BRAND KERALA JANUARY 2018

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brand kerala January 2018 | Vol. 8 | Issue. 1 | Rs 50/-

b r a n di ng k e r a l a g l oba l ly

Driving the development revolution

Proactive and inclusive policies to spruce up growth.

Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister of Kerala

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ISSN 2249244-5

“An enviable growth dynamics” | 32

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Kerala moves ahead with global malayalees

B Loka Kerala Sabha, a novel initiative, can address and evolve a comprehensive programme for the welfare of NRKs scattered across the globe.

rand Kerala enters into the seventh year of publication and has strived to remain as a mirror to the development initiatives of our State.

By organising the Loka Kerala Sabha, an innovative initiative for uplifting the morale of the NRKs, the State Government aims to ensure their proactive participation in the overall development of the State. Though, innumerable schemes were implemented for the welfare of the NRKs by the successive governments, none of them could bring the desired results leaving the expatriate population still a dejected lot. The massive localisation of the workforce and the impending crisis in the oil sector will pave the way for a massive exodus from this region in the near future. In addition to this, the introduction of the value added tax in the United Arab Emirates is going to directly affect thousands of Malayaees pursuing trading and other related businesses in the region. An elaborate platform like Loka Kerala Sabha can address these issues to a great extent and evolve a comprehensive programme and an effective action plan for countering this imminent crisis.

In the development front, we need to take a fresh look at the model being adopted by the State. Earlier, the successive governments concentrated mainly on projects that were

viable and best suited for the Sate, the previous government took an U-turn in this and went behind mega projects like Vizhinjam, Kochi Metro and Kannur Airport which is being followed by the present government also. While running behind such mammoth initiatives, we should ensure that proper studies are done to assess their environmental and social implications and adequate preventive measures are taken to protect and preserve our nature and heritage.

There is no denying the fact that we need to grow at par with order of the day, but the growth thus achieved should not be at the cost of the abundance showered on us by the nature. Instead of projects which bring short term benefits, its time we evolved a comprehensive development agenda keeping the next fifty years in mind.

In the financial front also, we should without any delay, formulate some scientific and productive steps to tide over the current crisis in view of the let down in the revenue expectation from the Goods and Services Tax. Lets keep our hopes high and march forward together for a productive year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! J S Indukumar Editor in chief

brand kerala Januaray 2018 Vol 8 Issue 1

Editorial Managing Editor Editor in Chief Executive Editor associate Editor Director, Marketing chief operating officer

Ravisankar K V J S Indukumar Balachandran B Rajani A Mujeeb Shamsudheen Shyam Kumar P

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Murukesh Iyer

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Office in charge

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Business & Editorial Associates New Delhi Bangaluru Kolkata Chennai Coimbatore Kochi Kollam Kozhikode

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Loka Kerala Sabha

AN INNOVATIVE INITIATIVE Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan elaborates on the formulation of the new initiative LKS, its objective and aims.

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Editorial & Corporate office Brand Kerala Media House Associates SRL A 32, Sankar Road, Sasthamangalam P.O., Thiruvananthapuram 695010 Kerala, India Tele : +91 9947260531 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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f e at u r e

GLOBALLY ACCLAIMED KERALA MODEL SURGING AHEAD

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focus

WILL TURN FARMERS TO ENTREPRENUERS

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development

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BRAND KERALA B R A N DI NG K E R A L A G L OBA L LY

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THE METROPOLITAN REVOLUTION

DRIVING THE DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTION

Proactive and inclusive policies to spruce up growth.

Pinarayi Vijayan Chief Minister of Kerala

PLUS

ISSN 2249244-5

“AN ENVIABLE GROWTH DYNAMICS” | 30

Cover Photo Vivek R Nair / Fovea Foto

I NS I G H T

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In the case of NORKA Roots, the appointment of a person with a compassionate attitude and the strong will to work for the benefit of NRKs is the most important aspect.

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Success Story

CIAL BASKING IN SOLAR GLORY

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NEW INITIATIVES vital for REAL ESTATE SECTOR Pricing Regulatory Authority is the need of the hour in Kerala.

personality

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Piloting progress and development column

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Let’s brand ‘Creative Kerala’

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invest passion and self strength in business

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economic IMPACT OF RETURN EMIGRATION a r t & c u lt u r e

The journey to green and clean energy

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The Right Blend of Talent and Spirituality

trends “It was a pleasure to create such a system [Loka Kerala Sabha].

Ahad Palliyath

Ramdas Pananthattil @ ‫ ‏‬PananthattilR

“Loka Kerala Sabha” is really a great move to build a community of high calibre people who can collectively strive to improve Kerala in all development activities.

Thank you for the efforts @vijayanpinarayi

cover story

LOKA KERALA

AN INNOVATIVE I

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan elaborates on the formulation of the new initiative Loka Kerala Sabha, the common platform for keralites living across the globe, its objectives and expectations.

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he State Government has decided to constitute “Loka Kerala Sabha” (LKS)and hold its first meeting at Thiruvananthapuram on January 12 and 13. This article is aimed at clarifying on the constitution, objectives and importance of the LKS. Kerala has been able to evolve various models that were copied by the Centre as well as many other States.

It was during the regime of the Late E K Nayanar that Kerala had set up a department for the Non-Residents, the first ever in India, in 1990. Later, similar departments were established by the Centre and few other expatriate-strong State Governments.

The Loka Kerala Sabha would be yet another initiative which could be emulated by the Centre as well as other expatriate-prominent States.

The realization of Kerala’s growth story spreading beyond the State borders to other States & Union Territories and world over has been the inspiration behind in formulating LKS. According to a recent survey, Kerala’s immigrant population is 31 lakhs. Out of this, seven lakhs are in India and 24 lakhs reside outside India. In fact, the figure of 31 lakhs could only be a conventional estimation. The figure has been arrived at a survey conducted in 10,000 selected houses in Kerala. It is unlikely that details about those who stay outside Kerala with family

LKS WOULD BE YET ANOTHER INITIATIVE WHICH COULD BE EMULATED BY THE CENTRE AS WELL AS OTHER EXPATRIATESTRONG STATES.

are included in the survey. Also,that the relatives of those families staying outside Kerala for generations may not be able to give details of those non-resident Keralites. As an accurate appraisal is out of question, a guestimate could approximately about half-a-crore. The number of Non-Resident Keralites who have migrated back to Kerala is about 16.4

A SABHA

INITIATIVE lakhs. The importance of migration

by Keralites can be understood from a total scenario of the migrated population, their families and those who had returned home.

An important speciality of migrants from Kerala is their close rapport with their birthplace. Majority of these expatriates retain their Indian citizenship. Even those who had lost their Indian citizenship but do maintain their close association with their homeland Kerala. The unique speciality that distinctively characterises the Keralites is their propensity to team up. Lots of associations of distinct kinds are active among the Kerala immigrants. In one way, these associations are cradles of Kerala culture. The ‘outside Kerala’ speak Malayalam, teach Malayalam, enjoy, create & spread Malayalam arts & literature. It would not be of any exaggeration to say Malayalees live not only within Kerala but in across the globe, wherever they had migrated and live. If migration meant to be long-distance travel and solitudeliving in olden days, the situation is totally different now. The distance is not at all a barrier for the migrants to keep in touch with their homeland.

The revolution in the science & technology vertical had annulled the distances. Today the migrants can fully participate in all day-to-day social life of their homeland even as they live

CONTEXT The Government of Kerala has decided to constitute Loka Kerala Sabha (LKS) as a common platform for Keralites living across the globe; it is envisaged as a platform for the cultural, socio-political and economic integration of these myriad Keralas with the home Kerala.

AIM & OBJECTIVES It is the Government’s conviction that Loka Kerala Sabha shall address non-resident Keralites by providing for a more inclusive democratic space wherein these outer-Keralas are duly represented.

CONSTITUTION & STRUCTURE The 351-member LKS shall comprise the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Kerala, the Members of the Indian Parliament from Kerala, non-resident Keralites of Indian citizenship nominated by the Government of Kerala, and select members of the returnee community.

outside Kerala.

These aspects are not confined to Kerala alone. We are living in an era where the life and culture go borderless. Cultures have been growing and spreading beyond its geographically identified base.

Compared to other states, Kerala is much ahead in the contemporary trend of spreading its culture beyond its original borders. Kerala is among places across the globe where the relative importance of migration stood high. This is the background why Kerala is said to be not only a geography within its boundaries but a culture that is being spread worldwide.

Even as we say that Kerala is being transformed as “LokaKeralam”, there has been no system in place as to facilitate communication and to ensure cooperation between the Keralites living in different countries and territories aimed at keeping the worldwide-Kerala united. The supreme goal of LKS is to overcome this shortcoming.

The strength of the LKS would be 351. The Kerala MLAs and MPs from Kerala would be members of the LKS. The Kerala Government would nominate 178 Non-Resident Keralites, as representatives of Indiancitizen-Keralites. Among these, 42 nominations would be from people living in other states in India, 100 representatives from abroad, six persons from expatriates returned and 30 nominees would be eminent personalities from different walks of life. The LKS would be a permanent body. New members would replace those who complete their term. The Sabha would hold its meeting atleast once in two years.

The LKS envisages creating a common platform for all the Keralites from across - from within the State, other States, Union Territories and outside India. The encouragement of January 2018

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togetherness and mutual co-operation of the Keralites world over and to work for the promotion and progressive enrichment of Kerala culture are the prime objectives of the Sabha. The LKS would also play a vital role in ensuring the meaningful participation of the Keralites outside the State in taking decisions on the civil society, social and economic development of Kerala.

Hence, the LKS would be scripting a new chapter in the democratic history of Kerala. The Sabha would not have any narrow mindedness based on language or geography but would be upholding the universal values like freedom, democracy, social justice and secularism. The LKS would also discuss and bring the commonly accepted decisions besides recommend compassionate measures on topics of interest to the Keralites world over to the attention of the central and state Government.

It is estimated that the remittances by the non-resident Keralites amount to 30 percent of the gross production of Kerala. India is the world topper in foreign remittance by its non-resident citizens. Though the contribution by expatriates in the nation building are highly valuable, they pay a high price for it. The innumerable snags one

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LKS WILL SUGGEST APPROPRIATE CHANGES IN THE LAW AND LEGISLATION, INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM.

suffers, right from the preparation stage for migration and extending upto rehabilitation after returning, viz. treachery, cheating, exploitation, denial of rights besides disgrace, are not something easy to describe.

So also, are the social security and welfare of the returnees. The LKS will attract the attention of the State and Central Governments, the society and the international agencies to these issues and seek resolutions. The Sabha will also strive and suggest appropriate changes in the law and legislation, international treaties and administrative system.

The expatriates are also medium and channels for the exchange of knowledge, technical knowhow, skills, tastes, goods, services and capital. Studies have also proved that expatriates also facilitated the export of

goods, services and capital from their homeland. This is cent percent true in the case of Kerala. The expatriates from Kerala were able to create a vibrant market for products and services abroad. It is also noticeable that expatriates facilitate investments and entrepreneurship abroad. They also extend a helping hand for the NexGen to enter the international job market.

The other side of the coin is that the expatriates also act as medium for bringing in to Kerala the state-of-the-art information, ideas, technology, goods, services and capital that appear on the universal arena.

World is an opening to opportunities.

The expatriates act as a medium to help utilise the vast possibilities outside. However, we have not been able to execute a planned effort as to effectively utilise these opportunities.

Even as the issues of expatriates are responsibly addressed, there need be a conscious effort to make use of the possibilities of expatriation. The policies and procedures of the LKS are being charted out in such a way as to take over both these two important assignments. LKS is expected to discuss in detail important issues and take firm decisions and not just confine to holding a meeting and disbursing after celebrations. Apart from plenary sessions, there would also be themebased conferences. Besides delegates from outside Kerala, officials and ministers of concerned subjects would participate in the deliberations.

