Kerala Tourism

Gold Treasure found in Kerala Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

2011-07-04T21:58:00.001+05:30

Around 90,000 crore worth treasure (Nidhi) has been found in the secret cellars of the famous Kerala Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu - Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram). The 7 member paper appointed by the Supreme Court of India, has been preparing the list of valuable found in the cellars of Sri Padmanabhaswami Temple. The temple has 6 Secret Cellars (Nilavara – a place to keep assets safe) from Cellar A to Cellar F. Opening of each of these chambers is revealing a virtual treasure trove with precious diamonds, golden ornaments, emeralds, jewelleries, rare antique silver and brass platters and golden idols. An estimation of above 90,000 crore treasure was valued at the completion of the 6th day of valuing the assets of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

Golden idol of Mahavishnu worth Rs. 500 Crore

The main treasure found on the 6th day was a one foot (12 angulams) height golden idol of Lord Mahavishnu and a 30 kg golden ‘anki’. This golden idol of Lord Vishnu is believed to be the replica of the ‘utsava vigraham' used in the temple. The golden idol of Padmanabhaswamy studded with more than 1000 previous stones is valued to around Rs. 500 Crore. Another golden idol of Lord Sree Krishna was also found which weighs around 5 kg.

Golden Coins, Ornaments, and Human figurine

Several golden coins were also unearthed yesterday which are believed to be issued during the reign of Krishnadeva Rayar in the 16th century AD. Numerous golden ornaments which were used to adorn the main deity were also found in the Vault marked A. Ornaments studded with emeralds were also found on Saturday. Numerous golden human figurine weighing 1 kg, golden bangles, golden rope, are other interesting treasure found in the Vishnu Temple.

Golden Coconut Shells

Another interesting finding was two coconut shells made of pure gold. One of this golden coconut shell was students with rare antique stones including emeralds and rubies.

Cellar B To Open on Monday

Cellar B is the remaining one secret vault which is yet to be inventoried. It is said that this cellar haven’t been opened for more than 100 years. The remaining articles in Cellar A will be inventoried on Monday afternoon and Cellar B will be opened only after that.

Achuthanandan steps down as Kerala Chief Minister

2011-05-14T18:54:00.000+05:30

Thiruvananthapuram, Saturday, May 14, 2011: With LDF losing power in Kerala to UDF by a wafer thin margin, Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan today submitted the resignation of his ministry to the Governor and said he would lead the opposition in the Assembly if his party entrusted the job to him.

Governor RS Gavai accepted the resignation and asked Achuthanandan to continue as Chief Minister till the new ministry is formed by UDF, which secured 72 seats in the 140-member house.

Speaking to reporters later, the 87-year-old Marxist veteran, who spearheaded the Left Democratic Front’s campaign, said the party accepted the people’s verdict and would not indulge in any undemocratic means to remain in power.

“People have given their verdict. We will not do anything undemocratic to undermine that. When we get a chance to seek a mandate, we will compete and try to return”, he told reporters after handing over the resignation.

Congress-led UDF wins with a slender margin in Kerala

2011-05-13T22:22:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: Battling against the charisma of an octogenarian chief minister and the taint of corruption allegations, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) struggled past the post in Kerala’s assembly elections.

The UDF won 72 seats compared with 68 for the Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPM.

The slender majority, the lowest margin in the history of Kerala’s coalition politics since 1957, together with the below-par performance of the Congress will have an impact on the stability of the government that will be formed. The Congress will be beholden to two of its key allies—the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which won 20 seats, and the Kerala Congress-Mani, which won 15 seats.

The initial reactions of coalition partners indicate that the Congress will face a considerable challenge, especially in distribution of cabinet portfolios. In fact, there is a chance that the allies will demand the creation of the post of deputy chief minister.

Political observers say the verdict has caused alarm in the CPM as well as the Congress.

“While strategic errors from the leadership in the election strategy resulted in the LDF missing a historic opportunity to get a second term, the internal strife in the Congress led to its very poor performance,” said N.P. Chekkutty, a political analyst and executive editor of Thejas newspaper. “There will be serious trouble in both the parties against the current leadership.”

Congress leaders privately concede that the state leadership, which was “busy in infighting”, failed to cash in on the troubles afflicting the LDF.

“Both Oommen Chandy as leader of the opposition and Ramesh Chennithala as state unit chief have completely failed to make use of the atmosphere in favour of the party,” said a Congress general secretary on condition of anonymity.

Madhusudan Mistry, Congress general secretary in charge of Kerala, admitted that “infighting” may be one of the reasons behind its performance. “But it’s difficult to say unless we analyse the results,” he said.

Smaller parties will wield a lot of influence in a UDF administration, said Vinoj Abraham of the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram.

“Smaller parties are going to be the decision-makers and if their demands are not met, they can create trouble for the government,” he said. “They will have their say on who will lead the government, to portfolios, to each and every decision of the government.”

Though he led the LDF to a better-than-expected performance in an unusually personality-oriented election, 87-year-old V.S. Achuthanandan’s future looks bleak. Omitting any references to the outgoing chief minister, CPM politburo member Sitaram Yechury attributed the LDF’s performance to good governance. “The slender margin shows that there was no incumbency factor,” Yechury told reporters in Delhi. “The fact remains that the achievements of the LDF government put it in good stead with the people.”

The CPM in Kerala is a divided house with one section siding with party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan and the other with Achuthanandan, who was expelled from the party politburo for indiscipline in 2009.

Still, the LDF’s performance is likely to force a change in the CPM’s approach to electoral politics. Observers point out that the CPM reinstated Achuthanandan as the party’s leader in the elections after realizing that he had popular support. This signalled that winning elections was more important than adhering to the party line.

Though the rivalry between the two factions had affected governance, Achuthanandan’s campaign against corruption and his squeaky clean image, when the Congress at the Centre was struggling to deal with graft charges against its leaders, immensely assisted the LDF campaign.

The near reversal took place even as the political momentum favoured the UDF till very recently—it had scored landslide victories in the May 2009 general election and the October 2010 civic elections.

Some analysts also see a message of continuity in the verdict. “The results show that the people want continuity and they were not so unhappy with the policies of the current government. So whoever comes to power is likely to continue with current policies,” Abraham said.

Kerala Assembly Election 2011 results online

2011-05-12T22:56:00.000+05:30

The Election Commission has made extensive arrangements to get the results of the Kerala Assembly elections online. The polling for the 140 assembly seats to constitute the 13th Legislative Assembly in Kerala was held on April 13, 2011 and the counting of votes starts at 8 am on May 13. There are 140 counting halls across 64 locations.

The results will be available on www.trend.kerala.gov.in and www.ceo.kerala.gov.in. Briefing the media, Nalini Netto IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, Kerala said, “All arrangements for the counting is in place across the state. The trends of counting will be available in the first half an hour. The speed of the results would depend on the number of voters and the number of candidates in the constituency. We hope

The counting statistics dissemination is being handled by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) with computer programmers supported by Keltron. Trends, a software package developed by NIC Kerala would be used for real time compilation of results. Another software, Genesis, is also being used by the Election Commission for generation of results.

The Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL) has assigned 90 engineers across the 14 Districts to support the counting process and attend to any technical issue related to the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The support system would have additional printers and power packs to meet any emergency need.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has instructed that laptops and mobile phones would not be allowed inside the counting halls. On a trial basis, in one constituency in each district, every table will have a video camera and monitor to help the counting agents have a closer look at the counting and the EVMs.

Festive mood grips Thrissur, Pooram on May 12

2011-05-10T23:48:00.000+05:30

The festivities and rituals of ’Thrissur Pooram’, the temple festival known for its majestic elephant parade and display of fireworks, have begun here with the flag hoisting ceremony.

The ceremonial ‘kodiyettam’ (flag hoisting) was held in various participating temples in the town yesterday.

Besides the flag hoisting, rituals like ‘bhoomi pooja’, ’Poorapurappadu’ and special poojas were also performed at various temples.

The ‘pooram’ will culminate on May 12 with processions and parades from various temples converging at the Thekkinkad maidan in front of the Vadakkumnathan temple in the heart of the city.

The Thiruvanbadi Devaswom and the Paramekkavu Devaswom are the major temples which compete in elephant parade and fireworks.

The first round of the display of fireworks, known as ’sample vedikkettu’ in local parlance, will be held on May 10 and 11 respectively, temple management said.

The pooram will conclude with the final fireworks in the wee hours on May 13.

RAK Airways offers fares as low as Dh10 to Kerala

2010-09-29T15:54:00.000+05:30

RAS AL KHAIMAH — RAK Airways on Sunday announced that it will resume its operations in early October, starting with two routes with four weekly flights to Calicut (Kozhikode) and Jeddah.

The airline will use two Boeing 737-400 aircraft for its initial destinations and there are plans to acquire more planes in near future, the airlines’ top officials said on Sunday.

Addressing a Press conference here, Shaikh Omar bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Airways, said the exceptionally tough market conditions that had led the four-year-old airline to suspend scheduled services in May 2009 had abated and it was now right time for RAK Airways to resume its operations.

“The re-birth of the airline would play a pivotal role in the promotion of the emirate as a destination in its own right. The time is now right to play our part in the boosting of tourism in the emirate,” said Shaikh Omar.

“Ras Al Khaimah presents a very compelling business opportunity with its healthy economy and stable political environment. The cost of living and doing business in Ras Al Khaimah is extremely competitive and we are perfectly positioned at the cross-roads of Europe and Asia,” he added.

