Anchor india 2016

Contents Banks

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173

Coconut

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247

Coffee

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259

Coir

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275

Dream Makers

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199

Marine Resources

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237

Medical Tourism

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015

Te a

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267

P C Chambers, Ashirbhavan Lane Kacheripady, Kochi - 682 018 00 91 484 2391023, 4051532 mail@infokerala.in www.infokerala.in Managing Editor Prasanth Valamkudiyil Editor Biju Mathew Associate Editors Maya Menon R. Vishnu Raj Joseph Mathew K.C. Ramesh Craft Sijoy Fernandez Photos Jeny Ambooken Coir Board Aster MIMS Lakeshore Hospital & Research Centre Ltd. Baby Memorial Hospital Ltd. Aster DM Healthcare Ltd. Kerala Tourism Department Nechupadam Dental Clinic Business Associates Cyriac Antony 4/32 Thomas Street, St. Albans, VIC 3021 Australia, 00 61 423749246 Aju Mathew 9/192 St SW, Bothell, WA - 98012 United States, 001 425 939 0929 Ninth Edition 2016, Anchor India, Printed & Published by Prasanth Kumar V.T. on behalf of Info Kerala Communications Pvt. Ltd. Editor: P.M. Biju, Printed at Viani Printings Ernakulam. Vol No. 1, April 2016, Reg No. M6 / 31925 / 06, Issue No. 9 Price Rs. 499/- Overseas US $ 45 Information has been obtained from sources belived to be reliable, but its accuracy, completeness and the opinions based thereon are not guaranteed. As every effort is made to provide accurate information in this publication, we would appreciate it if readers would call our attention to any errors that may occur by communicating with Info Kerala Communications Pvt. Ltd. to this number 0484 2391023 or at our address.

I S B N 8 1 - 9 29470- 3- 7

Preface India, bounded by the majestic Himalayan ranges in the North and edged by an endless stretch of golden beaches, is the land of hoary tradition and cultural diverse. Vivid kaleidoscope of landscapes, glorious historical sites and royal cities, misty mountain hideaways, colourful people, rich civilizations and festivities craft India Incredible. The delightful South India where Indian heritage is more intact has much to offer to this ancient tradition.

Humankind’s medical odysseys in search of destinations of heavenly healing have a long history. In the modern age, man wanted to move around as he wanted to see places which had been alien to him hitherto. India is one of the prime places to fulfill the natural instinct of man to move from one place to another and get unperturbed. Now, he is exploring places not only for satiating his thirst for seeing newer lands alone but people travel across the globe in search of health destinations as well. With the most sought after professionals and excellent network of hospitals India is becoming the very hot medical tourism destination in the world.

As in the magnificent past, nowadays India is extremely renowned for its coir, coconut, marine resources, tea and coffee. The financial institutions are playing an important role in the growth of the country.

This great historical soil turns out to be an abode of investment.

The prime place is specified to real estate. Real estate is akin to a gold mine. In times of misery, it will yield gold.

And, we are equipped for you with some illuminations which enhance her significance in the world map. Anchor India depicts the most vibrant Indian scenario of medical tourism, banks, coir, coconut, coffee, tea, marine resources, space making and space makers along with amazing tourism maturity of the country.

Editor

Advisory Board Padmashri Dr. Philip Augustine The Managing Director & CEO, Lakeshore Hospital & Research Centre George Paul The Managing Director, Synthite Industrial Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. N. Asokan The Executive Director and CEO, Mather Group M.C. Balachandradas The Managing Director, Sree Sankara Group Leagal Advisors Adv. Tony Chacko Adv. S. Renjith Adv. Binu Zacharia Adv. Haridas P. Nair sincere thanks to our associates and benefactors who guided and encouraged us for this venture

India’s medical tourism sector is expected to experience an annual growth rate of 30%, making it a $2 billion industry by 2015. As medical treatment costs in the developed world balloon - with the United States leading the way - more and more Westerners are finding the prospect of international travel for medical care

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increasingly appealing. Medical Tourism can be broadly defined as provision of cost effective medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients needing surgical and other forms of specialized treatment.