The Keralites - both inside Kerala and Kerala outside would proactively take up the call of the first conference of the Sabha. The Kerala Government and the Secretariat of the Sabha is committed to follow up and execute all the decisions taken in the conference.

The second conference, to be held in two years, would evaluate the progress of the decisions taken at the first conference.

profile

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Fire-born, won’t feel sun-burn

orn as the youngest son of Maroli Koran and Kalyani, in a family of peasants,at the center stage of the mass uprising against feudalism and colonialism in North Malabar in the fortiesgive Vijayan an opportunity to experience the flames of struggle in the midst of intense poverty.Parappuram,

the place where the Kerala unit of the CommunistParty was secretly born in 1939 is in the same village two kilometers away. Pinarayi also has the largest number of cooperative society’s in Indian village, a prominent position in Kannur, the Rochdale of the east and the cradle of the Co-operative movement in the

Vivek R Nair /Fovea Foto

state.

He completed his schooling from Pinarayi Saradavilasam Lower Primary School and Peralassery Government High School.Surfacing the realities of livelihood in a lower middle-class family right from his childhood, he used to supply goat milk on his way to school and after schooling he worked as a handloom weaver for ten months to raise funds for college. In 1962, he joined the Government Brennen College; Thalasseri which opened up the opportunity for his active association with the Kerala Students Federation (KSF), the forerunner of the present Students Federation of India. It was his first protest against ferry fare hike that initiated Mr Vijayan into active politics. In 1964, when he joined for his Bachelor of Arts in Economics, he was the Kannur district secretary of the KSF and soon became the president of the state unit of KSF. Being at the helm of affairs in building up the progressive student movement in adversity- the dominance of the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the overall anti-communist atmosphere created during the liberation struggle prevailing, the private school and college managers and the media in the state actively promoting KSU, offered a unique training ground for him to build himself up as an organiser.

At this juncture when students and the youth were militantly agitating on the food problem in the state, he rose to the leadership of the radical January 2018

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youth movement in the state. This was the time when the youth in the state, were shredding the retrograde tendencies of reformism on the one hand while fighting against extremist tendencies, following the Naxalbari peasants revolt in West Bengal. Vijayan rose to the leadership of the CPI-M in Kannur as the area secretary in Thalasseri when RSS had unleashed one of their most systematic master plans for communal violence in the country attacking 63 mosques, 147 shops and looted 247 houses of Muslims. When the RSS orchestrated the communal revolt in Thalasseri in 1972 by spreading rumours about Muslim attacks on temples and Hindu women, Pinarayi and M.V. Raghavan had been given charge by CPI-M for protecting mosques targeted by the RSS at Thalasseri, Pinarayi Vijayan and his comrades travelled fearlessly in the riot-hit regions with microphones and requested people to maintain harmony and not to fall into the RSS propaganda. They stood guard at mosques which the RSS had targeted for destruction, and one of them, U. K. Kunjiraman, lost his life in that defence., The reference made by the Justice Joseph Vithayathil Commission on the role of CPI-M in the context of the Thalasseri revolt is the best testimonya party and its popular leader could get in the struggle to safeguard a region and the innocent people there against the politics of hate and violence.

In 1970, at the age of 26, Pinarayi Vijayan won his first electoral battle in Koothuparamba, a seat that had hitherto never been won by the Communist party either before the split or by the CPI(M) after it till that election. He did so at a time when Congress, had successfully forged an anti-communist front in the state. In 1975, as part of the now infamous

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AT THE AGE OF 26, PINARAYI WON HIS FIRST ELECTORAL BATTLE IN KOOTHUPARAMBA, A SEAT THAT HAD HITHERTO NEVER BEEN WON BY THE CPI (M).

repression imposed in Kerala during the emergency, Pinarayi Vijayan was targeted for assassination, by the Home Ministry headed by K. Karunakaran. Reports state that Pinarayi was arrested, taken to a jail where he was stripped and beaten until the skin of his back peeled off and lay in a state of unconsciousness in a pool of his own blood until the Chief Minister C. Achutha Menon, having been gheraoed by his former

Pinarayi Vijayan and wife Kamala with Son, Daughter and grand children.

Vivek R Nair /Fovea Foto

comrades’ EMS and AKG, rescinded his Home Ministry’s order. Reports also indicate that Panarayi’s first action on being able to walk upright was to travel to the legislative assembly, wave his blood-soaked shirt at the Home Minister on the floor of the House and deliver a legendary speech on the savagery he had to face. His heroism and courage left a deep imprint on the masses and in 1977, when Kerala infamously voted back congress and several stalwarts on the left lost the election, Pinarayi quadrupled his majority.

A unique style of intervening in all walks of life of the people while fighting for popular rights is the landmark of the communist movement in Kannur, which is amply reflected in his interventions as a leader of the co-operative

movement. He was instrumental in converting the Vividodesha Aikya Nanaya Sanghom at Pinarayi as a primary co-operative society and later as the Pinarayi Service Cooperative Bank which now boasts of a core banking system, mobile banking and digital money transfer.

The Pinarayi Industrial Co-operative Society has an impressive story of a worker’s take-over of Samuel Aron’s tile factory which was shut down, converted into a Pre-Stressed Cement Concrete pole manufacturing unit, supplying distribution posts to the Kerala State Electricity Board, and

spirit behind the formation of Rubco and was the president of the Kannur District Co-operative Bank from 1983 to 1992.

He was elected as Kannur District Secretary in 1986 immediately after M.V. Raghavan’s defection to the congress led front. He took over as State Secretary of the Communist Party after the demise of Chadayan Govindan and remained in that position till 2015.He had been a member of the Politburo of CPI(M) from 2002 onwards. Kerala was ahead of West Bengal unit in party

The expectations aroused by Pinarayi Vijayan on 25 March 2016, was similar to the expectations roused by the first EMS ministry.

also manufacturing, inter lock bricks, roof-tiles, furniture etc. Pinarayi Weavers Industrial Co-operative Society having a turnover of more than a crore has been also revamped with power looms and manufactures furnishing, shirting, bed sheets, carpets, rugs for hotels and corporates. He was also the guiding

membership, when Vijayan took over as secretary of the state unit.

During the period 2000-2015 CPI(M) membership grew from 2,93,143 to 4,18,756.The growth of the party’s institutional mechanisms was more impressive than that of its membership. The party today has under its control a television company with four channels, a chain newspaper with seven editions, a publishing house, 13 research institutions and a number of commercial establishments in various fields including healthcare and tourism.

When the LDF came to power in May 1996, the power situation

in Kerala had reached crisis proportions. The State was going through three-and-a-half hours of load shedding for domestic consumers and 95 per cent power cut for industries and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) was facing a major financial crisis. In such a scenario, the LDF government took measures to complete the ongoing projects on war footing also initiated a few new projects. As a result, when the term of the LDF government ended in May 2001, the installed capacity of power generation in the State had increased by 1083.6 MW as against the previous UDF government’s achievement of a 14 MW. Even the political opponents were in praise of Pinarayi Vijayan’s systematic efforts as the Power and Co-operation Minister which eventually led to load shedding and power cut totally withdrawn by the end of LDF government term, Kerala could claim to be self-sufficient in power in 2001.

The expectations aroused by Pinarayi Vijayan on 25 March 2016, was similar to the expectations roused by the first EMS Nambooripad ministry in the state, because he was coming to office with a strong man image build by leading the Communist Party of India(Marxist) for a record tem of 17 years with a firm hand and also, he was known for his administrative acumen and experience as a well-grounded politician who understood the needs of the people. Last but not the least he had also left a clear message during the Nava Kerala March that Kerala requires systematic strengthening of infrastructure to world class standards while focussing on retaining the achievements in the social sector and protecting the interests of the downtrodden and the marginalised.

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feature GLOBALLY ACCLAIMED KERALA MODEL SURGING AHEAD IT mentor G Vijayaraghavan, the founder ceo of technopark, elaborates on the challenged faced and the roads taken by Kerala’s it industry.

Technopark’s main objective at that point was to create jobs for

5,000

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hen one talks about the IT growth in Kerala and the prospects, the most important thing is to look back, and see what Kerala has achieved in the late eighties. When India was not yet opened up, nor was the word IT in use, the Government of Kerala decided to set up a Technology Park in Trivandrum, with the main objective of encouraging electronic and software companies.

The main objective at that point was to create jobs for 5,000 people directly and about 20,000 people indirectly. Over the last 26-27 years, what Kerala has achieved is significant even though the growth has not been to the levels which many other states have done. Today, the Technopark at Trivandrum employs around 60,000 people and the indirect employment is estimated at 200,000 people.

The major challenge Kerala faced during those times was that it was never looked upon as an investment friendly destination. In a way, the Technopark and the IT sector changed that for Kerala because large multinational corporations, local entrepreneurs, joint ventures between Indian and foreign companies came up within Technopark initially and later on at the Infopark at Cochin. So, in a way both Technopark and Infopark worked as catalysts for the development of the IT

sector in Kerala.

The most important thing was the successive Governments in power continuously supported Technopark and the growth of IT sector thus giving a feeling of this being a completely different industry sector which did not have problems that kerala was known to have in the past. It is a fact that in the last 25 plus years, Technopark never faced any kind of labour unrest nor it had to shut down because of hartals or bandhs called by various political parties from time to time.

What makes Kerala’s IT sector different from many other parts of the country is that inspite of three major Global slowdowns, IT sector here has been growing and did not affect the employment potential . There were no large scale retrenchments or close downs which is something that makes Kerala different from any other part of India.

The other interesting thing that Kerala actually missed out is that it did not go in for the BPO sector in a big way. So you would not have found a very large number of Data entry or medical transcription companies even though there were a few and many of those have converted or redesigned themselves to the organizations which work today in revenue recognition for the health care sector or in terms of more sophisticated data processing and support work. That is one thing that Kerala did not have and that’s the sector which is considered to be foot

Today, the Technopark at Trivandrum employs around

60,000 loose industry and people have been able to move from one country to another. But what is most interesting is that Kerala has been able to come out with some very good success stories. Home grown companies who have become globally renowned include companies like Suntec, who are unlike a service company, a software product company and they license their products to some of the world’s most renowned banks. The other one is IBS which works very closely with the airline and logistic industry and they also have their products running in some of the world’s best airlines just like Suntec which has its product running in world’s best banks and telecos.

The third one to look at is UST Global, a company that can be considered as a largest employer in Kerala and one of the largest software companies based in the State. They have offices around the world working with top fortune 100 companies, mainly for business in the United States, even though they have large presence in Europe and Asia.

Broadly, this is the way the Industry has grown, but when you look at what one needs to see as we go forward, maybe we need to write this back but, today with the number of companies that Kerala has you will notice that many of them are home grown. But what was the big change that happened in the last five years, is Kerala’s startup policy

and initiatives during the startup area came nearly four and half years ago, well before even the National Government thought of startups. So a lot of the startup policies around India basically have followed what the Kerala Government did. The Kerala Government continues to support startups and in fact the best startup ecosystem in the country can be termed to be based in Kerala, with the Kerala Startup Mission and the Startup

A LOT OF STARTUP POLICIES AROUND INDIA BASICALLY FOLLOWED WHAT THE KERALA GOVT DID.

Village in Cochin. Also the support from the Government of India in terms of the fab-labs that have come up and the support that have come in from the department of electronics to many of the initiatives is also something which looks at how the State and the Central Government including the department of Science and technology have worked together to help new enterprises startup and hence give them support to be entrepreneurs.