RAK Airways was launched in 2007 as a regional airline and initially served cities such as Dhaka, Colombo, Calicut and Chittagong. It was forced to downsize its fleet, route network and staff due to low demand compounded by the global downturn in air travel.

Omar Jahameh, CEO of RAK Airways, explained that the two destinations that they will start with had been carefully chosen, with Jeddah being the gateway to Saudi Arabia’s holy sites and Calicut in turn is the natural gateway to the Indian state of Kerala where so many of the UAE’s expatriate workers come from. “The details of flights to more destinations in the Gulf, Africa and the subcontinent will be communicated later after being finalised,” said Jahameh. He noted that RAK Airways would be positioning itself in the niche market between the well-established commercial airlines and the more recently established low cost carriers.

“Although our fares are extremely competitive we are focused on providing a value offering that differentiates itself from the low cost carriers. For instance, on every flight to and from Jeddah and Calicut, seats will be priced starting from Dh10. In addition, we will be allowing passengers to take up to 30kg of luggage with them as well as the normal hand baggage allowance. They will also get a complimentary full hot meal with beverages served  on board.”

“There will be one travel class throughout the entire cabin and passengers will be able to choose their seats when they book, which they can do on-line, via travel agents or directly with our call centre,” he added. Jahameh has however noted that RAK Airways does not have plans to establish a budget airline. To ensure easy access to Ras Al Khaimah International Airport, RAK Airways will provide a free shuttle service to passengers from Dubai, Sharjah and other neighboring emirates for each flight. According to Jahameh, RAK Airways is operating with a total investment of Dh568 million share-capital.

RAK Airways’ new brand was also unveiled to delegates at the launch Press conference. The re-branding of RAK Airways’ image was commissioned to coincide with the re-launch, “Our new brand reflects the new spirit of the airline- upbeat, full of character, fun and friendly however without compromise on safety or quality.

The new brand will help create a dialogue between the airline and the consumer which will be evident on all touch points of our communication from our newly launched website www.rakairways.com to baggage tags and uniforms,” explained Jahameh

Sources: Khaleej Times

Oracle to set foot in Kerala

2010-09-25T14:01:00.003+05:30

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is now official -- software and hardware systems company Oracle would be the next IT major to set up shop in Kerala, a top IT official said here Friday. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a state IT official said the decks have been cleared and Oracle is arriving to set up shop in the state capital.

"The question now is the scale of their operations -- if it is going to be a big one or a medium-scale operation," said the official.

Headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, Oracle Corporation specialises in developing and marketing enterprise software products -- particularly database management systems. As on July, they employed more than one lakh professionals across the globe.

Oracle officials held talks with government officials here and the details are likely to be known after the local bodies polls are over Oct 27.

"Oracle has been confirmed and another IT major which we are expecting to get a favourable decision to set up shop here is IBM. With TCS already signing up early this month to set up their biggest training centre at the proposed Technocity campus near Technopark, IT initiative for the state is moving in the right direction," said the official. Last week, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan handed over to TCS the government order allotting them 82 acres of land to set up their training centre which would have facilities to train 15,000 professionals.

If it was Technopark which led from the front of being the most sought-after IT destination since it began operations in the late nineties, Kochi, the commercial capital of the state, was the second destination which the state government decided to earmark for IT development by opening the Infopark IT campus.

And during the present Left government, besides expanding the IT campus at Technopark and Infopark, it also gave the green signal to set up IT Cyber Park in Kozhikode, for which work has begun.

Both the Technopark and Infopark campus have a record 40,000 professionals working in more than 200 IT companies.

The only blot in the efforts to promote IT as the major industry after tourism is the deadlock in the talks to resolve the issues between the government and Smart City Dubai, who are contracted to build the proposed Rs.1,500 crore Smart City Kochi IT project, which is hanging fire for the past three years.

ONV honoured with Jnanapith award

2010-09-25T13:58:00.000+05:30

NEW DELHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Malayalam litterateur and poet par excellence ONV Kurup, who sang ‘being a human being was much greater than being anything else, even a poet,’ has been chosen for the 2007 Jnanapith award for his contribution to literature.

The country’s highest literary honour was announced here on Friday after a meeting of the Jnanpith Selection Board chaired by Oriya writer and Jnanpith award winner Sitakant Mahapatra. According to a statement by the Bharatiya Jnanpith, the trust which presents the award, Kurup began his career as a progressive writer and matured into a humanist though he never gave up his commitment to socialist ideology.

The award brought special cheer to connoisseurs of poetry as ONV is the second poet to bag the coveted award from Kerala.

G Sankara Kurup was honoured with the award in 1965.

Though SK Pottekkad,Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and MT Vasudevan Nair had been honoured with the award, they were all writers of prose.

Kerala Tourism Launches Global Advertising Campaign in London

2010-09-23T14:13:00.004+05:30

LONDON, September 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Kerala Tourism targets the UK, its largest source market, with a brand new film, Your Moment is Waiting speaking of the compelling mystery and magic that occurs when you first visit Kerala, voted One of the Ten Paradises in the World by the National Geographic Traveller.

The film is a key departure from the usual product specific campaigns associated with tourism destination boards and this latest campaign targets the highly evolved experiential traveller and the messages that Kerala - God's Own Country, leaves behind in your heart.

The new global advertising campaign will launched at the end of this month and will premiere in cinemas at the launch of Eat, Pray, Love (24 September 2010).

Costing nearly one quarter of a million pounds to produce, the film took nine months to complete and was shot with great sensitivity and dexterity taking in the countryside and village sceneries of Thekkady, Alappuzha, Munnar, Thalassery and Kannur.

Kerala has played host to many celebrities including Paul McCartney and more recently Richard Branson and its growth in tourism has been dramatic. A decade ago, this small southern state was virtually unknown. Today, it is a globally acclaimed tourist destination. Extensive research over the last ten years has uncovered that key travellers to Kerala (UK, France and Germany are primary markets) experience an epiphany when visiting the 'Garden of India' and this starts a lifelong romance with the destination.

SmartTravelAsia.com subscribers voted Kerala as Asia's best destination earlier this year, and it seems the serene backwaters, abundant beaches, paddy fields and intimate people have struck a chord in the hearts of many.

Your Moment is Waiting will premiere at an exclusive event on Tuesday 21 September 2010. For more information, visit http://www.keralatourism.org

Notes to editors:

Your Moment is Waiting was directed by Prakash Varma, renowned in India for several highly acclaimed commercials including the hugely popular Vodafone (ZooZoo) ads. The lead model is rising star Miriam Llorah, while the music was specially composed by award winning Sengalese composer Baaba Maal.

Stars converge at London premiere of Kerala Tourism ''Your Moment is Waiting''

2010-09-23T14:04:00.001+05:30

Kochi: Kerala Tourism''s new campaign film, ''Your Moment Is Waiting'', was unveiled to a star-studded audience at the Saatchi Gallery in London yesterday.

The red carpet event, which coincided with the London Fashion Week, drew the ''who''s who'' of London, including soccer stars Didier Drogba and Gary Linekar, actors Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Priya Kalidas, Sadie Frost and Dougray Scott, glamour couple Yasmin and Simon Le Bon and British MPs Lord Swaraj Paul and Keith Vaz.

Gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu, models Anna Friel, Jade Jagger, Daisy Lowe, Meg Mathews and TV presenters Lisa Snowdon, Mariella Frostrup and Sam Branson were also among the 150 guests who attended the high-profile event, a Kerala Tourism press release here said.

The film was well received by the crowd, with many celebrities saying they would visit Kerala this year.

'It is a bold step for Kerala Tourism to launch the campaign in London to the world''s most sophisticated audience,' Keith Vaz said.

Actor Dev Patel said, 'Wow, it is magic. The film really touches your soul.'

Didier Drogha hoped that there would be 'enough beds in Kerala. I can see this campaign getting a lot of people visiting God''s Own Country after seeing the film.'

Model Yasmin Le Bon said, 'It is my quest to eat, pray and love in Kerala sometime this year.'

Malayalam actor Mohanlal was also among the stars who attended the function.

Veteran actor Bill Nighy said he was absolutely impressed. 'This 3 minute glimpse of Kerala is mesmerising and I think people are going to want to see this film again and again.'

Kerala Tourism Secretary V Venu, who played host to the over 150 guests, said it was fantastic to see so many celebrities taking the time to attend a Kerala event and endorsing the film.

'Kerala has always corresponded with western notions of Eden with its seductive beauty and weather. This very beautiful film will ensure that it introduces a whole new audience to the enticing charms of the destination,' he said.

In the evening, Mohiniyattom and Ottamthullal performances by Corinne Mathou from France and Hartmut Schmidt from Germany were held. Both these artistes fell in love with the dance forms of Kerala and lived in the state for nearly 10 years to master the art.

The guests were also treated to exquisite Kerala cuisine by Michelin chef Sriram Aylur of the award-winning Quilon Restaurant in London, which specialises in South Indian food.

Jimi Mistry of ''East is East'' and ''Blood Diamond'' fame was the compere for the evening. .

Kerala arrives on the big stage...Your Moment is Waiting

2010-09-23T13:59:00.000+05:30

THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The famed Saatchi Gallery in London was lit up by some of the brightest stars in the galaxy when Kerala Tourism’s latest campaign film, ‘Your Moment is Waiting’, was unveiled. Chelsea striker Didier Drogba came with his wife Alla. Former Golden Boot winner Gary Linekar, too, was there with his model wife Danielle. 400m Olympic gold medalist Christine Ohuruogo, who had never heard of Kerala, came and was transformed. Bill Nighy, who plays the role of Minister for Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’, was seen chatting up a rather reticent Mohanlal.