This process is being facilitated by the corporate sector involved in medical care as well as the tourism industry,

both private and public. It can be described in terms of pampering and wellness, which involves offering people an experience that makes them feel good. It helps healthy people to prevent the problems so that they stay well, both physically and mentally. Combining holiday with health and well-being is reported to bring immeasurable benefits to health, including enjoyment, personal growth, development and freedom from stress. The development of medical tourism is not new. Since centuries, patients had been advised and sent to distant places, for recovery. Growing purchasing power and greater realization about the benefits of healthy living has created vast market for health tourism industry in the recent past. India, along with the other competing countries like Thailand, Jordan, Cuba, Malaysia and South Africa, have emerged as the most sought after destination for health tourism. Globalisation has promoted a consumerist culture, thereby promoting goods and services that can satisfy various wants of people across the countries.

This has lead to the emergence of healthcare services provided by private sector. This sector has the ability to provide super speciality healthcare services at a fraction of the cost compared to that in USA, England or Singapore.

Corporate run institutions have seized this opportunity to maximize profits and expand their coverage. They have realized the potential of going beyond the limited domestic market and attract foreign medical tourists, where this facility is either not available or not affordable. This is the genesis of medical tourism industry. Over the past twenty years, Indian private sector companies have set up corporate hospitals. These state of the art corporate hospitals conduct complicated surgeries like bone-marrow transplants, openheart surgeries and kidney transplants. Another area of corporate presence is the area of diagnostic services.

The Great Evolution The emergence of health tourism as we find today has a long history. Though people did travel since ages in search of health services, it can’t be labelled as health tourism

as such since those travels were quite limited and not focused. The first recorded instance of medical tourism dates back to thousands of years when Greek pilgrims travelled from all over the Mediterranean to the small territory in the Saronic Gulf called Epidauria, the sanctuary

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of the healing God Asclepius. In eighteenth century England, patients visited spas which dispensed healthgiving mineral waters, treating all kinds of diseases. But it was the state-of-the-art travel and communication facilities that have transformed such destinations as hot

spots of medical tourism. As such, today’s medical tourism is different from the traditional model of international medical travel where patients generally journey from less 022

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developed nations to major medical centres in highly developed countries for medical treatment that is unavailable in their own communities.

Medical Tourism, a Booming Industry It is the state-of-the-art, but relatively low-cost, hospitals which have contributed to the formation of a booming new industry: medical tourism. Medical tourism is an effort to attract patients for health and medical treatment coupled with tourism from other countries to the home country.

Medical tourism industry is witnessing phenomenal growth in the world. It has emerged out of combining health benefits with the pleasure of travelling to choicest places. The countries where medical tourism is actively promoted include Greece, South Africa, Jordan, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. India is a recent entrant into medical tourism. Many super speciality hospitals in India are offering medical package tours that not only include medical operations and procedures but also travel to and from the hospital, stay and recuperation at five star facilities, availability of ayurvedic, yoga and other traditional treatments to attract the patients from different countries of the world. Medical tourism in India holds great promise as an industry for the near future. Its contribution to the revenues of private healthcare organizations and GDP is increasing steadily. However, a focused strategic framework needs to be put in place in order to tap foreign medical tourists. Medical tourism services, a term used to define the influx of foreign patients for health and medical care packaged with tourism; are gaining momentum across countries such as Australia, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Cuba, Argentina, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

Motivating Factors for Medical Tourism There are many factors which attract foreign medical tourists to seek treatment in India. Lower cost of treatment for the same treatment compared to other developed countries is a major force attracting foreign medical tourists to India. Foreign medical tourists, driven out of their own systems by high costs and crowded conditions, look for cheaper and better options for medical care. India

has proved itself to be a major destination for health tourism, healthcare outsourcing and medical back office support. A combination of three key factors - quality, availability and cost, has been key in fuelling the 026

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phenomenal growth witnessed in the Indian medical tourism industry. 60% of doctors in India’s leading Indian hospitals have international qualifications, thus increasing the acceptance and comfort levels among

international patients. An English speaking populace, exotic tourist locations and alternative medicinal cures are some factors that add to the advantage India holds over neighbouring countries. On the demand side, prohibitive medical costs and lengthy waiting time are the prime drivers in people seeking treatment beyond the home country.