The Kerala Government’s KSIDC and KFC also have been supporting a lot of startups mainly in the software sector.

As we go forward and look at what the potential is going to be, you would find that unlike many other states, in Kerala nearly 90 percent of the real estate for the software companies is provided by the Government. That number has to increase and will increase, but it is expected that the area that the private sector will put up will also increase, thereby ensuring that the dependence on real estate will not be with the Government alone.

This can be seen with the few of the initiatives that has happened, the most interesting one among them is the URALUNGAL initiative in Calicut, where the corporative society put up

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IT space and the carnival group, the Leela and others who put up similar space and also the large project from TAURUS that is expected to come up near the Phase-III of the Technopark, Trivandrum.

The other big initiative one is going to see in the next few years is the development of the Technocity area and the knowledge city within the Technocity in Trivandrum.

The Knowledge City is expected to have major Institutions, academic Institutions and others specifically working in specific areas of growth which the Government has identified.

This is something that is going to make a big change and that initiative will attract companies to come to this area because there will be institutions working in areas of interest to them.

The big areas where you will see Kerala’s growth happening in the future is going to be in the area of IOT, Data Analytics and Cyber security.

Companies like UST Global have already set up a SOP in Trivandrum and they work very closely with their Israeli subsidiary. So you would see a lot of Cyber related security activity

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come up in Kerala. With both Cochin and Trivandrum becoming Smart Cities, a lot of work in the area of IOT for Smart Cities is also going to come up.

The use of IT for governance has always been a major area and Kerala State can actually be considered as one of the forerunners in this. The initiation of the Akshaya Program is one among them. The project was headed by the present Secretary of IT Mr.Shivashankar, when he was the Malappuram Collector. He was also the part of the IT department as Director IT at that time. This was looked at as a role model across the world and those initiatives have picked up.

The other big initiative that is happening in the IT sector on the Government side is the e-health program where Kerala will probably become the first State where every citizen has an electronic Medical Record and movement from one hospital to other would be made easy with the entire health system getting connected through Information Technology.

Will Kerala’s IT sector grow is a

question that lot of people ask. I can definitely say that it is going to happen and the growth will be very high and will probably rise above the National average. However, there are certain things that the Government will have to look at and the big drawback one sees today is the lack of quality in the higher education level and unless the quality of higher education increases and the people who come out of our Engineering Institutions are of a certain quality, the possibility of us losing out on new jobs here is going to be high and you will find that the brighter ones will go away and it will be difficult for new jobs to be created in this sector.

So, definitely there needs to be focus in the area of higher education, the Government policies for encouraging IT industry or the IT use in the Government are very progressive and can be considered as the best in the country. So, overall Kerala’s future in the IT sector is definitely going to be very bright and will continue to play a crucial role as a major IT destination.

As told to P.Shyamkumar

in conversation

”COMPASSION AND CREATIVE plans NEED OF THE HOUR” Mr Jiji Thomson, former Chief Secretary and founder CEO of Norka Roots, in conversation with B.Balachandran, Executive Editor, Brand Kerala.

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NORKA Roots , a pioneering initiative in India, was conceptualised during your tenure as NORKA secretary. Can you recollect the thoughts that led to the formation an exclusive outfit for NRKs? The basic thought that led to such an initiative was from the common knowledge that government departments would not be able to implement programmes of the government in a very speedy manner.

You look at various departments of government of Kerala, for example, the Industries Department. It has a field agency called KSIDC. The government department would visualise the plan but the implementation part has to be given to the field agency which should be free from government clutches. Most often we find typical bureaucrats in government offices, whose focus will be mainly on rules

and budgetary constraints. We need to have an open minded approach to get things done in a swift manner. In case of insufficient budgetary allocation, the public sector chief can adopt his own ways to gather resources and implement the programme. Keeping these benefits in mind, we formed a Section 25 company which was partly owned by government and partly

by NRIs. I, being the secretary of NORKA, approached prominent NRIs like Mr. Yousaf Ali, Mr.C K Menon, Mr Anirudhan and a few others and requested their participation in the project by investing some money, and they responded very positively to it.

With a 50- lakh fund from five NRIs and a Government aid of another 50 lakh, we raised a capital of one crore and thus began the operation of NORKA Roots, India’s first company exclusively for the welfare of NRKs. We recruited people who are young

smart and can execute things in a speedy and effective manner. It had a separate board of directors including the five NRI investors. The name is also of significance, “Root”s because, pravasi’s are rooted in Kerala, but work elsewhere, earn money and send it back just like a peepal tree which takes in moisture and sends it to the roots. That’s why we selected the logo of a peepal tree with roots.

When looking back, what do you feel about the activities and initiatives of NORKA Roots. Do you think it really worked for the benefits of NRKs? NORKA is now almost 13 years old or young as one perceives.

Organizations can succeed only when it has a chief executive, who can drive the organization. So, the selection of a chief executive is very important.

It should not be just to accommodate a government officer who wants to shift to the State capital for various domestic reasons. This happens quite often in the government. The best and the most recent example for this is the appointment of officers in Coastal Police. When the Okhi cyclone wreaked havoc on the coastal belt, the general public shockingly realised that most of the officers in the force even do not know how to swim. The DGP in charge is also not a swimmer! See, instead of putting the right people, what happens is, if somebody wants to come to Trivandrum for personal reasons they are put into available vacancies without taking into consideration the requirement of skills needed to head a position. In the case of NORKA Roots also, the appointment of a person with a compassionate attitude and the strong will to work for the benefit of NRKs is the most important aspect. When I was the secretary, I started a government programme,

Sutharya Keralam, an online portal initially conceived for NRI’s to meet the chief minister and submit their grievances and find solution to their problems in a stipulated time period.

Then, a time slot in Doordarshan was allotted for the same and this interactive programme was an instant hit among the expatriates. Being

an exclusive ministry for NRIs is very much essential. the centre’s decision to dissolve it was very unfortunate.

the anchor of the programme I also became popular and people started recognizing me in public. My point is that most of the programmes of the government after a great start limp only because it is not being driven properly and it get diluted over years.

If NORKA has failed to achieve its objectives, I will put its first blame on this factor only. One should come with imaginative programmes. For example, we came up with first NRK Conference titled Samavayam.. Then

programmes like Ente Gramam, Ente Abhimanam, (My Village, My Pride) where NRI’s adopted their native village and improved its facilities and another one Ente Bhasha Ente Abimanam (My Language, My Pride) for popularising Malayalam through an online programme for the children of NRI s. On demand from Keralites residing in other states of our country, we coined the term NRKs and special programmes were devised for this section also. We could conduct some brilliant programmes for NRKs in metro cities aimed at popularising our mother tongue among their children.

Unfortunately these programmes are not happening now mainly because the people who handle it do not have the passion and imagination to set things happen.

The Union Government has dissolved the erstwhile Ministry of Overseas Affairs and made it a part of the External Ministry. Do you really think that a separate ministry is required for foreseeing the affairs of NRIs scattered across the globe?

Definitely we need one. It was a very unfortunate decision of Govt. of India to dissolve it . Actually the Union Governement started the Overseas Affairs Ministry following the success of the NORKA in Kerala.

Mr. Jagadish Tytler, who was the first Minster for the same, invited me to make presentations on the functions of ministry. Though the minister wanted my services in Delhi, the then Chief Minster A K Antony, who was very fond of me, was reluctant to send me to Delhi. So I couldn’t go, though I wanted to do some work on this because I was into this work for long time and was familiar with the hardships of people working abroad.

Many a times I felt broken-hearted realising the problematic situations January 2018

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they encounter. Under scotching sun they sleep under trucks spreading newspapers, toil day and night to ensure that their dear ones in Kerala live comfortably. We should be compassionate towards the families of NRK’S. I am proud to say that I have done my best for them during my days in NORKA. People even used to rang me up to solve their personal problems, some of them were really embarrassing as well as interesting.

I still remember a call from a Valliamma (Aunty) from Kochi, who consulted me for marrying off her NRI daughter and another man, from Oman, who wanted my help to safeguard his wife living in Kerala who was being ill treated by his own brother. These are just few examples from umpteen number of the problem solving situations.

The NRKs in general are a vulnerable group subject to various types of exploitation.

Do you think that this situation will change if they become an electoral force by gaining the rights to vote and thereby having a say in the

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if one could link Aadhar Card with Electoral card, there is no need to come to India to cast a vote.

political spectrum of the country?

Absolutely, I agree. Actually we have been campaigning for their voting rights. See, if one could link Aadhar Card with Electoral card, there is no need to come to India to cast a vote. Electronically one can cast vote from the place you reside outside India. If politicians are really interested in NRIs, this kind of linking should be done. This can stop fake votes to a great extend. May be malpractices have become inevitable for various parties during elections and that may be the reason for lack of an initiative in this regard. It if comes into being, NRIs will definitely become a force to reckon with and may even become a deciding factor in elections.

The major chunk of the NRK population is in the MiddleEast. With the upcoming threats in oil industry and pushing of native workforce campaigns in the GCC countries, there is a sure possibility of us witnessing an exodus from the Gulf sector in the coming years. Will Kerala be able to accommodate this crisis?

This is the biggest problem which we are going to face, because the gulf bubble has almost burst. There will be hundreds and thousands of people who will be moving out from the Gulf. Let me tell you a very personal example. My son in –law , who is now in a fairly good position in Dubai, has started thinking of relocating himself either to Australia or Canada. He says, after five years it will be very difficult as business is very poor, going from bad to worst. So, this is the condition.

If I have any say in decision making, I will advice the government to set aside the big projects and start a statistical home work on the same. We should have a clear figure on the number of people likely to come back and segregate them on the basis of skills, say, how many techies, how many nurses etc. Anyhow exact number is not possible but approximation would do. Then we can think of how to make use of them in some projects in Kerala. Accordingly, we have to device a programme which can intake these people. See, it is not possible to accommodate everyone, but many can be relocated to other safer parts of the world depending on their skills. China can take in a lot, so it’s high time we learn Chinese. Keeping the current market in view it’s better to take initiatives to start a Chinese University rather than an Arabic University, or a proposal for a University of Foreign Languages where people can learn all potential languages would be most welcome.

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focus FROM FARMERS TO ENTREPRENUERS Kerala Government has made major changes in the Agriculture policy to address the real issues of the farming community.

Special provision for strengthening the marketing of the produce is a major initiative in this regard.

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V S Sunilkumar, Minister for Agriculture, Govt of Kerala

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armers are no doubt the most precious asset of our State.

The main objective of the Government is to equip the farmers with adequate support systems so as to elevate them as successful entrepreneurs. The farming sector is on the verge of a big leap and opens up immense scope for investment and may become one of the major sector for employment generation in the near future. The Government has evolved various programmes and plans for the farming sector to tap these possibilities.

Though the very idea of farming originated from the need for human survival, today it has become an industry by itself. With the aim of enhancing the agricultural productivity, the successive governments have earmarked huge budget allocations from time to time thereby effecting a fairly good growth rate in farm productivity sector.

The main area of concern in the farming sector is identifying the ideal avenues for marketing the produce from farmers. The exploitation of farmers by middlemen is a major cause of concern. When one look at the reason behind the suicide of farmers in the neighbouring states, we would be startled to find that the majority of

farmers who took the extreme step did it out of the disgruntlement due to the fleecing and exploitation by the middle men who rule the markets.

Considering this issue, the State Government has made major changes in the Agriculture policy to address the real issues of the farming community. Special provision for strengthening the marketing of the produce was a major initiative in this regard. The establishment of a strong marketing network devoid of exploitation by middlemen was successfully initiated by the government.Procurement of products directly from the farmers and opening up of special markets during the festival season to spruce up the sales are being done in a successful manner for the past one and a half years. The Government plans to extend this facility to the rural belt also by involving the local panchayats and other self help groups like Kudumbasree in this mission. A special monitoring cell also has been put in place to evaluate the functioning of these local markets.

