Brand Kerala February 2018

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KIIFB

The

Magic FM banks on the brainchild to induce new lease of life to investment potential of State.

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POPULISM TAKES THE LEAD

I The common man is still left with the only option to bear the brunt of inflation imposed on him.

ts the season of budgets as we witnessed the one from the Centre and other from the State, the former doing justice to its objective of a pre poll document and the latter banking on certain `magical illusions’ to tide over the fiscal unrest plaguing the State. As usual, after the routine exchange of tirades between the opposition and the treasury benches, one is left with the question as to what was in store for the common man to cheer about in both these documents.

Those who expected a benevolent reduction in income tax remained a disappointed lot and another group confident enough of a central intervention in curtailing the skyrocketing fuel prices were also left in the lurch. The Goods and Services Tax (GST), which promised a magnanimous fortune for the State coffer and a fall in the prices of essential commodities, also proved to be a non starter with lot of glitches still remaining in the execution part. Consequently, the common man is still left with the only option to bear the brunt of inflation imposed on him.

An array of welfare schemes and programmes find place in both these documents, but none them has been clear about the mode of implementation. Though the Union Budget has maintained a vicious silence on this, the State in turn relies completely on the magic box KIIFB, which

dreams of roping in a huge investment fund from a series of programmes which are yet to take off. A major project like Pravasi Chitty, planned alongside this, is still in the testing stages. The big question here is do we have any alternate plan to rely on if these programmes fall short of expectations?

For the time being, we shall go by the optimistic smile on Finance Minister’s face!

A thorough introspection into the implementation of programmes and schemes announced in the previous budgets would unravel the bleak picture of the scanty pace of the implementation process. Its a known fact that a majority of the populist declarations made by Finance Ministers remain as mere announcements which questions the very essence of this fiscal exercise.

Hence its time we took a pragmatic approach to Budget presentations by devising special sessions to analyse and scrutinise the progress of the programmes announced in the previous years. Its more or less the right of the people to know how far the promises are kept. Let our budgets fulfil the objectives rather than becoming mere documents of populism.

J S Indukumar Editor in chief

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FEBRUARY 2018 | Vol. 8 | Issue. 2 | Rs 60/-

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KIIFB

February 2018

a n a ly s i s

AUto Expo: NEW GEN AVAtARs CoMING | 64

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The

MagIc

The proposals put forward by the FM can certainly be termed as a drift from a probusiness perspective towards sectors which demanded serious and compelling focus.

FM banks on the brainchild to induce new lease oF liFe to investMent potential oF state.

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Produce, Process, Prosper

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cover story

Waving the KIIFB Magic wand Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac shares his thoughts, concerns and hopes on the State’s finances and elaborates how his ‘brainchild’ KIIFB is going to bring in a revolutionary change in the investment front.

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KERALA BUDGET 2018-19 KIIFB Vs Resource Deficit

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Can we expect a steady increase in NCA in the state given the land resources status and pressures on it?

Editorial & Corporate office Brand Kerala Media House Associates SRL A 32, Sankar Road, Sasthamangalam P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695010 Kerala, India Tele : +91 471 231 1377/231 2377 Internet edition www.brandkerala.biz Digital edition www.issuu.com/brandkerala www.facebook.com/brandkerala RNI No. KERENG 2010/36920 ISSN 2249244-5 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher of BRAND KERALA All rights reserved. Copyright @2018 Owned, Edited, Printed and Published by Ravisankar K.V., Brand Kerala Media House Pvt. Ltd., SRL A - 32, Sankar Road, Sasthamangalam P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695010 Kerala, India at Orange Offset Printers, Thiruvananthapuram for Arsha Offset Graphix, Janvilla Lane, Vellayamabalam, Thiruvananthapuram – 695010 Editor: Ravisankar K V

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26 5 young entrepreneurs on t h o u g h ts &v i e ws

the year ahead

KIIFB will be another ‘kudumbashree’. Congratulations Sri Thomas Isaac.

Shafeeq Kayamkulam

Anand Kochukudy @AnandKochukudy

Congrats to @thomasisaaq. Like Union budget, agricultural sector shortchanged.

KIIFB is a great idea (despite opposition jibes) but the jury is still out #KeralaBudget2018

cover story

Magic wand

Waving the

T

homas Isaac’s alternate economic plan revolving around KIIFB has received bouquets and brickbats at the same time. The Finance Minister elucidates on the road to be taken by the Government.

Excerpts from the conversation.

Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac shares his thoughts, concerns and hopes on the State’s finances and elaborates how his ‘brainchild’ KIIFB is going to bring in a revolutionary change in the investment front in a detailed interaction with BRAND KERALA Editorial Board.

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We are currently in a post Budget scenario. How do you assess the financial position of Kerala and do you have any concrete plans to take the economy to a revival path?

As you know, though the Kerala economy, as in the case of other States, is currently on a deceleration path, our performance during 2016-17 was satisfactory with a growth rate of 7%, which was better than the national aggregate. But we are preparing to address this situation and the major plan to kick start the economy is through KIIFB investment, which is expected to be implemented from this year. This year alone, projects worth 30,000 crores, which are all tender ready, are going to be initiated and we foresee an investment to the tune of 50,000 crores in this fiscal which will surely be a major stimulus to the State’s economy. And the second plan is to go in for a major fiscal consolidation in view of the fall in the expected revenue from the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The GST, as you know, is in a fiasco with a lot of glitches still remaining in the execution part. Now we are into the eighth month and the

IT backbone for the implementation of the E-way bill is yet to become functional. This is causing a heavy leakage in our coffers since eighty percent of our revenue comes from taxes from outside commodities. But I am still hopeful that Kerala will stand to gain once these hurdles are removed. Now the situation is such that the common man is devoid of the benefits even after the drop in taxes of essential commodities by around 40 to 50 percent. That aside, we are keeping our hopes high though we will have to address a revenue gap say for a year. So we will have to curtail our expenditure for the time being to bring down the revenue deficit. Also we will not hesitate to use the public sector units and SPVs to borrow from the market and make investments in Kerala.

Does it mean that the usage of PSUs for generating additional funds will lead to any sort of disinvestment process in the public sector?

We don’t look forward to a disinvestment strategy at all. You know when we came to power, the total accumulated loss of State-owned industrial units stood at around 200 crores. From that stage we witnessed a sea change in their performance by clocking a praiseworthy profit of 40 plus crores in this fiscal and next year it has been forecasted to go up further.

The track record of PSUs always go in for a leap when the Left is in power

The revenue estimated for 2018-19

Rs 1,02,801 crore expenditure estimated for 2018-19

Rs 1,15,661 crore

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and this trend is going to be repeated in the coming years also. We see this as a clear and positive message to the private sector players that they can fearlessly invest here and ensure decent profits for their businesses.

We look forward for joint ventures with the private investors and the first major step in this direction is the JV with hardware giant Intel, who will be commencing the manufacturing of laptops by setting up a big facility in the State. This will hopefully mark the beginning of a major private investment boom in the State and the Government, in all its capacities, will ensure that the ease of doing business is on track.

The Opposition is skeptical on the Government plan to rely on KIIFB fund for infrastructure investments and the introduction of a Pravasi Chitty project as a fund generator for KIIFB. How do you counter this apprehension?

See, the government has not been secretive about any of the programmes being planned under the KIIFB. Also, the fact that each and every constituency in the State will be benefitted by the investments from this has also not been refuted by any one.

We all know that the implementation of the projects planned for the State from the budget surplus will take another two or three decades and by then the cost factor will escalate to alarming levels. This means that a whole new generation will be deprived of the benefits from these projects.

Essentially, KIIFB is an attempt to bring private capital to infrastructure projects rather than postponing the projects indefinitely citing financial constraints.

We have actually framed a law by which a portion of the tax revenue will be set aside for the projects under KIIFB and the borrowings by it will be backed by securities or guarantees

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which are approved by the legislature.

We have presented these calculations in the Assembly and the Government is implementing only what is enshrined in the law. Therefore this is not going to put any sort of burden on the State in the future. Now, the second part of this question deals with how KIIFB is going to raise money at the lowest rate for a longer period. There are a variety of options to borrow from the market which are approved by SEBI. Another method is to generate fund from the public sector. Here, we have identified KSFE as an ideal choice given the long tradition of trust and goodwill it enjoys among the general public through its chitty business. As we know, the nature of chitty business is that it provides large float and these floats can be easily invested in KIIFB bonds and this will become a major source of fund for it. The idea of launching the ‘Pravasi Chitty’ took shape as a result of the encouraging response we got from the expatriate community for this venture.

Suppose a million NRI population invest in this as a savings instrument, this itself will become a major source of fund for KIIFB. Moreover, the safety for money and other attractive benefits compared to bank deposits make this scheme more attractive for NRIs and they will also be contributing to the infrastructure development of the State by becoming part of this project. The whole process of the NRI chitty like payment of installments and auction will be completely online. The software for the same is already ready and the official launch will take place in the mid of this year.

The Kerala State lotteries, which also has a commendable tradition, is celebrating the diamond jubilee. You have also plans to source funds from this area for welfare programmes. Can you elaborate on the same?

appraisals and viability studies and this mechanism ensures that each and every project being pushed under the KIIFB umbrella posses the minimum qualification for implementation.

An additional expenditure of Rs 1000 crores might be required for health care in the coming two years which will be fully met by the revenue from lotteries.

Dr Thomas Isaac

See, the only justification to run a lottery is that the earnings from it doesn’t go to private hands but to the public coffer. This is the approach adopted even from the Kautilya times that revenue should go the King or otherwise it will not be encouraged.

The Indian Lotteries Act has two objectives. One is to ensure that the revenue go to states and the second one is that it should not become addictive. The Kerala lottery runs within these parameters. About half of the revenue from this goes as prizes, 25 percent as commission to around a lakh of agents, 12 percent as taxes and another 12 percent as government profit. From this year onwards the entire profit of the Government from this will be used to fund a health care programme which might cover at least around fifty percent of the population.

All major diseases like cancer, cardiac problems, stroke etc will be covered by this programme which will be

implemented through the public health system. An additional expenditure of Rs 1000 crores might be required for this in the coming two years which will be fully met by the revenue from lotteries.

Coming back to KIIFB, has the Government evolved any sort of mechanism to monitor the implementation of the projects under this fund?

The Government departments will not have any role in the utilization of KIIFB funds for any purpose. Instead, we will be having Special Purpose Vehicles created for various sectors who will implement the projects. Now we have certain challenges, the first one being the evolvement of a process to ensure transparency and public oversight and assessing the efficiency of implementation of projects. Like any other PSUs, all KIIFB programmes will be under the strict scrutiny of the legislature and the implementation

all KIIFB programmes will be under the strict scrutiny of the legislature.

process and fund allocations will be reported in the Assembly from time to time. The transparency factor will be addressed through this process.

Secondly, KIIFB has an independent board consisting of professionals with impeccable track record. We have been fortunate to get the services of a person like Mr. Vinod Rai for this and this will ensure that the whole process is taking place in compliance with the rules laid down by the Government. Thirdly, there is a very elaborate IT base system which will thoroughly scrutinize the various projects submitted by the SPVs by subjecting it to a series of vigorous

How do you rate and analyze the Union Budget, which is also projected as a pre-election budget?

My criticism about the Union budget is that it was very conservative in character and has not addressed the major challenge faced by the country, particularly the deceleration. Also the unilateral cut in the allocation for Centrally sponsored programmes being implemented through the States cannot be justified. For example, the Central allocation for ICDS programme has been reduced drastically which is going to leave a huge army of Anganavaaadi workers and teachers high and dry.

Moreover, the budget seems to be messy. They have kept fiscal deficit as 3.5 though the target was 3. But we know that the real fiscal deficit is something near 4. It has been brought down by the sale of shares worth one lakh crore rupees from public sector.

But these shares were not bought by ONGC, which in effect reflects as a Government borrowing. There has been a series of announcements, especially the health insurance programme. But nobody has the idea as to how this is going to be implemented and it is also in the dark about the consolidation of resources for the same. Another one is the doubling of farmers’ income.

But here also there is no mention about of the source of funds for this and the method of execution. And surprisingly, the Union Budget kept a cruel silence on the excise duty on petroleum products, though every one was expecting a gesture of benevolence from the Centre through a cut in the duty to curtail the skyrocketing prices of petro products.

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reactions Budget that stands for social security M A Yusuff Ali Chairman and Managing Director, Lulu Group International.

“W

hat makes this year’s Kerala Budget unique is that it has reserved the largest amount of money for the welfare of the expatriates along with the welfare of the people.”

I had described Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac, an ‘economist’ in the last Loka Kerala Sabha.

Through this year’s Kerala Budget which ensures general welfare, he has proven that he fits the description. Minister Thomas Isaac presented a Budget that plays in favour of the common man and gives emphasis to the general welfare by including Public Health, Housing, Basic Development, Coastal Area Development, etc. in this year’s Budget. What makes this year’s Kerala Budget unique is that it has reserved the largest amount of money for the welfare of the expatriates along with the welfare of the people.

The most remarkable step in the Budget is the allocation of Rs 80 crores for the welfare of the expatriates, their investments and pension benefits. Since the allocations for the welfare of the expatriates is this big, the rehabilitation and employment

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opportunities of the expatriates in the country will be much improved.

The decision eliminates the fear of most of the expatriates about the lack of employment opportunities when they return.

There is a big decision included in the budget which considers the future generation of Kerala. The government has been working on attracting more private investments to the state and improving the possibilities of starting enterprises in Kerala. With this, the youth in Kerala will be getting more job opportunities.

Taking into consideration the situation of Gulf expatriates losing their jobs, the introduction of new industries which provide growth potential and improving the GST management, the state Budget promises complete social security.

February 2018

Expatriate friendly Budget E.P Sulaiman Haji, Managing Director of Fatima Group of Companies

“T

he plans to provide insurance coverage and pension benefits to NRI chit members is an indication of the amount of consideration given to the expatriates.”

This year’s Kerala Budget has been focused on expatriate welfare and investment. Rs 80 crore was set aside for expatriate welfare by the Finance Minister Dr Thomas Issac’s expatriate friendly budget and the NRI chit of KSFE brings in further possibilities of investment. The NRI chit which ensures the involvement of foreign Indians in the development of the country will start functioning next month. Masala Bonds will be launched by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund bond for the expatriates.

The promise of creating an online database of non-resident Indians in the last budget has been repeated this year. The minister said that the unimplemented project will start in the current financial year.

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analysis Produce, Process, Prosper The proposals put forward by the FM can certainly be termed as a drift from a pro-business perspective towards sectors which demanded serious and compelling focus.