Key Drivers of Indian Medical Tourism Industry Exorbitant costs in source country, Quality of service, Lengthy waiting time for operations Exquisite locations, Insurance related problems, Availability of traditional Indian therapies, Non-availability of treatment, and Low costs are the key drivers of the Indian Medical Tourism industry. A large segment of foreign medical tourists come to India for treatment as the country is rightly positioned as the first class health care hub offering world class facilities at competitive rates. Cost differentials, due to low labour cost in India are also significant. The American Medical Association (AMA) has conducted a cost comparison study of healthcare in different countries.

According to the study, a heart bypass in the US costs US$ 1,30,000 where as it is only US$ 11,000 in Thailand US$ 18,500 in Singapore and US$ 10,000 in India. The corresponding figures for Heart Valve Replacement are US$ 16,00,000 in the US, US$ 10,000 in Thailand US$ 12,500 in Singapore and US$ 9000 in India. For Angioplasty the figures according to the AMA study are US$ 57,000, US$ 13,000, US$ 13,000 and US$ 11,000 respectively. The respective figures for Hip Replacement are US$ 43,000, US$ 12,000, US$ 12,000 and US$ 9,000. The super speciality hospitals in India who have entered into the field of medical tourism have confident doctors some of whom have medical degrees from USA and England. Hospitals and ayurvedic spas which are into medical tourism are well equipped; give international standard medical care at affordable costs.

The Great Indian Journey Demand for global healthcare has rapidly increased in the last decade. People are moving out of their home country to take advantage of healthcare facilities available at different parts of the world. The Government of India predicts that the $17 billion healthcare industry comprises roughly 4% of the country‘s GDP. Hospital services, healthcare equipments, managed care and pharmaceuticals are expected to grow by 13% annually for the next years. Industry people estimate that the medical tourism in India is presently growing at over 30% annually.

Most of the patients are coming to India are from the Gulf and South East Asia. Patients from the US, Japan and European nations are also coming to India to get world class treatment at third world prices. With respect to supply of medical tourism, there are a large number of corporate super speciality hospitals which attract global health travellers for a variety of treatments.

According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India in 2008, the size of the industry was estimated at Rs. 1,500 crore and it would grow to a Rs.9,500 crore business by 2015, with an annual growth rate of 30 %.

About 1.8 lakh foreigners visited India for treatment in the first eight and half months of 2008- 09 and their number would increase by 22 % to 25 % in the coming years. The Indian government predicts that India‘s $ 17 billion year healthcare industry could grow 13% in each of the next four years, boosted by medical tourism. The development of medical tourism is due to the cost effectiveness and world class facilities available. In India, the rate of growth in this industry is tremendous compared to other Asian countries. Airport pick-up, a suite, interpreter service, home cuisine, home cable channels, a visit to the tourist places are the add-on services available to a foreign medical tourist. The Indian government predicts that India‘s US$ 17 billion a year healthcare industry could grow 13 % in each of the next six years, boosted by medical tourism,

which industry watchers say is growing at 30% annually.

Another driver of Indian medical tourism industry is Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, which 034

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deals with both the preventive and curative aspects of health in a most comprehensive way. Besides contributing to maintenance of health, it also has a wide range of

therapeutic measures to cure various illnesses. Ayurveda in India offers a unique Medical tourism package for foreign medical tourists. There are common form of mixing leisure, fun and relaxation together with wellness and recuperation. The concept of Health holiday offers an opportunity to get away from daily routine and come to a different relaxing ambience after undergoing a treatment.

A 2010 CII-McKinsey study on healthcare says medical tourism alone can Rs 50-100 billion additional revenue for upmarket tertiary hospitals by 2012, and will account for 35 per cent of the total healthcare service delivery. India has many world-class hospitals and medical facilities at its disposal. They have an advantage over others, as apart from the cost factor, most foreign nationals are used to getting treated by Indian nationals abroad. Indian medical professionals settled abroad are associated with high quality, expertise in surgery, and very good care of patients.