There were more film stars: Dev Patel, Priya Kalidas, Sadie Frist and Dougray Scot. Jimi Mistry of ‘East is East’ and ‘Blood Diamond’ fame compered the event.

Two of the biggest names in British politics were also present: Lord Swraj Paul and Keith Vaz. Top TV presenters, too, graced the event. There was Lisa Snowdon, pin-up TV presenter and former host of the reality show ‘Britain’s Next Top Model’, and also Mariella Frostrup, a journalist and TV presenter whose voice was once voted the most sexiest voice on TV. If Sam Branson made up for the absence of his father, British industrialist Richard Branson, Jade Jagger rocked in the absence of her father, the iconic Mick Jagger.

“Kerala is a dream place,” said Drogba. ‘’I hope you have enough beds in Kerala. I can see this campaign getting a lot of people visiting God’s Own Country after seeing the film,’’ he added. The Ivory Coast Captain whose team Chelsea’s homeground Stamford Bridge is only 20 minutes of walk from the Saatchi Gallery.

Linekar, who won the Golden Boot at the 1986 Mexico World Cup, said his wife Danielle had been persuading him to visit Kerala. “It’s a place you want to go,” said Linekar, now a soccer commentator. Ohuruogu was made an instant convert. ‘’Kerala seems to be very colourful and lively. It is one place I am going to add to the list of destinations to visit before I die,” Ohuruogu said.

Smitha Tharoor, the sister of former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, described the film as ‘’brilliant’’. ‘’Kerala is the opposite of what you expect in India,’’ said famous British photographer Seamus Murphy. ‘’Kerala is slow, less crowded and unspoiled,’’ he added.

Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger’s daughter Jade Jagger, a former model and jewellery designer, sounded impressed. ‘’Kerala is a very interesting place, very spiritual. It is a very special place in India,’’ said Jade Jagger, who unlike Ohuruogo had visited Kerala several times. Former Duran Duran band member Simon Le Bon said he had heard a lot about Kerala’s great cuisine.

Dev Patel of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and ‘The Last Airbender’ captured the emotion the film evoked in two words: ‘’It’s magic’’. During the course of the evening, the guests were treated to Kerala’s classical dance forms ‘Mohiniattam’ and ‘Ottamthullal’ performed by Corinne Mathow from France and Hartmut Schmidt from Germany.

The 150-odd guests were also served scrumptious Kerala cuisine by Michelin chef Sriram Aylur of the award-winning Quilon Restaurant in London.

Kerala news:IMImobile and Indiavision TV launch LNS in Kerala

2010-06-07T14:00:00.001+05:30

New Delhi IMImobile has got into an alliance with Indiavision TV to provide a robust platform for Idea subscribers in Kerala, to access live news broadcast in Malayalam, on their mobile handsets.

Indiavision TV live news broadcast is first of its kind voice subscription pack, where users can listen to live news events in Kerala and world.

Idea subscribers can listen to the live news in Malayalam on their mobile anywhere anytime, through IVR. Aimed to facilitate Idea Cellular’s service of catering to the infotainment needs of consumers; IMImobile will allow users to access latest news at a press of a button while on the move. This live news broadcast service created by IMImobile is first of its kind innovation in the telecom VAS space.

This service can be availed at a basic subscription pack of Rs. 20 a month or through other flexible plan options details of which can be accessed by dialing Toll Free # 52346. Once subscribed, user can listen to the live news updates by dialing 523457 and pay browsing charges of 1 paisa per 3 secs. User can also listen to Indiavision live news in Malayalam on their mobile by dialing 5234567 @ Rs. 3 per min.

Madhavan Iyer, Vice President Managed Services, IMImobile said, “We are delighted to offer this unique value proposition for both IndiaVision and Idea Cellular to reach out to their respective target audiences. We at IMImobile always offer innovations and have always emphasized on providing a platform to our clients that enables them in reaching a wider audience.”

He further added, “We are confident that our domain proficiency, in-depth industry knowledge and the innovative technology will prove to be a fruitful association for these two established industry players. Our engagement with both the companies is a further confirmation of IMImobile’s deep expertise and clear value add in the delivery of managed value added services.”

Hay festival to be held in Kerala

2010-06-03T14:23:00.001+05:30

Mumbai: After wowing literary audiences around the globe, one of the world’s largest literary festivals — the Hay Festival — is coming to India. This November the festival will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. While it was earlier reported that the organisers were interested in places like Bangalore, Chennai and Pondicherry to hold the festival, authors, publishers and representatives of the event tell After Hrs why Kerala won hands down.

The 2009 edition of the Hay Festival

Charlie Walker, director, programmes, India and Sri Lanka from the British Council, who are partnering with the Hay Festival to bring it down to India, says, “Kerala was the obvious choice. The idea behind the location was to make sure it had a strong Indian audience along with a strong international presence. It also has to do with the fact that Kerala has the highest literacy rate, which makes it an apt choice for an international literary festival.”

VK Karthika, chief editor of publishing house HarperCollins, says, “Kerala is a terrific choice of location. You get such a different audience there. You also have so many good South Indian writers to focus on. Thiruvananthapuram has a great reading culture and it hasn’t seen a local literary festival yet.”

Sanjoy K Roy, MD, Teamwork Productions, the organiser of several literary events around the world including the Jaipur Literary Festival, says, “After the success of the Jaipur Literary Festival, we wanted to do something down South. Kerala has so much green to sell to an international audience. It will be a beautiful location, on a hill top. In Jaipur, we have seen the palaces and romance, in Kerala, there will be the beaches and Ayurveda.”

Author Advaita Kala ends saying, “It is a great opportunity for regional language authors to come to the forefront. Kerala will have a very different flavour from Jaipur.

Kerala News:Kerala to act against schools that don't offer Malayalam

2010-06-02T13:51:00.000+05:30

The Kerala government Tuesday said it would act against schools that do not offer Malayalam as a subject even as the state takes pride in a high literacy of 90.92 percent and a low school dropout rate of 0.83 percent.

'The government is considering taking action against all schools that do not offer Malayalam as a subject,' said Education Minister M.A. Baby, kickstarting the new academic year at a school in the city's suburbs.

According to the official figures, there are 12,649 schools in Kerala, of which 4,501 are government schools, 7,284 are aided schools and 864 are unaided schools.

In the last academic year, a total of 44.58 lakh students were enrolled and this time also, a similar number of students is expected. Close to 400,000 tiny tots attended their first day in school Tuesday.

'Already sports has become part of the curriculum here and steps are being taken to teach all students kalari (a martial art of Kerala) and also swimming. Already kalari teachers have completed a course,' said Baby.

Baby also asked student organisations to desist from organising strikes by disrupting classes. 'Losing a day when one should study should not happen. We expect that this academic year, there should be 200 working days,' said Baby.

The state's literacy rate continues to be high at 90.92 percent and it has added another feather in its cap by recording the lowest dropout rate of school students in the country. According to latest published figures, Kerala's dropout rate is 0.83 percent.

Despite the academic year starting in Kerala Tuesday, some schools, especially in the private sector, decided to open only Wednesday. 'Tuesday, generally, is not considered a good day for beginning anything new and hence we have decided to have the reopening Wednesday,' said a principal in Kozhikode.

Many Malayalis aboard Air India flight: Kerala govt

2010-05-22T13:30:00.000+05:30

Kozhikode: Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Saturday left for Mangalore after reports that many Malayalis were travelling in the Air India aircraft from Dubai that crashed in the morning, killing more than 160 people.

Achuthanandan is accompanied by state Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi as well as P. Karunakaran, MP from Kasargod constituency that neighbors Mangalore.

Karunakaran told IANS that many of the Malayalis onboard were from the north Kerala districts of Kasargod and Kannur.

"The state government has offered all assistance to the victims," he said.

Karunakaran, who is also deputy leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in the Lok Sabha, demanded a high-level probe into the accident.

About 160 people were killed when the Air India Express flying from Dubai overshot the runway after landing at the Mangalore airport early Saturday and caught fire as it crashed into a forested gorge.

Air India Plane Crash: V.S. Achuthanandan, Kerala CM leaves for Mangalore

2010-05-22T13:20:00.000+05:30

Kozhikode (Kerala), May 22 (IANS) Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan left for Mangalore after news that many Malayalis were traveling in the Air India Express airplane from Dubai that crashed in the Saturday morning, that killed more than 160 person.

Achuthanandan is accompanied by state Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi as well as P. Karunakaran, MP from Kasargod constituency that neighbours Mangalore.

Karunakaran told IANS that many of the Malayalis onboard were from the north Kerala districts of Kasargod and Kannur.“The state government has offered all assistance to the victims,” he said.

Karunakaran, who is also deputy leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) in the Lok Sabha, demanded a high-level probe into the accident.

List of passengers on crashed Air India Express plane

2010-05-22T13:17:00.000+05:30

The following is the list of passengers on the Air India Express plane that crashed on Saturday, said S.A. Prabhakar Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Mangalore District.