M R Ranjit Karthikeyan

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he media frenzy about the last full budget of NDA – 2 dying down, it is time to have a hard look at the fine print and what it means to the the Indians and the New India.

The first post – GST budget by the Finance Minister, Shri. Arun Jaitley, his fifth in a row has seen a shift in approach both by the Government and by the Media who celebrates this annual financial document presented in the Parliament termed as Union Budget.

The proposals put forward by the FM can certainly be termed as a drift from a pro-business perspective towards sectors which demanded serious and compelling focus – the hard areas of Indian Economy – that deserved a boost. We should hope that the focus area initaties bears fruits which will drive the Indian Economy to a point of strength and also an impetus to the Governemnt to go ahead with its reforms push.

The Three Ps – Produce, Process and Prosper is the mantra that emanated from the budget speech. The narrative is certainly what Indians need. The intend brave. The Task, Herculean!

The analysists thought that the earlier budgets of the present Government was nothing but a continuance of the old and if not stale policies, and a routine one too. The expectations with which the Government assumed charge did

not reflect in the past ones by Shri. Jaitley. The Prime Ministers talk about Farmer’s Welfare, Rural Development, Make in India, Swachh Bharat, Skill India, and so on was never reflected but the 2018 – 19 Budget gives a feeling of hitting the right chord in those lines.

The intend is not to do a hair split on the proposals, but to give the reader a general idea as to what the all round scenario is. India accounts for about 17.50% of the World Population

and 20% of the Youth Popoulation. The Demographic Dividend for India is there to take, the major reason for the World to look at India as a world’s leading economy. There is reason to cheer, but what about 30.80% of our youth who are classified as NEET – Not in Employment, Education or Training. This is the focus area which weighed India down in the Inclusive Development Index brought out by World Economic Forum. The comparision with our neighbour in this newer method of assessing countires may not be right in absolute terms, but Pakistan is certainly much ahead of India in this regard. Did we give that focus to the generation who whould have added to the Gross Domestic Product rather than being a burden on the economy.

This budget with its focus on Agri Business (not just agriculture) is a move in the right direction.

The proposal to give 1.5 times the production cost as Minimum Support Price can be a serious intervention by the Government and that too by using a direct benefit transfer mechanism can give a huge fillip to the rural India. In India, a bumper crop can be a curse for the farmers as the supply going up will pull the prices down. A production cost linked pricing will certainly make the farmers a happier lot. Apart from this, the entire food sector will gather momentum and the zero-hunger target should be an acheivable one. Job creation, for sure.

The infrastructure is what hit the farmers. The produce to be transported, warehoused, processed

and consumed did pose a huge challenge. A consumer state like Kerala which produces only foodgrains to sustain its population for just about 30 days has been a victim of the high price of foodgrains during non-harvest season. An imporved investment and spending on the Road Transport infrastructure should hugely benefit States like Kerala, if the State seizes this opportunity and invests wisely in sourcing and warehousing, and also in processing.

‘NaMoCare‘ – the health insurance scheme is to benefit about 50 Crore Indians.

The major area that will have an impact is the ‘NaMoCare’ – the health insurance scheme which is to benefit about 50 Crore Indians. Health is certainly a wealth not only for that individual, but also for the Nation.

There has been raised eyebrows about this ambitions scheme announced in the budget and criticisim of not providing for adequate amounts, etc., the very thought is certainly laudable.

Personally, I would have loved to have a specific initiative focussed on preventive health and health awareness. Yoga certainly!

The initiatives for furtherance of the development agenda looks great as it focuses on improving the quality of life in about 115 selected districts by investing in social services like health,

education, nutrition, skill upgradation, financial inclusion and infrastructure.

In the yester years, more ink would have been spent on the direct and indirect tax proposals in the budget. The celebrations would have been for a tax exempiton limit hike or a new deduction. The literate India is now forced to look at the sectors which he seldom gave much importance. A go – by to the paltry population who pays tax can be pardoned as the FM may not have had enough time and resources to reward them with some.

This time, there were no charts and graphs for the rise in prices in the February 2nd Newspapers. However, I would like to give a word of caution to the tax payers about the proposal to deny the reliefs. The “landmine clause” as proposed is as follows “It is proposed to substitute the said section so as to provide that in computing the total income of an assessee of the previous year relevant to the assessment year commencing on or after the 1st day of April, 2018, deduction under any other provisions of Chapter VIA under the heading “C. - Deductions in respect of certain incomes” shall be allowed only if the return is filed within the due date specified under sub-section (1) of section 139. This amendment will take effect from 1st April, 2018, and will, accordingly, apply in relation to the assessment year 2018-2019 and subsequent years.”

Compliance is the Keyword!

Writer is a leading Chartered Accountant and can be contacted at ranjitkarthikeyan@gmail.com February 2018

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column KERALA & ECONOMY N Niyathi rgidskerala@gmail.com

Are we moving towards a better Kerala with world class infrastructure?

Or, Are we moving towards a total financial crisis when KIIFB repayment starts.

KERALA BUDGET 2018-19 KIIFB Vs Resource Deficit

K

erala Budget 2018-19 start with a remark ‘universal social security, sustainability and comprehensive infrastructure development are the hall marks of LDF Government’. Budget 201819 also remarks ‘the beginning of a comprehensive coastal development package. Budget feels that miseries sown by ‘Ockhi’ and uncertainly created by economic slowdown put Finance Minister Mr. Thomas Issac in distress. Hence FM announced a coastal area package of ‘2000 crores and an anti recession KIIFB project package for ‘54,000 crores. On general economic condition, Kerala budget 2018-19 remarks that like ‘Ockhi’, demonetization devastated Indian economy. GST was a severe blow to the stressed economy reeling under demonetization. Kerala Finance Minister argued that states tax revenue will increase by 20 to 25% on introduction of GST. He also envisaged that states’ tax collection will increase on an average annually by ‘3000 crores. But now FM tells that tax collection increase by only 10% and if we add the compensation also state GST will increase by 14% only.

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F M who first welcomed the GST now critically cry that state has no power to alter tax rates to raise additional resource. Mr. Thomas Issac in his budget mention that growth rate of tax on petrol, registration and stamp duty stand at low level. Total revenue receipts increased by 7.7% only while plan expenditure increased by 22% and non plan expenditure by 21%. It finally increase the gap between revenue and expenditure and push the state to fiscal deficit.

Measures initiated for reducing deficit are (i) additional resource mobilization of ‘970 crores and (ii) reducing non plan expenditure. Control on post creation, vehicle purchase, travel expenses and telephone bills are suggested for expenditure control.

FM, however, fail to estimate the total resource that could be saved through expenditure control. However, it is quite interesting that FM has cleverly announced an additional expenditure of ‘915 crore in the 2018-19 budget.

Revenue deficit estimated in 2018-19 is at ‘12859 crores which shows a reduction of ‘220 crores over 201718. Is it a great budget success?

Budget 2018-19 is also based on

two assumptions (i) more capital investment through KIIFB, (ii) GST, if implemented effectively, tax revenue will increase considerably.

While presenting the budget 2018-19 FM expect more resources and projects from KIIFB for capital investment which would correct fiscal discipline.

Budget 2017-18, envisaged proposals for ‘54000 crore through KIIFB. Out of it, project worth ‘20,000 crore are near execution and projects worth ‘10,000 crores are near sanction. In other words, KIIFB projects valued ‘30,000 crore will start to work in 2017-18 and projects for ‘24,000 crores will start in 2018-19. FM expect KIIFB investment as antidote to fiscal recession and a stimulant to economic growth.

Here KIIFB raise resource as loan and it has to be repaid with interest. Budget 2018-19 explains that assuming 9% interest (only assumption) three years moratorium and 7 years repayment period, ‘1 lakh crore have to be repaid. The KIIFB Act envisage that Fund Board has to get ‘ l lakh crore as grant by way of share of petrol cess and motor vehicle cess, before the repayment period. KIIFB’s resource mobilization measures are different

kinds of bonds from domestic market, investment fund from abroad, and NRI chitts of KSFE. State economy is growing at around 7 to 7.5% annually and running at a fiscal deficit of 3.3% of GSDP and public debt liability going to cross ‘ 2 lakh crore by 2017-18 end. Similarly 70% of State revenue expenses are for salary, pension and interest. How can such an economy repay the KIIFB project liability? Are we moving towards a better Kerala with world class infrastructure? Or, Are we moving towards a total financial crisis when KIIFB repayment starts.

Budget 2018-19 envisage total social security which include housing for all, hunger free Kerala, better education, free medical treatment and social welfare pension. Hunger free Kerala is a good slogan. But states’ public distribution system is in total disarray particularly over the last two years as we fail to implement the National Food Security Act 2013. We can hope that Food Security Act 2013 will be implemented before 2019-20 budget since it ensure the food security of millions of poor keralities.

Life Mission is one social security scheme to provide house for all houseless people. Data shows that 4.21 lakh people don’t have habitable dwelling and 3.38 land less people have no houses. Big amount of ‘2500 crores is earmarked for life mission in 2018-19 budget. While budget earmark a huge amount ( ‘2500crore) for house for houseless there is no nodel agency to co-ordinate the process involved particularly target and achievement.

Budget 2018-19 earmark ‘1685 crore under plan for comprehensive health security. Target is to become Kerala the first state in India that ensures ‘Universal Health Security’.

KIIFB fund and resource from lottery are envisaged. KIIFB fund is envisaged to enhance treatment facilities in Medical Colleges, General, District and

Taluk hospitals. The budget 2017-18 proposed 8000 new posts in hospitals for improving health facilities, ‘2000 crore KIIFB fund for General, District and Taluk hospitals and ‘350 crore for assistance to patients from Karunya lottery. Here we understand that every year budget make promises without reviewing what have been achieved. Similarly LDF government has formulated its health policy which envisage to spend 5 to 6% of GSDP in health sector. Once the health policy become operational what will happen to budget promise. When the budget aim at universal health care each category of health care institution in all regions must have ‘uniform

employment, infrastructure & fiscal discipline in budget has become the development approach of LDF.

facilities’ like medical staff, medical equipment, laboratory, buildings, drinking water, toilet, furniture, beds and above all medicines and equipments. In order to provide these facilities, each category of health institution must have a ‘master plan’ to be implemented in a phased manner.

Unless it is clearly defined with a target, budget promises would remain as dreams as in the past.

General education is vital and master plan, as mentioned in the budget, for each school on learning, curriculum related and extracurricular activities is good. High-tech class rooms and IT labs are also good. KIIFB fund is proposed to be mobilized for infrastructure creation in schools. Upgradtion of

schools in to World Class Standards and Centres of Excellence are used past words and slogans. Education policy must concentrate on improving the academic quality of teachers first and then quality of students instead of slogans. In the present socio-politicaleconomic setup quality improvement is a major challenge and the budget 2018-19 is silent on it.

In public works, Electricity Board, Water Authority and KSRTC, KIIFB has strategic role in investment. In PWD, KIIFB takes up 561 works worth ‘24390 crores. KIIFB will purchase 3000 buses for KSRTC, 1000 in 2017-18 and 2000 in 2018-19. In KSEB, KIIFB will take up 2 trans-grid projects worth ‘5200 crores.

Budget 2018-19, as analysed above, indicate that KIIFB make strategic inroad in to vital departments like PWD, KSEB, KWA, health, education and KSRTC with capital investment.

If the trend continue in the coming years as well, KIIFB will acquire the strength to dictate the above departments. It indirectly means the strategic control of FM on these departments.

FM conclude the 2018-19 budget with a statement that budget attempt to move Kerala towards tomorrow with its strength and virtues. FM adds, budget stands with weaker section and our social security would make ‘again’ Kerala a Model for India. New generation employment, world class infrastructure and financial discipline envisaged in the budget 2018-19 has become the development approach of LDF. Is it a Slogan or a promise. It can be either.

Author is a senior economic analyst and Registrar of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development studies, Trivandrum.

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in conversation

“LKS WILL BE A GAME CHANGER” Dr A V Anoop, Managing Director, AVA Cholayil Healthcare Pvt Ltd, shares his views, hopes and initiatives of Loka Kerala Sabha with B Balachandran, Executive Editor, BRAND KERALA.

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L

eading the AVA Cholayil group to heights of glory, Dr. Anoop elucidates his business plans and the positive ambience created by the LKS. Excerpts from the conversation.

The Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS) organised by the Government has been hailed has as a novel initiative towards the welfare of NRKs. You were also part of the delegation. What is your assessment on the same?

I personally feel that LKS was a very positive attempt from the part of the Government. Apart from the various other conclaves we witnessed in the previous years, LKS had a clear cut objective and planning which ensured the participation of NRKs from different walks of life who had adequate expertise in their respective fields. The active participation and involvement of people’s representatives cut across political lines was another laudable factor, especially the active involvement of the Opposition Leader in the discussions could send a very positive message to the participating delegates.

It was also decided to form a separate standing committee consisting of the members of the LKS to follow up the deliberations of the conclave. This shall go a long way in sorting out the concerns and issues raised in the meet and finding out appropriate solutions through a proper follow

up mechanism. So, if things go as per plan, the LKS would pave the way for a boost in the infrastructure development as well as provide an ideal platform for the welfare of NRKs. You participated in the LKS as a representative of Keralites who have settled in other states within the country. How do you assess the intervention of the State Governments in addressing the issues being faced by this community?

I have been working for this cause for so many years and have raised the problems faced by this community, which constitute almost three by fourth of the NRK population, at various Government platforms. In fact, the word NRK ( Non Resident Keralite), was coined by the then E K Nayanar Ministry after we expressed our strong reservations in categorising the Keralites living in other States also under the general category of NRI (Non Resident Indian). Till then, all the Government programmes and initiatives

were aimed at those living outside the country and the major Malayalee population in other States within the country was lying totally unattended. This situation has changed now with NRKs in other States also finding place in various welfare schemes of the Government. Even artistes, especially from the Theatre, residing in other States have been getting due recognition with the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy honouring many of them.

You have been actively involved in the programmes of the World Malayalee Council which works for the welfare of the NRKs across the Globe. How do you recollect the activities of the council?

World Malayalee Council, a representative body of NRIs, works for the welfare of the NRKs and it has actively intervened in issues like the NRI pension plan and many other social welfare schemes. Our activities have been recognised by the society at large and even the State Government has shown the courtesy to associate with us considering the nature of work being carried out. During the Tsunami disaster,WMC could actively participate in the rebuilding process by constructing houses for hundred families. Also during the recent Chennai floods, we were in the forefront to carry out the rehabilitation process. The State Government for the first time sanctioned an aid of fifty lakh for same and we see this as a token of recognition for the welfare programmes executed by the Council.