Nearly seven per cent of patients at many of the leading private hospital chains today come from countries in the Middle East. Most of these health care groups have started setting up their offices in abroad especially in the UAE to channelize patients to their hospitals. With telemedicine, it has become easier for patients to keep in touch with them and facilitates their transfer to hospitals in India.

Major hospitals in Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Bangalore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Kozhikode and Trivandrum have been recording a 7% to 12% patient flow from neighbouring and South East Asian countries. This is because people have realised that they can now have access to international quality medical care in India. This amounts to 10% of the international cost. Lesser cost of treatments is no doubt a motivating factor for foreign medical tourism to have their medical treatment in India.

According to the Heart Care Foundation of India, compared to countries like the UK or the US, minor treatments like those for dental problems or major procedures like bypass surgery or angioplasty come at a fraction of the cost in

India, even though the quality of doctors and medical equipment is comparable to the best in the world. Major Treatments attracting foreign medical tourists to India include: Bone marrow transplant, Cosmetic Surgery, Dialysis and Kidney Transplant, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Joint 038

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Replacement Surgery, Neurosurgery & Trauma Surgery, Osteoporosis, Preventive Health Care, Refractive Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Cardiac Care, Nuclear Medicine and Urology.

India’s medical centres are well furnished with latest technology recognized and considered to be as competent

as the ones and sophisticated equipment. Also, the Indian doctors are no less than their peers in any other part of the world. A lot of emphasis is being laid on establishment of world-class medical infrastructure that could provide a comprehensive package of all sorts of medical procedures.

Currently in India, there are over 10 hospital chains that are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the foremost international organization certifying the hospitals. Other than these, too, there is an array of centres that provide equivalent or better medical services. In addition, with a composition of highly qualified and experienced surgeons and physicians, certified nurses and paramedical staff, Indian healthcare system is considered to be as safe and reliable as that prevailing in the Western countries. Guests are given a place equal to that of God in Indian culture. It is this tradition that makes the Indian people to provide the personalized touch, giving a homely feeling to their guests. Indians strongly believe that their warmth and caring provide a healing touch by relieving the mental as well as physical stress. ‘Unity in Diversity’ is how one can describe India - A land of different cultures, different people, languages and foods spread across a varied terrain, from the unmatched Himalayan beauty of Kashmir in the North to unparalleled beaches of Kerala in the South. With a plethora of architecturally remarkable historical monuments and sites, India has always captivated tourists from around the world. For long promoted for its cultural and scenic beauty, India is now being put up on international map as a heaven for those seeking quality and affordable healthcare. Leisure Tourism is already very much in demand in India as the country offers diverse cultural and scenic beauty. India has almost all sort of destinations like high mountains, vast deserts, scenic beaches, historical monuments, religious temples etc. Known for its hospitality for tourists, the country has opened doors to welcome with the same hospitality for medical patients and service seekers.

Vantage South India In the global medical tourism map South India has got some distinct advantages. South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have much to offer to the amazing strides of medical tourism. Apart from having a chain of specialty hospitals, clinics and health centres that can compete with the best healthcare facilities anywhere in the world, the very ambience and culture of these states make them an ideal destination of medical tourists. Medical tourism has rapidly become a more 042

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popular way of travelling to South India with the advantage of cost-effective medical facilities amidst the spectacular sceneries afforded by the picturesque location of the hospitals and healthcare centres. Moreover South India is the home of Ayurveda, the centuries old alternate stream of treatment. These states do also have an array of alternative medical and healthcare systems. These alternate methods of treatment were proven and practiced for over centuries as compared to the comparatively newfound allopathic stream. The region can also boast of

a host of premiere medical research and training institutes like the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) at Bangalore which is engaged in decoding the genetic pool and exploring the various facets and the possible applications of nanotechnology - a revolution in non-invasive therapy.