1. Harshini Poonja

2. Aaron Joel Fernandes

3. Niha Imthiaz

4. Bhaskaran T.V.

5. Komalavally Alinkeel

6. Narayana Kanthav Rao

7. Vani Narayana Rao

8. Vaishnavi Narayana Rao

9. Mohammad Ishaque Rafique Ahmed

10 Hasanabba Abubakkar

11. Hiba Azeena (child)

12. Mushina (child)

13. Haifa Hasha (infant)

14. Joyanrichard Saldanha

15. Ummer Farook Mohammed

16. Shahida Nushrathar

17 Zeshan Abdul Rehman (child)

18. Kannur Zulekha Banu

19. Nazeema Muhammad Ashraf

20.Satyanarayana Ballakuraya

21. Sujatha Rao

22. Fathimamehzan Shafqat

23.Rashaad Shafqatmahmood (infant)

24. Khader Ammangod Mohammed Shafy

25. Suhaib Mohammed Naseer (child)

26. Bibi Sara (child)

27. Nabeeha Mohammed Nasir (child)

28. Mohammad Asraf

29. Maimoona Asraf

30. Ashaz Abdulla (child)

31. Ayesha Afsheen (child)

32.Plaviashakunthala Lobo

33. Venishanikola Lobo

34. Vishalfloid Lobo (child)

35. Abdullah K.M.

36. Rosly Shibu

37. Godwina Thomas (child)

38. Gloria Thomas (child)

39. Bhagali Prabhakar

40. Kammadam Kunhabdulla

41. Shashikanth Punja

42. Manirekha Punja

43. Abdulbarr Damudi (child)

44. Mahesh Shetty

45. Mohamed Naser

46. Anwar Sadiq

47. Hassan Kutty

48. JoelPratap DSouza

49. Arunkumar Shetty

50. Abdul Samad

51. Prasadand Manjrekar

52. Krishnan Koolikunnu

53. Mullachery Balakrishnan

54. Shanthi Olivera

55. Chethana Mukeshkumar

56. Ahmednaushad Abbu

57. Rajan Pulikodan

58. Jayaprakasha Devadiga

59. Jayaram Kotian

60. Chitra Jayaram

61. Rahul Jayaram (child)

62. Prabhavati Karkera

63. Ashitha Bolar

64. Akshay Bolar

65. Suresh Kunder

66. Soman Narayani

67. Pradeep GK

68. Kallingalabullah

69. Thalangara Ebrahimkhaleel

70. Naziya Afarin

71. Mohammed Abaanruknuddin (child)

72. MohammedRafi Beliyapura

73. Abdullah Mohammed

74. Ibrahim Saheb

75. Sameena Saheb

76. Issam Ibrahim

77. Rida Ibrahim (child)

78. Perumbalamohammed

79. Shivakumar Nagaraj

80. Meenu Gupta

81. Shetty KK

82. Gangadharan Nair

83. Prabathkumar Attavar

84.Sathisha Shetty

85. Irshad Ahmed

86. Neha Parveen

87. Affan Ahmed (infant)

88. Sameerbeerran Moideen

89. Abdunnazir Avinja

90. Riju John

91. Sabrina Nasrinhuq

92. Mahammooda Abdulla Kanyana

93. Althafahmed Moolana

94. Lokeshasadananda Belchada

95. Hameed Pookayam

96. Mayankutty KP

97. Vipin Kattoor

98. Kishorekumar Kudpapoojary

99. Chandukutty Nair K

100. NM Bharatham

101. Abdulazeez Anchikatta

102. Umashan Vijayan

103. Cavin Sequuiera

104. Reshmasanthosh Rai

105. Nalandshaunsantosh Rai (child)

106. Vihasantosh Rai (infant)

107. Vamana Prabhu

108. Ganesh Prabhu

109. Qazi Abdulsalam

110. Qazizulekah Khuddus

111. Jackson Periera

112. Mahammed Ismail

113. Naveen Kumar

114. Sanjaykumar Mahabal

115. Mahendra Kodkany

116. Indumathi Nayak

117. Vijesh Kovval

118. Ramakrishna Nayak

119. Ajesh Mottathil

120. Navid Ibrahim

121. Ignatius DSouza

122. Sukumara Kuzhiyamkottuchal

123. Abdul Basheer KM

124. Mohiddin Farasusman

125. Mahim Mohammedpalli

126. Mohammedashraf KA

127. Mohamed Usman

128. Naveenwalter Fernandes

129. Saritaphilomena Dsouza

130. Ullas Dsilva

131. Mannapadupuashraf Abdul

132. Safdharali Sheik

133. Mahesh Shetty

134. Abdulharish Koppalamhouse

135. Abdul Jebran

136. Parambathkunhi Krishnan

137. Prabhakaran Pachikaran

138. Nekkareibrahim Ismail

139. Melwynkiran Menezes

140. Siddeeque Choorisulaiman

141. Putturismail Abdulla

142. Somashekhar Potyalsrinivasa

143. Lokesh Narayanan

144. Lolitta Dias

145. Lilly Dias

146. Praveena Sundar

147. Hilda Douza

148. Pradeep Deepanivas

149. Denis Saldanha

150. Ashton Saldanha (child)

151. Manthur Hassainar

152. Rama Satish

153. Mohammed Basheer

154. Aboobacker Siddeeq

155. Mohammed Usman

156. Shaileshrao Brahmavara

157. Mohammed Ziad

158. Sameena Abdul Karim

159. Zainab Mohammedziad (child)

160. Mohammed Subairzaid (child)

Helplines

If you are in the UAE, call the Air India helpline on 00971 4 2165828, or 00971 4 2165829. The other number is 00971 503780114.

In India, the helpline to call is 0091 011 25656196 or 0091 011 26503101

Air India plane crashes in southern India

2010-05-22T13:11:00.000+05:30

New Delhi: An Air India Express passenger plane from Dubai crashed outside an airport in southern India on Saturday, killing 158 people when it burst into flames after overshooting the runway and ploughing into a forest.

There were only eight survivors after the Boeing 737-800, with 160 passengers and six crew members, appeared to have skidded off the runway in rain at Mangalore airport in Karnataka state, Air India director Anup Srivastava said.

All the passengers were Indian nationals, said an Air India official in Dubai.

The airplane carried 156 passengers from Dubai, Abhay Pathak, regional manager of Air India, told Gulf News in Dubai.

"There were 19 children and 4 infants onboard," Pathak said.

In pictures: Air India Express crash

Pathak said the airline has set up helplines for people to make inquires from Dubai. The control room numbers are 00971 4 2165828, or 00971 4 2165829. The other number is 00971 503780114.

Survivors found

In a statement, Air India Express said that seven survivors have been found and taken to the hospital.

"At least 160 passengers have died in the crash," V.S. Acharya, home minister of the southern state of Karnataka, told reporters. "At least five to six people have been taken to hospital, their condition is not known."

There was little chance of more people being found alive, Acharya said.

Firefighters had to cross a railway line and battle through trees to reach the wreckage, according to the reports.

Condolences

In a statement, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed condolences over the "grievous loss of life", announcing compensation for those killed. Singh postponed celebrations to mark the first anniversary of his re-election.

In Dubai, the Indian Consulate expressed "grief over the tragic air accident in Mangalore".

The consulate said it is ready to assist family members who want to travel to India and require passport, visa and other Consular services. They may contact the Consulate hotlines 00971 4 3960174, 3971222 and 3971333 for assistance.

Witness reports

A witness said that the plane skidded off the runway in rain at Mangalore airport in Karnataka state.

There was heavy rain and fog at the time of the crash, officials said. Civil aviation officials are on their way to Mangalore from the Karnataka capital city of Bangalore.

Boeing is sending a team to provide technical assistance to the investigation at the invitation of Indian authorities, the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer said in a statement.

According to media reports, authorities are not ruling out pilot error is a major factor for the crash. The pilot reportedly landed midway on the runway and did not have a scope for braking.

Air India said the plane was a Boeing 737-800, with 166 people on board, including six crew members. Air India Express is the budget arm of state-run carrier Air India.

Television channels said the plane crashed around 6:30am (0100 GMT). TV images showed it struck a forested area. Flames were seen blazing from of some of the wreckage as rescue workers fought to bring the fire under control.
"The plane had broken into two. I jumped out of the plane after it crashed. I saw two other people also come out," Abdullah, a survivor from the plane, told local channel TV9 from hospital.
"There was tyre-burst kind of noise. I tried to get out of the front but saw that there was a big fire. So I went back again and jumped out from there."
One television channel showed a fireman carrying in his arms what seemed to be the remains of a child. Charred bodies and an engine lay in the forested terrain.
"The flight had already landed. There was slight rain. The flight skidded off," Mohiuddin Bava told CNN-IBN channel. "After that it caught fire. Villagers, everyone there, came to rescue. The plane wings are right in front of me now."
Air India Express is the low cost arm of Air India. The budget airline started about five years ago. This is the first crash involving an Air India Express plane, according to an Air India spokesman.
Air India is a state-run loss making carrier. The government has been trying to infuse funds to revive the airline against stiff competition from private carriers.

Helplines

If you are in the UAE, call the Air India helpline on 00971 4 2165828, or 00971 4 2165829. The other number is 00971 503780114.

The hotline for Air India Express at Terminal 2 in Dubai are 00971 4 2690118 and 2666950.

In India, the helpline to call is 0091 011 25656196 or 0091 011 26503101. In Mangalore, the helplines are: 0091 8242450641 and 0091 8242220450

With input from agencies

Kerala designs a dream season for Middle East

2010-05-19T10:38:00.000+05:30

Dubai: The Middle East is one of the fastest growing source markets for tourists to Kerala with wellness tourism gaining popularity among travellers.

Since 2008, tourists from the Middle East have increased 63 per cent with most visits taking place in July, August and September, according to M. Sivasankar, director of Kerala Tourism Board.

A strong presence of Keralites in the Gulf region and its proximity and excellent air connectivity are factors that are contributing to a higher growth of tourism traffic.

In line with its booming well care tourism, the Kerala Tourism Board has launched a new tourism campaign in Dubai titled ‘Dream Season'.