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Do you see any change in the general perspective that Kerala is a not an investment friendly State?

See, till recently labour problems were considered to the major hindrance to investments. But now, since unemployment in the State has almost become nil, this issue has become a thing of the past. The current problem, according to me, is the lack of proper infrastructure and facilities for waste management.

The Government’s responsibility does not end in giving a single window clearance to a particular project.

It should concentrate more on improving the infrastructure facilities, especially an ideal waste disposal plan which could create a hassle free atmosphere for the investors to run their factories without the fear of local resistance.

Coming to Ayurveda, your area of interest, we witnessed a huge surge in the ayurvedic FMCG market in the recent years especially with entry of certain indigenous brands. How do you asses this scenario?

I see this trend as a very positive development, since the entry of huge brands like Pathanjali has actually opened up the market scope for lesser players also. This has pushed the

Oolu, the project helmed by Shaji N Karun is poised to be the most ambitious one and is mainly targeted for international festivals.

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demand for natural and ayurvedic products to a huge level which will be beneficial for the industry as whole. But at the same time we should be cautious about the quality of the products we choose, since there is a huge chance of bogus players exploiting this opportunity by flooding the market with third rate products. Likewise, the enquires for Ayurvedic treatment has also gone up with many of the groups going for major expansions. I have also set up a new hospital with all state of the art facilities at Kochi which will be opened in April. Hence I feel that its the ideal time to make use of the positive climate prevailing in the market and gather a fairly good market share for your brands.

At the same time we are still struggling to obtain an international recognition for ayurvedic treatment modules and medicines which is highly essential for taking this stream of medicine to the global platform. Do you see any positive development in this front in the near future?

This is actually a major area of concern and the Central Government should without any laxities address this issue and find out a positive solution.

Otherwise, whatever said and done, the dream of popularising ayurveda

across the Globe will never take off. You should note that Chinese medicines has obtained this recognition and they can now spread this treatment module anywhere in the world without any restrictions. At the same time Ayurveda, which is 5000 years old, is still not recognised by any of the foreign countries which means that you cannot prescribe or sell any of the ayurvedic medicines outside our country. We need to have a strong political lobbying for this and I think the Ayush Department under the Union Government is working hard in this direction. Another factor is the preservation and recording of the knowledge we acquired over the years.

The consolidation of the fragmented knowledge from various groups and individuals will be a challenging task, but we need to do this at the earliest and preserve this knowledge bank for getting the due recognition from foreign countries.

As you might be aware, Care Keralam, an ambitious project launched by the State Government some time ago could not achieve its objectives. What do you think might be the reason for this?

It was actually a very unfortunate episode. The project was actually at par with all international standards and it was the first its kind in India. But unfortunately, the lack of coordination among the manufacturers and the Government

machinery led to the failure and currently the whole facility is lying idle. Again, the government is now trying to revive the project and has even sought my help in giving a new lease of life to it. I personally consider this as a very viable and useful facility for the manufacturers since they can avail facilities like high-tech lab, spacious godown etc. Another possibility for reviving this project is to make the testing at this lab mandatory for all the manufacturers who operates from Kerala. This, even though a challenging policy decision, will pave the way for the full fledged functioning of the lab facility here. Another factor

the recent venture ’Kytra‘ with Ambika Pillai has been getting a huge response

is the streamlining of the activities of the various government agencies working behind this project which is highly essential for a hassle free operation of this facility.

You have strengthened your presence in Malayalam film industry also with your banner AVA Productions coming out with a couple of hits last year. How do you view the present trend in Mollywood?

The year 2017 was actually highly productive for the Malayalam film

industry with a lot exceptional films hitting the screens and many of them reaping good collections. Our banner AVA productions could also become part of two major hits, Godha and Ezra. The general trend prevailing in the industry is highly encouraging with quality films, irrespective of the huge star cast and crew, becoming runaway hits. Also the arrival of a new breed of fresh creative talents has paved the way for a highly positive change in the outlook of the average film goer. This year also we have a couple of mega projects. Oolu, the project helmed by Shaji N Karun is poised to be most ambitious one and it is mainly targeted for international festivals.

Other projects in association with E4Entertainment include the one in Hindi and another in Tamil.

I am also partnering a movie in Hollywood which will also happen this year.

Your business acumen seems mainly to be in identifying ideal associates and coming out with innovative business concepts. How do you go about this?

Its always important to evolve a clear cut plan and carry out an extensive market research before venturing into new business concepts. We have been doing this in a religious manner and that might the reason for the positive results we get form our initiatives. The foray into food business by taking over a prominent brand has also yielded good results and currently we are in the process of attaining a comfortable stabilisation for the brand in the market and further expansions will be undertaken after that. Also the recent venture Kytra in association with Ambika Pillai, the most sought after name in the cosmetic industry, has also been successful with a huge response pouring in for the brand in the initial days of the launch itself.

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review Smart kick off to Loka Kerala Sabha The game plan is for time bound action and results.

Loka Kerala Sabha provided a level playing ground for the non resident Keralites in the last one and half decades of get together under various banners.

Lalu Joseph

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T

he day break, after Niel Amstrong set foot on moon saw an English daily with a front page cartoon by Abu Abraham portraying lungi clad Malappuram basheerikka vending tea with Chaya Vilkkappedum board in front of his thatched shop on moon, depicting Malayalee presence anywhere and everywhere. Keralites movement in Caribbean island dates back to more than 200 years. Activities to bring the Global Malayalee on a single platform did not suffice, in spite of the repeated Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas celebration by Center and Global Kerala Meet by the State.

Loka Kerala Sabha is the latest initiative from Kerala Government committed to the cause. A few eyebrows were raised on the intent but the content proved them wrong. From across the world they came for the two full day session at the prestigious members’ lounge of Kerala Legislature.

Inaugural session witnessed presentation of Vision document on Global Keralam followed by 5 regional meetings of delegates from West Asia, Rest of Asia, Europe & America, Rest of the World and Other Indian States.

Report on region wise deliberations and presentation of motions slid the door for day one.

Sector wise interactive discussion was the high light of the second day, with Finance, Industry/IT/Emerging Technologies, Migrant Issues: Before and after migration, Agriculture & related areas, Women and Migration, Issues after return, Tourism/ Cooperation, Education, Social Justice

and Health and Culture adorning the center stage of business. Reports were presented in advance to the valedictory speech by Chief Minister Pinaryi Vijayan who not only was the leader of the sabha but its mentor. It was a befitting gesture from the Chief Minister to be present all through the event, with the agenda of developing Kerala by initiatives of Nonresident Keralites.

Governor P. Sathasivam made the key note address at the concluding public meeting. It was no extravaganza but a concerted move towards the goal embedded in disciplined event management. The organizers can have their chin up. Rather than quantum jump the order was a steady initial step, opined delegates cutting across borders. Bureaucratic out bursts and jargons did not fill the air, with people’s representatives sitting through in the well of Loka Kerala Sabha.

They gave a patient hearing to Global Malayalee thoughts.

The game plan is for time bound action and results. Loka Kerala Sabha provided a level playing ground for the non resident Keralites in the last one and half decades of get together under various banners. Brick battering and criticism are accomplices to innovative mechanism of collective issue settlement. Kudos to Kerala Government for the smart initiative driven by the motto - end justifying the means.

Writer is a legal expert and specialises in NRK affairs. He can be contacted at lalujoseph@gmail.com

column good word Sabin Iqbal sabin.iqbal@gmail.com

Returns on investment in festivals or any planned cultural activity are both tangible and intangible.

Culture Is Currency

I

’m just back from Kolkata where I attended India’s first conclave of lit-fest directors during Kolkata Literature Festival at Kolkata Book Fair, the world’s most attended book fair.

And, I am still in the hangover of being part of an international festival in Thirvuananthapuram— Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters, which I co-curated and co-directed. At the time of writing this column, Kerala Literature Festival is in full swing in Kozhikode.

Why these festivals? Why do government and private sectors spend money on them? Is the government in a position to leverage on these festivals, or has it put in place a ‘cultural policy’?

It is time we looked into the contributions of international festivals to the local economy and the role it plays in the development of a city.

In late 2016, Andrew Kerr, chief executive, The City of Edinburgh Council, wrote: “Edinburgh is internationally renowned for its festivals, dating back to 1947. This August (2016) the Festival welcomed 2,442 artists from 36 nations to perform in Scotland’s capital city. Each year over 1,000 shows per day attract an audience of over 4.5 million. The

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City Council is well aware that the Festivals are a major contributor to both the local Edinburgh economy and the national Scottish economy, generating over £313m for the Scottish economy and creating the equivalent of 6,021 full-time jobs each year.”

Mr Kerr knows what he is talking about, and that’s why Edinburgh is a

cities across the world do not fail to recognise culture’s role in backing up their economic strategies.

city of festivals. In fact, in almost all global cities culture is at the heart of public policy for urban regeneration and government. The much-discussed ‘Bilbao Effect’ is a case in point. The question is, do cities in India have such a well-thought out policy in place? Or, has culture been hijacked by

parochial, communal and obscurantist forces that are reeking its ugly head across the country?

Each major city sets its own priorities and strategies to cash in on its culture, which is dynamic and different from city to city. While in Shanghai, culture is seen as a source of cohesion in a city that is changing incredibly rapidly, in Tokyo it is an important response to the challenges posed by massive earthquakes. The major cities across the world do not fail to recognise culture’s role in backing up their economic strategies.

While London and Paris consider creative industries as important sources for new jobs and growth even in a financial slowdown, New York uses cultural activities to revive and regenerate rundown neighbourhoods.

Cities like Bilbao and Palermo have used culture to regenerate themselves and build them up from the shackles and ashes of ruin.

We know how Kochi-Muziris Biennale (KMB) has placed Kochi, and Kerala, on global cultural map. I was part of the core team of its first edition. And, I know how difficult it was to overcome the many manmade challenges to pull it off. With three editions done, KMB has become a

part of international cultural tourists’ itinerary. I don’t think there is another cultural event in the history of Kerala which has been written about as widely as the biennale. And, KMB has now begun to pay back dividends, in terms of both tangible and intangible.

In the days of globalisation, it is culture that gives global cities a distinctive appeal. World Cities Cultural Report 2014 notes: “In the era of globalisation, world cities are increasingly competing with each other, rather than with other cities in their countries, for such things as the headquarters of multinational firms, or the right to host major international sporting and cultural events. Cultural prowess and economic success are increasingly seen as interlinked.

Those cities with historically strong cultural offers, such as London, New York and Paris, see culture as a vital part of their economic strength. This is expressed in two ways. Firstly, the commercial forms of culture – the creative industries – make up a large and growing share of the economies of large cities. Culture in all its diverse forms is central to what makes a city appealing to educated people and hence to the businesses which seek to employ them. In the globalised knowledge economy, having a welleducated workforce is the key to success, and such workers demand stimulating, creative environments.

It is clear that they (global cities) are well aware of culture’s role in making their cities attractive to ‘talent’. A rich and vibrant culture thus also becomes an indirect source of economic success.”

If Kerala has to attract ‘talent’ to its ambitious IT hubs, creating a vibrant cultural environment is important. Major cities across India, and for that matter in Kerala— Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode—beg for an imaginative

cultural policy which, first of all, acknowledges the critical role culture plays; administrative will and patience; and de-politicised policies and decisions which hold sway beyond the five-year tenure of a government.

In the UN Creative Economy Report 2013, culture is defined as: “Culture is who we are. It shapes our identity; is a means of fostering respect and tolerance among people; a way to create jobs and improve people’s lives; a way to include other and understand them; and helps preserve our heritage and make sense of our future…”

We should not be looking back—to our cultural heritage—when we deal with ‘culture’. Culture is what we are at the moment, and ‘culture is currency’.

Before the government or each city council prepares a policy or goes about executing its cultural activities, meticulous planning is needed. And, for that a cultural and creative audit and mapping is most essential. In fact, that is the first step. You look at any city in the Europe or in the US, they run cultural and creative audit and prepare a map, most preferably a multimedia one. With one click, the top officials will get a fair idea of what is in place, and what is needed to be done. In my close association with the top officials of the cultural department in the state, I have realised that we don’t have any, except a few scraps

of papers and listing of events and heritage structures. And, without a cultural and creative audit and map, whatever we do to promote ‘culture’ will be shooting in the dark.

Festivals, and we have a few up our sleeve these days, should not be ‘avenues’ to spend money nor should they be white elephants bleeding the exchequer. Returns on investment in festivals or any planned cultural activity are both tangible and intangible. They sure have an immediate contribution to the local economy, with economic ripple effects, and the intangibles will take time, which builds a city’s brand, image and character over the a period of time, which in due course will draw a large number of high-spending tourists. The biennale is a good example.

At the recent meeting of the lit-fest directors in Kolkata, it was decided to put it across to the government the importance of mapping festivals and other cultural and creative initiatives across the country for, if not for anything else, the economic contribution they make.

Glad to see the push and the priority that the present government in Kerala gives to ‘culture’ but let me say this in the same breath that it should be approached with a longterm timeline, which could and should transcend political parties and tenures of government, and what needs to be done should be done in a professional and systematic way. If we have to take a leaf out of the books of some of the countries and cities which have done it well, so be it.

Remember, an evening of cultural art forms and display of heritage is not going to make a ‘cultural policy’.

Sabin Iqbal is a Thiruvananthapurambased senior journalist. He writes on culture, sports and business.

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Arun K. Chittilappilly

M S Faizal Khan

Adeeb Ahamed

Asha Sebastian Mattathil

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Arun A. Unnithan

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thoughts&views innovative plans to spread global presence Adeeb Ahamed led Lulu Exchange has a number of plans for the year ahead including expansion of the business across Asia-Pacific region and strengthening of digital presence.

E

conomic activity across the globe is on an upswing and strengthening as we move into the new year. There is still some ground to cover for a complete recovery, but on the short hand, the outlook looks strong. India has been navigating these challenging conditions quite well, and we believe that there will be renewed gusto in 2018 across all sectors.

Financial Services

The evolving landscape of financial services depends on the demands of the customers and their involvement with technology. The convenience of digitalization will eventually enable us to move slowly away from the brick and mortar setup as well as the physical need for cash. It will also bring down the cost of operation, creating a more sustainable turnover margin.

On the part of our financial services arm, Lulu Exchange, we have a number of plans chalked up for the coming year, including expanding our business across the Asia Pacific region and also strengthening our digital presence. Going forward, we hope to maintain the same momentum and growth rate, leveraging through our well spread out branch network and technology driven innovation.

