took them 30 workers and three-and-a-half-years to construct the uru, which weighed about 1,500 tonnes. “It has been made completely of teak wood, which was imported from Burma, and is of high quality,” he said and added that the boat cost about `4 crore.

The company has made another along with it, which is 62 ft long at the keel, 82 ft in length, 10 ft high and 25 ft wide. It is again for the royal family, which has demanded it along with the biggest uru.

Gafoor told ‘Express’ that the business of making uru was growing as orders were coming in from the Gulf countries, where the ship was a luxury and used for other purposes. The industry was at present thriving because of those orders and the great craftsmanship of the workers here, he said.

Even though urus are made in these countries, the boat-making skill, especially the ribs of the boats, are well-appreciated in other parts of the country. The biggest uru has more than 300 ribs, that helps the boat to float and accomdate the engine. While now it has a Chinese engine, the uru will be docked at Dubai for replacing it with a different engine and for interior work.

Gafoor said they were already a month behind the promised delivery period owing to various reasons. But despite that what was more encouraging was that the Qatar government had demanded 10 more urus which would require more space and support. Many of the companies which were into the business were working on rented land.

They had to pay a minimum of `30,000 as rent for the land. They had already requested land from the government for construction purposes, he said.

Jacquard Weaving Fading into Oblivion

The Jacquard looms in North Malabar lie abandoned despite the demand for the cloth in Western and European countries

Published: 17th March 2015 06:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 17th March 2015 12:54 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

Muslin, popularly know as Calico, produced in Kozhikode, was once famous the world over. But the knowledge and technique of weaving the cloth died with its weavers, who once caught the attention of people not just in the country, but far off in the Western and European market. Some blame it on industrialisation and others on the neglect of the art. But now, the fate of the Jacquard cloth too seems to be following the same path and is on the verge of extinction in North Malabar.

It is a kind of cloth much sought-after by the people in Western and European countries even today.

There are only a few weavers and companies left who still continue to weave cloth using the technique. The introduction of the power loom and the normal handloom which make job easy and the job opportunities in other sectors seem to have pushed the art of weaving  cloth through Jacquard loom into oblivion. Interestingly, in Kozhikode, there are no weavers who now weave cloth using Jacquard loom. Earlier, there were companies like Ceylon Loom Textile, Neo Textile and societies like Swaraj Textile, Taj and Komeri Textile, which used to weave cloth in Jacquard loom, recalls K Balan, a master weaver and carpenter who had helped many of these companies to install Jacquard looms.

There are just a few weavers in Kannur who continue to do it, but comparatively in a very small quantity, he says. “Time is not far away when these looms will be found in museums and there will be no one who can teach people how to weave cloth using these looms,” he laments and adds that it may meet the same fate as Calico. He says weaving cloth through Jacquard loom requires precision, imagination, patience and effort. But the final result would be quality cloth, he says.

While the normal loom allows straight and simple designs, the Jacquard loom allows to produce patterned fabric. Intricate figures created all over the fabric makes the cloth special in the handloom sector. It is possible with the help of the Jacquard attachment or punch card. The loom is controlled by a chain of cards, a number of punched cards, laced together into a continuous sequence. Multiple rows of holes are punched on each card, with one complete card corresponding to one row of the design.

He says that while normal looms have about 10 to 12 hooks for creating designs, the weaving in Jacquard loom is done using 100 to 600 hooks, that create the designs, he says.

K Gautham, proprietor of Swaraj Textile, however points out that the Jacquard machines are costly to maintain, as they are complex and require highly skilled personnel. An expensive design system is required to prepare the designs for the loom, and possibly a card-cutting machine.

Weaving is more costly since Jacquard mechanisms are more liable to create faults. Also, the looms will not run fast, he says. The situation now is such that there are no weavers and it is difficult to meet the demand as well. Now there is just a handful left who wish to carry forward this art, he says.

Homoeopaths see Red Over NHMRC Study

Published: 16th March 2015 06:02 AM  |   Last Updated: 16th March 2015 06:02 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: The Institution of Homoeopaths, Kerala, and homoeopathy doctors have strongly objected to the study conducted by the Australia government’s National Health and Medical Research Council, which claims that the medicines in homoeopathy are not reliable for treating patients with various health problems.

A news report published in Al Jazeera America said that researchers at the Australian government’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) were tasked with looking at a total of 176 controlled studies into how effective homoeopathy was in treating patients with various complaints. The results, found “no reliable evidence in humans that homoeopathy was effective for treating the range of health conditions considered in the study,” it said.

It further reported that the study found that such patients should not turn to homoeopathy to treat health conditions that were “chronic, serious, or could become serious.”

“People who choose homoeopathy may put their health at risk if they reject or delay treatments,” the authors of the report added. For some health conditions, a review of the studies showed that homoeopathy was no more effective than a placebo, the report said. Interestingly, contradictory to the research, there is a surge in the number of people switching over to alternative medicines, including homoeopathy, ayurveda, siddha and unani.

“If it was about 7 per cent of people taking treatment under homoeopathy three years ago, the number has increased by 10 per cent now,” says Sunil Kumar, president, Institution of Homoeopaths, Kerala.

Criticising the study. he said that their study is based on molecular theory, which is not an effective way to assess   homoeopathy.

Countries like Switzerland have conducted 21 clinical trials and have found that homoeopathy is effective and insurance is accepted for the treatment, he says.

K C Prasob, member, Central Council for Homoeopathy, says that several patients have benefited from homoeopathy, where allopathy has failed. G Sivaramkrishnan, superintendent, Government Homoeo Hospital, Porameri, says that his hospital is flooded with patients.

“The homoeo doctors see an average of 60 to 70 patients every day at the hospital. It is  proof for the effectiveness of the treatment,” he says. The reason is that homoeopathy is cheaper and the treatment is effective. The medicines in homoeopathy given to each patient depend on their physical conditions.

Though the symptoms are the same, the medicines are prepared considering their health and other factors, said Safeekh Masani, former president of Institution of Homoeopaths, Kerala.

Sivsankaran Nair, a resident of Kochi, says that he has directly benefited from homoeo medicines. S Rajesh, his son, says that his father had undergone two years of allopathy treatment and had been undergoing dialysis.  Doctors had lose the hope of recovery. “It was then that I got to know about the homoeo treatment in Palakkad. It has been three years now and my father has been completely recovered.Eleven months ago, he stopped dialysis,” says a confident Rajesh.

Basking in the Success of Muskmelon Farming

Two farmers in Kozhikode, with the help of the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council, are cultivating muskmelon, which the officials say, is being done on a large scale in the state for the first time

Published: 05th March 2015 06:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 05th March 2015 03:35 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

While the simmering heat is taking a toll on people, the farmers in Thiruvambady and Kunnamangalam, Kozhikode have found a way out that can help people beat the heat. The farmers, with the help of the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council, are cultivating muskmelon, which the officials say, is being done on a large scale in the state for the first time.

Wonderfully delicious with rich flavour, muskmelons are very low in calorie and fat. Nonetheless, the fruit is rich in numerous health-promoting poly-phenolic plant-derived compounds, vitamins and minerals that are absolute for optimum health.

The fruit is an excellent source of Vitamin A, which is a powerful antioxidant and is essential for healthy vision, for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. It is also rich in antioxidant flavonoids such as beta-carotene, lutein, zea-xanthin and cryptoxanthin. These antioxidants have the ability to help protect cells and other structures in the body from oxygen-free radicals and hence offer protection against colon, prostate, breast, endometrial, lung, and pancreatic cancers.

Mathew Abraham, a farmer from Aanakkampoyil in Thiruvambady, says that muskmelon can be successfully cultivated here and people have received the fruit well.

“I was not aware of this fruit until it was introduced to me by the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council,” he says. Interestingly the crop came really well after sowing it in 15 cents of land. Some of the fruits weighed about 1.2 kg and they were sold at `50 per kg.  He says it takes about three-and-a-half months for the plant to bear fruit and it is more suitable here when the climate is a little cold.

Though it is not yet popular here, people from other states eat and make shakes out of it. At present the fruit comes on a large scale mainly from Tamil Nadu and a few other states, but farmers can successfully cultivate it here, he adds. Manoj P, a farmer from Chethukadavu in Kunnamangalam, too is a happy man after experimenting with the fruit in his farm. All his fruits were immediately sold in the market after harvest.

As the demand has increased, the fruit fetches about `60 per kg, he says. Like Mathew, he too sows the seeds in November. At present he is  engaged in harvesting the fruit.

Farmers can certainly reap profit out of muskmelon. Pests and disease can be a setback, provided they are addressed initially, he says.

Sindhu Narayanan, deputy manager, VFPCK, says that the cultivation was conducted on a trial basis.

She says that muskmelon is a hot and dry season crop. The seed germinates best at a temperature of 28 degree C-30 degree C and grows well at 25 degree C-35 degree C. It requires plenty of sunshine too. Continuous rain or high humidity will increase the problem of diseases and reduce flowering and fruit setting. The growth will be slow when the weather is cold. Muskmelon thrives best on sandy or sandy loam soil with good fertility and drainage. The location should be free from nematode and disease.

While experimenting here, organic fertilisers were used, she says. 