Value for money

This new campaign aims to offer value for money holiday packages from the cooler and rainy months of May to September.

Packages catering to this climate include monsoon, ayurveda and hill station holidays.

"It's the best time to enjoy the lush greenery and picturesque views of rain-soaked plants and trees when the backwaters are full," Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Kerala's minister of tourism said in a conference.

This particular campaign is targeted at the Middle Eastern market, Sivasankar told Gulf News.

"Arabs tend to travel during the hot summer months and in large family groups.

"This, combined with their interest in ayurveda, makes the cooler monsoon months of ‘Dream Season' a perfect product for this market," he said.

Wellness tourism in Kerala is also looking to profit from this campaign as ayurveda is most effective during the rainy season.

A previous initiative, ‘Bring home a friend campaign,' launched by the Kerala Tourism Board targeting non-resident Keralites to promote their home city to foreigners living in the Middle East proved to be a success too.

Kerala News:Tharoor likely to be IPL Kochi's brand ambassador

2010-05-08T20:24:00.000+05:30

New Delhi, Saturday 08 May 2010: ‘We would like to have Tharoor as a partof the Kochi team as a mentor. He can bring good connections for the team as he himself is from Kerala.

We have not decided on his post but we may appoint him as the brand ambassador for the team,” said Rendezvous Chairman Harshad R Mehta said while speaking to reporters here.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the second edition of the East India Jewellery Show 2010 here today. To a poser on the Tharoor-Sunandacontroversy which attracted considerable media attention he said, ”With Sunanda returning her sweat equity the matter has come to an end for us. But, we would definitely want Tharoor to be a part of the Kochi team in future.”

Former External Affairs Minister Shashi Tharoor had entered into a simmering row over Kochi franchise’s ownership with Mr Mehta and IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.

Apparently distressed over the entire controversy Sunanda Pushkar surrendered her sweat equity.

SSLC Results 2010 Announced

2010-05-03T12:10:00.001+05:30

ഇത്തവണ 90.72 ശതമാനം വിജയം

തിരുവനന്തപുരം: സംസ്ഥാനത്തെ എസ്.എസ്.എല്‍.സി. പരീക്ഷാഫലം പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു. 90.72 ശതമാനമാണ് ഇത്തവണത്തെ വിജയം. 4,08,226 പേരാണ് ഇത്തവണ ഉപരിപഠനത്തിന് യോഗ്യത നേടിയത്. ഏറ്റവും കൂടുതല്‍ വിജയശതമാനം കണ്ണൂര്‍ ജില്ലയിലാണ്-96.88 ശതമാനം. പാലക്കാട് ജില്ലയിലാണ് ഏറ്റവും കുറവ് വിജയം-83.04 ശതമാനം. 19 സ്‌കൂളുകള്‍ നൂറ് ശതമാനം വിജയം നേടി. 54 സ്‌കൂളുകള്‍ 90 ശതമാനം വിജയം നേടി.

വിദ്യാഭ്യാസമന്ത്രി എം എ ബേബി തിരുവനന്തപുരത്ത് വാര്‍ത്താസമ്മേളനത്തിലാണ് ഫലം പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചത്. സേ പരീക്ഷ മെയ് 17 നടക്കും. മുന്‍ വര്‍ഷങ്ങളിലേക്കാള്‍ വിജയശതമാനത്തില്‍ കുറവുണ്ടായതായി മന്ത്രി പറഞ്ഞു. പരീക്ഷാ നടപടിക്രമങ്ങള്‍ കാര്യക്ഷമമായി നടത്താന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ടെന്നും ചില ഒറ്റപ്പെട്ട സംഭവങ്ങള്‍ ഉണ്ടാകാമെന്നും അദ്ദേഹം പറഞ്ഞു. പൊതുവിദ്യാഭ്യാസ ഡയറക്ടര്‍ മുഹമ്മദ് ഹനീഷ് അടക്കമുളള ഉദ്യോഗസ്ഥരും വാര്‍ത്താസമ്മേളനത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്തു.

Kerala SSLC 2010 results School Wise

2010-05-03T08:29:00.002+05:30

Kerala SSLC Results Will be Announced Soon
Kerala Examination Board will be announcing the KeralaSSLC Results 2010 on 3rd May 2010.It is expected that the pass percentage will be more that that of last year.
The government of Kerala has made arrangements to publish the results online.

Get the result via e-mail

Students can register for getting results in e-mail.Please register yourself at
Registration for S.S.L.C Results in your Mailbox
Click here

Alternatively you can view the results at
kerala.nic.in. Click here

For School Wise Result CLick Here

Kerala news:P J Joseph Expelled from Kerala Cabinet

2010-04-30T23:52:00.000+05:30

Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, April 30, 2010: Kerala Chief Minister V.S Achuthanandan told today that P.J Joseph has been expelled from the State Cabinet. V.S told that P.J Joseph has been holding discussions on the KC (J), (M) merger while he was still in the State cabinet. Achuthanandan also told that P.J Joseph has deceived LDF leadership. V.S told that he has send a letter to the Kerala Governor R.S Gavai regarding P.J Joseph’s expulsion from State Cabinet.

Joseph told earlier that he has sent his resignation to Chief Minister V.S Achuthanandan’s office. Prior to this V.S Achuthanandan announced in Thiruvananthapuram today that the LDF leadership has expelled P.J Joseph from the State cabinet.

കേരള കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ്എമ്മില്‍ ലയിക്കാന്‍ തീരുമാനിച്ച കേരള കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ്-ജെ നേതാവും പൊതുമരാമത്ത് വകുപ്പ് മന്ത്രിയുമായ പി.ജെ. ജോസഫിനെ മന്ത്രിസഭയില്‍ നിന്നു പുറത്താക്കി. ജോസഫിനെ മന്ത്രിസഭയില്‍ നിന്നു പുറത്താക്കണമെന്ന് ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ട് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി നല്‍കിയ കത്ത് ഗവര്‍ണര്‍ അംഗീകരിച്ചു.

മന്ത്രിസഭയില്‍ നിന്നു രാജിവച്ചുകൊണ്ട് ജോസഫ് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിക്ക് കത്തു നല്‍കുകയും ചെയ്തിട്ടുണ്ട്. കോട്ടയത്തു ചേര്‍ന്ന കേരള കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ്-ജെയുടെ സംസ്ഥാന സമിതി യോഗത്തിനുശേഷമാണ് പ്രത്യേക ദൂതന്‍ വഴി പി.ജെ.ജോസഫ് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിക്ക് രാജിക്കത്ത് അയച്ചുകൊടുത്തത്.

ഇത് രണ്ടാം തവണയാണ് ജോസഫ് ഈ മന്ത്രിസഭയില്‍ നിന്നു രാജിവയ്ക്കുന്നത്. നേരത്തെ വിമാനത്തില്‍ വച്ച് സഹയാത്രികയെ പീഡിപ്പിച്ചുവെന്ന കേസിലായിരുന്നു രാജി. പിന്നീട് കുറ്റവിമുക്തനായശേഷമാണ് മന്ത്രിസഭയില്‍ തിരിച്ചെത്തിയത്.

ജോസഫിനെ മന്ത്രിസഭയില്‍ നിന്ന് പുറത്താക്കണമെന്ന് സി.പി.എം. സംസ്ഥാന സെക്രട്ടറി പിണറായി വിജയനും ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടതിന് തൊട്ടുപിറകെയാണ് പുറത്താക്കിക്കൊണ്ടുള്ള മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെ പ്രഖ്യാപനം വന്നത്.

നേരത്തെ കോട്ടയത്തു ചേര്‍ന്ന കേരള കോണ്‍ഗ്രസ് ജോസഫ് വിഭാഗം സംസ്ഥാന സമിതിയോഗം മാണി വിഭാഗത്തില്‍ ലയിക്കാന്‍ ഔദ്യോഗികമായി അനുമതി നല്‍കിയിരുന്നു. പാര്‍ട്ടിയുടെ പതിമൂന്ന് ജില്ലാ പ്രസിഡന്റുമാരും ഈ യോഗത്തില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്തു. ലയന ചര്‍ച്ചകള്‍ക്ക് പാര്‍ട്ടി ചെയര്‍മാന്‍ കൂടിയായ പി.ജെ.ജോസഫിനെ യോഗം ചുമതലപ്പെടുത്തുകയും ചെയ്തു.

അതിന് മുന്‍പ്, രാവിലെ കോട്ടയത്തു ചേര്‍ന്ന വിമത വിഭാഗം യോഗം പി.ജെ.ജോസഫിനെ പാര്‍ട്ടിയുടെ ചെയര്‍മാന്‍സ്ഥാനത്തു നിന്ന് പുറത്താക്കിയിരുന്നു. പി.സി.തോമസിന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിലായിരുന്നു യോഗഗ. പി.സി.തോമസിനെ ചെയര്‍മാനായി തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്ത ഈ വിഭാഗം ഇടതുമുന്നണിയില്‍ തുടരാനും തീരുമാനിച്ചു.

വി.സുരേന്ദ്രന്‍ പിള്ള എം.എല്‍.എ., സ്‌കറിയാ തോമസ്, ജോര്‍ജ് സെബാസ്റ്റിയന്‍ എന്നിവരാണ് വിമത വിഭാഗത്തിലെ പ്രമുഖര്‍. മുന്നണി മാറ്റത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് ചിന്തിക്കേണ്ട സാഹചര്യം ഇപ്പോഴില്ലെന്ന് സുരേന്ദ്രന്‍ പിള്ള യോഗത്തില്‍ പറഞ്ഞു. കേവലം നാല് സീറ്റിന് വേണ്ടിയാണ് പാര്‍ട്ടിയെ എതിര്‍പാളയത്തിലെത്തിക്കാന്‍ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നതെന്ന് പി.സി തോമസ് ആരോപിച്ചു. പാര്‍ട്ടിയുടെ പേരും ചിഹ്നവും ആര്‍ക്കും വിട്ടുകൊടുക്കില്ലെന്നും പി.സി തോമസ് പറഞ്ഞു.