Tourism & Hotels

Despite the economic slowdown, tourism and hospitality sector in India is on track to become one of the major contributors to the flourishing economy. A slew of projects including

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those on the lines of development of infrastructure, transport and attractions, are slowly changing the face of India, which translates to sustained growth in tourism. The steps taken by the state governments clubbed with initiatives of the central government have been crucial to this growth and the sector’s long-term outlook looks very promising.

Our hospitality investment firm, Twenty14 Holdings had a good start

A slew of projects on infrastructure, transport etc translates to sustained growth in tourism.

to the year with the acquisition of the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian in Scotland. Our vision is to create a billion-dollar investment company and a legacy as the world’s leading hospitality investment firm.

There is tremendous opportunity to extend our portfolio of luxury hotels, in view of the current market scenario. In India, we have a few projects in the pipeline at various stages of planning and development, and we aim to add a few more properties to our portfolio in the next few years.

info Adeeb Ahamed Mr. Adeeb Ahamed successfully established Lulu International Exchange, a leading financial services company, which today has 125+ branches in nine countries and Tablez Food Company, a leading F&B company, operating home-grown as well as franchise concepts across UAE and India.

Mr. Adeeb has earned Master of Business Administration in International Management from Royal Holloway, University of London.

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info

About LuLu International Exchange LuLu International Exchange is a nonbanking financial organization and is a leading name in financial service sector, primarily dealing in foreign exchange, global money transfer and salary and wage administration. LuLu International Exchange has its global headquarters in Abu Dhabi and operates across UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, India, Seychelles, Philippines and Bangladesh.

Starting off with the first branch in UAE in September 2009, the company today operates 170+ branches out of nine countries worldwide. The various entities registered across the nine countries include LuLu International Exchange L.L.C. in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Asia Express Exchange in the Sultanate of Oman, LuLu Exchange Company in Kuwait, LuLu Exchange W.L.L. in the State of Qatar, LuLu International Exchange B.S.C (C) in the Kingdom of Bahrain, LuLu Forex in India, LuLu Exchange Limited in Seychelles and LuLu-Phils International Exchange, Inc. in Philippines.

Retail Taking into consideration increased spending on retail brands, brand awareness, supply side getting stronger and more players coming into the market, India is on track to become the world’s largest retail market in the coming few years.

With higher disposable income in the hands of consumers, this market is set for a good growth curve in India.

On the retail front, we have had a fantastic year last year, with our organized retail arm Tablez launching the brands of Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Springfield and Women’secret in

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Tablez

Twenty14 Holdings

Tablez is the brand retailing arm of the group which has introduced world-renowned F&B, toys, lifestyle and apparel brands to GCC & India. Tablez is dedicated to creativity and innovation in seeking out new concepts that bring truly inspiring experiences to its customers.

It has successfully developed two home grown brands that include Bloomsbury’s - an English Artisanal coffee shop and Peppermill - a fine dining colonial Indian themed restaurant. Tablez owns franchise rights of world class brands such as Cold Stone Creamery, Famous Dave’s, Galito’s, Sugar Factory, Genghis Grill and Pancake House.

The group has signed a master-franchise agreement with US brand Toys ‘R’ Us, the world’s leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer, to introduce Toys ‘R’ Us and Babies ‘R’ Us branded outlets to India. The first store was opened in 2017. The group has also signed a master franchise agreement with Spanish company Grupo Cortefiel to bring two of its brands, Springfield - a youth-oriented casual fashion brand and Women’secret - an innerwear, swimwear and sleepwear brand to India which started in Bengaluru.

Twenty14 Holdings is the hospitality investment arm of the Abu Dhabi based LuLu Group International. Founded in 2014 to capitalise on the growth in the global hospitality industry, the company has already acquired a number of prestigious properties.

Twenty14 Holdings currently has assets worth more than $650 million spread across UK, GCC and India. The company opened its first five-star hotel in UAE at Business Bay in Dubai, managed by Steigenberger Hotel Group, a leading German-based hospitality firm in 2015.

The firm co-owns the Sheraton Oman Hotel in Muscat, a 230 key five-star architectural marvel, which was reopened in 2016. Built in 1985, Sheraton Oman is a landmark hotel located at the heart of Muscat in Ruwi and is also one of the tallest buildings in Oman.

The group has made a £110 million agreement with property developer Galliard Homes to create a luxurious five-star hotel at 1-5 Great Scotland Yard, the former headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police Services in London, UK. The custombuilt 92,000 sq ft hotel, to be called the Great Scotland Yard Hotel.

Last year was fantastic with Tablez launching the brands of Toys R Us, Babies R Us, Springfield and Women’secret in India.

India. All brands have been met with great reception and 2018 will see more outlets of our brands opening across further cities.

In the immediate future, we will

be looking at investing around Rs 60-80 crores for expansion across our organized retail brands, including Toys ‘R’ Us, Babies ‘R’ Us, Springfield, Women’secret, alongside F&B brands such as Cold Stone Creamery, Galito’s and Bloomsbury’s. As part of our longterm vision, we plan to invest Rs 300 crores over the next five years, across a multitude of brands in our portfolio.

We are currently in talks with a few other brands, including in the sportswear and accessories categories.

We aim to have 6-8 international brands in our portfolio over the next two years.

thoughts&views amazing rides, new ventures Arun has been a key architect of Wonderla Holidays and has been involved in strategizing and conceptualizing the Wonderla Parks and Resort.

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r. Arun K. Chittilappilly, Managing Director of the Company, is armed with Masters in Industrial Engineering from Industrial Research Institute of Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia. He has been a key architect of Wonderla Holidays and has been involved in strategizing and conceptualizing the Wonderla Parks and Resort.

Last year was rather productive for Wonderla and Arun has larger plans to take his amusement business to newer heights. “Wonderla is in a very nascent industry, amusement parks. It doesn’t even have an industry status yet so we are very happy with the progress we have made in the last 17 years of existence. This sector requires high capex and a very high focus on safety.

Also the idea of entertainment itself is constantly evolving, so we need to

constantly reinvent ourselves. In 2018 we hope to start work on our fourth project Wonderla Chennai. In a way it will be Wonderla ver 4.0. We will use next generation technology like RFID to identify customers and many of the rides will use tech like augmented reality and simulation to give our guests a very different experience,” says Arun.

The Bangalore Wonderla Park was designed as a grander version of the Kochi Park, using the latest technology to compliment its umpteen attractions and facilities. Having been a part of the project right from its conceptual phase, Mr. Arun has witnessed and experienced the phenomenal growth of the amusement park. Arun holds a vision of rapid expansion across South India and has plans to start two more amusement parks in Hyderabad and Chennai.

info Wonderla Holidays Ltd Wonderla Holidays Limited is the leading amusement park operator in India promoted by Arun K Chittilappilly and Kochouseph Chittilappilly. The company currently owns and operates three amusement parks in Kochi, Bangalore and Hyderabad and

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a resort at the Bangalore facility named ‘Wonderla Resort’.

Wonderla is unique in that it designs and creates its own attractions, and has an R&D facility to design and manufacture rides for its own amusement parks.

info Arun K. Chittilappilly Mr. Arun Kochouseph Chittilappilly has been the Managing Director of Wonderla Holidays Limited since 2012.

Mr. Chittilappilly has been actively involved in the day to day operations and management of Wonderla Holidays Limited since 2003.

He has over 10 years of experience in the amusement park industry. He is involved in the conceptualizing and design of amusement parks and also actively involved in technical and marketing functions of Wonderla Holidays.

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thoughts&views timeless designs of perfection and charm M.O.D jewellery line, led by Asha Sebastian, embeds a mixture of classic styling and elegance. The range includes artistically created bridal jewellery to simple kid’s jewellery motifs.

M

.O.D signature jewellery is an initiative by the Mattathil family, this family has been in the jewelry business for the past 5 generations. Headed

by Akshay Sebastian Mattathil, the label represents exclusive designer jewellery by Asha Sebastian Mattathil, a renowned jewellery designer and has been designing for her family business for the past 25 years. We endeavor to be one of a kind with which provides our clientele with bespoke handcrafted jewellery in 916 gold.

Our jewellery line embeds a mixture of classic styling and elegance. The range includes artistically created bridal jewellery to simple kid’s jewellery motifs. Buying Jewellery from ‘M.O.D’ will be a different experience. Our concept of a designer jewellery store is not that of a traditional jewellery store, the collection showcased at the store will be limited to maintain the exclusivity of the designs and more importantly we would customize the jewellery for our clients based on requirements which range from the budget, color of the saree, complexion, age, occasion etc. We source our precious and semi-precious stones

info M.O.D signature jewellery M.O.D signature jewellery is an initiative by Mattathil family, The family has been in the jewellery business for the past 5 generations. Headed by Akshay Sebastian Mattathil, the label represents exclusive designer jewellery by Ashaa Sebastian Mattathil, a renowned jewellery designer and has been designing for her family business for the past 25 years.

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from all over the world. Every piece of jewellery is handcrafted by our own in-house karigars.

Ashaa Sebastian has been designing for the last 25 years. What started as a hobby became a passion. For Ashaa, wife of Devasiachen Mattathil, it was a happy coincidence that she got married to Mattathil family who has been in the jewellery business for past 5 generations. Her forte into the field was quite by accident. Disillusioned by the limited range of jewellery designs

Asha’s creative talent has made her known for making exquisite pieces for weddings.

available in the stores, when she was assembling her trousseau she choose to design her own jewellery and has been designing for family and friends from then. Her creative talent has made her known for making exquisite pieces for weddings.

She has been professionally trained in designing from gemological institute of America (GIA).The clientele consists of names from all walks of life. The range includes antique jewellery, Mughal era jewellery, unique meenakari work, brocade gold jewellery, thread work, body jewellery etc. Every piece entails her passion for jewellery and is created in her own creativity and expertise.

info Asha Sebastian Mattathil

Bhavana, cine artist, looks gorgeous in stunning neckpiece crafted by M.O.D signature jewellery exclusively for her wedding reception.

Asha Sebastian has been professionally trained in designing from gemological institute of America (GIA). The clientele consists of names from all walks of life. The range includes antique jewellery, mughal era jewellery, unique meenakari work, brocade gold jewellery, thread work, body jewellery etc. Every piece entails her passion for jewellery and is created in her own creativity and expertise.

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thoughts&views PRAGMATISING HEALTH SECTOR AND EDUCATION NIMS’ major initiative would be the launch of Human Genetic and Molecular Laboratory and Research Institute by April this year.

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S Faizal Khan, a young entrepreneur with novel ideas is the Pro-Chancellor and Managing Director of Noorul Islam University and NIMS Medicity respectively. A strong advocate of quality higher education and a constant innovator in health care, the young entrepreneur shares his ideas, dreams and aspirations for the year ahead.

I can proudly say that the year 2018 would be marvellous as NIMS has plans to launch a few important projects as part of accomplishing its dream to provide quality health care.

A major initiative would be the launch of Human Genetic and Molecular Laboratory and Research Institute by April this year. With this venture, NIMS would be opening an opportunity to test Genetic disorder, Molecular Biology Tests and Advanced Molecular Human Genetic Bio-technologies. The next one would be the development of Naturopathy to an advanced level. We have also plans to start the first phase activities of our Cancer Foundation.

The Kerala model health care system is in the path of a commendable growth. For the past twenty years, though we faced a decline in many sectors, the health care sector was growing at a steady pace. We have more than twelve Multi Specialty Hospitals which provide high quality treatment. Kochi has already become a

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healthcare hub and Trivandrum would become the next destination. NIMS is also focusing on the expansion of higher education by giving pragmatic exposure to advanced levels of learning.

We have Dental College, Civil Service Coaching centre, Bio-Technology Courses, and a Nursing College. These all are part of developing higher education. Considering our track record, the Maldives Government has requested us to create a ‘NIMS model hospital’ in their country and the work for the same is progressing. The study centres of Noorul Islam University will

info

NIMS Medicity Noorul Islam Institute of Medical Science and Research Foundation also known as NIMS Hospital is a 350-bed tertiary care super specialty hospital situated at Neyyattinkara, Thiruvananthapuram. It is the first initiative in healthcare by the 57-year-old Noorul Islam Educational trust. Nims Medicity was established in the year 2005. Apart from the super specialty hospital, Noorul Islam College of Dental Science and Noorul Islam College of Nursing are also situated at the Nims Medicity campus. Noorul Islam University located in Kumarakovil, Thuckalay, Kanyakumari District Tamil Nadu, India is the other major establishment of the Noorul Islam Educational Trust.

be opened in Sudan and East Africa.

A chain of Naturocure centres are also being planned in different parts of India.

It is a fact that the Health sector is also facing some issues for the past few years due to certain decisions from the part of the nursing community.

The formation of UNA (United Nurses Association) and the series of strikes demanding proper wage pattern for nurses almost crippled the hospitality sector in the State. We all agree to the fact that a decent salary structure is very much essential to nurses given the nature of their jobs, but the solution for this should have been found through a formula acceptable to both the managements and the nursing community. The Government approach to this issue should have been much more practical. We know that the preference Malayali nurses get in placements across the Globe is only because of the quality training they acquire in their homeland. But the UNA stand that the training period is not required and the demand for a monthly salary Rs 35000 during this period itself was unacceptable and this led to the prolonging of the deadlock in this issue. We have different categories of hospitals in the State with some having huge infrastructure back up and the others being run on minimum facilities. So a unified salary structure irrespective of urban, rural and other infrastructure classifications will not be possible in this sector. Moreover all hospitals will be forced to raise the OP charges if they are compelled to meet these demands and the burden will in

turn fall upon the common man who visit frequently these hospitals for their routine treatments. So the UNA and the Government should take a more practical approach in this issue and put an end to the unrest prevailing in this sector. As a hospital administrator, I also support the demand for a decent wage hike which is also affordable those who run the hospitals.

Another development in this sector is the booming concept of Medical Tourism. But in my opinion, Medical Tourism mainly concentrates on Ayurveda and Naturopathy. It has little to do with Allopathy. I do not think that an American would visit Kerala for his Angioplasty Surgery influenced by the Health/Medical Tourism. But if come out with novel ideal and infrastructure facilities, we can cash in on this area

The increase in professional courses has led to dip in the quality of education.

info M S Faizal Khan M.S. Faizal Khan is pro-Chancellor of Noorul Islam University in Tamil Nadu and Managing Director of NIMS Medicity, Kerala. Noorul Islam University, formerly Noorul Islam College of Engineering, is a private co-educational university located in Kanyakumari district.

also in the coming years.

The increase in the number of professional courses has become a major challenge which has literally led to a huge dip in the quality of education being offered in the State. A majority of the students pursuing these courses even don’t have any concrete plans or orientation regarding their career goals and placement fortunes.