Though they grew the fruit well, at the end of the season a few plants got affected by some disease. Another trial is on to curb it and to get a better yield, she says

Steering in the Right Direction

A K Sharma, who hails from Bihar, stayed in Kozhikode for five years to ensure the much-awaited JICA project rolled out successfully

Published: 28th February 2015 06:04 AM  |   Last Updated: 28th February 2015 06:04 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

It is never an easy job when a contract is taken for a work which is of prime importance to society. Despite all hurdles and losses that come across, it takes the heart of a lion to stand fearless and finish the given work.

A K Sharma, deputy general manager, project and construction, of Degremont Ltd which was entrusted with the work of The Japan-aided water supply project in Kozhikode, was bent on ensuring that the work went on as envisaged. While project director Harshan guided the chariot to the right direction, Sharma completed the task with precision.

Hailing from Bihar and settled in Delhi, Sharma did not leave the ground when the project was heading nowhere. He stayed in Kozhikode for five years to ensure that the project is completed, even while he remained away from his loved ones.

For him the project started with the word ‘trouble’, when the local people, environmentalists and later the Dam Safety Authority stood against the plans to blast the rocks that could damage the dam and affect the environment.

But then, the plan which was put on paper had to be implemented. With support from Harshan and team, he monitored the calculative blasting of the rocks, setting the platform for the construction of the treatment plant.

“But again for all that, it needed skilled labour, which was scarce and costlier in Kerala. Retaining the labourers was challenging, as with several projects all over, they were easily moving out pursuing more comfortable jobs,” he says. Then people were brought from places such as Orissa, West Bengal and other North Indian states. They were given accommodation, food and higher wages.

But as it progressed, the cost, including that for labour and materials, escalated.  “Hurdles came one after the other. Next it was the setting up of the intake tank. It might be for the first time that such a tank was created, which was brought right in the middle of the river while it was floating,” he says.

A concrete tank which was heavy and floating was something that was unimaginable, but it was done with great engineering skills, he says. Finally it was set inside the river with the help of underwater divers, who were brought from Goa. But ensuring their safety was of utmost importance as there was threat to their life as they went deeper inside the water to drill the rocks below. But it was successfully done.

Our next biggest challenge was getting sand medium for filtration. The sand required high silicon content. However, such quality sand was not available and finally it had to be brought from Gujarat. 

Sharma says that the company had to incur a huge loss as the project, which was expected to be completed by two years, extended to eight years. Meanwhile, the overall cost escalated, which put the company under severe loss, of about Rs 40 crore, he says.

But, despite all these, there was that determination to complete the work. Though he has completed over eight projects, for him this was the most challenging one.

It was a Walk Through Fire and Water

The much-awaited Jica-aided water supply project will be commissioned by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today

Published: 27th February 2015 06:17 AM  |   Last Updated: 27th February 2015 06:17 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE:On Friday, when Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will finally commission the Japan-aided water supply project, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) will not only be meeting the water requirements of the Corporation and several panchayats, they will also be showcasing a great engineering feat, which made this scheme possible.

While the people were agitated over the decreasing water table in their area, the engineers in the Kerala Water Authority were  sweating it out to ensure that they complete the project that would provide continuous water supply to hundreds of households for the next 15 years. It took them eight years to complete the project after it was started in 2006.

There was a time when everybody had given up  hopes and the funding agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was disappointed and did not want to fund the project any further, says K G Harshan, project director, KWA, who remained unperturbed by all the criticism throughout. 

Even after two years, the project was heading nowhere, but already Rs 50 crore had been spent on laying the pipeline and constructing the treatment plant. The biggest hurdle was to construct the water treatment plant. There were huge rocks, about 6 to 7 m below the ground as well as above. The challenge was to blast the rocks, which was just adjoining the dam.

But the Dam Safety Authority did not give permission to blast the rocks as it would lead to cracks in the dam. After much convincing, they did controlled blasting and finally the treatment plant was laid.

Another biggest challenge was to construct the intake tank, from where the water from the river can be pumped to the treatment plant. The surface was rocky and uneven. It demanded digging of the surface up to 20 m. But the  dam was just 22 m away from the area.

Our hurdles increased when the Dam Safety Authority went against the plans, recalls Harshan. It was then that Professor Sundar Vadivelu came as a messiah and suggested constructing a floating well, that can be placed in the middle of the river near the dam. It is no more in prevalence as in such projects the tanks are constructed in the banks.

“It was no ordinary job. They began constructing the tank near the banks by first concreting the base by laying flex sheet. Then they slowly raised the side walls, which were 45 m thick. They used 1.25 m shutter to construct the side wall, which they slowly pushed to 0.5 m, without moving it out. They poured the concrete mix and repeated the procedure until it got to a height of 16 m,” he says.

He Moved Ahead, Breaking Barriers

Published: 27th February 2015 06:17 AM  |   Last Updated: 27th February 2015 06:17 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: It is never an easy job when a contract is taken for a work which is of prime importance to society. Despite all hurdles and losses that come across, it takes the heart of a lion to stand fearless and finish the given work.

A K Sharma, deputy general manager, project and construction, of Degremont Ltd which was entrusted with the work, was bent on ensuring that the work went on as envisaged. While project director Harshan guided the chariot to the right direction, Sharma completed the task with precision.

Hailing from Bihar and settled in Delhi, Sharma did not leave the ground when the project was heading nowhere. He stayed in Kozhikode for five years to ensure that the project is completed, even while he remained away from his loved ones.

For him the project started with the word ‘trouble’, when the local people, environmentalists and later the Dam Safety Authority stood against the plans to blast the rocks that could damage the dam and affect the environment.

But then, the plan which was put on paper had to be implemented. With support from Harshan and team, he monitored the calculative blasting of the rocks, setting the platform for the construction of the treatment plant.

“But again for all that, it needed skilled labour, which was scarce and costlier in Kerala. Retaining the labourers was challenging, as with several projects all over, they were easily moving out pursuing more comfortable jobs,” he says. Then people were brought from places such as Orissa, West Bengal and other North Indian states. They were given accommodation, food and higher wages. But as it progressed, the cost, including that for labour and materials, escalated.  “Hurdles came one after the other. Next it was the setting up of the intake tank. It might be for the first time that such a tank was created, which was brought right in the middle of the river while it was floating,” he says.

A concrete tank which was heavy and floating was something that was unimaginable, but it was done with great engineering skills, he says. Finally it was set inside the river with the help of underwater divers, who were brought from Goa. But ensuring their safety was of utmost importance as there was threat to their life as they went deeper inside the water to drill the rocks below. But it was successfully done.

Our next biggest challenge was getting sand medium for filtration. The sand required high silicon content. However, such quality sand was not available and finally it had to be brought from Gujarat.  

Sharma says that the company had to incur a huge loss as the project, which was expected to be completed by two years, extended to eight years. Meanwhile, the overall cost escalated, which put the company under severe loss, of about Rs 40 crore, he says. 

But, despite all these, there was that determination to complete the work. Though he has completed over eight projects, for him this was the most challenging one.

Polyhouse Farming Turns a Burden for Farmers Low on Tech

Published: 27th February 2015 06:17 AM  |   Last Updated: 27th February 2015 06:17 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: Several farmers in the state who invested heavily in polyhouse farming without a  proper understanding of its intricacies are in a soup because of low yield and mounting losses.

Many of them now want to exit polyhouse farming, but are unable to do so because they had availed subsidies from the government and have to repay bank loans taken on high interest rates.

N K Roy, a resident of Mathamangalam in Kannur, was lured by the promise of high returns and set up polyhouses on 25 cents of land. “I borrowed `10 lakh at a high interest rate for constructing the polyhouse. I had to invest again on seeds and fertilisers, but there was not enough yield,” said Roy.

Thomas Pulikyath, a farmer in Kalpetta, Wayanad, has tried everything from tomatoes, beans and bitter gourd in the poly house, set up in 35 cents of land. “The construction cost alone came to `12 lakh and I have to pay an interest rate of 13.5 per cent,” he said. Thomas, who is critical of officials of the Agricultural Department, alleged that their lack of technical expertise has compounded the problem.

Abraham Antony, a resident of Edakom in Thaliparamba, invested `60 lakh on a 4,000 sq m polyhouse after pledging his house and property.

“I took the risk expecting high returns. But I realised that it is not a rosy picture as painted by officials,” said Abraham. He blames the crop failure on high humidity here. The volatility of markets is also an issue. But it’s not that all farmers are facing the situation. People like Manimala Joshi, a resident of Thamarasserry, are doing polyhouse farming with the help of consultants and are making profits.

Joshi says he grows spinach in a 1300 sq m polyhouse and earns around `3,000 every day. “This is possible only if farmers are aware of the condition of soil, the climate and the quantum of fertigation,” said Joshi. C Hariharan, an agriculture consultant, who is helping around 15 farmers said polyhouse cultivation should not be taken up without proper knowhow as scientific administration of fertilisers and proper monitoring of climatic conditions is es sential for its success.