Apart from strengthening the marketing network, the government’s top priority is to ensure a fair price to the farmers for their produce.

The only solution to this question was to create value added products from the agricultural produce which could ensure almost ten times the

market value for the products from the farmers. Hence the government’s new policy gives equal importance to productivity and value additions from the agricultural produce. An international symbosium titled VAIGA ( Value addition for income in Agriculture) was organised by the government to introduce the farmers to the immense scope thrown open by the markets for value added produts.

This venture got widespread acclaim from the farmers across the State and many of them came forward with new ideas in this regard. Out of the major deliberation in VAIGA, the government has taken a decision to constitute a Coconut Mission to spruce up the productivity in this sector.

Special panels were also formed for encouraging the productivity of honey, fruits, and other cereals and grains. We have stated cultivation in the special Millet village spanning across 1200 acres, formed as part of this scheme at Attappady. The government plans to extend this to other centres also.

The Government has chalked out

The Government has plans to introduce special programmes for the production and marketing of value added products.

special schemes for the marketing of the value added products also.

KAICO, the public sector undertaking under the agriculture department, has been identified as the support agency for this. A special hyper bazaar exclusively for this was opened in

Thrissur and will be extended to other towns also. A special budget allocation of 27 crores has been set apart for encouraging value added productivity by introducing district wise agro parks and incubation centres.

Likewise, the Government has plans to introduce special programmes for the production and marketing of value added products and at the same time concentrate on increasing the productivity levels as well. Out of the 2 lakh hectares of barren land, we could start cultivation in 20000 hectares during the past one and a half years. Plans are afoot to start mini rice mills which would be of great help to small scale paddy cultivators. The government dream to make farmers entrepreneurs and thereby make farming a viable and profitable endeavour will be realised in the coming years.

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

Creative Kerala can create a creative economy for Kerala by developing the existing business and creating startups in creative industries.

Let’s brand ‘Creative Kerala’

W

e are staring down the barrel of a serious economic crisis. Let’s admit it. The king is not only naked but on the verge of bankruptcy—our public debt is close to 1,30,000 crore!

Boy, we are in trouble, tottering towards being a financially unstable state.

We need a revolution—not a bloody mutiny of ideologies but a radical economic transformation. Let’s say, it is time Kerala is transformed from a spend-happy consumer state to a productive creative state.

The Arabian Gulf is no longer the El Dorado, and the IT holy grail could prove less attractive in the wake of changing policies in the US and Europe.

What do we do? The government has to put on its thinking cap lest the economic crisis will soon result in increasing social issues and crime rate.

One of the sustainable ways out of the impending crisis is a radical and systemic change towards turning Kerala from a ‘Consumer State’ to a ‘Creating State’, and branding it as Creative Kerala’.

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Since we are a sliver of eco-fragile land, large-scale industrial production is out of the question. At the same time, we cannot survive for long on our service and hospitality industries since both are heavily depended on tourism and any fluctuation in global economy will have its adverse ripple effects on Kerala’s revenue.

Kerala Perspective Plan 2030, which underlines the importance of creating a knowledge-based economy, says: “The four factors that drive domestic demand are: Remittances, Tourism, Government welfare expenditures and the welfare role of social organisations. However, these factors are vulnerable to external and internal dynamics. Unless and until there are commensurate increase in productive capacity, maintaining growth rates above 8 per cent may proved to be difficult to sustain in the long run. Further, Kerala is caught in a low productivity trap of GSDP and employment. There is relatively high personal and regional inequality in Kerala. The state is facing an ageing population; rapidly increasing urbanisation and increasing pressures

on natural resources especially land and water. In face of a grim business scenario, there is need to improve the quality of growth in terms of productive capacity, structural transformation and the quality of human development.”

A study by Centre for Development Studies (CDS) argues that unemployment in Kerala could be due to the choice that the young educated Keralite population has been exercising in not taking up employment. “It has been found that unemployment has been rather high among men and women below 30 years of age. These are essentially educated unmarried people who are dependent on their parents for their living. They are not the breadwinners.

Apparently, they prefer to remain unemployed rather than take up any unskilled job that comes their way. This means that the problem of Kerala’s unemployment has genesis in the paradoxical growth patterns. It is a manifestation of high attainment in education and health in an economy which is characterised by low productivity and low knowledge

intensive sectors.”

In other words, we need to pull up socks, and be productive.

But, what do we produce? What do we make? How and where do we sell our products?

It makes us to look at ourselves to pick out our strengths. We as a people are literate, which means we can communicate. We have for generations been exposed to and interacted with foreign cultures and ways of life. We are creative and innovative enough to create artistically valuable products and solutions for better living conditions.

We are a people who: have ideas, imagination, cultural prowess, and we are creative and innovative. In fact, these are the five critical components for ‘Creative Economy’, the fastemerging alternative economy that is effecting a bloodless coup across the world, slowly but steadily replacing the age-old capitalist economy based on ‘labour, land and capital’.

Creative Economy, which is based on the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) like (advertising, architecture, art, crafts, design, fashion, film, music, performing arts, publishing, leisure software, toys, TV and radio, video games and cuisine), is ideal for Kerala in many ways.

With revenues of $2.250-trillion, Cultural and Creative Industries account for three per cent of world GDP and employ 29.5-million people, or about one per cent of the world’s active population. Countries like the UK, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, US bank on creative economy. The UK has put it officially (before Brexit) that its revenue from the creative industries are a whopping 12 million pounds an hour!

Creative Economy in Kerala ‘Creative Kerala’ can create a Creative Economy for Kerala by

developing the existing business and creating startups in Creative Industries.

Our ‘start-up’ mindset has to change. First of all, we should understand that startup doesn’t mean IT startups. Where do we have an ecosystem and incubation facility if a youngster wants to create a furniture brand or a clothing line or a bamboo product or a metal carvings company?

Where does a youngster go to if he or she wants to build a touring theatre group or produce albums using traditional musicians?

Instead of looking for huge investments from overseas for projects that will end up in controversies and kickbacks, let’s go to the people—both in rural and urban areas—and

Creative Hubs will help market the ‘Made in Kerala‘ products on a global scale.

create an economy based on their traditional products and take them to the global market through online platforms and effective networks of similar groups across the world.

The government should make policies to recognise Creative Economy and then encourage individual business enterprises and create ‘Creative Clusters’, SMEs for creative and innovative talents.

Creative and artistic workshops should be encouraged as a vocation, turning their ideas into business, thus gradually contributing to the economy.

It is here hubs like Creative Hubs or Makers’ Hub become relevant. These creative hubs—there are over 200 in Europe alone—train entrepreneurs across many platforms and also train them in branding and marketing their products, including finding funds. These hubs will be connected to a widening international network of similar centres, which will help market the ‘Made in Kerala’ products on a global scale. If Kerala can set up a string of Makers’ Hub, the State will the the first in the country to do so.

Creative Economy is no fly-bynight operation. It takes patience and strong administrative will. If the government can adopt a policy and implement it with purpose through efficient officers and with the involvement of people, it can be an effective alternative economy that we badly need.

Our economy is so sick that placebos or cosmetics will not work.

We need radical changes. The God’s Own Country has to be also ‘Creative Kerala’, where we create value to our skills, talents and ideas than remain a guinea pig for consumer products.

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

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success story CIAL BASKING IN SOLAR GLORY “When we had realized that the power bill is on the higher side, we contemplated possibilities. Then the idea of tapping the green power came in.

Now this has become the world’s first airport fully operating on solar power.”

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ochin International Airport is the first green field airport in the country built with publicprivate partnership .Planned and constructed from scratch, the airport has been acclaimed for setting a novel idea in infrastructure development.

The astonishing public participation, relentless support from NRIs and an effective leadership have made CIAL, the company that built and operates the airport, an international brand. The airport became power neutral in August 2015 and has been acclaimed as the world’s first airport fully powered by solar energy.

This never before idea fetched the airport the sobriquet; GREENPORT. The airport’s vision for development drew inspiration from its penchant towards building a green culture and nurturing green habitat around it. It integrates nature, culture and community. It has become world’s first airport completely operates on solar power. At present, its solar plants laid in different places, like cargo premises, over car park, and over concrete pillars constructed across a canal produce an electricity of 27.7 MWp. And the process of scaling it upto 40 MWp is progressing rapidly.

By the end of March 2018, with the full swing operation of 40 MWp plants, on an average the airport will get 1.6 lakhs units of power a day; whereas the consumption is expected to be around 1.3 lakhs units.

As an organization which successfully pioneered cost-effective ways of building and operating an airport, CIAL’s solar projects have got larger implications. As the airport

operates 24 X 7, the power bill was very high and the management prioritised an alternative thinking. It experimented with a 100 KWp solar power plant in 2013 and then scaled up the installation capacity to 1.1 MWp. The success of these plants prompted for large scale operation. As it demands more operational focus both in technical and human resources verticals, a special task force has been formed and put into action.

“When we had realized that the power bill is on the higher side, we contemplated possibilities. Then the idea of tapping the green power came in. We consume around 48,000 unit (KWh) a day. So if we can produce the same, that too by strictly adhering to the green and sustainable development model of infrastructure development that we always follow, that would transcend a message to the world. Now this has become the world’s first airport fully operates on solar power “ -Said V.J.Kurian, founder Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Limited and the pioneer of the idea of making an airport fully powered by solar energy.

The aim to make the airport power neutral, demanded for establishing a 12 MWp plant in 2015. CIAL itself funded the project. Global tenders were invited and Bosch India Ltd. won the tender. The project components include PV modules of 265 Wp capacity manufactured by Renesola and Invertes of 1 MWp capacity manufactured by ABB india. The plant came up in an area of about 45 acres near the International cargo premises. The work started in January 2015 and completed in August,

The journey to green energy

V J Kurian, Managing Director, Cochin International Airport Limited.

that Year. On 18th August, the airport was declared world’s first airport fully operating on solar power. CIAL which has always been adhered to the philosophy of sustainable development, ventured into the Solar PV sector during March 2013, by installing a 100 kWp solar PV Plant on the roof top of the Arrival Terminal Block.

This was a trend setter in the field of grid-connected solar PV in the State of Kerala. The plant was installed by the Kolkata based M/s Vikram Solar Pvt. Ltd. 400 numbers of polycrystalline modules of 250Wp with five numbers of 20kW capacity Refu-sol make string inverters were used in this plant. After the successful commissioning of this plant, CIAL installed a 1 MWp solar PV power plant partly on the roof top and partly on the ground in the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar facility within the Airport premises. This plant was installed by Emvee Photovoltaic Power Pvt. Ltd. 4’000 numbers of monocrystalline modules of 250Wp with thirty three numbers of 30kW capacity Delta make string inverters were used in this plant, which is the first Megawatt scale installation of Solar PV system in the State of Kerala.

CIAL’s many initiatives provided the habitat around it with building capacities. the solar power project is one among theM.

Both these plants are equipped with a SCADA system, through which remote monitoring is carried out.

After commissioning, these plants have so far saved more than 550MT of CO2 emission contributing to the efforts of CIAL towards minimizing environmental degradation.

Inspired by the success of the above plants, CIAL decided to set up a larger scale 12MWp solar PV plant as part of its green initiatives.

This will come up in an area of about 45 acres near the International Cargo premises. The work has been awarded to M/s Bosch Ltd. The project components include PV modules

CIAL ventured into the Solar PV sector during March 2013, by installing a 100 kWp solar PV Plant on the roof top of the Arrival Terminal Block. This was a trend setter in the field of gridconnected solar PV in the State of Kerala. The plant was installed by the Kolkata based M/s Vikram Solar Pvt. Ltd. 400 numbers of polycrystalline modules of 250Wp with five numbers of 20kW capacity Refu-sol make string inverters were used in this plant.