So a total revamp is imminent in this sector and establishment of a Skill Development Department in every professional college would be an ideal alternative to bring out professionals who are also skilled in their respective areas.

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thoughts&views Impasse over, aiming high Arun A. Unnithan, Executive Director of Cordon Builders, oversees the real estate operations of the company including selection of project sites, pre-construction activities, construction and marketing of projects.

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run Unnithan, the Executive Director of Cordon Builders, shares his hopes and aspirations of the year ahead with Brand Kerala.

When I look back, 2017 was good and favourable for my business and family. I am very much hopeful about the New Year. Undoubtedly I could say, I closed 2017 as a profitable year. There was some confusion regarding the Demonetization and GST which led to a sudden change in the economy, but fortunately, we could maintain the stability in our business.

I have good expectations for the New Year, as our four projects are running successfully, and three are getting ready for launch. Our project at Sasthamangalam will be launched in February and the one in Vazhayila

by March.

For young builders, Trivandrum is a gracious option. There are only around 40-45 builders in Trivandrum while in Kochi the number is 236.

The resale value in Trivandrum is also excellent. Since the city is a favourite option for pursuing education, the demands for rentals are also high. The upcoming mega projects like Vizhinjam and Lulu Mall will be highly beneficial for the builders.

The need of the hour is a developmental friendly attitude.

Our way of thinking determines our attitude. If people approach infrastructure development in a skeptical way, it will adversely affect the growth we expect in this sector.

We have to think in a humanitarian way so that people alter their attitude of standing against development.

I believe that the new initiatives from the government could lessen the dilemma in consumers. The scarcity of raw materials and hike in prices of products would be a problem, and it creates uncertainty among buyers. All policies create unrest for the end users. Another problem is with RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority). I felt more

problem linked to it is that, during this period, the Nationalist Banks like SBI stops all the benefits of individual home loans. This will put the whole industry in a stand still situation which in turn will lead to unnecessary litigations and friction with our customers. Hence CREDAI has sought the immediate intervention of the Government to effect the necessary changes in this rule and create a favourable

atmosphere for the builders. Another issue being faced by us is the unscientific escalation in the prices of raw materials, which can only be countered by a foolproof mechanism like a price regulatory authority.

To conclude, I foresee a favourable year for the building community if the authorities take a compassionate approach towards the concerns raised by us and create a satisfactory climate for the construction industry.

info

Cordon Constructors & Realtors Pvt. Ltd. Cordon Constructors & Realtors Pvt. Ltd. emphasizes in activating the true meaning behind our tag line – “Delivering Excellence”. Cordon Constructors & Realtors was incorporated in the year 2011, under the great leadership of Sri. N. Ayyappan Unnithan, (Chairman & Managing Director) who has an impeccable reputation of 35 years in the construction arena of Kerala & Tamil Nadu.

Arun A. Unnithan Sri. Arun A. Unnithan, Executive Director, is the one behind the execution and marketing activities of the company. He is an engineer by profession and has an experience of over 12 years in the field of construction of multi storied building and sales. He is also the Treasurer of CREDAI Trivandrum and Executive committee member of BAI.

The scarcity of raw materials and price hike create uncertainty among buyers.

difficulty with RERA than with GST and Demonetization. It takes a lot of time to get the Completion Certificate from RERA, almost thirty days. We have to coordinate with almost six government departments to get certificates, but unfortunately, none of these departments is included in the purview of RERA. So it takes time. If we upload the details of my project in RERA, it takes 30 days to get the registration number.

In this period we do not have the right to sign a new agreement or to start a fresh sale. It is a very difficult situation to handle. Another February 2018

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politics

Rahul era in Congress Challenges and possibilities The Indian National Congress has a long road to take to cope up with surging Bharatiya Janata Party across India.

J Gopikrishnan

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fter long speculations on the timing of his elevation, at last Rahul Gandhi has decided to take up the Presidentship of the Congress party which is facing its worst periods in the history.

Rahul had missed bus many times from 2004. First he could opt as a Cabinet Minister in Manmohan Singh’s Cabinet as desired by all Congressmen and women. It is a known secret in Delhi about Rahul’s shyness and reluctance to head. After the worst defeat in 2014, he could have become the leader of Congress party. But he preferred to sit in back benches and was not that active in Lok Sabha’s proceedings like asking questions, participating in debates etc.

Now his mother Sonia Gandhi has finally succeeded in persuading him to take up the responsibility.

Congress has a long road to take to cope up with surging BJP across India. Even in Tripura, this time Congress unit has decimated and somehow leaders enbloc joined BJP for greener pastures. Except in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the BJP has made solid footing. Now Rahul is in the Congress President’s seat and has

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aggressively started campaigning.

Though the cheer leaders may try to give credit to Rahul for BJP’s narrow victory in Gujarat, its a known fact that people’s anger on Modi Government’s policies and internal tussles in BJP state unit were the reasons. After Narendra Modi’s shifting to Delhi, the Gujarat unit of BJP witnessed a lot of unpleasant

RAhul is still carrying his mother’s old guard which always sees his team as a nightmare.

Chief Minister Vasundahra Raje, the Congress party has to work a lot to gain power. Karnataka, Madhya Pradhesh and Chhattisgarh are the other states going to elections, where BJP is all out to put up a fight.

Rahul has not yet appointed new office bearers in AICC. He is still carrying his mother’s old guard which always sees Rahul’s team as a nightmare. Look at the decision making states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra and Telangana. The crucial decision making factor rests with the readiness of regional parties from these States to ally with the Congress which in turn will decide its fate in the next Lok Sabha election 2019.

The most important thing is the Ayodhya case, which is expected to be decided by mid of this year itself

by Supreme Court. Congress is still on the wrong side of this sensitive case, which will again be a deciding factor in the Hindi heartland. The fate of BJP in around 350 seats in Lok Sabha hangs on the outcome of this case. Does Rahul Gandhi have any political vision in this case?

Otherwise he will have to again bank on the failures of the Modi Government.

info RAHUL GANDHI

Member of the standing committee on home affairs

1970

2004

Born on June 19 to Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia

Won his first Lok Sabha Election from Amethi

2007

2008

2009

AICC general Member of the standing secretary committee in charge on HR of Youth Congress development

2013 Elevated to the post of Congress Vice President

2006

Re-elected to Lok Saha

Member of consultative committee on rural development

2014 Re-elected to Lok Saha

Member of standing committee on external affairs and consultative committee

2017

Elected as the President of Indian National Congress

J Gopikrishnan is Special Correspondent of ‘The Pioneer’ newspaper’s New Delhi bureau

things. Chief Minister Anandi Ben’s unceremonious exit and BJP President Amit Shah’s bickerings with her were known things, apart from the Patel community’s agitations.

Rahul led Congress party has to face many assembly elections this year. Except Rajasthan due to anti-incumbency factor against February 2018

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personality Rajasekharan Nair, CMD of RR Holiday Homes Pvt.Ltd., has avenged the social deficiencies of his childhood days through constructive assets.

K.V. Vincent

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his is the story of a boy born and brought up in a lower middle class family, in a small village in Kerala, who could not get quality education for want of finance and facilities, coming back to his village after 30 years of exile in a far-away metropolitan city and taking sweet revenge by starting an internationally acclaimed educational facility for thousands of students in his village. This is also the story of an adolescent who had to leave his place in search of a job to eke out a living, make both ends meet by doing hard work in a far away city and comes back to give decent jobs to hundreds in his native place. These are the ways in which Sri. Rajasekharan Nair, the Chairman and Managing Director of R R Holiday Homes Pvt. Ltd.,has avenged his childhood of poor education, adolescence of job-seeking sojourn and youth of low-paid hard menial work.

He was born as the second of 8 children born to Late Sreedharan Nair and Late RugmaniAmma in a lower middle class Nair family in Chenkal village, NeyyattinkaraTaluk, Thiruvananthapuram district of

Kerala State on 12th November, 1955. He had to leave home in search of a job as he could not continue his studies after matriculation due to financial difficulties. After a long and arduous sojourn, he reached Mumbai, at the young age of 17, and did odd jobs in restaurants there. After learning the intricacies of customer satisfaction and profitable business strategies in the hospitality industry he was capable of sailing out on his own and started four restaurants of his own

His desire to give employment to his compatriots and his craving for excellence found other outlets in hospitality sector.

between 1985 and 1990 During all these years in Mumbai, he had nurtured in his mind his dream and ever-burning desire to do something in his own place and

the

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Thousands of guests from India and abroad have registered their satisfaction over the quality of service they could enjoy at UDS’s facilities. This has been the result of making our team satisfied with the remuneration and treatment that they are getting.

Rajasekharan Nair

Rajesekharan Nair with wife Radha, daughters Karthika Nair, Thulasi Nair and son Vignesh Nair.

for his own people. Surmounting all difficulties, he purchased a stretch of uneven land near Kovalam and developed it to his satisfaction and started Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel and Spa as a Four Star facility with just 35 rooms. With constant attention to every detail in infrastructure and furnishing, persevering vigilance in the maintenance of quality in service he was able to obtain Five Star status for it in 2014. It is the biggest beach resort in Kerala with 225 luxury rooms and ISO 9001 - 2000 Certification, apart from great reviews and kudos from travel agencies and international visitors.

His desire to give more employment to his compatriots and his indomitable craving for excellence in every sphere found

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he took over an ailing school and established a Public School of International repute.

other outlets in hospitality sector. In 2009 he started UDS Sky Kitchens for Air India and Air Maldives, catering mouth watering delicacies of Indian and Continental cuisines to the passengers and crew of the 2 airlines. In 2011 he started a luxury Airport hotel Uday Suites, with 45 premium rooms, close to the Domestic and International

terminals of Thiruvananthapuram Airport. Apart from hospitality industry, he ventured into other fields of industriousness. In 2001 he had acquired R GAC Electrodes Limited and in 2003 he started KVT Electrodes Pvt. Ltd. Now, it is one of the leading welding electrodes manufacturing company in India.

It was then that his earlier dream of doing something for the young generation in his native place began to crop up again. He wanted the children of his place should never suffer the limitations that he had suffered in his childhood. With this intention, in the same year in which he started the UDS Sky Kitchens,in 2009, he took over an ailing school with 300 students in his native place Chenkal and established Sai Krishna Public School of International

repute and standards, presently accommodating 1400 students under the CBSE syllabus, up to the 12th standard. The infrastructure has the capacity to accommodate over 3000 students. Sai Krishna Public School at Chenkal is the Regional Winner in the Asia-Pacific Region as judged by the School Entrepreneur Challenge, UK, for exceptional school enterprise and contribution to developing business and practical skills. He has implemented the ‘Go Green’ programme of environmentfriendliness in the school.

Of course, his unconquerable spirit does not stop searching for new grazing grounds in the hospitality sector. Already there are three projects nearing completion.

Expected to be commissioned in end of this year, is an International February 2018

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info Uday samudra hotels

Upcoming projects across india Uday Samudra Leisure beach hotel and Spa at Kovalam

Convention centre at Kowdiar, Trivandrum with multiple convention facilities. A five star hotel in Alleppey is to be commissioned in April 2018. Procuring of land and obtaining formal approval of the plans have been completed in the case of a five star hotel project at Vagamon, in Idukki. His persevering spirit and drive are ever on the move up against all odds.

Even his adversaries respect him as a soft-spoken person who will never brag about his own qualities and capabilities. From his activities, from the open book of his life, we can easily spot the qualities that make him stand out, head and shoulders above the competition in the business field, especially in one of the most difficult and complicated world of hospitality services, where the discerning international clients and exacting travel agencies expect too much from the service providers and the facilities who are always at the receiving end.

Other notable characteristics are his perseverance and willingness to never shirk his duties, whether working under others or on his own, and his willingness to face each challenge as a stepping stone to success.

His strict adherence to flawless and premium quality in everything his accomplishes is another significant characteristic that gives him a distinguishable edge over his rivals in the field is. He recognises and

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Uday Suites Garden Hotel at Trivandrum Airport

rewards every effort of dedication on the part of any one of his employees.

He believes that a contented workforce is the guarantee and prerequisite for creating a contented clientele.

He has been engaged in nature conservation and environmental

He is actively engaged in nature conservation and environmental protection.

Uday Sky Kitchen caters to major airlines

Uday Hospitality and Management College at Trivandrum

protection throughout his life. For the last seventeen years, he has been a part of the campaign to green Thiruvananthapuram city and to keep it clean. He gives a lot of financial assistance to activities for protecting nature and conserving natural resources and takes personal interest in the progress of these activities.

Government and hospitality organisations have showered on him several awards and recognitions.

From 2008 to 2015 he has received the Best Four Star award for his Uday Samudra Beach Resort from the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala. He has also received the Best Coastal Hotel Award from World Luxury Hotel Award Organisation continuously from 2010 to 2017.

All India Achievers’ Foundation has honoured him with Indian Leadership Award for Hospitality and Tourism in 2011 and Kerala SahridayaVedi gave him Tourism Entrepreneur Award in 2009. He got the Business Excellence Award in 2013 from the Union of German Malayalee Association (UGMA) and Inspire Achievement Award Organisation. He served as a Management Committee Member of Kerala Travel Mart Society 2015-17 that brings those in hospitality sector under an umbrella and works for the progress of the whole industry.

Shri. Rajasekharan Nair is blessed with a family that supports all his endeavours in every way. He is married to Smt. UdayaChandrika

Luxury Resort ideally located amidst the pristine backwaters of Alappuzha

Nair, alias Radha, as she is known in South Indian film industry as a noted character artiste and Kalaimamani Award winner. They have three children. The eldest, Ms. Karthika Nair, is a film actress and completed her Post Graduation from London University; the second, Mr. Vignesh Nair, is a hospitality graduate from London and currently working with ITC Hotels and the youngest, Ms. Thulasi Nair, is also a film actress

Golf Link Convention Hotel with all modern facilities.

Hill Station Resort amidst the cool environs of Wagamon

of note and a BBA student in Cambridge University.

If condensed in a nut shell, the story of Shri. Rajasekharan Nair, is the story of perseverance that pays, hard work that sustains, care for fellow human beings that gives him contentment and care for nature and environment that gives him joy.

He can contribute a lot more, in the coming years, to India’s hospitality industry.

expect the unexpected.

brand kerala

for more information and registration info@brandkerala.biz Brand Kerala Media House Associates SRL A 32, Sankar Road, Sasthamangalam P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695010 Kerala, India Tele : +91 471 231 1377/231 2377

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feature Ease of Doing Business Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion had laid emphasis on simplification and rationalization of the existing rules and introduction of IT to make governance more efficient, effective, and user-friendly.