K Prathapan, Mission Director, State Horticultural Mission, said there are several technical issues including shortage of firms that can scientifically construct polyhouses. “Farmers also have to invest in equipment like pest-resistant nets and humidity controllers. Polyhouse farming also needs constant attention by the farmer, which many do not provide,” he said. Prathapan said there are over 1,000 polyhouses across the state that are doing well. “In the absence of adequate land, such technology can help augment vegetable production. It would be wrong to say that polyhouse farming is not doing well,” he said. The Mission has plans to study hi-tech farming with help of Kerala Agricultural University and have formed technical teams in all districts to help farmers. He said no studies have been undertaken in the state to probe issues like high humidity, fungal diseases.

‘Mulaku Bajji’ Capsicum can be Grown Here Too

Farmers, with support from the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Kerala, have begun to successfully cultivate capsicum in Kozhikode

Published: 23rd February 2015 06:06 AM  |   Last Updated: 23rd February 2015 06:06 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

People always had to wait for the Hungarian yellow capsicum to arrive in the market from Tamil Nadu and other states to make the delicious ‘mulagu bajji’. But now, it is a thing of the past as farmers, with support from the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Kerala (VFPCK), have begun to successfully cultivate capsicum in Kozhikode.

It was on a trial basis that Thunumannil, near Edakara, on the outskirts of the city, started capsicum cultivation.

 Kozhikode is one of the first districts in the state where the capsicum is being cultivated successfully without much problems. It is important, especially owing to fact that there is a good market for it here and because it is not easy to cultivate capsicum in such hot and humid conditions. Most of these come from places in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where the weather is cool and conducive.

Babu, who cultivates capsicum in his farm in Thunumannil, says that more and more people are now consuming capsicum here. Hence, when the Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council came up with a proposal to try out capsicum cultivation, I agreed to it, he says.       

The crops have come out really well and there is not much effort required to take care of them. The plants take less than a month to flower. The yield is good enough and the harvest can be done thrice, he adds.

Sindhu S Narayanan, deputy manager, VFPCK, says that the Hungarian yellow capsicum is tried out only in a few places.

She says, each capsicum weighs about 30 gm and they get about 25 capsicums from each plant.

The cultivation has been done in 15 cents and during each harvest, they get about 4 kg of capsicum. They are about to go for the third harvest, she adds. Sindhu says that it is better to do cultivation during winter, that is from December to February. The seedling stage takes about three weeks and after transplantation, in another one-and-a-half week, the plants start flowering.

The Thunumannil experiment proves that Hungarian yellow capsicum can be cultivated in our state very well and the farmers no more have to depend on other states for it.

Kozhikode Town Plan Office Weighing BRTS Option

Published: 17th February 2015 06:01 AM  |   Last Updated: 17th February 2015 06:01 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: In a bid to improve the transport infrastructure in urban areas of Kozhikode, the regional town planning office is exploring the possibility of introducing the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS).

The dedicated service lane for buses, which has proved to be a hit in cities like Ahmedabad and Jaipur, enables faster transit of passengers.

A survey is currently being done by the town planning authority, with help from the National Institute of Technology, to identify suitable routes in which the BRTS could be implemented.

Systems like BRTS which help ease traffic congestion would give Kozhikode an edge over other cities, which are in the race to improve transport infrastructure and build smart cities.  

Speaking to ‘Express’ K V Abdul Malik, Regional Town Planner, said a feasibility study is underway to identify the routes. BRTS  needs wide roads since buses are to be given right of way, but the project can be realised through scientific approach and better planning, he said.

Abdul Malik said most bus routes in the city have remain unchanged for several years now.

As a result there are several areas in the city with better road infrastructure, which have developed over the years, but there are no sufficient bus services. “The dependence on private vehicles for commuting can be reduced once the public transport is improved,” he said.

The house-hold survey which is being currently held would collect information from people regarding their commuting needs, travel pattern and existing routes. Through the survey the town planning office is also planning to identify gaps in the existing system and suggest remedies.

The town planning office is also planning to provide unique numbers for buses to help commuters identify the routes, even if they can’t read the destination boards. Other plans include introduction of GPS in buses, identifying routes for plying air-conditioned low floor buses, new bus bays and bus stands.

Malik said the study has already been carried out in seven panchayats including Kakkodi, Ulliyeri, Chemmenchery, Balussery, Kunnamangalam, Atholi and Kakoor.

The study is likely to be completed by March 31 and a final report would be submitted by June 30, he added.

Iodised Salt is No Panacea for Iodine Deficiency Disorders, Says Study

Published: 05th February 2015 06:05 AM  |   Last Updated: 05th February 2015 06:05 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: For long, the government has been emphasising and mandating the iodised salt as a way to prevent iodine deficiency disorders in the country. However, a new study proves that  it may not be enough as many food crops containing naturally occurring chemicals disrupt normal thyroid function, which cause to increase the disorder.

The study, on diet crop plant diversity leading to iodine deficiency disorders, carried out in two endemic areas over a period of 10 years, has come with this revelation.

P Krishnan, a resident of Kozhikode, who carried out the study as part of his doctoral research in Barkatullah University, Bhopal, found that the plants which produce naturally occurring chemicals, which is a self-defence against pest and other diseases, disrupt normal thyroid function.

These substances, called goitrogens, produce isothiocyanates, thiocyanates and nitrils etc., after it fixes with the proteins to prevent the formation of Thyroid hormones like Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones are important to prevent the disorders.

“The most interesting to find during the study was that of the total sample taken for the study, nearly 30 per cent of the population suffered from thyroid-related diseases, in spite of iodised salt, seaweeds and others supplements in their diet,” Krishnan said. It is generally believed that these substances would prevent the disorder, which is why the government has been promoting their consumption.

However, during the study, it was found that the goitrogens, which fix with the proteins, prevent the iodine from converting into thyroid hormones. As a result, an excess of iodine is found in the blood, which not only leads to goiter, but also increases body toxicity by accumulating in blood.

The toxicity can be fatal and cause liver failure and other diseases.

The autoimmune thyroid disease such as lumphocytic Hashimoto thyroditis, due to iodine, is also increasing in country, he added.

The study found that the staple food of these places, of Betul district, which constituted more low socio-economic group, included millets like, maize, sorghum, finger millets, to name some, and in Kozhikode, which constituted high socio-economic group, had cassava and tubers.

 Similarly, people consumed vegetables like cabbage, radish, broccoli, soybean, beans, potato, drumstick, cauliflower, besides eating iodised salt,  seaweeds and fish as supplementary diet. Many of these food contained natural chemicals that triggered the disorder, as much of it was consumed either raw, as porridge, by drying or as soup, or semi-baked, he said.It has now raised serious questions on the decision of the government’s plans of preventing the thyroid disease through the iodised salt. It has also put to question the need to change the food pattern thatcan lead to disorders like goiter, he pointed.

300-year-old Banyan Tree Comes under the Axe

Published: 03rd February 2015 06:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 03rd February 2015 06:00 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: It was a dark day for the people of Muthalamada panchayat in Palakkad district,  who have been on protest path for around one month against the move to axe a 300-year-old banyan tree. On Sunday, the tree was almost axed by the Irrigation Department officials, cutting short of the local people’s hopes to see the tree standing tall and giving shelter to birds.

Now, the people are up in arms against the action of the Irrigation Department and have registered a complaint with the Social Forestry and the Kollengode police station.

The Irrigation Department, which is maintaining the Chulliyar dam, considered the tree as a threat to the safety of the dam and the officials decided to cut the branches of the banyan tree.  Following this, the local people came together under various forums to protest and formed a human chain against this move.

According to Kannadas,a social activist, there was an order to cut the branches of the tree, but those who were given the contract for this had axed the tree almost completely and many of its branches were destroyed. Though the department saw the tree as a threat, it is away from the the earthen dam. The roots will not form crack as it is very strong with rocks in between, he said.

S Guruvayurappan, project officer of the Wild Life Protection Society of India, said that it is unfortunate that the department went ahead with axing the tree without giving heed to the requests of the local people. The tree was supporting a lot of wild life. The tree is on an edge of the dam and it poses no danger, he said. The tree may not stand further as  a large portion of it was cut down, he said.

The tree was there even before the dam was constructed and it is unfortunate that it is being axed,  Prasanth Randadath, a social activist and member of AAP, said . He alleged the presence of vested interests behind the move.

“When the dam safety authorities came here, they listened to our complaints and agreed to consider our opinions in deciding the fate of the tree.

“As per this, there would be a ‘tree committee’ and the tree could be cut down only with the permission of the committee. But nothing has been done in this case,’’ he said.

‘’The constitution endows every citizen the right to protect their environment. “Cutting the tree against their interests is violation of this right. Besides they have violated the Wild life Protection Act,’’ he said.

Despite efforts, officials of the Irrigation Department could not be contacted.

Flouting Rules, Forest Dept Burning Bamboos in Sanctuary

Published: 02nd February 2015 06:23 AM  |   Last Updated: 02nd February 2015 06:23 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

KOZHIKODE: While severe restriction has been imposed on activities inside wildlife sanctuaries under the Wildlife Protection Act and as per the Supreme Court order, the Forest Department is violating the rules without any concerns, by burning down bamboos in the Waynad Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Forest Department has been burning the bamboos for the past two weeks in the Muthanga and Sulthan Bathery ranges, which fall under the sanctuary. Interestingly, the Forest Department has not just burned the woods and grasses adjoining the national highway, which passes through the sanctuary, but also those near the tribal areas including Rampalli, Thagarapadi, Kolur, and some woods near the river.