After the successful commissioning of this plant, CIAL installed a 1 MWp solar PV power plant partly on the roof top and partly on the ground in the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar facility within the Airport premises. This plant was installed by Emvee Photovoltaic Power Pvt. Ltd. 4’000 numbers of monocrystalline modules of 250Wp with thirty three numbers of 30kW capacity Delta make string inverters were used in this plant, which is the first Megawatt scale installation of Solar PV system in the State of Kerala.

Both these plants are equipped with a SCADA system, through which remote monitoring is carried out.

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of 265Wp capacity manufactured

by Renesola, and Inverters of 1MW capacity manufactured by ABB India.

After commissioning, this installation generated around 48000 units per day, which along with the electricity generated from the existing 1.10 MWp plants, was sufficient to meet the power requirement of the Airport. This is a grid connected system without any battery storage and a power banking module with the Kerla State electricity board (KSEB)has been worked out; wherein, CIAL gives as much power it produces (in day time) to (the grid of)KSEB and ‘ buy ‘ back the power from them when needed (especially in night).This plant will produce 18 million units of power from ‘ sun ‘ annually-the power equivalent to feed 10,000 homes for one year.

After the commissioning of the 12MWp capacity solar plant on the 18th of August 2015, Cochin International Airport became the first airport in the world to be fully powered by solar energy. By the end of 2016, the total solar capacity of Cochin Airport then became 15.5 MWp which was capable of producing on an average 62000 units of electricity everyday.

Till date Cochin Airport has produced more than 4 Crore units of solar energy worth approximately Rs. 30 Crores.

With the commissioning of the new International Terminal building T3 in April 2017, Airport’s requirement was expected to increase to more than 1 lakh units a day. In order to maintain its status as a fully solar powered airport, CIAL had taken steps to increase the solar capacity from 15.5 MWp to approximately 40 MWp . The first phase of expansion with a total solar capacity of 6MWp at three different locations have been commissioned and approximately 25,000 units per day would be additionally flowing into the grid from CIAL’s solar plants. three solar installations include a 3MWp

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installation in the hangar premises, a 2 MWp installation on the southern side of the Airport and the first phase of the solar carport with a capacity of 1 MWp. CIAL has incurred approximately Rs. 30 Crores for this first phase of expansion.

The second phase of expansion consisted of the increasing the capacity of solar carport to 2.7 MWp which would provide solar roofing for 1400 cars at the Airport. The company also provided with electric power charging nodes in selected locations inside the carport. This project was completed in June 2017. This is perhaps the biggest solar carport in our Country and also the biggest in any airport in the world. Also a 6 MWp canal top solar installation is fast progressing on the south side of the airport, which is expected to be ready by March 2018.

Another CIAL’s green initiative Over the next 25 years, this green power project(phase I, with 12 MWp capacity) will avoid carbon dioxide emissions from coal fired power plants by more than 3 lakh metric tons, which is equivalent to planting 3 million trees or not driving 750 million miles. ative to reduce carbon footprint was widely recognized by the world. All major International Channels including BBC, Al-Jazeera, CCTV featured the CIAL story. The story became no.1 in the ‘ most trending news ‘ category of Al-

Jazeera’s face book page. CIAL was well appreciated in the global climate change conference held at Paris, in December 2015. It was one of the flagship projects showcased in India pavilion there. Hon. Prime Minister Naredra Modi briefed about CIAL’s green saga during his address in the round table conference held at San Jose, California . Following the suit, the Ministry of Civil aviation has instructed all airports in the country to produce at least 1 MWp power from non-conventional sources. After the CIAL’s green initiative made global headline, many countries, airports and institutions work in alternative energy systems approached it. Representatives of airport authorities from countries like Lyberia, Vietnam and hundreds of technical education institutions from across the globe visited the airport. CIAL is taking special care to attend them and extensive sessions were carried out.

The airport encompasses an area of approximately 1300 acres spread across four panchayaths and one municipality.

About 1.5 lakh people live here.

Since inception the airport has been performing a pivotal role in scaling up the standard of living of these people.

As Kerala is one of the state which faces problems like unemployment, and power shortages, CIAL’s many initiatives provided the habitat around it with building capacities. Definitely, the solar power project is one among them.

insight

“An enviable growth dynamics”

The successes that the governments in Kerala have had in the recent years reflect by the upward graph of economic development that the state has been reporting. The latest in the government’s inclusive mode of governance is the LKS 32

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Dr. Shamseer Vayalil CMD, VPS Health Care

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erala – ‘God’s own country, the home of Ayurveda, the Land of Backwaters–the state is a brand in itself and renowned world-wide for the many firsts that it stands for.

India’s first ‘Digital State’ boasts the highest literacy rate and the Human Development Index is also the highest in India. Kerala is also

ranked best in terms of Physical Quality of life Index and said to have the best Public Health care system in India, all helping Keralites achievethe highest life expectancy in India.

The state came into limelight globally for its dynamic tourism scene, as one of National Geographic’s must-visit destinations in the world. Through the protourism initiatives and smart marketing of its unique heritage and

cultural diversity, the state has been attracting domestic and international tourists, alike. Nevertheless, leaders of the state have also been charting a unique course of development for the state by exploring and supporting new initiatives across different sectors. Under tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions) tourism and medical tourism is given top priority with the state being home to fullyequipped massive convention facilities and prestigious multispecialty hospitals.

Keralais also one of the few states in India to attract investments in manufacturing, mining, industrial and knowledge-based sectors such as IT/ITeS, computer hardware and biotechnology by providing due support and incentives from the state government. As of 2017, Kerala has 29 SEZs with formal approval and 25 notified SEZs. Kerala is the first state to be fully covered by broadband connectivity under the national optical fiber network. Not surprisingly, it also has the highest mobile penetration in India – 31 million connections for a population of 33 million.

It is the first state in the country to have a technology park with CMMI level 4 quality certification and a world-class IT campus in Thiruvananthapuram. The state is also aspiring to regain its position as the leading ‘organic’ agricultural state with the government proposing a US$ 362.88 million investment along with providing incentives and training to promote organic agricultural methods.

With these plans in hindsight, the government has already laid out Rs 50,000 crore infrastructure investment plan that will further enhance the sector, thus promoting entrepreneurship and

Kerala is ranked best in terms of Physical Quality of life Index and said to have the best Public Health care system in India, all helping Keralites achieve the highest life expectancy in India.

job opportunities for the youth.

Interestingly, these development initiatives are involving the youth and within the ambit of the government’s mission Haritha Keralam (Green Kerala).

The successes that the governments in Kerala have had in the recent years reflect by the upward graph of economic development that the state has been reporting. The latest in the government’s inclusive mode of governance is The Loka Kerala Sabha that will bring together the elected representatives and NonResident Keralites (NRK) who have been proudly representing our state and country globally and have been actively involved in the state’s policymaking processes, to lead the state to newer heights.

Kerala has been paving way for many socio-economical and infrastructural sectors that are lesser known domestically and internationally. Through this new platform we hope to channel the spotlight on the rapid pace of developments that are undertaking in the state that has been long-known only for its spices and tourism.

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development THE METROPOLITAN REVOLUTION Kochi Metro has been running successfully for the past six months, since its launch. It is not magic.

We observe steady increase in ridership and income. What we expect now from the society is a shift in the mind-set to accept the metro system.

A P M Mohammed Haneesh IAS, MD, Kochi Metro Ltd.

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ochi Metro Rail Ltd envisages a city that commutes by public transport and is suited for the metropolitan lifestyle, contributing much to the society and nature. Closely following this vision is Kochi Metro, which will soon be the backbone of Kochi’s public transportation network. With channels running far and deep into the outskirts of the city, the metro will not only improve the physical accessibility between places, but will also have a significant impact on the lifestyle of people.

Every six years in Kochi, vehicles on road are doubling. Experts suggest that in another 12-18 years Kochi will turn in to another Bangalore, in terms of congestion and the time spent on road, and it will take more than an hour to cover a kilometre.

We have limitations in expanding roads; over bridges are only adding on to the existing trouble and environmental issues. It’s high time we realise that the distance between an asthmatic Delhi and a wheezing Kochi isn’t far.

The one and only solution to this predictable crisis is to strengthen public transportation. If you’ve been

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to Singapore, you might have noticed how vital public transportation is in the lives of its citizens. Getting a car registered and finding parking lots are far more strenuous than buying a car, and so people use their private vehicles on limited occasions, such as for weekend trips and weddings.

They very well understand the relevance of a sustainable system, for nurturing a clean and healthy environment and ensuring the safety of the next generation.

Initially, Kochi Metro project was conceived with the idea of building and operating a metro system.

Gradually, with an innovative team on board and realising that a metro train system alone wouldn’t solve the conveyance issues of a fast-evolving metropolitan city, the project brought together the concept of a seamless Integrated Public Transportation Network. When buses, auto rickshaws, boats and the brand new metro come together under one platform, without doubt, one can say that this will be a game-changing move in the history of transportation in India.

A system with auto rickshaw unions forming Auto Rickshaw Coordinating Committees, private buses operators uniting to create seven companies and the most innovative Water

we hope to make the Kochi Metro Integrated Transportation model a reality and the lifeline of people.

Metro project in the pipeline, stands as the pillars for tomorrow’s public transportation.

The project, from the very beginning, was conceived to ease the life of commuters in Kochi.

In a democratic political system, it is crucial to sustain public transportation in the society beyond the considerations of profit and loss.

It is more of a social responsibility than a business. There are just four metros that makes profit; Hong Kong and Singapore are among the profit-making four. Yet, public transportation with higher carrying capacity, including Metro networks, are on the rise worldwide; the

driving insights being to reduce traffic congestion and to bring down pollution.

Today, Delhi Metro receives a daily footfall of over thirty lakhs. There were days, fifteen years ago, when the same coaches used to run bare. It was running on loss and the company had to resort to sources such as IT parks for revenue requirements. The same was the case with Bengaluru Metro, which now has a footfall of over four lakhs.

Kochi Metro has been running successfully for the past six months, since its launch. It is not magic. We observe steady increase in ridership and income. What we expect now

from the society is a shift in the mind-set to accept the metro system, to perceive its benefits, and to see the network as something beyond a mere transport aid and to welcome the warm change. We do understand that it will take time. The scenario wasn’t different 50-60 years back in Europe or 20 years ago in the Middle East.

Let’s work towards a metro that reaches far into the outskirts of the city, closer to the villages, ensuring last mile connectivity with a single ticket on a specified timetable; we hope to make the Kochi Metro Integrated Transportation model a reality and the lifeline of people.

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it news Purism to manufacture laptops in Kerala 10% of laptop manufacturing will be done in Kerala and it will be increased gradually

U

S-based tech firm Purism is planning to start manufacturing of laptops in Kerala and the initial talks for the purpose have begun, informed the company founder and CEO Mr. Todd Weaver.

Purism, headquartered in San Francisco, manufactures free software laptops and mobile phones under the brand name “Librem.”

The company will soon launch the free software cellphone ‘Librem 5’, Mr. Weaver said, while speaking on the sidelines of the 6th edition of SWATANTRA 2017, the two-day triennial free software conference, organised by International Centre for Free and Open Source Software (ICFOSS), an autonomous organisation under the Kerala government’s IT Department, at Mascot Hotel here.