മാണി വിഭാഗത്തില്‍ ലയിക്കാന്‍ തീരുമാനിച്ച പി.ജെ.ജോസഫിനെ രൂക്ഷമായ ഭാഷയിലാണ് സി.പി. എം. സംസ്ഥാന സെക്രട്ടറി പിണറായി വിജയന്‍ കോഴിക്കോട്ട് വിമര്‍ശിച്ചത്. ജോസഫിനെ ഒരു നിമിഷം പോലും മന്ത്രിസഭയില്‍ തുടരാന്‍ അനുവദിക്കരുതെന്ന് പിണറായി ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു. ബിഷപ്പുമാരുടെ സമ്മര്‍ദ്ദത്തിന്റെ ഫലമായാണ് ജോസഫ് മുന്നണി വിടുന്നതെങ്കില്‍ അത് അംഗീകരിക്കാനാവില്ല. മുന്നണിക്കക്കത്ത് ജോസഫ് വിജോജിപ്പുകളൊന്നും അറിയിച്ചിരുന്നില്ല. അതുകൊണ്ടുതന്നെ ഇത് വഞ്ചനാപരമായ നടപടിയാണ്-പിണറായി പറഞ്ഞു.

SSLC Results to be out by Monday

2010-04-30T18:40:00.000+05:30

Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, April 30, 2010: The Kerala State SSLCresults would be published on Monday. Prior to this an examination boardmeeting would be held on Saturday.

SSLC RESULTS CLICK HERE

ICC World Twenty 20-2010 Live

2010-04-30T09:37:00.002+05:30

World’s biggest T20 extravaganza starts today

Grost Islet (St.Lucia): After recent tremors that rocked their cricketers, Pakistan are confident of defending the World Twenty20 title they won nine months ago as their war-torn neighbors Afghanistan make their debut in a major international cricket tournament, starting in Guyana Wednesday.

Watch Live In Following Links

www.cricinfo.com
www.iplt20cricketlive.com
www.cricketnirvana.com
www.livecricket.bollym4u.com
www.cricketlinks.org

TV Channels Showing ICC World Twenty20 2010
ART Prime Sports - Middle East & North Africa
Astro - Malaysia
ATN - Canada
BSkyB - England, Wales, Scotland and Republic of Ireland
Caribbean Media Corporation - Caribbean
DirecTV - USA
ESPN STAR Sports - Indian Sub continent
EUROSPORT - Europe
Fiji TV - Pacific Islands
Hitron - Papua New Guinea
Independent Music Group (GEO) - Pakistan
Pakistan Television (PTV) - Pakistan
Premier Media Group (Fox Sports) - Australia
PCCW - Hong Kong
SABC - South Africa
Sky New Zealand (SkyNZ) - New Zealand
Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) - Sri Lanka
Starhub - Singapore
Star Sports (China) - China & Macau
SuperSport - Sub Saharan Africa & South Africa

Kerala News-Enterprises Kerala-2010

2010-04-27T13:11:00.002+05:30

'Enterprises Kerala-2010,'' an industrial exhibition-cum-investors meet, jointly organised by the Kerala State Small Industries Association (KSSIA) and the Department of Industries, Kerala, will be held here on April 29.

Addressing a press conference here, KSSIA State President K G Madhu today said Kerala Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem would inaugurate the four-day exhibition at Suryakanthi Fair Grounds, Kanakakunnu.

The event was aimed at promoting industry and entrepreneurship and enabling a platform for entrepreneurs to display their products, technology and capabilities, a common meeting ground for buyers and sellers of industrial products and machinery.

It would also enable entrepreneurs to interact with Government Agencies and Financial institutions, facilitate speedy clearance by Government Agencies and provide sub-contracting opportunities from Large and Medium industries to MSME sector in Kerala.

More than 100 exhibitors from and all over India would showcase their products and services ranging from local produce, traditional skills to machinery and technology.

An lnvestors Meet is also arranged as part of the conference.

The meet aims to provide an opportunity for investors to explore the investment potential in Kerala and especially in Thiruvananthapuram District where the proposed Vizhinjam Sea Port will be a major catalyst for the investment.

The Investor Meet is expected to bring the potential investors, Government Agencies, Infrastructure providers and the service providers on the same platform.

Cheaper Flights to Kerala From UAE

2010-04-27T12:44:00.001+05:30

We are giving the links of Airline companies which gives cheaper fares at the moment.This list will be updated if there is any difference in the fare stages.

Air Arabia is a Middle Eastern low-cost airline, the first and largest in the region is based in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. It operates scheduled services to 46 destinations in the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Central Asia and Europe to22 countries from Sharjah and 11 destinations in 10 countries from Casablanca. Its main base is Sharjah International Airport. Air Arabia is a member of theArab Air Carriers Organization.

CLICK HERE

Air-India Express is a low-cost airline subsidiary of Air India based in Mumbai, India. It operates services mainly to the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The airline is now part of the National Aviation Company of India Limited, which was formed in order to facilitate the seamless merger of Air India and Indian Airlines.

CLICK HERE

Kerala SSLC Results 2010

2010-04-27T12:10:00.000+05:30

Kerala SSLC Examination Results 2010

Looking for SSLC 2010 results of Kerala? We at current news will make the arrangements for publishing the Kerala 2010 SSLC result, as soon as it is published

The results when announced can be checked at :

http://keralaresults.nic.in/

http://www.itschool.gov.in/

http://www.education.kerala.gov.in/

http://results.gov.in/

http://results.kerala.nic.in/

http://www.kerala.gov.in/

http://www.cdit.org/

Importance of the SSLC

The SSLC is obtained by passing a public examination, i.e., an examination that has been formulated by the regional board of education that the school is affiliated with, and not by members of the faculty of the school. The performance of a student in the SSLC examination is the key factor in obtaining admission to a higher secondary school of choice, where acceptance is typically based on the results of the SSLC examination. Therefore, the SSLC is often regarded as the first important examination that a student undertakes.

Where to check SSLC 2010 Kerala Results?

Left strike shuts down Bengal, Kerala, Tripura

2010-04-27T11:00:00.000+05:30

A dawn-to-dusk strike called by the Left parties on Tuesday to protest price rise shut down communist ruled West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala completely while nationwide the strike evoked partial response.

With northern Indian outfits like Samajwadi Party (SP) taking part in the strike, Uttar Pradesh also witnessed an impact.

Kolkata wore a deserted look since morning with train services hit worst.

Tourists and visitors to the city who arrived in the airports and railway stations were stranded.

No cabs were available in the NSCBI Airport and terminal railway stations like Howrah and Sealdah.

The Left parties took out processions in the city to protest the price rise and the failure of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in New Delhi to contain the rise.

The prominent among the parties that have called the strike are Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Communist Party of India (CPI), Biju Janata Dal, Communist Party of India (M), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Samajwadi Party (SP), Rashtriya Samajwadi Party (RSP).

Local train services in West Bengal were worst hit as protesters blocked railway tracks at various places.

SP activists disrupt train traffic in Uttar Pradesh

It is also complete shutdown in Kerala and Tripura with shops, offices and educational institutions closed in the two left-ruled states.

Reports from Uttar Pradesh said SP activists stopped trains in Allahabad and Ghaziabad.

They also torched buses near Lucknow, reports said.

According to a rough estimate made by Indian Chamber of Commerce, the total loss due to a 12 hour strike (bandh) in West Bengal is approximately Rs. 496 crores of Gross State Domestic Product. It said around 61% - 62% of daily production is lost due to such a strike in the state.

Will Tharoor survive Kerala's charged politics?

2010-04-26T00:20:00.002+05:30

Kochi/New Delhi: Will Shashi Tharoor be able to survive in Kerala's highly-charged political atmosphere being the self-confessed novice that he is? While the common people in Kerala are very enthusiastic about the suave former UN diplomat's return to state politics and see him as a sign of welcome change, politicians are not too happy.

The rousing welcome given to Tharoor, who quit the government last week over the IPL Kochi row, in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday is perhaps an indication of the popular appeal the author-politician commands in his state and elsewhere too - thanks to his tweeting ways and his international appeal.

In a twitter post on Friday, Tharoor had said that after quitting as junior minister of external affairs he was now looking forward to going back to his Thiruvananthapuram constituency and working there. "It's been a rough week but am looking forward to returning to Thiruvananthapuram. Lots of work needs to be done in the constituency."

Bouquets, brickbats greet Tharoor on Kerala visit

His aide, Jacob Joseph Puthenparambil, said Tharoor would now involve himself in active politics.

"He will be there in the active politics. We have launched a lot of developmental initiative in the constituency. A lot of work has to be done, like pushing the Vizhinjam port project. Yesterday (Saturday), he was invited to attend the UDF (United Democratic Front) meeting. It was wonderful," Puthenparambil said.

Tharoor's supporters find him as a breath of fresh air in Kerala's musty political scene, ruled by the Communists with an old-fashioned VS Achuthanandan at the helm.

"Tharoor is sincerely trying to bring some positive changes in our society. His efforts to 'twinning' of Thiruvananthapuram and Spain's Barcelona city has been widely noticed. No wonder, he is projected as the future chief minister of the state," said Stany Thomas, a political science professor.