Activists in these areas have strongly condemned the act as the fire has also destroyed nearby trees, affecting many wild insects and animals as well.

It has to be noted that the burning of bamboo is completely in violation of the Supreme Court order dated 14.02.2000 in Writ Petition No202 of 1995 T N Godavaraman Thirumulpad Vs. Union of India.

The court ordered that the removal of dead, deceased, dying or wind fallen trees, drift wood, grasses etc. from a National Park is a violation of law. The court, in its order, has also said that bamboo and cane, belonging to the grass family, cannot be cut from National Parks and sanctuaries. N Badhushah, president, Wayanad Prakruthi Samrakshana Vedi, said that it is unfortunate that the Forest Department has been burning down the bamboo. The burning of huge dry bamboos in these areas has affected the nearby trees, plants, insects and wildlife. The fire, which rises to a great height while burning the bamboos is a threat to nearby forest areas. Many insects and micro organisms depend on grass and woods for living. Many trees and shrubs have been burned down, he added. He further said that though there is a management plan, it should be controlled burning. However, in this particular case, it has not been followed.

Environmentalist Thomas Ambalavayal said that the issue had been brought to the attention of the Forest officials and all have raised their protest against such burning of woods inside the sanctuary. It would do more damage rather helping the forest and wildlife, he added. There is a huge demand for firewood. So, the Forest Department, instead of burning the bamboo, can formulate a plan through which these trees could be taken by tribal people and nearby villagers. Wayanad Wildlife Warden Roy P Thomas, while speaking to Express, admitted that the bamboo had been burned with proper approval and as per a management plan sanctioned by the government.

He said there are over one lakh bamboos in the four ranges. Last year, the wild fires burned down a huge part of the forest cover. It is important to prevent such fire, which can happen due to these dry woods. The fire watchers were deployed to monitor the burning of bamboos and there was no violation.

He said some vegetation near the river was burned as per the request of tribal people, who were feeling that these wood and bamboo were blocking the flow of water, which was stinking due to stagnation

A Tribute to Gandhiji, Made of 25p Coins

V Anil Kumar, an employee of the Kozhikode Medical College, has used extinct 25 paise coins to etch out the face of the Father of The Nation

Published: 02nd February 2015 06:18 AM  |   Last Updated: 02nd February 2015 06:18 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

KOCHI: While the world would pay tributes to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on his death anniversary on January 30, V Anil Kumar, an employee of the Kozhikode Medical College, has chosen his own unique way to remember the Father of the Nation. In a fitting tribute, he has made an illustration of the face of Gandhiji using 25 paise coins, which are hardly minted these days.

It was in 1948, Mahatma was killed by Nathuram Godse and Anil has used the same number of coins in his work of art. But was it easy for him to do this? Anil said it took almost one year to complete it as he had to collect the coins.

“I went about meeting several people, both in my place of residence at Eranhikkal, in Kozhikode and places like Koyilandy, to collect the coins. As people usually offer coins in temples, I collected several 25 paise coins by contacting the temple authorities as well,” he said. But the decision to make such a tribute was well received by people in his town and they came forward with coins to finish the work.

Though it was intended to be released on the birth anniversary of Mahatma, the coins still fell short in numbers. Finally, when he completed the work after taking time off the work and during holidays, he decided to make it a fitting tribute on the death anniversary of Gandhiji, he added. 

Anil wants the work to be displayed at some public place, which would help people remember Mahatma every time they see it.

Beyond the Acts

Life inside the circus tents is a balancing act between putting up with suffering and running the show

Published: 29th January 2015 05:58 AM  |   Last Updated: 29th January 2015 05:58 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a small tent, sitting on his bed and eyes glued to the television, Albert, a native of West Bengal is watching the film of evergreen actor Rajesh Khanna, ‘Hathi Mere Sathi.’ He is full of smiles and his face glows as he watches his star actor make the elephants and tiger dance to his tunes in the film.

It’s been several years since he saw one such act in the Jumbo or any other circus company, where he has been performing stunts on his bikes in the event ‘Death Ring.’ For him, life has been revolving around circus since he was young and now circus is his world. While the stunts and acts made thousands of people who came to watch the shows smile, ‘City Express’ spoke to people like Albert and other artistes to know their life beyond the rings and what they feel.

A third generation from his family, Albert joined the circus in his young age along with his dad and mom, who stunned the audience with their skill of controlling animals and other daredevil stunts.

While the people were pushed to the edge of their seats and at the end clapped with joy,  it was never easy for Albert to reach this point. It took him years of practice to master the skills.

He says that for all the artistes, the day starts early in the day and they practise for an hour or two. It is rigorous practice and how fast they pick up depends on their interest. Some cook their own food, others are given food by the company. They take rest to preserve energy and gear up for the show by evening every day.

“It’s not that easy. It takes several hours of practice and hard work to learn these skills. While people enjoy these stunts, we suffer severe injuries and undergo stress. But all that pain and stress is relieved when people greet our days of hard work with smiles and applause,” says Albert.

It is, however, unfortunate that those hands that used to cheer the artistes are now getting fewer every day. It is directly reflecting on the art as well, as there are not many who want to take the show forward.

Mohan and Preethi, husband and wife, who are an integral part of the circus for the past 30 years, says that their life has revolved around the tents and they have seen the ups and downs of circus.

They recall how they feel sad about the lack of support by the government in encouraging the artistes and circus.

“We used to practise hard in our younger days. It took us and the circus to great heights. We travelled not only within the country but also abroad, making the circus popular. But the situation has changed and people from abroad are now brought to circuses these days,” he laments. 

While they are in their last years of career in the circus, the couple helps train the young, many who are from North Eastern states and countries like Nepal. It takes more than two to three hours of training every day.

Currency Notes with Date of Birth

Latheef has collected currency notes with the birth dates of over 6,000 personalities

Published: 26th January 2015 12:06 PM  |   Last Updated: 25th January 2015 11:04 PM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

Won’t you be excited to find the date, month and year of some special occasion in your life, be it birthday, marriage or other important events, printed on the currency notes that you may come across unexpectedly? This is what exactly happened during one such occasion with M K Latheef, a resident of Nadakkavu in Kozhikode city, that sparked an idea in him to start collecting such notes.

“Though I started collecting currency notes that have special digits printed on the top,   like ‘111111,’ ‘222222’ or ‘000786,’ my interest switched over to pursuing an even more difficult hobby of accumulating notes that have the birth dates of personalities from all facets of life,” he says.

After eight years, he has collected currency notes with the birth dates of over 6,000 personalities and other people and his efforts are to find a place in the Limca Book of Records.

Despite all the pain of collecting such currencies, what he cherishes the most is the smile and happiness that he finds on the faces of the people who receive the notes from him.

The receivers range from chief ministers to actors, writers and the common public, who either want such notes for themselves or to be gifted to someone special.

Though a native of Kozhikode, he keeps travelling between Dubai, where he has a business, and to other parts of the country in India to purchase the notes.

 It was during one of his visits to the Reserve Bank of India in Mumbai that he met an employee, who informed him about such notes. 

“Thereafter I started collecting as many  currency notes as I can. But it was never an easy job. I visited the Reserve Banks in Kolkata, Mumbai, Kochi and Delhi, to collect such notes after taking time out of my business hours. In the meantime this helped me to make many friends in the RBI, who helped me get these currencies,” he says.

Most of his currencies are in the denominations of `5, `10 and `20. It is not that he cannot find curries of a higher denomination, but his investment in collecting such special notes will also escalate.

“I have already invested over `6 lakh on such notes. Higher denomination  would mean more investment,” he adds.

Initially, there was some resistance from his house, but later their attitude changed and they started appreciating his hobby and effort.

He is also interested in collecting ancient and commemorative coins. He has in his kitty the `1,000 coin introduced by the government for the 1,000 years of celebration of the Tanjavur temple, and the Sachin Tendulkar silver coin. I started collecting currency notes that have special digits printed on the top,   like ‘111111,’ ‘222222’ or ‘000786,’ but my interest switched over to pursuing an even more difficult hobby of accumulating notes that have the birth dates of personalities from all facets of life

An Innovative Way to Do Away With Seeds

Abdul Razak does not need seeds to grow tomato plants. He just cuts a branch out of the existing pant and grows another plant

Published: 24th January 2015 06:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 24th January 2015 12:52 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

These days Abdul Razak Mumtaz Mahal, a Gulf returnee with an ardent interest in farming, hardly approaches private companies or the Agriculture Department officials to purchase tomato seeds. He just cuts a branch out of the existing plant and grows another plant out of it.

Sounds amusing? But that is what Abdul Razak, a resident of Chemencheri, Kozhikode, has been doing for the past several months at his farm to the amazement of people and scientists who have been visiting his farm to know how he does it.

As there has been apprehensions about companies charging higher rates for seeds, which will put farmers under tremendous pressure, Razak decided to find an alternative way to germinate the plants without depending on the seed-supplying agencies. Instead of the seeds of the native varieties, he decided to experiment with the high-yielding variety seeds supplied by the government and companies.