Medical Tourism in South India is centered on Specialty Hospitals, Cardiac Care, General Surgery, Dental Care, Fertility Treatment, Transplant Surgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedic Treatment and Alternative Medicines like 044

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Ayurveda. Ayurveda sector took some collective effort to convert the South Indian States as global destinations for healthcare. Then Dentistry and Modern Medicine sectors also followed the suit. A recent study has found that the choice of treatment of Medical Tourists is different. While Medical Tourists from Germany, France, Switzerland and USA etc. give more importance to Ayurveda, those from Middle East, UK, Germany and Canada etc. give more importance to Modern Medicine.

Kerala, the God’s Own Country: Kerala is well connected by Air from major medical tourism markets in the Middle East European markets and South Asia. Along with this the state’s moderate weather throughout the year, advanced and sophisticated hospitals of International standards located in Kerala, renowned doctors specialized in almost 046

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all major disciplines, trained paramedical staff and technicians available in Kerala, easier communication with majority English speaking public, the higher hygienic standards of Kerala are driving medical tourism in Kerala.

The developed tourism industry in Kerala with its array of high quality resorts and hotels, the state being an ideal

setting for an excellent recuperative holiday are other factors that are conducive for the growth of medical tourism in the State. Medical tourism packages offered and marketed by tour operators joining hands with excellent hospitals that offer incredibly competitive cost for 048

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packages of medical treatment and surgery compared to other countries. The packages comprise medical history emailed and discussed, patient received at the airport, an escort takes over, transferred to a hotel or resort, escort takes the patient to the hospital as per appointment with

doctor and admits into the hospital, surgery or treatment conducted, Discharge and recuperative holiday at a resort, post treatment check up, transfer to airport and departure and billed as a package all inclusive for the patient and accompanying person. Kerala enjoys unique geographical features. With the high ranges of Western Ghats in the 050

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East and the Arabian Sea in the West, Kerala is the most beautiful state in the South West corner of the Indian peninsula. V irgin beaches, romantic backwaters, exalting hill stations, delighting waterfalls and great historical monuments craft Kerala breathtakingly incredible. Kerala is also called The Spice Garden of India. It is the land of

everlasting festivals and vibrant art forms. The multicultural land with peoples from diverse religions, communities and sects is an abode of prosperous legacy.

The year-round festivals proffer golden opportunities to explore the tradition and cultural heritage of this great historical soil. The tiny state which secured 100 percent literacy in 1991 is up to international standards in many areas. The state famous as ‘God’s Own Country’ is gifted with moderate climate and civilized and hardworking people. When the states were reorganized after independence, Kerala was formed amalgamating erstwhile princely states of Travancore and Cochin with Malabar and a province in the then Madras state. The total area of 38,863 sq km is divided into 14 districts and the total population is 31,838,619 and Malayalam is used as the mother tongue. According to the geographical peculiarities, the state can be divided into three regions such as the High lands, Midlands and the Lowlands. The Highlands slant from the meandering Western Ghats with a height of 900 metres and peaks well above 1,800 metres in height.

This is the area of major plantations like tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and other spices. The mist-clad mountain areas are renowned for tourism as well. The Midlands, lying between the mountains and the lowlands, is made up of hills and valleys. This is an area where almost all crops in the state like cashew, coconut, areca nut, tapioca, banana, rice, ginger, pepper, sugarcane and vegetables of innumerable varieties are grown. Lowlands are mainly coastal areas. The Lowlands, like Alappuzha are identified as the land of beaches, lakes and canals. Beaches and voyages in the backwaters in house-boats are prime tourist attractions for the tourists here.

Karnataka, One State Many Worlds: In fact, the South Indian State of Karnataka State is one of the fastest growing states in India. It is the home to some of the most high tech industries in India. Bangalore, in particular, has become the home to some of India‘s premier hospital establishments. It is booming in terms of IT, BT and now,

medical tourism. Karnataka is endowed with a combination of high – tech super - speciality hospitals on the one hand, and, it has a number of natural beauty spots and ayurvedic spas. The coastal districts of South Canara, Udupi, North Canara, Malnad districts of Shimoga, Chickmagalore, Coorg, and Hassan can provide something unique to the tourists.