Tharoor was welcomed at Thiruvananthapuram airport by hundreds of his supporters holding placards and raising slogans. However, no senior state Congress leader was present at the airport to welcome him.

Let truth come out, says Tharoor

Tharoor had to step down after the opposition alleged he had misused office to help his close friend Sunanda Pushkar get Rs.70 crore sweat equity in the IPL Kochi franchise. He had said in parliament that he had done nothing wrong and whatever role he played in the Kochi franchise bidding was for Kerala.

"Who is Tharoor to argue for Kerala? Is he a politician, or only a celebrity? This is not Europe or America. This is Kerala," a Congress MP said, on condition of anonimity, after his resignation.

After quitting, Tharoor plunged into state politics. He joined a delegation of Kerala Congress MPs to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking changes in the Right to Education Act. They want that the new bill should ensure that schools run by Hindu community groups like Nairs and the Eazhavas should also be included in it.

According to Stany Thomas, a political science professor at St. Thomas College, Pala, "Tharoor has started learning the basic lessons of local politics."

"He actively joined the Congress MPs to create a positive impression among his own community and its leaders. These people had mocked at him last year calling him a 'Delhi Nair'," said Thomas.

I helped raise money for Kochi franchise, says Sunanda

Tony. P. Emmanuel, a post graduate, said the people of Kerala don't believe that Tharoor was involved in any corruption in the IPL deal.

"We all know that his only intention was to get the state its own IPL team. He is a wealthy man and is not involved in any kind of corruption," Tony said.

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MP M.B. Rajesh, airing the views of his party, said: "Events like the IPL are not a tool to measure the real development that Kerala needs. The state needs educational and infrastructural development. Tharoor as a minister did nothing in this direction. His efforts to bring IPL to Kerala shows that he represents corporate politics."

Rajesh added that Tharoor had boasted before the general elections last year that he would transform Thiruvananthapuram into London, but had done nothing so far.

Kofi Annan backs Tharoor

"After he became minister, he did not pay much attention to Thiruvananthapuram. Now, after losing his job, he wants the support of the people," Rajesh said.

However, Tharoor has refuted allegations that he neglected his constituency.

To a query from a fan on twitter on Saturday that he had never heard Tharoor discuss his constituency before in his tweets, Tharoor said: "Go back and read my tweets! Have reported frequently from Thiruvananthapuram on every visit."

Kerala Tourism kick starts Dream Season

2010-04-26T00:14:00.000+05:30

Kochi - Tourist hotspot Kerala, known the world over for its beauteous backwaters and wildlife, kick-started its 'Dream Season' package for tourists on Thursday.

The aim of the 'Dream Season' is to attract as many tourists as possible during the April-October period when there is a slight dip in international tourist arrivals.our operators say the period from April to September is a good time to attract domestic tourists.

"Kerala has been getting a lot of international tourists as well as domestic tourists. Among the domestic tourists, there is a perception that Kerala is a bit expensive destination. Primarily, we have positioned Kerala as a destination for the high-end market. So we have a scheme called the 'Dream Season Scheme', which practically starts from April right upto October that is the period when schools have holidays, and offices are closed due to festival and all, and that is the period when Indians travel a lot," said M. Sivasankar, Director of Kerala Tourism Department.

Last year's provisional figures show a two percent increase in domestic tourist arrivals, which would work out to 9.12 million. The foreign tourist arrivals were almost seven million, officials said.

Last year's Dream Season saw 116 service providers registering themselves with the Kerala Tourism Department. Of this, there were 16 hotels, 44 tour operators, and 29 resorts, plus houseboats and Ayurveda centres.

The Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry said it was wholeheartedly supporting the scheme, which has now entered its fourth year.

E. M Najeeb, President, Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industry and Chairman, Great India Tour Company, said efforts would be on to present Kerala as a dream destination on national and international platforms.

"It (Dream Season's scheme) is a private-public (enterprise) between Kerala tourism and the private tourism and the industry players in Kerala, the tour operators, the hoteliers, the other tour product players. We work together to present our product all over the country as well as all over the world in international travel and tourism marts, as well as national and international trade fairs, everywhere together to attract maximum number of tourists to Kerala," Najeeb said.

Najeeb said Kerala has for long banked on its backwater cruise industry to attract foreign tourists, and it was the right time to offer more innovative products, including 'beach tourism'.

"The beach product is actually increasing the interest in beaches and for beach tourism, especially for the Europeans. You know, if there is a beach and if we offer some good facilities, you see, people will always love it," he added.

Kerala's 600-kilometre-long coastline is dotted with picturesque beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms.

Source: ANI/DailyIndia.com

Thrissur Pooram 2010 Concludes

2010-04-25T23:19:00.001+05:30

Thrissur, Sunday 25 April 2010: Thrissur Pooram concluded on Sunday afternoon with the ceremony, ‘Upacharam Cholli Piriyal’. The farewell ceremony, in which idols of the Paramekkavu Bhagavathy and the Thiruvambady Bhagavathy were taken from the Thekkinkad Maidan to the respective temples, marked the finale of 30-hour Pooram celebrations.

The celebrations on the concluding day are called ‘Desakkarude Pooram’ and are mostly attended by local residents. The festival ended with display of fireworks (‘Pakal Vedikkettu’).

Processions carrying idols of deities were taken to Sree Vadakkumnathan Temple in the morning. Pandimelam, led by Mattannur Sankaran Kutty, accompanied the procession of the Thiruvambady Side.

Thrissur Pooram 2010 Fireworks

2010-04-25T23:09:00.002+05:30

Thrissur pooram Fireworks

The Thrissur Pooram is the most colourful and famous temple festival of Kerala. The pooram fireworks performed by the two major participants namely, Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi is a fantastic event. The fireworks held at Thekkinkad ground near the Vadakkumnathan Temple start in the early hours of the night and last for several hours.

WATCH THRISSUR POORAM 2010 FIREWORKS HERE

Thrissur Pooram 2010 Latest updates

2010-04-24T16:14:00.000+05:30

Thrissur Pooram 2010 pictures

2010-04-23T23:51:00.000+05:30

Thrissur Pooram 2011 Live

2010-04-23T20:43:00.003+05:30

There is no official website on the internet providing live webcasting of Thrissur Pooram 2010. But most of television channels in Kerala will be telecasting live the Thrissur Pooram on April 24, 2010. So the best option is to look for the live streaming of television channels. Thirssur Pooram 2010 date is April 24.

The news channels in Kerala like Indiavision and Manorama News has websites doing live streaming.

Indiavisionlive is one website which has a dedicated website with live streaming of Kerala news. They will be in all probability relaying the live telecast or at least the important events of Thrissur Pooram.

Indiavision Live

CLICK HERE

Manorama News will also be airing the Thrissur Pooram 2010 live.

We will be updating this post when we get other online television channels which are free.

Manorama News Live

CLICK HERE

This is a tip to help you to view Thrissur Pooram 2010 Live Online. So you can also check whether a regional channel has free online live streaming. Malayalam television channels like Kairali, People, Asianet News are known to provide extensive coverage of Thrissur Pooram but none of them have a free live streaming. Of course there are options to watch them using payment options on internet tv websites.

Thrissur pooram

2010-04-23T20:20:00.000+05:30

Thrissur pooram Chamayam Today

2010-04-23T17:03:00.000+05:30

Finishing touches being given to the chamayam (elephant accoutrements) for the Thrissur Pooram, which is to be held on April 23. The Pooram attracts thousands of people, including many foreign tourists.

Thrissur Pooram Chamayam Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQjNyh8iK-4

Thrissur pooram:Sample Fireworks Light up skies

2010-04-23T11:32:00.001+05:30

Thrissur, Friday 23 April 2010: Brilliant bursts of colour illuminated the skyon Thursday evening during ‘Sample Vedikettu’, the first round of fireworks at Thrissur Pooram celebrations.

Vast crowds thronged the Swaraj Round as the sky above Thrissur cityrumbled with fireworks. Paramekkavu Devaswom kicked off the show around 7.15 p.m. with Vennur Rajan leading its band of pyrotechnicians.

Mundathikodu Mani supervised Thiruvambadi’s show.
Both sides set off tonnes of explosives. The pyrotechnicians’ bursts of imagination reflected in perfectly timed sparklers, fountains and rockets.

For fans of fireworks, ‘Sample Vedikettu’ is an appetiser. It gives an idea of what the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi contingents have up their sleeve for the main fireworks to be staged on Sunday at 3 a.m. Security in the citywas tightened as part of Pooram celebrations. Traffic arrangements were in place from 4 p.m. A large number of policemen were deployed.

Thrissur pooram

2010-04-18T15:10:00.000+05:30

Thrissur Pooram 2010

Two rows of caparisoned elephants facing each other separated by a sea of humanity is the image that comes to the mind when Thrissur Pooram is mentioned. Thrissur Pooram 2010 date is April 24. The Trichur Puram festival, referred as the Mother of all Poorams, is annually observed in the Malayalam month of Medam (April – May). Poorams are festivals held in Hindu temples in Kerala and the highlights being caparisoned elephants and Panchavadyam – a classical performance of five musical instruments.

On the Thrissur Pooram day, the deities of the temples in and around Thrissur town pay customary visit to the Vadakumnathan Temple on caparisoned elephants accompanied by the music of Chenda Melam and Pancha Vadyam.

The most important processions are that of the Thiruvambadi Shri Krishna Temple and the Paramekkavu Devi Temple. Apart from the two major temples, eight minor temples participate in the pooram. It must be noted that Vadukumnathan Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, remains a spectator during the festival.