During his research, he found that roots can be grown through the branches of the plant. Interestingly, it does not have the mother root and the plant can sustain with the side roots that are spread over the earth. To grow these side roots, he ties a small bag filled with a mixture of natural manure, coco pith and cow dung of native cows on the branches.

He says that in a few weeks, the branches grew roots, and they were planted in the soil.

This technique benefits in two ways. One is that, some of the diseases like pseudomonas infection and trichoderma will not affect the plants as they don’t have the mother root and the side roots would get the maximum nutrients from the soil. Second, the farmers won’t have to depend on the seeds sold in the market, he says.

He claims that while the hybrid variety itself bears fruit almost after 75 days, the tomato plants grown through this method bear fruit in about 40 days.

he tomatoes are also quite bigger than the usual ones, he adds. What more, each plant gives him a yield of 20 kg of tomatoes.

However, to the question whether he has tried the same technique with traditional plants, he replies in the negative, stating that it is important to curtail the dominance of companies who want to rule the country by selling their seeds.

Abdul Razak is now experimenting with other varieties of vegetables as well to make farming more affordable to farmers. Interested by his new technique, people are now coming from places, including Wayanad, Kozhikode and Malappuram.

Murataza Hazan, a senior scientist at the Centre for Protected Cultivation Technology, says that it is an innovative technology. He says that during a visit, he was astonished to find how he has been able to multiply the plants with just branch and stems.

This can, however, be done for green house tomatoes, but is not applicable to native plants. To ascertain the technology, he has given the stems personally to the Indian Agriculture Research Institute and the technology is well received. It will benefit the farmers who are forced to purchase the hybrid seeds at a high cost, he adds.

Forest Dept Staff Ill-Equipped for Naxal Encounters

Published: 26th December 2014 06:02 AM  |   Last Updated: 26th December 2014 06:02 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

COIMBATORE: Though the forest staff are at present under huge pressure to prevent the possible infiltration of Naxals, they have not been reportedly adequately trained or equipped to handle such operations. Psychologically too, they are not in a position to take on the left-wing extremists, who are armed with sophisticated weapons.

Except for rangers, who are armed with pistols, none of the officials carry weapons. Even if they do, they are mostly outdated. With a few sticks and crackers that they carry, they can at the most, scare away wild animals alone.

In this scenario, while confronting Naxals they are likely to become sitting ducks as they possess only a few weapons and that too ones like 7.62 rifle, .315 rifle, 410 muscat, .303 rifle, and double barrels, which are 20 to 50 years old. Recently, forest rangers are given Glock12 pistol.

Retired Forest Conservator, S K Shanmugha Sundaram, said that it was high time the forest staff were made to rise to the occasion. “They are certainly not prepared and during crises, there are bound to be more causalities. There is no periodical weapon training, nor are the weapons periodically changed. As a result, they are equipped properly to handle such missions,” he said.

The department is short staffed and the average age of officials is 50 years.

What is more disconcerting is that the existing staff are already burdened with a lot of works and are not prepared for major encounters, said a senior forest official.

They have the expertise to deal only with man-animal conflicts, poachers, timber mafia and forestation works. The only way to augment their capability is to increase the staff strength periodically and train them in handling latest weapons and exposing them to warfare techniques, he added.

Environmentalist K Mohan Raj, said the forest department staff are well acquainted with the forest and know the terrain better than the STF. Therefore, equipping them better and training them will help a lot. Besides, gathering intelligence on a real-time basis too will prove beneficial, he opined.

2 Tiger Cubs Found Dead in Anaikatty

Published: 20th December 2014 06:05 AM  |   Last Updated: 20th December 2014 06:05 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

COIMBATORE:  It seems that there would be no end to tiger deaths in the state this year as two more cubs were found dead in Nilgiris North Division on Friday morning. The latest twin deaths comes close on the heels of a cat being poisoned to death recently in Sathyamanagalam Tiger Reserve.

On Friday, forest officials found carcasses of two cubs, of which one was male and the other could not be identified as it was totally in bad condition.

The dead animals might be aged around six months and were found deep inside the forest at Anaikatty in Sirugur range, according to sources.

Though in some of the previous cases the cause of death was predicted to be fight for territorial control, forest officials citing post-mortem report by a team of veterinarians said that the two tigers cubs could have been killed by another dominant tiger as it was mating period.

Leopardess Trapped in Snare Dies, Causes Serious Concern

By C P Sajit

COIMBATORE: The carcass of a four-year-old leopardess was found hanging from a tree with steel cables stuck to its back, in Anikorai village in Nilgiris north forest division on Saturday evening, giving rise to concerns over poaching of wild animals and the man-animal conflict.

It is believed  the big cat had got trapped in a snare and might have struggled to free itself of it.

The wires were stuck to its spine, and the animal was hanging upside down. Also, it is suspected the leopardess had died a painful death because its bones were crushed by the strong cables.

Sources in the Forest Department said the animal had struggled before it died a day ago, when its carcass was spotted.

Its back bones were broken and the claws and tail end clipped. The postmortem was conducted on Saturday and parts have been sent to lab for a forensic test, a forest  official said.

The incident has sparked off concerns as several  animals were killed in the Nilgiris forest division over the recent past and the man-animal conflict has intensified. Encroachment of forest area and poaching of animals have increased.

This year, Nilgiris alone recorded the highest number of deaths of big cats, including tigers. In Gudalur, a leopard was found dead  and it was suspected that the animal might have got caught in a trap or was fatally attacked by humans. This is second leopard which has been killed in a trap.

Environmentalists have demanded an inquiry into the leopardess’ death and have raised voice to remove the encroachments in the forest area as such a drive could bring down the number of cases of  poaching in the region.

Engg College Partially Shut Over Green Norm Violations

Admin office, principal’s rooms of Coimbatore institution sealed, college allowed to function temporarily considering students’ plight

Published: 02nd August 2014 07:50 AM  |   Last Updated: 02nd August 2014 07:50 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

COIMBATORE:  The Directorate of Town and Country Planning partially sealed Indus Engineering College, in Alandurai Panchayat, which was constructed violating norms under the Town and Country Planning Act and the Hill Area Conservation Authority, on Friday.

This is the first college in Coimbatore that has been sealed after the department found that it has been constructed without getting prior approval. 

A five-member team headed by deputy director of DTCP K Mookaiah sealed the principal’s room and the administrative office.

Mookaiah said, considering the future of over 300 students in the college, only the rooms of the principal and administrative office were sealed to ensure that more students were not enrolled. But, the college was allowed to function.  He said, after further orders from the headquarters were received the college may be completely shut. The college, which started in 2008, is spread over about 60 acres in Kallimangalam in Alandurai Panchayat, which comes under the Hill Area Conservation Authority. Construction on this land required clearance. But approvals were not taken. The college was served sealing and demolition notices in January 2013. But, the college did not produce the needed documents and filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court, which recently dismissed the petition.

Public relations officer of the college Moorthy, speaking to Express, said the college had to accept the government decisions. However, they would appeal for relief. The students would continue to study and they would not face any problem for now, he said.

To a query on how AICTE gave permission for the college, he refused to comment. Express has been drawing attention to the issue of how these areas, which fall under the Boluvampatty forest range, one of the vital water catchment areas and elephant corridor, are being disturbed in recent years.

BU Raising Structures in Jumbo Corridor

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Published: 10th June 2014 09:21 AM  |   Last Updated: 10th June 2014 09:21 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

COIMBATORE: Bharathiyar University is constructing buildings over a part of an important elephant corridor, which connects the Boluvampatti forest range with Coimbatore forest range, without getting proper approval from the local planning authority.

The construction has raised concerns among environmentalists and forest department, who are demanding that the area adjoining the Maruthamalai to be included under Hill Area Conservation Authority.  

Express found that the buildings are being raised behind the main campus for construction of hostels. However, it is one of the key routes through which the animals use to cross over the plains and move from Boluvampatty forests to the Coimbatore forest range.

Environmentalists now have ascertained that this move would only bring more problems as with little space left for the elephants, it would enter Vadavalli town. The area which was not mentioned in villages under the Hill Area Conservation Authority has further increased developmental activities in the region and many have come right in the elephant corridor. The forest department has already written to the government demanding to include the area under HACA.

When contacted S Chandrasekar, member secretary, Local Planning Authority, said  they were yet to receive any building approval plan for clearance for the work under taken by the Bharathiyar University. A senior engineer involved with the project, on conditions of anonymity said for most of the government projects, approval were taken later.

However James Pitchai, V-C, Bharathiyar University, claimed that the construction has been taken up only after getting approvals. The UGC has approved the construction and `5 crore has been allocated for the work. The engineers should have taken all the approval, before the work begin, he added.

Coimbatore Bids Tearful Adieu to its Braveheart

The body of Havildar G Mohan Kumar, who was killed in action during an encounter with militants on India-Myanmar border, was laid to rest with full military honours here on Sunday

Published: 02nd June 2014 08:05 AM  |   Last Updated: 02nd June 2014 08:05 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

COIMBATORE:  The body of Havildar G Mohan Kumar, who was killed in action during an encounter with militants on India-Myanmar border, was laid to rest with full military honours here on Sunday

Mohan Kumar was killed after a bomb was hurled at him by suspected militants at interior Theigothang village under Singhat sub division close to Myanmar border Churachandpur district.  Earlier, his body was flown in to Coimbatore airport by an Air India flight around noon. It was then brought to his house.