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to its list of “Kerala has a mandate recommended GNU/ for using free software Linux distributions. and we can also do “PureOS is a GNU assembly anywhere. operating system that During the initial stage, embodies privacy, 10 per cent of the security, and convenience manufacturing of the strictly with free laptop, mainly assembly software throughout. will be done in Kerala Using PureOS ensures and it will be increased you are using an ethical gradually,” he added. operating system, “We are in touch with committed to providing the Kerala officials if we Todd Weaver Founder & CEO the best in privacy, can supply and start local Purism security and freedom,” assembly and then move Mr. Weaver explained. to fabrication that allows PureOS is a derivative of Debian us to sell the products in the Indian GNU/Linux main, with added market. Our growth plan is really emphasis on privacy protection, to work with the state government where it has pre-installed the to start local assembly. Afterwards, best privacy-protecting software we will start fabricating the mother applications that allow users to board,” he said. easily encrypt their hard drive. The “We produce hardware products company sells the 13-inch laptop at combined with free software. We a price of US$ 1399 while a 15-inch make it a convenient bundle and laptop is priced at US$ 1599. The thus allow average users to be free software cell phone is priced at able to open up a machine and US$ 599. use completely free software Founded in 2014, Purism fully supported,” the CEO said, manufactures premium quality adding that the firm stands laptops, tablets and phones, creating for ease of use. powerful devices meant to protect On Thursday, the Free users’ digital lives without requiring Software Foundation (FSF) a compromise on ease of use. Thirtyannounced in the US six speakers from around the globe the addition of PureOS, led various sessions at the event developed by that discussed various facets and Purism, implications of free and open source software. Around 400 free software enthusiasts from the IT sector attended the conference

insight

NEW INITIATIVES vital for REAL ESTATE SECTOR Demonetization and global recession have played a catastrophic role to spoil the Kerala Real Estate sector in 2017. Once the GST is getting sorted out, Real estate sector will boom.

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S. N. Raghuchandran Nair

2

017 has not been a good year for builders or probably any industries in India. The reason mainly is due to demonetization especially for real estate. It did not affect the CREDAI builders as majority of the CREDAI members did not deal with black money transactions.

It also doesn’t mean that all these builders were taking money in black.

Demonetization has affected the

industry as a whole. The clients of the builders were obtaining housing loans and so there is no chance of black money transaction. There may be some black money transaction to a certain extent in the North but not in the south, especially in Kerala.

However the demonetization created the feeling that in the Indian market the real estate prices are going to crash because there will no longer be any buying or selling of properties and the transactions will be coming

down substantially, as predicted by the economists, media or the public.

People were confused by the reports given by the media that the real estate was crashing.

Global recession also played a role as majority of the investments come from the Middle East the rest from Europe, America and other countries.

Middle East used to be our big market. The issue between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, recession in Dubai and oil crisis in Saudi Arabia triggered the fear of retrenchments of jobs which led to the slowdown in investments in real estate especially in Kerala.

A fall in prices up to 20 to 30% was forecasted by the media that made people hold on to their decision and then the GST came in and confused people again. People felt that GST will bring down the prices, but in reality, the prices did not fall as expected because the GST was in an experimental stage. GST council was taking a call on all the issues at every quarter to find out how to make things easier. So there was confusion in the market which also affected the tourism industry. But for all the builders in Kerala and India, nobody is sure what will be the impact of GST input rate. Everybody knows that there is an input credit but what will be the percentage of the credit, nobody could know. So we all decided to bring down the prices by giving rebates to attract the people.

And these rebates are given as input credits.

Once the GST is getting sorted out, the clarity is emerging because I think before March 2018; there will be clarity on the GST on the real estate.

The Government is yet to come up with the clarity on GST on real estate.

Lot of investors in real estate, are not comfortable with linking of Aadhar as they fear that their transactions are going to be monitored.

Pricing Regulatory Authority is the need of the hour in Kerala.

Kerala being a consumer state is solely dependent on materials coming from other states, be it cement, steel or any construction material. GST avoided check post issues so one can source material from anywhere. But we have a situation that there is also internal consumption of materials within the state. For example, bulk materials. Rubble, metal, sand etc. are things to be bought from within the state because of restrictions coming from quarries. Prices shot up 30 to 40% in the last three months thereby increasing the construction cost by Rs 100 per square feet. As of now we have debated about this cost, whether we should charge our consumers who are buying from us the percentage of price increase or whether we should say we will absorb 5-10% cost increase. Any increase more than 10% will probably may have to be

passed on to the buyer which is yet to be decided. With the establishment of real estate regulatory authority, whose rules are yet to be framed, things are set to change .The prices have to be contained or should allow a marginal increase up to 5-10%. The other worrying factor to the buyer is higher tax rates in Kerala. The stamp duty in Kerala is 10%, whereas the nearby states have brought stamp duties to 5%. .

Since we have the market opened up, materials are available without check post issues as we can buy material from any part of India, and so the prices of materials are going to come down and definitely bring down the construction cost, benefitting the purchaser, may be in a couple of months.. But the taxation in Kerala has to be re-worked and as part of doing business, Kerala is still ranked very low. Government must understand the four or five driving factors which drive the economy of the state. It is driven by 1) the Tourism sector 2)The education Sector 3)The Health Sector 4) The IT sector 5) The small traders MSME sectors. All the sectors, requires construction, which is a major player.

So Government must make sure that the construction sector issues are taken up with priority.

We have recommended the Government that it should come up with a pricing regulatory authority and decide the prices in the state whether it is for rubble, for metal, for sand, for cement, for steel or any other important materials which have an impact on the economy of the state.

One more sector that Government is not focusing in Kerala which the Central Government has started focusing and all other states have started taking to is the affordable housing. It is not for the January 2018

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economically weaker section or for the low income group but for the middle class and upper middle class.

All this while, the private builders have been catering to the rich or the high income group- the Luxury sector. But time has come for all the builders to relook at it because the Luxury sector is becoming smaller and smaller.

The sad part is that during my 34 years in this field, the real estate sector has not really contributed to the middle class. Today, the Central Government has said that we must look into the affairs of the middle class and all the builders are focusing it. But unfortunately in Kerala, affordable housing is a concept which we are unable to think of because of these reasons. One the cost of property is very high in Kerala, two, the construction cost is very high,

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The sad part is that the real estate sector has not really contributed to the middle class.

three, affordable housing is available only in urban areas of the city as per the Government of India regulations.

The Government should petition the Central Government to consider Kerala as a different state and that the adjoining Panchayats to the urban areas should also be considered for affordable housing concession benefits. It will also take away the

density and traffic from the city to the suburban areas and you will have satellite towns and cities coming in.

The master plan for the whole state has to be prepared so that people who come to invest in Kerala, whether builders, hospitals, industries, must know where to invest. Today you are at ransom of the officials because you put up an industry and tomorrow they say it is wet land. Instead of demolishing the structures, they should have taken over the structures and gave it to KTDFC. A wealth created should not be destroyed.

These types of action will drive away the potential investors from our State.

Writer is President of The Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry and National Governing Council Member of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India

column BUsiness economics Dr. Kochurani Joseph drkochurani@gmail.com

Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: The future can be better than the present and I have the power to make so.

invest passion and self strength in business

O

ne day in my class I asked students about their ambition or what they want to become in life. As usual many responded their career as their goals. To my surprise one of my students replied that he wants to become an entrepreneur of providing employment to at least hundred persons. He made it little more clearly by saying that hundred families should find their livelihood because of me. The reason is that, in his own words, “I want to raise the dignity of myself and the lives that surround me.” Now he is running a business in many parts of Gulf countries, Australia and Singapore.

Last April I met him in Dubai and we recapped that event in the class.

We bid farewell to 2017 and now let’s meet 2018 for innovative initiatives. Many want to do business.

Few succeed, but some fails. Some are making greatest mistake copying others in business. Don’t copy others because each one is given different question papers in life.

Two things are very essential in starting and sustaining in business.

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One is passion the other is self strength. If we have these two the rest of the factors like capital, money, man power etc follow. Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: The future can be better than the present and I have the power to make so.

Follow your Passion

Passion is our drive, ambition and the love of what you do and who you serve. It provides us with a very special view of the world that others often don’t see. For example, Steve

Some are making greatest mistake copying others in business. Don’t copy others because each one is given different question papers in life.

Jobs had dreams for computers and Jeff Bezos of Amazon had a vision for a store that sells everything.

It is incredible when skills and passion come together. Passion is what drives you. Passion keeps you going despite the difficulties that your business will inevitably come across. Are you passionate about your product or service?

The product can be the result of your knowledge, talents, abilities or mixture of all these. If you are not passionate about “what” you’re selling, you can be passionate about starting a business or being selfemployed. Remember working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.

Acknowledging self strength

According to the Behavioural Economics the psychological level of economic decisions is very important.

The strength of the mind and self image do affect our decisions in business. Generally speaking self esteem of people passes through three

different levels.

The first is a negative attitude (Poor self image). People with this attitude think that ‘Nothing is good for me’, ‘No matter what I do nobody cares for me.,’ ‘everybody blames me for everything’,’ ‘If I had been in the hospital for two days, who knows who will come to visit me ...’. These kinds of negative thoughts will not help them to proceed with their passion.

The second one is that some people have a glorified self image. They think that they can achieve everything.

Passion

+

Don’t follow money. Let money follow you.

That is the secret of business.

They are the only persons to do it. They are driven by superiority complex and end up in total failures in business. It is difficult to work with

self strength

=

Revenue

them as a team.

The real and balanced approach is to find our potentialities and limitations also the difference between the two. They follow a healthy approach to business. They have a passion driven and success oriented life style. They try to improve their potentials and reduce limitations by all means. They won’t blame others for the failures and in fact they take ultimate responsibility for life.

Increase Your Reach and Revenue

Owning a business will demand you to tap into your full potential so that you can be flexible and innovative.

In Economics we use two terms namely Potential GDP and actual GDP. The former is the result of full utilization of your resources like time, energy, money, creativity etc and the latter stands for what you actually produce. The difference between the two shows your quantum of underdevelopment. This is applicable to any individuals, system or institution.

It is said that those who worry about the past and anxious of tomorrow are forgetting to live today.

Yesterday is an outdated cheque.

Tomorrow is post dated cheque, may or may not materialize. Today is the demand draft. So en cash it. The experiences of 2017 should be the energy source for business in 2018. So turn your passion into action, money will follow. Successful entrepreneurs are rarely motivated solely by money. Don’t follow money.

Let money follow you. That is the secret of business.

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

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personality K. S. Sanal Kumar Chairman & Managing Director Classic Fashion Apparel Industry Ltd. Co., Jordan

Starting from scratches and consistently moving up against all hurdles to reach the peak of success is truly a Herculean task that calls for complete dedication and untiring hard work.

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conomic slowdown is a reality.

GDP is shrinking, industrial production is collapsing, agriculture is in distress, construction industry is in the doldrums and exports are dwindling… India is facing all the symptoms of a recession. In times like these, we need people like Mr. K.S. Sanal Kumar, the CMD of Classic Fashion Apparels, who played a crucial role in saving Jordan’s garment sector from total wreckage in the Great Recession of 2007-2009. Jordan was heavily dependent on the US economy and one of the countries that suffered most.

After the Great Depression of the 1930s, the greatest crisis that world economy, especially the developed nations, suffered was the Great Recession that had negative impact on almost all the countries in the world between 2007 and 2012, the period varying from country to country.

According to the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research, the official arbiter of U.S. recessions, the recession began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009, and thus extended over eighteen months.

As a country dependent on the US, Jordan was one of those countries that should have suffered the most.

However, its garment sector saved Jordan from total wreckage and the Company that made this possible was Classic Fashion Apparel Industry Co. Ltd. , under the deft management of its Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. K.S. Sanal Kumar. There was not even a slight slowdown in the consistent growth of the company during the months of the Great Recession.