By noon crowds build in large numbers at Thekkinkadu Maidan (ground) with the `Madathil Varavu' procession of the Thiruvambady Sri Krishna Temple. The Paramekkavu Devi procession along with the accompaniment of Pandimelam enters the Vadakkunnathan temple. The scintillating and highly appreciated ‘Elanjithara melam’ (a classic performance of musical instruments) begins when the procession reaches the elanji tree inside the temple compound.

The excitement reaches its zenith when the processions of the Thiruvambady Shri Krishna and Paramekkavu Devi temples face each other at the Thekkegopura Nada area. The `kudamattom' session held here is the highlight of the Thrissur Pooram. In the ‘kudamattom’, the two sides engage in a competitive display of colorful umbrellas of various designs.

The famous fireworks display is held late in the night. From 2009 onwards the fireworks is environmental friendly with less deafening sound and more of color.

The Thrissur Pooram comes to an end with the farewell ritual of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu temples at about noon on the next in front of the Vadakkunnathan temple.

Vishu picture

2010-04-14T13:29:00.000+05:30

Arattupuzha Pooram

2010-04-14T12:31:00.000+05:30

Venue: Arattupuzha Temple, Thrissur.

Arattupuzha is a culturally significant village located in Thrissur district of Kerala. This village, about 15 km from the town of Thrissur is renowned for the annual festival called Arattupuzha Pooram. It is a festival that takes place with the Sree Sastha Temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, as the nerve centre. It is believed that during the festival period, Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity at the Sree Sastha Temple is visited by gods and goddesses of the neighbouring villages.

The annual festival at Arattupuzha is also termed as the mother of all pooram festivals in Kerala, due to its sheer magnitude and grandeur. The Sree Sastha Temple, which is believed to be more than 3000 years old, and its premises are the venue for the festivities.

Visitors from nearby and from far off places reach the village of Arattupuzha during the festival days, to be part of this grand festival. The pinnacle of excitement and devotion during the seven-day festival is obviously the last two days. The evening prior to the last day of the festival would have an assembly of caparisoned elephants and staging of percussion ensembles as part of the ceremony called Sasthavinte Melam.

The atmosphere during Sasthavinte Melam would have the brilliance of the many brightly lit traditional lamps and also the huge flame bearing staffs, locally called as theevetti. Once this ceremony is over, the elephants carrying deities of nearby temples would proceed to the adjoining paddy field for the grand spectacle that would have 61 elephants lined up amidst a cheering crowd. By early morning the venue would become electrifying with groups of traditional percussion ensembles comprising Panchavadyam, Pacharimelam and Pandimelam playing their best possible beats and rhythms, while the the caparisoned elephants bearing muthukkudas (sequined, glittering umbrellas) andvenchamarams (white whisks) make a delightful sight, they also stand patiently and entertain the crowd.

At sunrise, the elephants carrying deities from neighbouring temples that had gathered at the Sree Sastha Temple at Arattupuzha would proceed to the nearby river for theaarattu ceremony.

It is a ceremonial cleansing process by immersing the idol in the river water amidst chanting of mantras and floral offerings. The last two undergo the aarattu would be Lord Ayyappan, the presiding deity at Arattupuzha.

The Arattupuzha pooram is celebrated to mark the coming together of Gods and Goddesses and the festival is truly a crowd puller due to its elaborate proceedings and grandeur.

CLASSIFICATION SCHEME FOR HOUSEBOATS

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The houseboat holidays of Kerala are increasingly becoming popular with domestic as well as international tourists. Consequently, the number of houseboats plying the backwaters of Kerala have increased dramatically. So much so that there is an urgent need to evaluate the safety and service standards of houseboats and classify them accordingly. This will be the first step towards sustaining this unique tourism product.
This booklet has been designed to give you a clear idea of how houseboats in Kerala will be classified - an initiative that will once again make Kerala a pioneer in the tourism industry in India so far as emphasis on quality goes.

Criteria for classification of houseboats

A houseboat fulfilling all essential conditions prescribed by the Department of Tourism and another five of the ten optional conditions will be awarded the status of Gold Star. Those fulfilling the essential conditions will be awarded the Silver Star.

Essential conditions for approval of Houseboats:

The general construction of the houseboat should be good; the hull and valavara should be of good condition; flooring should be of marine plywood.

Size of rooms in the houseboat should not be lesser than the specifications mentioned below:

Bed rooms	80 sq. ft (minimum width - 7 ft)
Living/ dining	80 sq. ft
Kitchen	20 sq. ft
Attached toilet	20 sq. ft (minimum width - 3 ft)
Common toilet	10 sq. ft
Passages	3 ft wide

Bed rooms should be provided with an attached toilet. Toilets for guests should be of Western style and should be cleanly maintained. A common toilet for the staff of the houseboat should also be provided.

The kitchen must have provisions for protection from hazards by

*	Using fire-proof materials
*	Having at least two fire extinguishers

Storage hold in the kitchen must be hygienic. Food materials on board should be packed properly and stored in a clean environment.

Fuel storage should not be near the kitchen.

The houseboat should have at least 2 life buoys and 2 fire buckets.

Furniture provided in the houseboat should be of good quality.

Clean and good quality linen and toiletries should be used. Crockery and glassware should be of excellent quality.

Houseboats must maintain and regularly update log books and tourist records.

Staff members interacting with guests should be in uniform.

The boat should have obtained a valid license from the appropriate authority for plying in the backwaters.

Name, cut number and approval number should be painted on both sides of the houseboat.

Optional Conditions for approval

The general construction of the houseboat should show distinctive qualities of luxury.

The houseboat should be furnished with superior quality carpets, curtains, furniture etc.

Alternative arrangements for discharging solid wastes and sewage, like scientifically designed septic tanks and chemical toilets.

Houseboat should be battery operated.

Provision for 24 hour electricity on board the houseboat for lights and fans.

Provision for 24 hour hot and cold running water.

Availability of facility for purifying water on board the houseboat.

Provision of a refrigerator or ice-box on board.

Arrangement for providing guests a menu of their choice.

Staff members interacting with guests should be experienced and fluent in English.

Houseboats approved by the Department of Tourism should fly a flag inscribed with the mnemonic of the accorded status. The flag will be approved by the Department of Tourism.

Houseboats satisfying the essential conditions and adhering to eco-friendly measures prescribed by the Department of Tourism will be awarded the Green Palm Certificate. The conditions under which houseboats will be accorded this status are given below.

Alternate arrangements should be made to discharge solid wastes and sewage by providing scientifically designed septic tanks or bio-chemical toilets.

Alternate sources of energy for fuel, like solar power, to be used for heating, lighting etc.

Arrangement of a system of separating recyclable from non-recyclable garbage. Organising the disposal of non-biodegradable garbage in such a manner so as not to harm the local environment.

Use of paper bags, cloth bags and other alternatives instead of polythene bags, wherever possible.

Use of recycled paper for stationery and other publicity materials.

Use of locally available ethnic materials for construction of houseboats and furniture.

At least 75% of the workers in a houseboat should be employed from districts of the houseboat's operation.

Houseboats using out board engines should acquire a pollution control certificate every three months from a competent authority.

Procedure of approval

Every person intending to start operations in the backwaters of Kerala should, if desiring to get classification, apply for approval to the Department of Tourism in the prescribed form. Those already operating houseboats should apply for the approval if they desire to get classification from the Department of Tourism. The application form is available at the Directorate of Tourism free of cost. The applications duly filled should be addressed to the Director, Department of Tourism, Park View, Thiruvananthapuram.

A fee of Rs. 500/- per houseboat should be enclosed with the application form by way of Demand Draft drawn in favour of the Director, Department of Tourism, payable at Thiruvananthapuram.

Unless the application is rejected, the Director of Tourism will issue a certificate of approval to the houseboat operator, on the recommendation of a committee. The committee will give the recommendation after inspection of the houseboat. Members of the committee are:

*	Director of Tourism (Convenor)
*	Representative of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI)
*	Representative of Approved & Classified Hotels Association of Kerala (ACHA)
*	Two members nominated by the State Government

The approval will be valid for one year. The committee will inspect the houseboats every year between the months of September and October.The houseboats should be brought for inspection at the place where the committee desires, at the expense of the owners.

The promoters should furnish a declaration accepting the regulatory conditions to be abided by the promoters of approved houseboats in the prescribed form.

Govt. subsidies and licenses

Only the houseboats approved by the Department of Tourism under this scheme will be eligible for claiming 10% state investment subsidy, eligible as per G.O. (P) No.14/ 88/ GAD dated 12.11.88.

The classification obtained under this scheme is not a substitute for the license/ sanctions required to be obtained from the authorities concerned under the existing rules and regulations.

Statutory Conditions for approval

All houseboats approved by the Department of Tourism are required to furnish the following information;

*	Document relating to legal status, i.e. if the company is incorporated in the Companies Act
*	Copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association
*	Copy of the partnership deed and the certificate of Registration under the Partnership Act, if it is a partnership firm
*	Name and address of the proprietor etc., if it is a proprietary concern

Any license required from the Irrigation Department or other concerned authorities to ply the boat in the backwaters should be obtained directly by the promoters. The approval by the Department of Tourism will be withdrawn in case of violation of these conditions, as and when brought to its notice.

The houseboat should apply for approval every year before the expiry of the period of validity.

The promoter should display the approval certificate, log book, tariff card on board the houseboat. The log book should be made available for inspection when required.

In the breech of any of the above conditions, the Department of Tourism has the right to withdraw approval.