As news spread, several locals and residents of nearby areas gathered at the house to pay their respects to the slain jawan. Many laid wreath on the body to pay their homage.

Family members became inconsolable on seeing the body of Mohan Kumar.

Locals too turned  emotional and broke out. Many mourners, who joined the funeral procession chanted ‘Bharath Matha Ki Jai’ (Long live Mother India) slogan from the beginning and continued till the body reached the burial ground near Athupalam bridge in the city.

Top military officers and other personnel attached to the Madras Regimental Centre at Wellington in Coonor and Madukarai base, paid their homage to their slain colleague. The body was buried after being offered full military honours. Jawans fired three rounds in the air as mark of military honour, before his body was lowered in to the burial ground.

Earlier in the day, minister S P Velumani, district collector Archana Patnaik and other officials paid their homage to Mohan Kumar at his house.

The minister then handed over a cheque of `10 lakh to the widow of Mohan Kumar as announced by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. 

Subedar Alexander, who saw Mohan Kumar in action before he laid down his life after being hit by the splinter, accompanied his body to Coimbatore, told Express that he along with other soldiers put up a brave front during the last few minutes. Mohan Kumar was part of a 15-member team that was involved in an encounter with a 25-strong team of anti-national elements, a group that parted away from a main militant group.

The militants fired bullets and hurled bombs from thick forest regions on the border. However, the team of 15 jawans patrolling the area sensed the movement of the militant group and retaliated well in advance.

But Mohan Kumar, who was fighting them fiercely, was hit by a splinter which came out of a bomb hurled by the militants and was killed. He collapsed at the same spot as the splinter hit his neck directly.

Though Mohan was immediately rushed to a hospital, he had already succumbed and doctors declared him brought dead. Alexander said that the area where the incident happened was deep inside the forest area.

It would take a long time to reach even the nearest point of human habitation, where some facilities are available, from the encounter spot.

Landslide Kills 3 at Power Project Site

Published: 18th May 2014 08:34 AM  |   Last Updated: 18th May 2014 08:34 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

COIMBATORE: Three people were on Saturday evening killed in a landslide when they were working on the Kundah Pumped Storage Hydro Electric Project at Kattukuppai in Nilgiris district.

The trio was identified as Arun Kumar (28), Marimuthu (55) and Anandhan (29) of Watrap near Rajapalayam in Virudhanagar district. They were working on the project, the completion of which would add about 500 MW to the grid.

Speaking to Express, Nilgiris Collector P Sankar, who visited the hospital and the accident spot, said the workers were in the process of building a tunnel for the project. They had completed the ripbeam, an arch for the tunnel, and were carrying out the concrete work for the retaining wall.

However, due to recent rains in the area, the top soil had become loose and mud from about 80 ft above fell on them. Despite efforts by other workers and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (TANGEDCO) personnel, they could not be saved. It took rescuers about one-and-a-half-hours to pull them out, Sankar said.

When asked if all clearances were obtained by TANGEDCO before starting the work in the area, the collector said they should have taken all clearances before the work commenced. However, he was not sure on it.

When contacted, TANGEDCO divisional engineer  Thirumal  said the corporation has given the stage 2 environmental clearance before the work commenced and there was no violation.

The power project, which is estimated to cost about `1,800 crore, is likely to produce about 500 MW of power and the work is expected to be completed in about 10 years.

Vehicle Caught For Overload of Cattle

A special highway patrolling team of the Forest Department in Mudamalai Tiger Reserve in a surprise inspection caught a vehicle from Karnataka  State carrying cattle cramped in it beyond the permissible limit

Published: 02nd May 2014 07:23 AM  |   Last Updated: 02nd May 2014 07:23 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

A special highway patrolling team of the Forest Department in Mudamalai Tiger Reserve in a surprise inspection caught a vehicle from Karnataka  State carrying cattle cramped in it beyond the permissible limit. 

Although the transporters did not possess the fitness certificates issued by the neighbouring state for transporting the animals, they had a certificate issued by the Gudalur Animal Husbandary Department on the same day, permitting them to transport the cattle from Gudalur to Bathery in Kerala.

The maximum that a large vehicle can carry is 16 animal weighing about 200 kg each. However, the vehicle was carrying at least 33 cattle.

The fitness certificate found in possession of the vehicle, a copy of which is with Express, showed that the assistant director of Animal Husbandry has signed the certificate granting permission for the cattle to be transported from Gudalur to Bathery.

The vehicle KA 05 AD 6861, which was coming from Karnataka, entered Gudalur and was stopped and inspected around 10.30 pm at the Thorapally check post inside the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve. The team found that the animals, being taken for slaughter, were crammed in the vehicle with several animals with broken necks and twisted legs.

The vehicle had managed to cross several check posts, including those at Melkammanlli, Bandipur, Kankanallah in Karnataka, before entering Tamil Nadu.

The transporter was fined `10,000 and then let off. When Express contacted Chandran, deputy director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, he confirmed that the fined had been levied.

When the assistant director of Gudalur Animal Husbandary, Srinivasan, was contacted, he said no such certificate had been issued for the past four month.

Three Tigers Spotted Dead Within a Week

In the third such incident within a week, a highly-decomposed carcass of an eight-year-old tiger was found at Karumparai Saragam in Anamalai Tiger Reserve on Saturday raising concern among  environmentalists and officials

Published: 28th January 2014 08:18 AM  |   Last Updated: 28th January 2014 08:18 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

In the third such incident within a week, a highly-decomposed carcass of an eight-year-old tiger was found at Karumparai Saragam in Anamalai Tiger Reserve on Saturday raising concern among  environmentalists and officials.

The carcass was spotted by the anti-poaching watchers on Saturday. On information, Rajeev K Srivastava, field director, ATR, reached the spot and conducted enquiries.

Later, a committee, comprising members from National Tiger Conservation Authority, World Wildlife Fund, Non Governmental Organisations and Wildlife Veterinarian, visited the spot and investigated as per the guidelines laid down by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

An autopsy conducted on Sunday revealed all parts of the animals were intact, prompting the officials to rule out any foul play. Sources said the tiger might have died around a month ago. Officials suspect the death was caused due to injuries suffered in territorial fight.

The death has spread concern among the environmentalist, who feel the government needs to come up with a long-term plan aimed at creating better habitat for the animals. K Mohanraj, of Tamil Nadu Green Movement, said “With the tiger population increasing, there is every likelihood of their moving out from the core area in search of newer territories. This may pave path for man-animal conflicts and poaching -related peril.”

Migratory Birds Few This Year, Say Birdwatchers

The wetlands usually attract a large number of migratory birds to Coimbatore, Tirupur and other parts of State.

Published: 20th January 2014 12:08 PM  |   Last Updated: 20th January 2014 12:08 PM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit

The wetlands usually attract a large number of migratory birds to Coimbatore, Tirupur and other parts of State. But this year a very small number of birds visited the areas. This was revealed by the team of birdwatchers involved in the Asian waterfowl census carried out in all the wetlands in the State.

The group of birdwatchers from the team of the Coimbatore Nature Society (CNS), a non-governmental organisation, was entrusted with the duty to identify birds as part of the Asian waterfowl Census (AWC) in Coimbatore and Tirupur. 

The AWC is an international programme that focuses on monitoring the status of waterbirds and wetlands. The census is carried out each January as a voluntary activity at the national and local level. The AWC is coordinated by Wetlands International- Asia Pacific as part of the global programme, the International Waterfowl Census. In India, the programme is coordinated by the Bombay Natural History Society.

Speaking to Express P R Selvaraj, president of CNS, said that it was surprising that the tanks which attracted several migratory birds every year, had very few birds this time. He said the team had visited more than 20 tanks in Coimbatore and were disappointed to find very few migratory birds.

Every year birds like northern pintail, north shoveler, garganey, rosy starlink, little stint and black-winged stilt come in large numbers to the tanks here. However the initial study conducted this year reveals that the population of birds has reduced to half. Lakes like Singanallur had a very insignificant population of these birds.

K Ravindran, secretary, CSN, who was involved in the census process in Tirupur and went birdwatching in Tirunelveli recently, echoed a similar opinion.

Migratory birds like flamingo were spotted in thousands in Tirunelveli every year, but only few came to these tanks, he said. During the census conducted at the Shymalapuram, Chemandampalayam, Andipalayam, Orathapalayam dam and Kathankanni tank, the numbers were low. He said most of these migratory birds flock to the tanks between November and March from Western Europe and Siberia. He said climate change could be one reason, while no water in the tanks, could have also reduced the numbers.

A proper study should be carried out to understand the reason, he said.

Nilgiris Tea Cover to be Trimmed to Catch Man-eater

With the man eater tiger remaining elusive, the Nilgiris district administration has asked the farmers to prune tea leaves in the plantations to make the spotting of the animal easier.