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The state of Karnataka has nine world class medical colleges along with institutions for homeopathy, ayurveda, unani, siddha and yoga and also the best of hospitals and institutes for both modern and holistic medicine. It has the potential to be the health destination of the world. It is of course the air conditioned weather of Bangalore

which suits any foreign patient coming here for a treatment. Karnataka is described as “The Garden of Life, as it has the distinction of having the largest number of systems of medicine approved by the World Health Organization in a single country. It offers a wide range of healthcare options like ultra – modern allopathy, time tested ayurveda, holistic naturopathy, spa- based rejuvenation which other competitors in the field cannot offer. With 31 medical colleges, 800 nursing schools and innumerable pharmacy and physiotherapy colleges, Karnataka has the largest number of technical education programs in the country. The world is increasingly looking at Bangaluru as the right place for holistic healing.

Karnataka is a tapestry of colours, cultures, flavours, landscapes, timelessness and heart- stopping beauty. The recorded history of Karnataka goes back more than two millennia. Host to some of India’s largest and most powerful dynasties, the state has across the centuries, carried a legacy of art and culture as varied as its geography - making it, by all means, a 191,791 sq km trail of whimsy. The state has recorded tremendous success in the fields like education, literature, agriculture, industry and tourism. Bengaluru, formerly known as Bangalore, the capital city is the sixth largest city in India. Over the years the city has become a major manufacturing base and IT destination. In fact the city has firmly established itself as the Silicon Valley of India. Karnataka is also known as the land of science and technology. Extending from the Arabian Sea and the fertile forest ridges of the Western Ghats to the drier, boulder-strewn region of the Deccan Plateau, Karnataka’s picturesque location is remarkable.

Karnataka is home to 507 of the 3600 centrally protected monuments in India, the largest number after Uttar Pradesh. The State Directorate of Archaeology and Museums protects an additional 752 monuments and another 25,000 monuments are yet to receive protection.

Tourism revolves around the ancient sculptured temples, modern cities, the hill ranges, forests and beaches.

Broadly, tourism in Karnataka can be divided into four geographical regions: North Karnataka, the Hill Stations, Coastal Karnataka and South Karnataka. The Karnataka Government has recently introduced The Golden Chariot, a train which connects popular tourist destinations in the state and Goa. Karnataka preserves its past glory by observing various fairs and festivals, retaining its art and crafts and by performing various dances and music forms.

It is the birth place of the Indian classical music.

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Enchanting Tamil Nadu: With people from across the country and abroad preferring to get treated in city hospitals, Tamil Nadu is increasingly becoming a hub of medical tourism.

Nigeria, Kenya, Burundi, Congo, Bangladesh, Oman and Iraq are some of the countries from which patients fly down to Tamil Nadu for medical attention around this time of the year. Besides treatment, patients on the road to recovery and caretakers also get to go on sightseeing tours.

Most leading hospitals, which receive a steady stream of

patients from other States and abroad every day, have separate wings for international patients. Several private hospitals have tied up with governments of other countries. Tamil Nadu is a state in the South East part of the Indian Peninsula. The history of Tamizhagam goes back about 5000 years and more. It is the birthplace of Dravidian 060

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culture in India. The Chera, Chola and Pandya ruled the Dravidian country from which modern Tamil Nadu formed.

In the 4th Century AD the Pallavas of Kanchipuram, became the rulers. They dominated the land for 400 years. The rise of Muslim power in India had its impact on Tamil Nadu.

The establishment of the East India Company at Madras

in 1639 was a crucial chapter in the history of Madras. When India attained independence in 1947, the Madras province, comprising Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala in the west and Andhra Pradesh in the north continued as the State of Madras. But the demand for a separate Telugu speaking state compelled the Government of India to bifurcate the state into two, into the Telugu-speaking Andhra Pradesh and Tamil-speaking Tamil Nadu. The old capital Madras city was retained by the new Madras state. Under the States Reorganization Act 1956, Madras lost the Malabar district and the Kasaragod taluk to the newly formed Kerala State.