Born to late Santhakumari and Krishnan Nair, in

Thiruvananthpuram, Sanal Kumar graduated from University College, Thiruvananthapuram, and became a Chartered Accountant. He is a member of the prestigious ICAI (Institute of Chartered Accountants of India).

He had never dreamt of becoming a businessman. After studies, he joined the Revenue Department at the International Airport Authority of India, Bombay International Airport, Mumbai in 1987 as an Accounts Manager. Mumbai was then the stepping stone to the Gulf countries and he opted for better prospects in the Gulf. From 1990 to 2002, he

Jordan‘s garment sector saved the country from total wreckage caused by global recession.

worked in a managerial capacity in several garment making companies and garnered the fire-power to start his own company, Classic Fashion Apparel Industry, in Jordan in the summer of 2003.

The Company was established in the world’s first Qualifying Industrial Zone, Al Hassan Industrial Estate, in Ramtha, near Irbid City in Jordan.

Additional stimuli for starting out on his own were the Free Trade Agreement between the US and Jordan, and the US concessions to products from the QIZ. At the start, there were only 2 production lines and 130 machines employing 300 people and the turnover during the first year of operations was just USD

2 million. However, a decade and half of consistent team work made Classic Fashion the largest manufacturer of garments in the Middle East.

Presently, Classic Fashion has 11 factory facilities, 5 satellite units, 11,500 machines and 23,000 employees working as a team, producing over 200,000 garments every working day, and achieving an annual turnover of 450million US Dollars in 2017, contributing 26.5% of Jordan’s total garment exports. Besides, there are valueadding ancillary units to wash 30,000 garments by wet and dry processes, to print on 100,000 garments, and to embroider 100,000 garments, in a day.

Of course, it was not ‘roses, roses all the way’. There were times when ‘ending everything’ seemed an ‘easy way out’. But his dedicated team and sagacious clients would not let him down and the Government and people of Jordan stood staunchly by his side.

Classic Fashion rolls out top-notch products including active wear of knit tops and bottoms, outer wear of jackets, woven denim and twill bottoms, woven tops, uniform wear of jackets and bottoms, formal wear of pants and tops, work wear, etc. The Company’s clients include leading international suppliers and fashion brands like Under Armour Incorporated, Wal-Mart Stores Incorporated, Hanes Brand Incorporated, GAP Incorporated, Gear for Sports Incorporated, American Eagle Outfitters Incorporated, One Jeanswear Group, J. C. Penney Company Incorporated and Adidas.

People from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey are working in the Company.

With R&D and Product Design & Development Centre in the USA, Overseas Units in Vietnam, raw

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materials from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and USA, technology and machinery from the world over and the products exported to the USA and distributed all over the world, Classic Fashion is truly global.

Classic Fashion recruits more people every year, educates them for better understanding, trains them for skill enhancement and capacity building, gives them equal opportunity for upward mobility and recognizes their progress for further career advancement. In Classic Fashion, a worker is promoted, step-by-step, to the post of a Manager and equal opportunity is given to all to get higher designation and remuneration.

Creating Labour friendly Green Economy

Visit any of its factories and you will see an atmosphere of contentment and satisfaction permeating the whole place. Thousands of people, mostly women, are working with pride of achievement in the tidy and well-lit spaciousness inside. Indian film songs, mostly old ones with meaningful lyrics, subdue the constant whir of machines, interspersed with birthday greetings to those celebrating their birthdays and other informative and entertaining announcements. .

Sanal Kumar, is adept at turning challenges into opportunities, works tirelessly for flawless perfection in every product, believes in green economy and shared growth, fosters family feeling and team spirit in all under him, knows that a well-content workforce is the prime guarantee of sustained success in any industry and abides by all laws and regulations, both national and international. He makes sure that those under him get equal opportunities for promotion and that hard work and dedication are always recognised and rewarded.

His astute management of human

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relations, generous implementation of labour welfare measures and whole-hearted compliance with his corporate, social and environmental responsibilities make him stand headand-shoulders above the run-of-themill managers. His care for nature and the environment and his love and understanding of his fellow beings make him stand out as a unique personality in the business community.

Initially, the representation of Jordanians among the employees was very low despite the high unemployment rate in the rural areas of Jordan. Pointing this out, Better Work Jordan and the King and the Ministry of Labour wanted more employment opportunities for the rural people of Jordan, especially women. Satellite units were proposed

by BWJ and the Government of Jordan and Sanal Kumar willingly complied.

Currently, five Satellite Units are functioning and two more are on the anvil.

Total compliance with the specifications of the clients and strict adherence to the international quality requirements are the prime reasons for the Company’s success. The purchased fabric, trims and accessories are thoroughly checked and trial production runs are approved. In-line

What surprised me when I met Mr. Sanal Kumar was his simplicity and straightforwardness with a genuine love for his host country, Jordan, and its people. I think this is the secret of his exemplary relations with the people working under him.

HE Ali Ghezawi, Minister of Labour, Jordan.

quality controls are operational in each production line through a seven point system. Post-production quality checks are also done ensuring that no product of an inferior quality reaches the client.

The Ministry of Labour has certified the Company as Golden Listed for better practices. Sanal Kumar takes pride in keeping his Company the most labour-friendly in the Middle East.

The Better Work Jordan Programme that was launched in 2008 and several programmes for women empowerment, education and training for literacy and skill enhancement, have enhanced the quality of life of the employees. Hostel accommodation, food arrangements and recreational and health-care facilities provided for the employees

are the very best in the garment sector of Jordan.

Encouraging Shared Growth

The Government of Jordan, Ministry of Labour and world organisations like ILO, IFC and others consider Sanal Kumar one of the most labour-friendly entrepreneurs in Jordan and invite him to their consultations in labour affairs and issues related to the garmentmaking sector. Jordan Investment Centre shows him before a global audience, in their programmes inviting investors into the country, as a model of success in investing in Jordan.

Sanal Kumar is always on the lookout for nature-friendly measures that can be adopted in the Company.

The effluent treatment plant and the change over from petroleum products

to heavy oils for heating purposes in his Company are ample proof of his genuine concern for nature and his earnestness in this regard. He is also a partner in such programmes initiated

by Governmental and other agencies.

Like a mountaineer successfully scaling peak after peak, Sanal Kumar, continues to struggle further and further up after each conquest of a lofty peak on his path, without resting for a moment on his laurels.

In a world buffeted by economic and political upheavals, changing market trends, fluctuating oil price and cut-throat competition, Sanal Kumar, moves forward and upward constantly and consistently, without losing his control, just as he drives his Porsche between his residence and work place every day.

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column KERALA & ECONOMY N Niyathi rgidskerala@gmail.com

Global economic and financial crisis since 2008 created a depression in the GCC and it has created unprecedented loss of employment and fall in economic activities.

economic IMPACT OF RETURN EMIGRATION

T

he large-scale emigration of Keralite workers to West Asian countries has contributed to significant socio-economic change in Kerala. The emigration started with a few thousands per year in the early 1970s but assumed large proportions during 1980s, 1990s and the first decade of the 21st century. According to a state-wide Survey, total Keralite emigrants in the Gulf countries are 20.37 lakh in 2011. Similarly Keralites in West Asia accounts for more than half of the total Indian emigrants.

Of the total Keralite emigrants in the foreign countries, the share of emigrants in the West Asian countries was about 89 percent. The magnitude of remittances sent home by emigrant workers is equivalent to 22 to 31 percent of the net state domestic product of Kerala between 2003 and 2011. The total remittance received in Kerala from the emigrant workers was Rs.49, 695 crore which is equivalent to 31 percent of the net state domestic product.

Global economic and financial crisis since 2008 created a depression in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC)

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and it has created unprecedented loss of employment and fall in economic activities in the Gulf countries resulting in exodus of migrant workers. Migrant workers engaged in construction, trade, manufacturing, agriculture and domestic service sectors lost jobs and were forced to return. There was a small increase in the number of emigrants at the state level, but traditional centres of emigration in the State had experienced decrease in the number of emigrants. The post global crisis period (2008 to 2001) was a major turning point in the history of emigration of Kerala.

Liberalization and globalization policies since 1980s promoted international migration throughout the world. According to ILO, migrant workers are persons admitted by a country other than their own for the explicit purpose of carrying out an economic activity. Study on emigration to West Asia shows the socio-economic backgrounds of emigration, processes of emigration, economic and social impacts of remittances and issues and problems of return emigrants. The economic impact of Gulf migration

in Kerala attracted considerable attention from economists and demographers. Since the mid-1970s, the factor which had a great impact on Kerala’s economy especially on labour market, consumption, savings, investment, poverty, income distribution and economic growth has been the Gulf migration and migrant remittances. Issues connected with return emigration such as the cause of return, socio-economic background of the return emigrants, the current activity status of the return emigrants and the problems faced by them are available in several studies. Study on return migrants from the Middle East presents their socio-economic characteristics, living conditions and problems abroad and economic status after return. Study also shows that on the one hand there is an improvement in the living standards of the majority of return emigrants, while on the other hand, for a sizeable proportion of the return emigrants, the migration has given them financial loss, sufferings and distress (A.C.K.Nambiar, 1995) In another field study majority of the Gulf migrants return due to lack of job

opportunities, reduction in salary and hostile immigration policies during the period between 1996 and 1999 (Dr.B.A.Prakash). The survey findings conclude that majority of the return emigrants could not find any gainful employment and face serious financial problems.

Kerala migration to the West Asia continues to be an important topic of research. The studies observe that migration is continuing to provide the most dynamic factor in the economic growth of Kerala state even in the 21st century. Migrants of the 21st century are structurally different from those of the 20th century. The rise in oil prices in 1973 led to a very rapid increase in the revenues accruing to the oil producing countries of the West Asia. This accelerated a process of industrialization and social change in these countries characterized by massive investment in social and economic infrastructure necessitating the service of a large number of foreign workers.

The global economic crisis since 2008 is one of the worst since the world depression of the 1930s. According to World Bank and ILO, one of the regions that faced serious consequences of the economic crisis is the GCC countries.

The construction sector is the worst hit by the crisis and a large number of construction workers from India, Pakistan, Egypt, Yemen, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Philippines have been forced to return due to loss of employment.

In the Gulf countries, most private sector jobs, especially in agriculture, construction and household/domestic services, employ foreign workers.

Keralite emigrants accounted for half of the stock of Indian emigrants in the Gulf countries.

According to a migration survey of 1998, total emigrants from Kerala were estimated at 13.62 lakh. The subsequent surveys estimated the total

emigrants at 18.38 lakh in 2003 and at 21.93 lakh in 2008. A survey in 2011 estimated the total emigrants at 22.80 lakh and out of them 89 percent are in Gulf countries. Kerala Migration survey 2014 by centre for Development studies estimated that more than 24 lakh people from Kerala are living in foreign countries and their remittance was nearly 36.5 percent of states net domestic product.

An analysis of the return emigration rate shows that there has been a marginal decline in the rate between 2008 and 2011. The return emigrants per 100 households declined from 15.3 in 2008 to 14.7 in 2011. The total remittances from workers received

Inflow of NRI deposits are ‘135609 crore in March, 2016 as against ‘109603 crore in March, 2015.

in Kerala were ‘13,652 crore which was equivalent to 25.50 percent of the net state domestic product. The remittances received increased to ‘18,465 crore in 2003, to ‘43,296 crore in 2008 and ‘49,695 crore in 2011. The amount of remittances received in 2008 was equivalent to 31 percent of the net state domestic product.

NRI deposits from foreign countries especially Gulf Countries is a key growth engine for Kerala. In flow of NRI deposits are ‘135609 crore in March, 2016 as against ‘109603 crore in March, 2015. It shows an increase of 24 percent. But domestic deposit in banks increased only by 13.2 percent.