Published: 20th January 2014 08:17 AM  |   Last Updated: 20th January 2014 08:17 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

With the man eater tiger remaining elusive, the Nilgiris district administration has asked the farmers to prune tea leaves in the plantations to make the spotting of the animal easier. The officials have decided to put on hold the combing operations for two days to facilitate the pruning works.

The decision was taken during a meeting, chaired by Collector Shankar, held on Saturday night.

The collector along with the forest officials and villagers discussed the plan, which would not only help the cultivators to get better yield, but also help in sighting the tiger easily.  The tiger has hitherto managed to give the teams the slip in the thickly grown plantations in the hilly Thummenatty.

The villagers readily agreed to go ahead with the plans, said a source who was part of the whole operation.

The source added that many cultivators had not pruned the plants, which were already chest high and was being used by the animal to its advantage.  Further, as an incentive, the collector said the Tea Board would offer the cultivators `15,000 subsidy per acre. 

“Till now, the farmers have not cut the tea bushes, and during the meeting we convinced them to do so. This would help us to catch the tiger and the measure would help the plantation as well,” Sankar said.

The tea bushes, especially in Kundansappai, were thick and the tiger had been spotted in the area frequently, the Collector added. 

Moreover, to alleviate any fears in the workers, the Collector said adequate security would be provided to those involved in the pruning work.  A civic official of Thumenatty village said the villagers were ready for the work as it was a matter of life or death for them. He added that the ongoing operations had left most of them jobless, and the works would provide them with some source of income.

7 Held for Trading in Elephant Tusks

Close coordination between the officials of the Kerala and Tamil Nadu forest departments led to the arrest of seven persons in three days, shedding light on an elephant tusk smuggling racket in both the States.

Published: 18th January 2014 08:19 AM  |   Last Updated: 18th January 2014 08:19 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

Close coordination between the officials of the Kerala and Tamil Nadu forest departments led to the arrest of seven persons in three days, shedding light on an elephant tusk smuggling racket in both the States.

Sources said that Kerala forest officials arrested a quartet that was trying to sell a pair of elephant tusk at Kadankode in Palakkad on Wednesday evening.

A senior Kerala forest official said, “We were tipped-off by the intelligence wing in Thiruvananthapuram about a possible trade. We formed a team and managed to arrest four persons, who came on a bike trying to sell a pair of tusks.”  

Sundram, a resident of Periyar Nagar in Vadavali, Balakrishnana, of IOB colony in Coimbatore, Arun Prasad, of Pollachi, and Hari, of Anaikatty were arrested.

Sources said that the quartet told the officials that they had received the tusks from one Parthasarthy, a resident of Velakundapuram village. The officials immediately alerted the Coimbatore forest officials, who laid a trap for Parthasarthy and arrested him on Thursday.  Later, the officials arrested Kasiappan of Kuchakottamparai, and Mari of Pulipatti.

Driving licence seekers may have to get past electronic eye

With the Transport Department mulling introducing high-end technology to conduct driving tests, getting driving licences will no longer be a cakewalk.

Published: 25th March 2013 11:22 AM  |   Last Updated: 25th March 2013 11:22 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

With the Transport Department mulling introducing high-end technology to conduct driving tests, getting driving licences will no longer be a cakewalk. Camera-based testing devices may soon be installed at the testing tracks to ascertain the skill of drivers, department officials said.

“We have been testing various devices of late, including electronic testing tracks, to understand how efficiently these methods would work in a practical scenario,” a senior transport official said.

Perturbed by an increasing number of road accidents, the department wants to make sure that the drivers are sufficiently skilled, he said. “Testing the skill of drivers using the camera method is the latest introduction. The technology was tested at the Anna Nagar RTO in Chennai and it seems to be quite efficient compared to devices including the digital testing tracks,” the official said.

A computer server will analyse the video feed from the camera which will be capturing every movement the driver makes on the testing track. The server has set parameters which includes sketch of tracks and obstacles. If a driver makes a  mistake by deviating from the set marks, the system will automatically disqualify him.

“The department has almost decided to implement the system at all testing tracks. Earlier the department tried the electronic test tracks which used sensors inside tracks to detect the movement of vehicles. However, it required a huge investment and wasn’t technically sound,” the official said.

While the camera-based system reduces the overall cost, which will be around `50,000, it will also make the testing process more transparent.

There will be no human intervention as the system will declare the results. However, it will be some time before the new system is introduced.

‘Overcoming gender stigma a daily challenge for us’

Published: 15th April 2013 09:53 AM  |   Last Updated: 15th April 2013 09:53 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit | ENS

Praveen was a bright student in his college days. After graduating in Botany, he got a job in the sales department of a private bank. For him, it was the happiest moment. But soon he was down with depression when his colleagues refused to accept him as one among them and passed crude remarks regarding his ‘feminine’ behaviour. To counter the snide remarks, Praveen adopted a new avatar – which he believes is his natural self – and became Princy.

Today, the young transgender is leading a life of her own, battling a society which has ostracised her and others of her ilk. She had quit the bank and taken up social work. “It is not our fault for what we are. We are happy to be what we are. It is only that the society does not want to accept us and the people’s aversion is what hurts us the most,” says Princy, secretary of Coimbatore Transgenders’ Association (CTA). “It is a daily challenge for us as most of us have been shunned by our parents, friends, relatives and teachers. People look at us with contempt. They don’t realise that the biological changes in us is a natural occurrence,” she adds.

In her case, she had realised the changes evolving within her when she was 13. “Initially I tried to suppress my feelings. But there was always an urge to break free from the shackles within,” recalls Princy.

Another transgender Poonkuyil, who hails from a rich family in Pollachi, had to leave her home to lead her own life.

“I was born Babu. I left for Mumbai and stayed there for two years where I was forced into prostitution and begging. I underwent a sex change surgery and was regularly harassed by anti-socials and police. Even now, I have the urge to go back to my parents but they don’t want to accept me. When I see others with their parents, it leaves me yearning,” she adds.

“We understand the feelings of people. However they never understand ours,” laments Gayathri, who fortunately lives with her parents. There are more than 1,300 transgenders in Coimbatore and none of them willingly prefers to beg or indulge in prostitution.

“But we are never offered an opportunity to lead a life of dignity even if we are skilled. Employers see us an embarrassment,” she says.

Tech snag derails CUCET, leaves candidates stumped

Published: 19th May 2013 08:07 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th May 2013 08:07 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit | ENS

Outstation candidates who had reached here to appear for the Universities Common Entrance Test 2013 to be held on May 18 and 19 for admission to under-graduate and integrated programmes in Central University of Tamil Nadu in Tiruvarur were in for a shock as the online exam was cancelled without prior notice owing to a technical snag. Some of the candidates who had received their admit cards were intimated about the cancellation only after reaching their centres.

“I did not receive any intimation despite providing my e-mail address and telephone number,” said P Tamil Selvan, a native of Valparai, appearing for admission to MSc Financial Economics.

“There are over 50 candidates who have come to the CMS College at Chinnavedampatti in Coimbatore, one of the centres in Tamil Nadu, for the test,” he added.

An official source said that the Central University of Rajasthan, the nodal centre for conducting the exam, had entered into an agreement with the Internet server provider Sify for issuing hall tickets and conducting online tests.

However, more than 80 per cent of the candidates had not received their hall tickets, due to which the exams were cancelled, the source claimed.

Despite repeated efforts to contact officials of the University and the Internet service provider, no one was available for comment.

Meanwhile, Kavin Kumar, an applicant from Erode, said, “I started from home early in the morning to reach the examination centre. Even last night, I had verified with the official website and there was no intimation of exams being cancelled. But on reaching the centre, the officials sent us back saying the exams had been cancelled.” Only on the day of the examination, information regarding cancellation of the test was updated on the website, he added.

Central University of Tamil Nadu had received more than 500 applications, while more than 2,000 candidates had applied in other states

Postal forms find no takers, pile up

Published: 19th June 2013 09:00 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th June 2013 09:00 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit | ENS

Even though forms for money order, registered post, savings bank ledger, authorised agent, etc., are not in frequent use in post offices now, lakhs of them are piled up in postal depots.

With post office operations being computerised, many of these forms are not used any more though they continue to arrive at six depots in the State after being printed in government presses in Coimbatore and Thrissur in Kerala, postal department sources said.

“Since everything is computerised, new e-money orders forms are coming. There is not much of a difference between them. Though there are nearly three lakh money order forms in the depot, the new forms continue to arrive. About five months ago, the old forms arrived and more forms are expected to arrive,” he added.

“If the existing stock had been used, the government could have saved a lot of money,” he said.

Meanwhile, about Rs 25,000 is spent as rent for the depot building in Coimbatore. Nearly 10 employees are working here even though there is a shortage of staff in the department. Approximately Rs 10 lakh is required to maintain the depot in the city alone.

There is a shortage of paper and other stationary in post offices. Many of them are buying these from private parties. Tenders were called only on Tuesday.

Post Master General J Charukesi was unavailable for comment. Jayshankar, Postal Director, Western Region, was also unavailable for comment

CUCET candidates baffled by dual results on website

Published: 08th July 2013 10:47 AM  |   Last Updated: 08th July 2013 10:47 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

Several candidates who appeared for the Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET) -2013 were in for  shock and surprise after they found the results notified twice, with different marks, on the CUCET website.