“E

conomic progress cannot be achieved without industrial progress.”

Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), an index published by the World Bank is a benchmark study of the regulations across different Countries of the World.

It is an aggregate figure that includes different parameters which define the Ease of Doing Business in a country.

The index is a means of measuring business regulations and its implementation across 190 economies and selected cities at the sub national and regional level. The Doing Business project, launched in 2002, looks at domestic small and mediumsize companies and measures the regulations applying to them through their life cycle. It provides indicators on regulation for starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority

Dr M Beena IAS

investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency.

According to the World Bank’s latest ‘Doing Business’ index, India stands at 100 out of 190 countries in the Ease of Doing Business ranking. In this regard, Government of India (GoI) had in 2015 –’16 decided to formulate strategies and steps towards creating an enabling framework for stimulating investments and growth across the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors.

Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), GoI had laid emphasis on simplification and rationalization of the existing rules and introduction of information technology to make governance more efficient, effective, simple and userfriendly. Govt. of India (GoI) has been ranking States based on the Ease of Doing Business and also in getting timely clearances. The States had been

ranked based on the parameters that include ease in setting up a business, registration of property, labour compliances, infrastructure availability, finance and tax issues, inspection reforms and ease in exiting business.

Kerala is in the 20th position in the EoDB ranking of States done by DIPP, GoI during the year 2016-’17.

Government of Kerala (GoK) had decided to undertake reforms to help place the State on an equal footing amongst other top ranked States and identified specific areas for improvement in various aspects of doing business in the State. The key areas identified were i) Registration, ii) Revenue iii) Municipality Building

 Employers shall no longer be obliged to hire the services of headload workers if they have their own manpower or machinery for loading/unloading tasks. An employer may henceforth arrange loading and unloading operations on his own.  Changed the name of “Dangerous & Offensive Trades and Factories” licenses for starting and running enterprises to a more

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industry friendly “Factories, Trades, Entrepreneurship Activities and Other Services”, thereby removing all negative connotations.  Eliminated the need for NOC from the DMO for undertaking all activities. Henceforth, Clearance from District Medical Officers to be applicable only for hospitals, clinics, laboratories and paramedical institutions.  Specific time limits (15 days) fixed for issue or rejection of licenses beyond which deemed licences will be issued.  Approval based on Selfcertification and Third party

February 2018

recommendations for amendments in the respective Acts and Rules was approved by the Cabinet and an Ordinance was published thereafter.

Accordingly, the Kerala Panchayat Raj Act, the Kerala 2018 Municipalities Act, the corresponding building rules, and host of other Acts and rules relevant to granting clearances have been subjected to thorough review and revision.

info 2013

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2014

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2017

2016

 The power of the Local Body to issue stop memos to industries that have obtained all statutory approvals, on receiving complaints about nuisance created by the venture has been taken away; instead, the local body has to seek an expert opinion from the concerned departments and take action based on that.

 Stop memos/prohibitory notices to be issued, if any, only if the establishment fails to comply with the corrective norms of the technical departments within the stipulated time frame.

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 Licences to be issued with a validity of 5 years and renewal of the same will also be for 5 years.

Renewal will be automatic based on fee payment with no separate application process.  Introduction of self-certification for green category industries for Pollution Control Board and selfcertification for factory licence from Factories & Boilers, for factories

with less than 25 workers.  Investment Promotion and Facilitation Cell constituted on behalf of Kerala State Single Window Board and will be responsible for smooth interaction with applicants and issuing speedy approvals.  Single Window Board to have the power to issue composite clearances that will be binding to all departments/agencies. Deemed licenses may be issued by the respective Boards in cases where the stipulated time period of 30 days have exceeded.  Extraction of ground water

below limits fixed for the Block concerned shall be permitted on the basis of self-certification of the unit concerned; however, in case of misrepresentation, a penalty of Rs.5 lakhs may be imposed.  All persons extracting ground water are now required to make provisions for treating, recycling and reusing used ground water.  The licence for lifts and escalators may now be issued for 3 years instead of 1 year at a time.  Only two documents required for obtaining electricity connections – proof of identity and proof of legal occupancy.

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Ease of Doing Business rankings India jumped up 30notches into the top 100 rankings on the World Bank’s ‘ease of doing business’ index

2015 certification for specific levels is implemented in the State for clearances from LSG / PCB / CTP / Fire & Rescue. However, misrepresentations if any detected later, a penalty of maximum of Rs.5 lakhs shall be charged.

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Writer is Managing Director, KSIDC.

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Advantages to entrepreneurs The key advantages to the entrepreneurs, based on the Ordinance issued and amendments made in the Rules are highlighted below.

Rules iv) Panchayat Building Rules v) Survey and Land Records, where speedy reformations required for making a more conducive atmosphere for starting business. It was also decided to adopt the best practices of other States to improve the ease of doing business environment in the State.

KSIDC, being the nodal agency of the Government of Kerala, had done a study on the modification / amendments to be made in the concerned Rules and Regulations related to the existing clearance procedures in the State. The final report containing the

 Coverage Area and Floor Area Ratios have been increased in the relevant rules thereby increasing the available land for construction  Categorizations of industrial activities in the ‘Hazardous’ category has been linked to the definition in Factories Act. The access road width, set back etc. will henceforth be dependent on this classification.  Delegation in powers of approval from the Department of Town and Country Planning have been ensured, with CTP being the appellate authority

under 5 labour laws  Orders issued for inspections to be done on the basis of a risk assessment of units, with the more risky to be inspected more often.  Provision for joint inspection by departments have been introduced.  An online single window clearance mechanism (SWIFT) including online Common Application Form (CAF), unifying the applications of the concerned departments/agencies with online payment provision, for speedy disposal of clearances in the State have been introduced.

 Spot registration introduced February 2018

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column Starting a new business

BUsiness economics Dr. Kochurani Joseph drkochurani@gmail.com

Growing a business requires the right intellectual capital, carefully selected strategic partnerships, and products diversification facing strong market demand.

O

This is the time for a TAKE OFF

ne of the key thinkers of Development Economics of twentieth-century is W.W. Rostow, an American economist and government official. As a staff member in President John F. Kennedy’s administration, Rostow promoted his development model as part of U.S. foreign policy. According to him developing countries have tended to pass through five stages to reach their current degree of economic development. It is a gradual process of five stages from traditional society to an age of high mass consumption.

In the first stage which is termed as Traditional Society, the size of the capital stock is limited and of low quality resulting in very low labour productivity and little surplus output left to sell in domestic markets. The second stage is Pre-conditions for takeoff more output is traded as savings and investment grow. The third stage is Take-off, where output and receipts reach a peak stage of growth. It is just as an aircraft before it takes-off the ground and becomes airborne has to run at a certain minimum speed, gather momentum and at a critical moment of energy it gets take off. The fourth stage

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is a drive to maturity where industry becomes more diverse, growth spreads to different parts of the country as the state of technology improves. The final stage is that of an age of high mass consumption characterized by output levels grow, enabling increased consumer expenditure and sustainable income growth.

What Rostow visualized for a developing economy, can be applicable for business. Many want to do business, yet few know how to sustain it for the long-term or look beyond the next quarterly or yearly report.

Growing a business requires the right intellectual capital, carefully selected strategic partnerships, and products diversification facing strong market demand. The biggest mistake of a small business is plan a small business.

Beyond these fundamentals, sustaining growth requires a strong operational foundation to flourish business over time. You must be sure enough about what sets it apart from the competition. Identify why customers come to you for a product or service. What makes you relevant, differentiated and credible? Let

us analyze the components in a simple and systematic way.

As we put it, well begun half done.

We also say think globally and start locally. Start in a small way and grow rather than starting big and disappears.

Setting up your own business can be an exciting time. Investing time into proper planning is the key to turn your dreams into reality. We require the necessary management skills, industry expertise, technical skills, finance etc. Before starting check yourself whether you are suited to business and self employment.

Ask yourself these questions- what skills I have for a business?, what are my objectives? What is the income turnover plan? Even if everything is not clear you can start if there is an inner voice for it.

business over time. For that analyze the market periodically and provide scope for innovation. Put yourself in your customers place and think about your product. It will help you to do innovations. Innovation is the heart and soul of business. As the great economist of innovation J.A. Schumpeter says innovation can be new product, new method of production, finding out new markets, adopting new mode of advertisements

Sustaining the business Every businessman wants to grow in their field of business or wish to sustain it for the long-term. It helps to reduce the risks to the

etc. A judicious blending of these skills makes a business sustainable for a long period.

Flourishing the business

Successful business people have never done everything by a single person, it is

widen your horizon of business and find out right persons in the right place.

the result of a team of people. So widen your horizon of business and find out right persons in the right place. Division of labour and specialization leads to large scale returns. Some common growth strategies in business include market penetration, market expansion, product expansion, diversification and acquisition. Focus on being productive rather than become busy. Explore true stories of success and failures in business. Have contact with them and listen these stories. But ultimate decision is yours because you are the captain of your own ship. Make sure that you take time for relax and leisure.

It is for energising your charisma at its level best.

In the end you can say I am different, so also my business. It is because of the fact that your own resolution to succeed is more important to that of any other. Yes ! It is the time for a takeoff.

Remember; if opportunity doesn’t knock build a door.

The author is head of Department of Economics, Bharata Mata College, Ernakulam, Motivational speaker and trainer in Finance Management.

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health

Digital We are in the era of digital currency, digital display, digital banking, digital attendance and digital photography. When we urge to run in same pace dentistry is not an exception.

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Dental Revolution

Dr Segin Chandran KR

L

ate 1950’s to the late 1970’s, witnessed the proliferation of computers and digital record keeping that continues to the present day. Last 10 yrs saw the epitome of this digital revolution and “Digital India” movement, which revoked mixed response from our public. The digital revolution is the shift from mechanical and analog electronic technology to digital electronics. It is true that use of computers, smart phones with internet made life faster and productive. It geared up an industrial revolution crossing all regional boundaries.

Informations shared in seconds revolutionised the

medical and dental care services across the globe.

With the advent of high speed internet as a core utility and unique life long online authentic digital identity, smart phone with its internet accessibility, sharable private space on a public cloud, safe and secure cyber space are key reasons of going digital in all areas of human life. We are in the era of digital currency, digital display, digital banking, digital attendance and digital photography. When we urge to run in same pace dentistry is not an exception.

The success mantra in dentistry depends purely on accuracy, then in millimetres and now in microns. God father of Digital Dentistry is Francois Duret, who invented dental CAD/ CAM in 1973. Computerised Digital designing and milling, revolutionised the way dental prothesis were made.

Limitations in getting digital dentistry popular is cost, lack of acceptance to change from conventional methods, to have a training protocol and to adapt a self training in digital dental work flow.

The same was in the case of banking sector too, if you remember! But core banking, mobile apps and the faster delivery of services made it convenient and faster for the public as well as service providers.

Soon we will be seeing measurement trays and the materials that we used in dentistry getting vanished. Digital impressions are getting popular, photogrammetry based intra oral scanning devices is already in. It accurately measures and gives a positive virtual replica to the system which in turn is used to fabricate

prothesis above that.

Gone are the days of dental x ray imaging with small films. Now Radio Visio Graphy (RVG) using charged coupled devices or flat panel detectors do the job and it sends x ray images to the doctors ‘ working computer. It avoids physical storage of films and gives long time source of information.

With 3D evaluation using cone beam CT for diagnosis and treatment planning we get a fool proof diagnosis and more predictable treatment options. Biggest advantage is saving time and avoiding hazardous chemicals used in film processing and lead foil.

Cone beam CT offers better imaging with low radiation and faster acquisition of image. Doctor may use this technology to produce 3D images to teeth, soft tissues, nerve path ways and bone in a single scanning. It helps to plan surgeries in the most accurate way.

The intra oral scanned images and digital impressions along with cone beam CT images helped to make the missing teeth or a part of jaw in a virtual 3D fashion that is made into a prosthesis by CAD CAM process.

India, especially Kerala already a long way in this direction has got many internationally acclaimed dental labs doing this procedures in India.

This significant change in the field of dentistry is taking a steep growth by getting clinicians by doing more guided surgeries and implant placements and giving solutions for missing teeth in a day’s time.

When more clinicians adopt the same technology and move in the same direction its going to get common and cheaper. Digital record keeping is very common in urban dental practices soon in digital India its going to hit the nook and corners of rural and suburban areas. Now the cost of internet and availability of high speed services all across the world making the scenario

Dr Segin Chandran KR

The success mantra in dentistry depends purely on accuracy, then in millimetres and now in microns. more affordable.

The virtual planning and steriolithiography models made in a sequence is used to correct irregular teeth using clear tray like material with pressure points in it. These are called clear aligners. Last few years dental world witnessed significant growth in this area of treatment.

Now a days doctors form cloud services where every doctor can contribute their share of thoughts making it a globally accepted treatment consensus in a virtual platform.

A modern dental office will have digital work flow starting from patient registration till the treatment record.

Online presence having on website and having accessibility and giving access

to the clients to have discussions and healthy interactions.There is a statistics showing that 47% of global population have internet and using the facility to reach doctors for their consultations and treatment.

Detecting minute dental caries by means of laser detectors (Cariodent), Digitally controlled pain free injection devices (WAND) Dental crowns made in a day using CAD CAM, Accurate shade selection with digital gadgets, Digital Smile Designing the arena of digital dentistry is very vast opening up a new horizon for people with innovative thoughts.

Laser procedures in dentistry is a promising field minimising trauma and post operative discomfort in minor oral surgeries. Facial Makeover Surgeries correcting facial deformities planned with softwares make such procedures more predictable and accurate.

Writer is Oral and Maxillo facial surgeon of Kamala Dental Super Speciality Hospital, TVM February 2018

brand brand kerala kerala

53

success story info KSDP MILESTONES

Incorporated since 1974

The only Allopathic Pharma Company under Government of Kerala

Paid up capital Rs.94 lakhs

Modernization, Expansion and introduction of new technology being implemented

A dedicated Betalactam Plant having various range of tablets, Capsules, Dry powder and Injectables(2011)

NABL Accredited Pharma Allied Testing Laboratory (2017)

Over 70 odd products of Betalactam and Non-Betalactam

Considerable share in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and other states

Betalactam Dry powder Injection Plant (May 2017)

WHO certification and approval of Beta facility (2018)

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan handing over the WHO certificate to KSDP authorities.

WHO CERTIFICATION PUTS KSDP ON GROWTH PATH KSDP started the production of life saving medicines to cater the needs of the people of Kerala through the central purchasing committee and then Kerala Medical Service Corporation since 1974.