NRI deposits constitute 32.19 percent of total deposits in Kerala. It shows the

impact of NRI remittances in the Kerala economy.

Study among the return migrants shows that majority are employed either on part time or full time basis.

Studies on return migrants (2014) shows that nearly one-fifth of the return emigrants are unemployed. Similarly from self employment and wage employment, they get only a small amount as monthly income. Studies also observe that socio-economic status of 40 percent of return emigrants due to emigration to Gulf Countries have not improved. Two thirds of the households have created several financial problems. Similarly migrations of the head of the household create social tension and problems for return emigrant households. Emigration has adversary affected the education as well as character formation of the children and has created mental stress and problems to wives of emigrants.

Return emigrants also feel that they are isolated from the society due to emigration. Return emigration also create a mild or moderate recession in the economic activities in the localities having high concentration of emigrant households.

It is true that return emigrant household’s socio-economic back ground is still poor. Holding of land is small and hence income from farm is small and inadequate for a household.

Similarly return emigrants live in small houses constructed prior to their migration. Their consumption expenditure is generally weak and low.

Above all return emigrants have high incidence of debt due to borrowing for meeting the expenses of migration, house construction, marriage expenses, medical treatment etc.

Author is a senior economic analyst and Director of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Development studies, Trivandrum. He was former Additional Director, Kerala State Planning department January 2018

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art & culture

The Right Blend of Talent and Spirituality Gayathri Subramanian is one of the best performing artists of Kerala Natanam.

This dance form created by Guru Gopinath, is an evolution of Kathakali.

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Seema Shyam Stelzer

D

ance is just an art form for most of us. But for performers like Gayathri Subramanian, Dance is life, a new color and a passionate experience that cannot be replaced by anything else. As a student of Music College, Thiruvananthapuram, Gayathri was quite surprised by the pictures of the mudras that were stuck on the walls for student reference. She found that none of them matched with what she was taught right from her childhood.

The knowledge that she had accumulated from her Guru Nattuvam Paramasivam from Tanjore made her sternly believe that what was found on the walls were completely different.

The confused Gayathri did open up her mind to her mother, but she had to wait until next day to get cleared off her doubts. The well trained Bharatnatyam dancer was thus introduced to Kerala Natanam, the dance form she has never even heard of before.

Today, Gayathri Subramanian is one of the best performing artists of this very dance form- Kerala Natanam. Kerala Natanam, the dance form created

by Guru Gopinath, is an evolution of Kathakali. It does stick on to the basic rules of Natya Sasthra, but on the other hand, it exhibits an individuality of its own. The Mudras as well as the Rasas are completely different

from those of Bharatnatyam. The unique nature of the dance form was the major reason what the dancer in Gayathri was attracted towards.

The love and passion Gayathri had towards Kerala Natanam made her take steps to come closer to Kathakali.

She became a student of Vembayam Appukuttan to know more about Kerala Natanam. As a performer, she was invited to perform Bharatnatyam in Taiwan, where she got an opportunity to demonstrate Kerala Natanam. At the International Trade Fair attended by 40 countries, her demonstrations on Kerala Natanam got recognized and she was invited to perform Kerala Natanam at Moscow.

The passion towards Kerala Natanam made Gayathri master the art form to the core. The recognitions that she received from Kerala Natanam is a proof for this. She has received the prestigious Nrityajyothi Award by Naveen Kalakar, Orissa and the Yuva Prathibha Puraskar by the National Culture Mission, Orissa.

Natya Shasthra, which was once a subject chosen for a seminar by her is now her first and last love. She studied deep about the subject, with the help and support of Vembayam Appukuttan and Natya Shasthra Unnikrishnan. Her passion towards Kerala Natanam made her develop a new art form which she calls Shasthra Nrithyam. This is based on Natya Shastra, Chapter 4-Thandavalakshanam. The peculiar feature that we find in this dance form is the use of Tabla, which is a North Indian instrument rarely used in South Indian dance forms.

“one has to have great passion towards the art form, dedication and apart from both of these, one need to be spiritually enlightened.“

At present, Gayathri performs Kerala Natanam and Bharathnatyam which are choreographed by her.

She has choreographed Sri Swathi Thirunal Krithis for Kerala Natanam & Mohiniyattam, Subramania Bharathiyar Krithis for Kerala Natanam & Bharathnatyam and Kathakali Patham lyrics for Kerala Natanam.

Some of the dance performances choreographed by her are

Natyasamanuayam, Butterfly lovers, Nathyasangamam, Narthanathalam, Story of Maruths, Mukthi and Beevi Nanma Malayalam. She has also performed the story of Gandhari for Amrutha Channel. She is the recipient of Senior Scholarship for Dance from the Department of Culture Government of India (2002), Award for Young Artist from the Guru Gopinath Trust, Kerala (2002),

Award from Sri Sri Ravishankar for the training give to the participants of PUNARNAVA, the Mega Mohiniyattom Performance (2006), The Guru Gopinath Trust Award NATYARATNA (2009), Swathy Vandanam Puraskar (2013), Noonkalabharathy Award

by Karur Natyanjali Trust, Karur Tamilnadu, Nrithyajyothi Award

by Naveen Kalakar National Young Dancers Festival, Odisha (2014), Sri Jayadev Rashtriya Yuva Prathibha Puraskar by National Culture Mission, Odisha and Devadasi Sashimani Devi Smriti Puraskar, Odisha (2016) To be a performing artist, according to Dr.Gayathri Subramanian, one has to have great passion towards the art form, dedication and apart from both of these, one need to be spiritually enlightened. Without a spiritual zest, one might not be able to perform to perfection. Watching her perform, we do find that dance is the result of the spirituality that she posses in her.

January 2018

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

YOUR RELATIONSHIP, MONEY, HEALTH AND CAREER IN 2018

Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

The past two years had been challenging one. Your health and vitality were not up to the usual high standards.

Home, family and emotional issues were difficult last year and this trend would continue in the year ahead.

The cosmos wants you to re-order and restructure these areas of life. This year is a socially active year but it will get even more active

by August 17th. Children of marriageable age have a marriage opportunity but shouldn’t rush into anything.

There is much illusion that needs to be penetrated. You will enjoy financial interests since Mars is benefic for you.

It will bring financial increase and success. You will end the year much wealthier than when you began it. You will be even more of a risk-taken than usual.

There was a great focus on work and career and these areas seem to have enjoyed success and they will continue to do so in 2018, but important changes are brewing in 2018 especially in latter part of the year. Career, success can place strains on your home and family life.

You will be called upon to take on more responsibility at home and with family members. Health would be reasonably good for most of 2018. Career and love are probably the most exciting and happy area of life in 2018. Those who employ others are expanding the workforce with quality people. Your career success enables you to make new friends and new connections.

This year some of you might buy second or even third home too or buy additional properties for investment.

Health has been steadily improving since 2016 when Saturn left your sign and this trend will continue in 2018. Health of children seems good. If there are health problems, they can clear up very suddenly and miraculously. Love and career seem the most active and happiest areas of life in 2018. Though many of you are doing well in your career these days the trend seems to continue in 2018, finances have been tight, perhaps stressful. Earning hasn’t been the problem. It’s been the need to manage the finances better. Job seekers will have wonderful success after October 26th. Those who employ others should expand workforce after October 26th.

Your health had to make tough choices in the past two years and this trend would continue till July 16th. If you are working towards a second marriage, it would not be advisable to marry for a while. House of Finance is not a House of Power until July 16th.

The status quo should be in effect. Saturn will move into your money House for two and a half years. This is a time for earning your wealth, a time for going the extra mile in finances. Those of you involved in property or insurance claims need to do a lot more homework.

There is deceit or unrealistic assumptions in this area.

Home and family affairs seem very happy this year.

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January 2018

Leo

Virgo

Libra

Your health and vitality are fine for the first half of the year but from the beginning of July 16th planets starts to shift and you need to be more careful. There is a great and longterm experimentation happening in love and relationships. Until October 26th there are financial opportunities and success in areas that involve sales, marketing, teaching, advertising and communication in general.

Professional investors should look at transport, media companies and the beauty industry for profit opportunities. Job seekers have good success later in the year. Your work Planet, Saturn moves into your sign from July 16th. This shows that job opportunities are pursuing you. Those looking to buy or sell a home will have good fortune from October 26th onwards.

The past two years initiated a period of long term and very dramatic change in your life. This trend continues and perhaps even accelerates in 2018. You are in a very exciting period in your life.

Anything can happen any dream can come true. Last year should have been a prosperous one and this trend will continue in 2018. Married Virgos will probably face a crisis in their relationships. Your 2nd House of Finance is very strong this year and benefic Jupiter is there.

This is a classic signal of prosperity and abundance.

Earnings will increase and assets. There is more speculative success. You seem to catch the lucky breaks. You earn more and you spend more. You are more generous with your money as you feel richer.

Health will vastly improve this year and will continue to be strong in the year ahead. There is a need to conserve your energy for things that are really important to you. Libras working towards or in a second marriage will have a status quo year.

Children of marriageable age are not likely to marry this year. Last year was a very important finance and career year and this will last for the first half of 2018 and then dissipate, though finance will still be important throughout 2018. Those who employ others deal with a revolving door. Employees come and go. You don’t know who will be around and when or who will show up .You will become adept at reshuffling.

towards a second marriage face a completely different situation. A second marriage if it hasn’t already happened is very likely now.

The 11th House rules the science and high technology.

This involvement implies a career in technology or even the invention of technology as part of your career. This year relations between you and siblings could be a lot better.

Scorpio Your Health should have been good in 2017 and this trend will continue for much in 2018. Your 7th House of Love and marriage is not a House of Power for the first half of the year. There is a status quo situation.

Married people tend to stay married, singles tend to stay single. Finances have been important to you, a serious interest for many years now.

You seem totally and happily involved in this area. This trend continues in 2018. This year you seem to be getting the hang of money-making, you are getting deep insights into this area and this will translate into cold, hard cash after October 26th. Home and family issues have been a priority for many years now and the trend will continue.

in 2018. The health of children seems status quo.

Children of marriageable age have wonderful aspects either for marriage or for a significant relationship.

Your happiest and most active social periods will be from May 10th to June 21st. Professional investors should look at gold, gaming companies, resorts and entertainment field. Job seekers have a status quo year, likewise those who employ others.

Capricon

Sagittarius

Dramatic home, Career and financial changes are in store for 2018 and beyond.

Health was good in 2017 and this trend would continue

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Though your overall energy and vitality could have been better in 2017, still it was a prosperous and socially active year. If there had been health problems, there is good news about them in the year ahead. Those who are in or working towards a second marriage January 2018

have a status quo year.

Children of marriageable age have wonderful love opportunities. Last year was both a strong financial and career year and the trend is still in effect for 2018. You can excel in Journalism, the business side of journalism and as investors in media companies. You’re most active and successful financial periods will be from January 19th to February 27th and from October 26th onwards.

Aquarius Last year seem to have been a happy one. You grew in many, many ways. There was financial growth to be sure but more importantly there was intellectual and spiritual growth. Health and vitality have been good in 2017 and will continue to be good for the first half of 2018. Those working

Pisces

Those looking to have a spiritual breakthrough are certainly having them now.

Health should have been good in 2017, in 2018 we see the same sort of trend.

Those working towards a second marriage have a status quo year but romantic opportunities may arise at the workplace or as you pursue. It is very likely that you will be doing much foreign travel related to your career. Those of you and there are many, involved in academia, publishing or the travel business are going to have exceptionally strong career years. Those of you just starting out in a career are likely to gravitate to these fields. University students could receive honors and do exceptionally well in their studies.