While a few were lucky to get additional marks in the second publication, many have had their marks cut.

A L Selvam, brother of Meena, a candidate who appeared for the entrance exam for MSc Economics, found her marks reduced the second time. She had scored 45 out of 135 in the results that were first put out on the website. However, the second time, her  marks were cut short to 34. Besides, she was found ineligible for the course as mathematics was not part of her higher secondary subjects.  However, Selvam claims that no such criteria was set at the time of applying for the exams. 

Another candidate, S Veera Prasath, is awaiting a reply to his mail to  the authorities seeking to know why his marks were reduced from 48 to 33. “I had applied for admission to Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and my name appeared in the rank list. I don’t know why the marks were revised. There is no response from the university as well,” he added. 

Though his name had appeared in the rank list, he is skeptical about getting an admission. The counselling is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, he said. Yet another candidate, Deepak Raj, had applied for Bsc BEd, MSc Life Science and Msc Mathematics, and had scored 31 initially. However, when the results were put out for the second time, it was reduced to 25.  While applying for the examination, there had been an option for Bsc BEd, but interestingly, when enquired with the university through the phone number provided on the website, an official had said there was no such course this year.

“When we sought the reason for change in marks, the officials said that it was due to a technical fault. However, we have both mark lists which is a proof of the goof up,” said his father S Ravi.

However, there were some lucky ones like Abdul Jalal, who surprisingly got additional marks in the second results. “I scored 35 first, but the second result showed it as 73 out 135,” he added. Revanth, who had applied for MSc Economics, was also lucky to score more in the second results. However, he found himself ineligible as he did not opt for Mathematics in Plus Two.

“When I enquired with the Central University of Tamilnadu, I was told that since I did not choose mathematics in Plus Two, I was ineligible. But nothing as such was mentioned in the application,” he said.  Earlier, CUCET candidates, upon reaching the examination centres allotted to them, were taken by surprise when they were told that the exam had been postponed. An official source at the Central University of Tamil Nadu said more than 500 applicants had applied from TN

CM’s demand adds strength to decades-long rights fight

Published: 10th August 2013 09:26 AM  |   Last Updated: 10th August 2013 09:26 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit | ENS

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s renewed initiative in batting for the rights of Scheduled Caste Hindus to retain their caste identity upon conversion to Christianity has been welcomed by those campaigning for decades for such a right. Activists point out that various commissions, including the Justice Ranganath Misra Commission, had reiterated that a mere religious conversion should not rob the Dalits of their caste identity.

Hailing Jayalalithaa’s letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, M Mary John, president, National Council of Dalit Christians, lamented that various governments had failed to implement the recommendations to include Dalit Christians in the Scheduled Caste category. “Such a demand has been raised since Independence and the idea behind it is not to empower the religion, but to improve the socio economic aspect of minorities,” said John.

“When the citizens professing Hindu, Sikh and Buddhism religions are considered as Scheduled Castes and given various benefits, why should the government exclude those adopting Christianity alone by listing them in the Backward Caste,” questioned Bernard D Sami, social scientist and professor of History, Loyola College.

The status of the people in the community has not improved even after they have changed their religion and the issue needs to be looked into seriously, he argued. When Dalit Christians are treated as Backward Classes they lose out on welfare schemes including the reservation provided for Scheduled Castes in educational institutions, politics and jobs

Kumki training for Tiruvannamalai elephants

Published: 23rd August 2013 08:17 AM  |   Last Updated: 23rd August 2013 08:17 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit | ENS

A herd of six wild elephants that has been creating havoc in Tiruvannamalai district in north Tamil Nadu would soon be tamed and trained into kumkis – captive elephants that are used for taming other wild elephants.

Forest officials in Coimbatore said that after a long time such an initiative is being taken. The six elephants have been allegedly destroying crops for more than 12 years in the fringes of Tiruvannamalai district despite being repeatedly chased back into the forest.

“Our plan is to chase these wild elephants to a safe area where they will be tranquilized. Later using our existing kumkis from the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) and Mudumalai camp, the wild elephants will be tamed and pushed into our vehicle,” a senior Forest official said.

The jumbos will then be taken to the Anamalai and Top slip camps where they will be trained to be kumkis.

On Thursday two kumkis, named Kapil Dev and Kaleem, from ATR were pressed into service for chasing the wild elephants. “The pachyderms have been pushed about 30 km, from Shankarapuram to Thanaipadi forests. On Friday four more kumkis from Mudumalai would be joining to chase the elephants. On reaching the plains, the herd will be tranquilized,” the official explained.

About 20 forest staff from the ATR and another team from Coimbatore division have been deployed to complete the mission. Besides veterinarians from Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are also engaged in the operation.

Once the elephants are caught, three each would be kept inside a cage called ‘Kral’ at the Anamalai and Top Slip camps. The mahouts and kavadis (assistant elephant trainers) would train the elephants for the next three months, he added

No farmlands for air base expansion: MP

Published: 22nd September 2013 07:59 AM  |   Last Updated: 22nd September 2013 07:59 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

Coimbaotre MP P R Natarajan has strongly opposed the move to acquire farmlands for the proposed expansion of Sulur air base. The Indian Air Force had earlier requested the district administration for about 1000 acres for the expansion of the Sulur air base as part of the plans to improve the infrastructure. 

Talking to Express here on Saturday, he said that the acquisition would affect farmers and compensation for land may not be uniform. “Any expansion for such public purpose will mean giving away huge tracts of farmlands. So, we will not allow this,” he stressed.

He further said, “We are unaware of any such proposal and if there is some it will not be allowed.”

But when contacted, a senior Air Force officials on conditions of anonymity said that any land for operation requirement can be acquired. Considering the strategic importance of the area the expansion was important. The air force had already proposed and demarcated 1000 acres for acquisition in Kalangal. Talks were already over with the district administration.

Teachers brave rocky terrain, dense forests to educate tribal children

S Vidya is in her eighth month of pregnancy. However, this does not prevent her from going to teach tribal students at a small government school in Dhoomanur, a village located inside a reserve forest.

Published: 04th November 2013 08:35 AM  |   Last Updated: 04th November 2013 08:35 AM  |  A+A A-

By C P Sajit | ENS

S Vidya is in her eighth month of pregnancy. However, this does not prevent her from going to teach tribal students at a small government school in Dhoomanur, a village located inside a reserve forest.

She undertakes the arduous journey to the village from her home at Idayarpalayam by bus early in the morning. Later, she and four of her colleagues traverse rocky terrain in the jungle in a jeep.

Despite such difficulties they are steadfast in attaining their objective:  to see the tribal students excel in their studies and inspire more such children to take up education. The school, which has classes till the eighth standard, has 60 students.

“We are well aware of the risks involved in travelling through the jungle. Wild animals, including elephants, are frequently seen in the area,” said Vidya, who teaches mathematics and science. Vidya had a previous teaching stint at Yercaud where she too she had worked in the tribal and rural regions.

S Chitra of Periyanaickenpalayam, another teacher, said, “It is an enriching experience to understand their way of life and challenges. It was amazing to know that these children live untouched by sophistication of any sort,” she said.

According to R Dharanidharan, who goes to the school every day from Mettupalayam, Dhoomanur’s students are smarter than urban students.

“It is our responsibility to teach these eager students, who face a lot of challenges and educate them to do better in life,” he said.

P Jayaraj, another teacher who has been teaching the tribal kids for five years, has been instrumental in encouraging and motivating them to attend school.

All of them now spend more than `2,000 every month for their travel. Though the initial strength was only five-six students, the school now has 60 students. The lack of electricity and infrastructure here is a matter of concern, he said.

Beehives to Block Elephants’ Intrusion into Human Habitations

In yet another major step to reduce the man-animal conflict in the forest fringes, the Forest Department has decided to raise beehives along the farms and forest boundaries to prevent wild elephants from entering human habitations.

Published: 02nd December 2013 08:19 AM  |   Last Updated: 02nd December 2013 08:19 AM  |  A+A A-By C P Sajit

In yet another major step to reduce the man-animal conflict in the forest fringes, the Forest Department has decided to raise beehives along the farms and forest boundaries to prevent wild elephants from entering human habitations. Raising beehives has proved to be an effective measure to stop intrusion of elephants as they are terrified of the insect.

Following a study conducted in 2009, experts from the University of Oxford and the charity foundation ‘Save the Elephants’ set up a trial project to test whether hives containing African honey bees could prevent elephants from breaching farmland boundaries. Interestingly, the study, which monitored elephant raids over three crop seasons, discovered that 97 per cent of the raids were aborted when the field was protected by a fence equipped with a beehive every 10 metres.

Considering the success of the trial, the Forest Department here decided to experiment the same method around the forest fringes and the surrounding farmlands to find a solution for the frequent elephant menace, said M Senthil Kumar, District Forest Officer.

The beehives would be suspended on wires between posts with flat thatched roofs as protection from the sun. Although bee sting does not penetrate elephant’s hide, the droning insect often stings around their eyes and inside the trunk, causing immense discomfort to the tuskers, thus making them avoid such zones, he said.

“We will use boxes to raise beehives in areas where there is frequent intrusion of elephants, especially in places adjoining the Bolampatty forest on a trial basis,” the official said.