54

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February 2018

K

erala State Drugs& Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a Public Sector Undertaking, has received the prestigious WHO certification. It is a Scheme developed by the World Health Organization(WHO) in response to the request of WHO Member States to facilitate international trade in pharmaceutical products between Member States. The WHO Certification Scheme for finished pharmaceutical products is an international voluntary agreement to provide assurance to countries participating in the Scheme, about the quality of pharmaceutical products moving in international commerce.

The Scheme is an administrative

instrument that requires a participating Member State, upon application by a commercially interested party, to certify/attest to the competent authority of another participating Member State that a specific pharmaceutical product is authorized for marketing in any of the certifying country.

By this certification, KSDP can come in front of the upstream level among the export brand to market our products and can control and enforce compliance with general good manufacturing practices (GMP).

The strategic initiative of getting the WHO certification and its continued maintenance will impart a

great knowledge/practice for the company staff regarding the needs to maintain classification, habitats and improved quality awareness. The Product Development wing of the Company has made all efforts to bring out scores of new products in addition to the existing multiplicity of drug

KSDP is shielding itself from globalization threats and is venturing into commercial trade operations.

formulations to the tune of hundred odd products.

The development work of new generation drugs are in progress.

Without any compromise in Quality, KSDP LTD. is shielding itself from the globalization threats and is venturing into commercial trade operations. With a mission to achieve “CURE FOR ALL”, KSDP is looking forward to a Healthy· Generation and Nation.

KSDP started the production of life saving medicines to cater the needs of the people of Kerala through the central purchasing committee and then Kerala Medical Service Corporation since 1974.

The Company is a major supplier of Quality drugs to Kerala State Medical Service Corporation (KMSCL), Thiruvananthapuram.

The company now have orders from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana mainly for Antibiotic Drugs. 2017.

A new 100 crore project for Non Betalactam Products is in the progressive stage and is expected to be commissioned within a couple of months.

February 2018

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55

agri biz

Farming is charming Can we expect a steady increase in NCA in the state given the land resources status and pressures on it?

Dr.P.Indira Devi

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February 2018

T

he share of agriculture sector in the GDP of the country is just 16.3 per cent (2014-15), almost a half of what it was three and half decades ago. But the sector forged ahead with quantum leaps in the production of food grains, horticultural crops, cotton and many others, while supporting a large section of population directly as farm workers, farmers and supply chain operators. At the same time, the farmers, across India were reeling under price crash and resultant poor returns forcing them to agitate or to end life ie. farm distress reports are mounting!! Higher production obviously did not help them achieve higher returns. Higher food production also did not help them reduce poverty, ensure food security, many still remaining poor, food insecure and malnourished.

Threats to human life,both direct and indirect, owing to chemical use in agriculture, is another area of concern forcing the democratic system to effect policy shifts in favor of organic farming. Declining water table poses problems in access to water. The paradoxing situation of higher production and sub optimal welfare,raises the fundamental question- Is higher production,

productivity indicative of the wellbeing of this sector? or should we focus on the social, ecological and economic aspects of farming that make human life qualitatively better?

This question has become relevant now, while going through the mass media reports, quoting the Economic Review 2018, of Kerala State.

Economic Reviews 2018, the official report on the performance

Threats owing to chemical use in agriculture, is another area of concern.

of the economy of the state paints a dismal picture of agricultural sector in Kerala. The cultivated area and production shows decline, compared to previous year and share of the sector is further down to 10.58 % (16-17)of GSDP, from 10.85 % the previous year. The year on year growth in the sector was (-)7 % in 15-16 which improved to 2.5%

info Trends in Area under Cultivation in Kerala (1995-2017)

Net area sown

Area(ha)

Gross cropped area

3069136

2584000 2264842

2015482 1995-96

Year

2016-17

in 16-17. But the media reports reflect a gloomy state of affairs. Is declining share of GSDP a new trend in Kerala agriculture? Shall we asses agricultural sector, based on the production performance alone? Does the data reflect the true picture?

The net cropped areas in the state is reported at 20.15 lakh Ha.(201617), less by 7591 ha than the previous year. Kerala is the state that take a lead in rate of urbanization, density of population and limited land resources. The secondary and tertiary sector grow at a galloping rate. Naturally the pressure on land is very high and conversion of agricultural lands happen. The net cropped area has been declining all these years and it is not surprising,as well. Can we expect a steady increase in NCA in the state given the land resources status and pressures on it?

The gross cropped area(25.84 Lakh ha.), which reflect the area cultivated more than once (mainly the seasonal crops: rice, vegetables)shrank by 43577 ha over the previous year (2015-16). Of this 26000 ha is the paddy cultivation alone. We may recall the massive efforts to boost paddy cultivation during this period.

The upland rice farming drive, which was introduced as an effort to inculcate the culture of farming, has gained lot of media attention.

This has further pushed up the social resistance towards wetland conversion. Several farmer /youth /

February 2018

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57

women initiators took up the drive, both on account of the food and ecological safety concerns. In this background, the decline in paddy cultivation as per the Economic Review data, is to analysed very seriously on account of two aspects.

One, the area not cultivated due to water scarcity problems / other aspects/ area converted are to be clearly assessed :two, one should keep in mind that the situation would have been much worse, in the absence of the massive efforts by the government, to sustain paddy farming !

In the case of coconut, the crop from which the name of the state originated, the data from different agencies do not match. The Economic Review reports continuous fall in area, production, and productivity while the United Coconut Association (Philippines) report place Kerala as the leader in production, with a push in area and productivity, than that of previous year!!! Economic Review reports the production at 5379 million nuts, from 7.81 lakh ha (productivity 6883 nuts/ ha).

But the international data places the production at 7464.25 million nuts from 7.70 lakh hectares (productivity 9663 nuts/ ha). With substantial difference in data the conflicting reports are baffling. At this juncture it is to be born in mind that realistic data is the basis for scientific planning.

Now, for the vegetables sector.

Perhaps, this is the sector that showed revolutionary changes.

The micro level initiatives among the housewives, retired person, youth, students and the farming communities towards organic vegetable production have been very enthusiastic during these days. This included commercial as well as production for domestic

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February 2018

consumption. The organic/ safe to eat production through eco-friendly management practices has been triggered by the basic philosophy of food safety. The shift in attitude, towards self sufficiency and safety in food and environmental safety can be linked to higher social and economic development indicators of the state. The vegetable production in terraces, poly houses, open fields/ precision farming and even under hydroponic methods have invited great media attention. Vegetable farming in 29589 ha (2015-16) (excluding the 17135 ha reported

The micro level initiatives towards organic vegetable production have been enthusiastic.

as drumstick area which is bit unrealistic) must have substantially increased during 16-17 which is not mentioned in Economic Review. There is no mention of the commendable strides in this sector.

The achievements in the sector perhaps, is to be viewed in the social and ecological perspectives rather than mere economic.

Further, the improvement in the agricultural economy, which is reflected through the parity index (proportion of prices received to prices paid by the farmers) is also to be noted. Over the previous year the index has improved to 66.60 compared to 59.83 in 2016. This positive signal of farmer welfare is to be viewed in the backdrop of the

reports on farm distress/ suicides, elsewhere in the country.

The pertinent question here is, whether the farm sector performance be measured on the basis of physical indicators like crop area, production and productivity alone?

Is it not important that we protect the agro biodiversity? traditional resources? natural resources? While India, along with rest of the world aims to achieve the sustainable development goals, the basic pillar of sustainability(agrobiodiversity) is to be protected. ie.the social, ecological and economic dimensions of agricultural sector is to be properly acknowledged. The ecosystem services from agricultural sector ( ground water recharge, biodiversity conservation, climatic regulation etc.), the social significance (employment, food security, public health) and economic viability are to be equally weighted and reflected while we develop growth indicators in agricultural sector. In that perspective, the farmers need to be properly paid for the ecological services rendered by the sector.

Are we ready to pay? The Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) to farmers forms the acknowledgement for setting up a healthy living environment for the people. Let us be grateful to the farmers. Let us set the stage for all of us to be farmers.

The signals that we project about farm sector is to be such that, there is motivation for all sections of the society to take part in agricultural production and be proud of it.

Agriculture should again become the basic culture and the philosophy of the society- not solely agribusiness.

Writer is the Professor & Director of Research,Kerala Agricultural University e-mail: indiradevi.p@kau.in

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analytical feature INSURANCE FORECAST FOR THE FY 2018 At present, the insurance industry is witnessing a shift towards the traditional non-linked insurance plans

Subhash Babu

T

he Indian life insurance industry has witnessed changes over the past decade and a half. The main reasons were due to Denationalization (2000), New product regulations (2010), Open architecture for Bancassurance (2016), Issuance of policies in electronic form (2016), and Increase in FDI limits (2016), Further, the industry has undergone fundamental shifts such as rapid expansion, rebalancing of distribution with rise of Bancassurance, and transitions of product mix.

The life insurance market grew at an average Compound Annual Growth Rate of 13.28 per cent from 2002 to 2017. During 2016-17, private sector life insurers recorded premium of Rs 1.18 trillion (Rs.1,19,015 Cr) while LIC, the only public sector life insurer recorded premium of Rs 3 trillion

LIC

private sectors

Rs 3,02,965 Cr

recorded premium during

2016-17

Rs 1,19,015 Cr 60

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February 2018

Expecting growth within next three years

(Rs.3,02,965 Cr). Life insurance industry in India is expected to grow at 15-18 per cent on APE basis in FY18.

Current Market Trend

At present, the industry is witnessing a shift towards the traditional nonlinked insurance plans. The share of non-linked insurance increased from 59.1 per cent in FY09 to 88 per cent in FY18.

Let us examine the potential of the industry and outlook for the near future along with key factors that will be instrumental in moulding the industry.

Going ahead, India’s insurable population is anticipated to touch 75 Crs by 2020 with a life expectancy of 74 years. Demographic factors like a growing middle-class, a young, insurable population and increasing awareness could catalyze growth of the sector. Besides, the increased entry of large global insurance brands (following an increase in the FDI cap to 49 percent) could widen the size and prospects of the sector. The life insurance industry has the potential to grow 2-2.5 times by 2020 in spite of multiple challenges supported by long-term trends and fundamentals underlying household savings.

Changing Demographics and Rising Affluent Class of our nation lay a core basis for Life Insurance Sector. India currently has one of the youngest populations in the world with a average age of 28 years. It is estimated that 90% of India’s population will remain below 60 years of age by 2020.

Rapid urbanisation coupled with high share of working population with

$ 55 billion

$ 100 billion expecting level

current level

rising affluence is expected to provide impetus to the growth in Indian Life Insurance Sector.

Growing awareness in insurance among people can be a motivational factor. Innovative products and new distribution channels, and increasing demand for insurance off shoring can be disseminated to people. There is a high potential in the Pension Segment too.

Future opportunities can also be broadened through an increase in investments. Insurance companies in India have risen over Rs 35,000 crore through public issues in 2017. Increase in FDI limit to 49 per cent from 26 per cent, approved in 2016, will further fuel for more investments.

Major aspects affecting Insurance Forecast

A good Life Insurance strategy may lead to a new, positive and intensified distribution. The focus will intensify on strategic channels i.e. agency (through productivity improvements) and Bancassurance (through open architecture). Development of new/

Increase in FDI limit to 49% from 26 %, approved in 2016, will further fuel for more investments.

emerging channels like Point of Sale (POS) and digital distribution will help expand and deepen distribution.

Furthermore, India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) plans to start selling insurance products and mutual funds of other companies by early 2018.

Nearly 100 firms, domestic as well as foreign, have showed keen interest in partnering with the bank.

An aggressive growth of 20-25 percent has been recorded in the past few years. With that an optimistic forecast would result as the industry growing of the size of over $100 billion (Rs.6,50,000 Cr) within next 3 years, from current levels of around $55

billion (Rs.3,57,500 Cr). Continued economic reforms, rising disposable incomes, relative under-penetration (2.7 percent compared to global average of 3.5 percent), and shift of savings from physical assets to financial sector will help to drive an enhanced growth. Moreover, the internal factors affecting the industry growth are digital transformation, capital inflows, and the industry’s approach towards customer-centricity.

Scope for Insurance Sector

The insurance sector can expect progress on better underwriting in policies which may improve policy issuance. Innovation is likely to continue in health insurance which is extremely popular where government spends on healthcare is low. With healthcare expenditure by the government at 1.4% of the GDP, it is one of the lowest in the world. One can expect much more customisation with a lot of focus on preventive healthcare.

Writer is Regional Director (Kerala) of SBI Life Insurance.

February 2018

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art&culture

Like his work Manu creates his life by gluing different elements similar from his collages

Manu Kallikkadu in front of his famous mud painting series, VARAYANAM.

Hues & Shades of Earth VARAYANAM, a mud painting series with 40 pieces, depict various tales throughout the legendary epic of the Ramayana

Rajani A

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A

nything under the sun matters to Manu Kallikkadu.

Even a piece of paper or a dried leaf, or anything derived from nature can be molded through his fingers, shedding light into his very own world of perspective. His determination, perseverance and inexhaustible bursts of Inspiration all make him an artisan of immense potential, able to ink masterful sketches and pieces regardless of the medium.

Like any artist, He was fascinated with the visual side of life since childhood and he dreamed to become an artist but deterrence from family made his present journey seems like a far away dream at the time. But his

determination aided him to conquer all his hurdles and with time, became an artist capable of communicating skillfully across different mediums.

The man made his mark on Kerala’s art world with biographical collages, ink sketches and mud paintings.

VARAYANAM, a mud painting series with 40 pieces, depict various tales throughout the legendary epic of the Ramayana, and as a symbol of respect to mother earth, the entire series is made using mud; fine-tuned vividly in different colors, using white, brown and black soil in various tones. Every culture has its origins in air, earth and water. The cultural heritage of the Ramayana also stems from mud, the very reason Manu selected it as

his medium to reflect the thoughts and voice his protests against the exploitation of nature. His mud art is centered around minimalism and abstract storytelling, creating minimal but very meaningful strokes breathing life into simple lines and shapes.

Through this, the artist encourages people to embrace their natural roots through mud.

Manu says,“ I wanted to work with something I can find anywhere in the world.” For Manu mixing mud and experiencing the different colors and textures of various samples of mud is always an interesting part of the art. Manu has a deep understanding for soil and he is so patient to collect different shades from various parts

of Kerala like soil in the fields, forests and shrines. Manu’ s wife Geetha and son Guruprasad whole heartedly support him in the proccessing stages like dries the soil in the sun screens, dilutes in water and so on.

Manu Kallikkadu was inducted

into the Limca Book of Records five times for his works. He combined the history and art in biographical collage for which he bagged his first Limca Record in 2007. In 2010 his work was identified in the category of Ink sketch and poetry. A collage of Bolly wood star Kareena Kapoor was entered in the record of the biggest collage in 2014 and the collage of legendary writer in Malayalam M T Vasudevan Nair was marked as the biggest collage in 2016. A short film named dystopia was ranked as the shortest film in 2017.

Like his work Manu creates his life by gluing different elements similar from his collages, but like a free spirit he wanders using quintessence of the shades from the earth.

February 2018

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auto biz Most awaited launches, initiatives in hybrid sector and entry of super brands added colour to the mega event.

AUTO EXPO CONCLUDES

NEW GEN AVATARS COMING

A

The most anticipated launches was the Maruti Suzuki Swift, in all new avatar followed by the face lifted Hyundai Elite i20, and the all new Honda Amaze. Toyota also stole the show with the premium sedan Yaris, which might pose a threat to its competitors in the coming months.

s the curtains came down on the 18th edition of the Auto Expo, there is much to cheer for automobile enthusiasts with the mega event witnessing a spree of high profile launches from the major players and the entry of newcomers like Kia motors hitting the stands with commendable products.

SWIFT’s NEW AVATAR he Maruti Suzuki Swift with it strong customer base has a commendable place in the mind of Maruti lovers across the country and this justifies the commencement of the bookings for this product well before the launch itself.

The ‘New Swift’ has gone for a complete makeover and has retained not even a single element from the outgoing model.

We can identify the new changes from the first look itself. The new model built in the Hearteck Platform has become lighter by around 40 kg from its predecessor.

The increase is seen in the width( 40 mm), length (20 mm) and the wheelbase (24 mm). The headroom and inner space

T

64

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February 2018

Engine

1248cc Fuel Type

Diesel/Petrol Gear Box

5 speed Mileage

28.4 kmpl

February 2018

brand kerala

65

has been enhanced and the boot comes with 265 litres of space. An array of luxury features like LED projector head lamps, day time running lights, reverse parking camera, 7 inch smart play touch screen infotainment system, Apple car play and Android Auto add up to the premium feel in the new avatar. Maruti has spruced up the safety features also with airbags and ABD brake assist becoming standard features from the base model itself. In the engine front, the old 1.2 litre petrol engine has been retained and diesel version comes powered by the 1.5 litre motor.

The decrease in the overall weight of the vehicle would be an advantage for Maruti in the mileage front.

AMAZING AMAZE

Honda has taken the wraps off the secondgeneration Amaze compact sedan at the Expo, marking its world debut. And, as anticipated, Honda has given the new car a new refreshing look with special attention being given to the cabin ambience too. Like the outgoing Amaze, the new model is four metres in length, qualifying it for a lower rate of taxation on ‘small cars’. The sedan features a more balanced silhouette, a flattened nose, a prominent bonnet and neatly executed rear. The secondgen Amaze clearly draws inspiration from the Accord Hybrid with bold design cues and sharper styling. On the inside, there’s a touch screen

T

Engine

Gear Box

Fuel Type

Mileage

1498cc Diesel/Petrol

66

brand kerala

display for the infotainment system, a new beige and black interior with nice fit and finish, and more cabin space than the outgoing model. Honda has not revealed the engine details for the new Amaze yet, but expect the 88hp, 1.2-litre petrol and 100hp, 1.5-litre diesel engines and the five-speed manual to be carried over from the current-gen car. The Amaze will also be offered with a diesel CVT combo. Notably, the Amaze has been developed specifically for India at Honda’s Asia Pacific R&D centre in Thailand. The car will be available in India by March end.

February 2018

5 speed 25.8 kmpl

proud moment YARIS, THE GAME CHANGER T

he Toyota Yaris, which might become a game changer for the Toyota Kirloskar Motors was one of the major launches in the expo. Yaris would be placed between Etios and Corolla Altis, a space lying vacant for Toyota. Yaris looks more attractive than its sibling Etios and has lot of cabin space with ample headroom and leg space. Initially, it will be offered with a 1.5 four cylinder petrol engine. The 7-mode CVT and six speed manual gear box will be another specialty. 60:40 seating position, adjustable head rest for back seats, rooftop AC vents, front parking sensor are the major additions. All wheel disc breaks, 7 air bags, hill start assist, ABS, EBD, ESP etc are new in this segment. Yaris also secured a 5 star rating in safety test. This new offering from Toyota will be manufactured in its facility at Karnataka. The price will be in the range of 8 to 13.5 lakhs.

Top left, Spearker P. Sriramakrishnan launching the refurbished edition of BRAND KERALA by handing over the copy to Thekkumuri Haridas, Managing Director of Kerala Group of Restaurants, London.

Engine

Gear Box

Fuel Type

Mileage

1498cc Diesel/Petrol

Top right, Spearker P. Sriramakrishnan releasing the tourism special edition of BRAND KERALA by handing over the copy to K S Sanalkumar, CMD, Classic Fashion Apparel Industry Limited, Jordan.

5 speed 25.8 kmpl

NEW LOOK i20 ELITE

he Hyundai Elite i20 has also gone for a major makeover in the exterior looks with major changes being spotted in the front fascia. The divided cascade grill on the front side has been merged into a single unit and it also gets new bumpers, projector headlamps, chrome lining and a novel design on the alloy wheels. In the rear, the license plate has been shifted to the boot lid. The premium feel dashboard and seat fabric have been retained but a new 7-inch touch infotainment screen finds place in the dash which includes Apple car play and Android Auto. The other feature is the Auto Link technology which gives the information on the vehicle to mobile phones.

The 1.2 petrol and 1.4 diesel engines have been retained with a 5 speed and 6 speed manual transmissions.

T

68

brand kerala

February 2018

Engine

1396cc

Fuel Type

Diesel/Petrol

Gear Box

5/6 speed Mileage

22.54 kmpl

February 2018

brand kerala

69

food/leisure

AJWA’S BIRIYANI ODYSSEY Ajwa, which specialises in Thalassery Dum Biriyani, currently has two outlets in Trivandrum, one at Kannur and planning to cross the border with a joint coming up shortly in Bangalore.

B

iriyanis are an indispensable part of the Kerala cuisine and his ardent obsession to this Arabic import has taken it to places across the Globe. Among the innumerable varieties, Talassery Dum Biriyani has been trickling the Malayalee taste buds for quite some time thanks to Ajwa, who specializes in exclusively in this delicacy and has conquered many a hearts.

Ajwa currently has two outlets in Trivandrum, one at Kannur and planning to cross the border with a joint coming up shortly in Bangalore.

“Ajwa has an interesting story behind its inception”; Says Muhammed Naushad.O.K, one of the managing partners of the restaurant, who is originally from Kannur. “For weddings in our family, we used to prepare food by sourcing cooks from outside. We got several accolades about praising the quality of food served in these functions. That was when Mujeeb Shamsudeen, a friend of mine from Thiruvananthapuram, put forward the idea to organise a Dum Biriyani fest in the capital city.

The food festival turned out to be a huge success and was an inspiration for us to find a permanent outlet”, adds Naushad.

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February 2018

“Mujeeb and I, along with our friends Mammootty Keyi C.N and Abdul Razak A C (who is a chef), set up a biriyani take away counter in the city by the name Ajwa (the name comes from an expensive variety of date grown in Saudi Arabia).

Followed by the resounding success of the takeaway counter, the first Ajwa restaurant was set up in 2012, at Panavila. Since then, there has

been no looking back” says Naushad.

Ajwa offers four varieties of biriyanis; Mutton, Chicken, Fish and vegetable priced at Rs.215, Rs. 175, Rs 210 and Rs 135 respectively. Specially prepared Chicken Fry is also being served as the accompaniment. Special packs of Chicken and Mutton biriyanis, which comes with additional pieces of meat, are also available but for slight increase in prices.

Apart from this diners can also quench their thirst with the traditional sulaimani (lemon tea) at Rs.10. The biriyani is served with sweet and sour pickles and salad, which add on to the appeal of the flavorsome meal.

horoscope FEBRUARY 2018 Suresh kumar + 91 9496795629, vishnushangu@gmail.com

Aries

rest after 19th. Your relationships forecasts indicate that you will be engaged in social activities and spend lot of time by increasing your social contacts.

Gemini You should deal problems with a cool demeanor and you will succeed. Your focus shifts from professional issues to spirituality after 19th with the movement of Sun to your 12th House. This is the time for a review of your past accomplishments and for setting your future targets. Career prospects will be extremely bright with your determination to succeed. Financial prosperity will be excellent in this month. With sound financial intelligence, earnings can be improved further.

You have the support of seniors and family members and Venus is helping your finances.

Your Health suggests that the Sun and Mars together will provide you with more physical strength and vitality. Health will be spotless this month.

Taurus

Leo This month will be full of hard work and accomplishments. Your focus will be on career this month. The movement of Sun to your House of career on 19th, you are marching ahead on your road to success. You will excel in your job with your sale promotion capabilities this month. This will be highly appreciated by the management and you will be financially rewarded. Financial prosperity is excellent and you make more money by your enterprise. Health will be good till 19th and requires more rest to maintain your normal fitness. Health can be improved with more conservation of energy by delegating your job to others. Singles will have opportunities for forming romantic relationship through friends and in social get-togethers.

Cancer This month spirituality will play an important role in your life as well as in the lives of family members. There is a continuous career progress from previous month. You will accept challenging assignments in your present job and will not be averse to changing your job if the prospects are bright and rewarding.

Your financial prospects are excellent this month. You will have the encouragement from family members for your fiscal initiatives.

Business travel will be highly profitable while speculative investment may not give good profit. Health in general will be wonderful.

Fitness will be maintained through sufficient

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February 2018

Mercury. More caution is required in financial projects till 16th of the month. This is the time to employ cost reduction techniques and to downsize employee strength. Family members are prosperous financially this month and you will have their support for your projects.

Your Health will be wonderful throughout the month.

Career and personal achievements are more important than emotional needs and family concerns. Your career prospects will be good this month. Money planet being retrograde, you should anticipate delays in your projects and earnings till 16th of the month. It is advisable to exercise some caution while you are investing or purchasing. As your financial intelligence tends to be weak, tread with care in your financial projects. Your business interests will be boosted by your contacts.

With regard to Relationship, if you are already in a relationship, it is time to move ahead towards a permanent alliance. Your Health and Vitality is wonderful after 19th. Till that time take sufficient care to maintain your fitness.

Virgo The main emphasis will be on outer success and your outlook will be on external things.

This is basically against your basic nature of looking inwards. Your professional objectives will be important this month. Success at the workplace will also be beneficial to the family. If you are looking for a new job, this month is favorable. Financial situation is under stress due to the influence of Mars, Sun and

You are dependent on others and their goals than your own success. You have to adapt to situations and adapt yourself to people.

Social grace is important to attain your goals.

This month you will be tying your spiritual beliefs into your day to day activities. You

will be involved in social service dealing with spirituality or religious functions. There will be interest in meditation, yoga or such uplifting activities. Professionally you have a successful month achieving your targets. If you are looking for a job, you will get a fantastic opening. Your financial prosperity is fabulous this month. Earnings can be increased with novel ideas and by using your intellectual capabilities. You can take the help of your business contacts to enhance your earnings.

Libra

Emotional aspect of life along with family issues will be in focus with more than 80 percent of the planets being in the southern half of horoscope. After 4th of the month, you start enjoying your home environment with family members and children. Your career will not be important this month and status quo will be maintained. Monetary situation will be excellent till 19th. You can improve your earnings by employing creative methods and innovation and by marketing them as a saleable entity. After 19th,making money becomes tough. Expenses on social groups and friends will drain out money. With regard to Relationships, single persons will have ample opportunities to get into relationships. Your Health and Vitality will be better this month.

spouse will be full of romance but capricious.

Singles are looking for intelligent partners who can communicate their feelings well.

Your Health and Vitality will be below par and energy levels are low till the 19th.

Aquarius

Sagittarius

Family matters along with emotional aspects of life dominate over professional objectives.

Your career will be on the back burner this week. If you are looking for employment, you will get good opportunities. Monetary situation is wonderful and you will earn money with the help of planetary aspects which are favorable. You will be supported by your social contacts and organizations in your quest to make money. It is advisable to study the implications of making large ticket investments or purchases. Your Health will be fantastic till 19th, after that massages and spiritual healing will improve your health significantly. Relationship with your spouse will be strained due to your aggressive posture in Sagittarius compatibility. Singles will be able to attract romantic partners easily. If you are already in a relationship, it is time to move ahead to confirm the relationship.

This month you can attain your goals with confidence and determination. Regarding career, you will try to improve your professional prospects by your diligence.

Your Financial success is excellent throughout the month. Your spouse or partner will play a major role in your earning this month.

Your partner will provide you with necessary investments or with new openings after the 19th of the month. Your family is also helpful in times of financial exigencies.

With regard to your relationship, family relationships will be undergoing a stressful period this month. You may have problem with children and siblings. Relationship with your spouse will be mostly harmonious. Your Health will not pose any serious problems this month.

Pisces

Capricon

Scorpio

Your hard work will be recognized by the higher authorities and you will be rewarded with promotions and monetary benefits.

You are rescheduling your work priorities in such a manner that you will have enough time for your family. While you are making progress in your career, you are also enjoying yourself and having enough holidays. Your financial position will be good this month till 19th. More effort is required after that. You will earn money with the help of your friends and family members. Relationship with your

useless equipment and material. Health will be wonderful this month and no serious problems are anticipated.

The main areas of development this month are family and emotional growth. With regard to career, you are happy with the status quo in your professional life. The interest seems to be in enjoying your life and building up a happy base. Job seekers will get good opportunities.

Regarding Finance, professional income appears to be the main source of earnings this month. Family members and the management of your organization will help your financial progress. Investments will be profitable this month and you will be able to attract investors for your new financial projects. Profits can be increased by employing cost reduction techniques, downsizing labour and selling

Your professional aspects of life will be dominating this month over family and psychological matters. Regarding career, if you are unemployed, you will be able to land a job of your liking. If you are seeking a change in job, you will have many good opportunities.

Regarding Finance, you can expect inflow of money from unknown sources after 23rd. You can improve earnings by donating money for humanitarian services. You will get it back in some other form. Relationship with your spouse or partner may be under stress this month. Your beloved may be preoccupied with her professional obligations and you feel neglected. Your Health and Vitality will be superb this month. You may be worried about the health of your spouse or partner till the 19th. Spirituality will help you to enhance your health.

February 2018

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