At the same time, Madras gained four taluks of Trivandrum district and one taluk of Kollam district. In 1969, January, Madras State changed its name to Tamil Nadu. The capital city was renamed as Chennai in 1996. Tamil Nadu, a state in Southern India, is bordered on the North by the State of Andhra Pradesh, on the Northwest by the Karnataka State, on the West by the Kerala State and on the East and South by the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Occupying an area in the extreme south of the Indian peninsula, Tamil Nadu has an area of 130,058 sq km (50,215 sq mi). The State of Tamil Nadu is divided into 32 districts, which in turn are further bifurcated into smaller divisions and subdivisions including a total of 17,272 villages. Chennai formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of the state and India’s fourth largest metropolis. It extends over an area of 174 sq km.

This city houses Asia’s largest hospitals which has recently spurred a new wave of medical tourism. The city of Chennai has been termed India’s health capital. Multi and Super specialty hospitals across the city bring in an estimated 150 international patients every day. Chennai attracts about 45 percent of health tourists from abroad arriving in the country and 30 to 40 percent of domestic health tourists.

The city is known for its beaches, Anglo-Indian architecture, Cultural Festivals and is India’s largest shopping destination. The city is known for its beaches, Anglo-Indian architecture, Cultural Festivals and is India’s largest shopping destination.

In healthcare, South India is often compared with the developed countries rather with other parts in the country.

This fact proves the mettle of the service provided in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

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Healthcare is Expensive in Developed Countries Higher expense in developed countries and the comparative cost advantage that South Indian hospitals offer is another factor. One reason for steady arrivals of Foreign Patients

from UK to India is that the British NHS (National Health Service) for poor citizens is heavily burdened and in disarray. The very fact that the Indian costs being only 1/6th of UK attract the lower and middle income groups to India. Meanwhile in the US the cost of medical treatment is so high that only 10% can afford the costs, while Indian costs are only 1/10th. The global economic meltdown also has been helpful for turning the attention of medical tourists to India. The economic slowdown provided an opportunity for the foreigners to have a firsthand experience on Indian healthcare system. They got medical 066

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services on a par with international standards at affordable cost. Even though the economic system of many of the developed countries are back on track now, their citizens who enjoyed the healthcare service offered in India at least once continue to stick on to it. The number of foreigners arriving in South Indian states for availing healthcare services also has increased significantly. Many of the branches in healthcare including orthopaedics, gynaecology, cardiology, cosmetic and dentistry have found a place in the list of most sought after medical services by foreigners.

World-class Hospitals Excellent hospital network comes first and foremost. South India has more private institutions participating in Medical Tourism. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has been attempting to bring several medical institutions under one umbrella. They have already succeeded in bringing more hospitals under the umbrella of medical tourism. CII started medical tourism promotion in South India with several hospitals. These states have a number 068

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of hospitals which can compete with those in the developed countries and these hospitals are in a position to offer many consultancies under one roof with eco friendly environment. Many hospitals in South India are already accredited by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health Care Providers (NABH). NABH is an institutional member of International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) as well as member of its Board and Accreditation Council. NABH standards for hospitals have been approved

by ISQua. International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) is an international body which grants approval to Accreditation Bodies in the area of healthcare as mark of equivalence of accreditation programme of member countries. The accreditation of NABH standard for hospitals authenticates that NABH standards are in consonance with the global benchmarks set by ISQua and thus hospitals accredited by NABH will have international recognition.

NABH is also one of the founder members of newly emerging 070

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Asian Society for Quality in Healthcare (ASQua). This initiative aims at strengthening the Asian representation at international level and improves the quality structure in healthcare. The NABH standards for hospitals have been drafted by the technical committee of NABH and contain a complete set of standards for evaluation of facilities for granting accreditation. The standards provide a framework for quality assurance in treatment offered in the organisations.

Professional Excellence In both health and education South India states has been keeping up with the international standards for decades.

Internationally, the medical fraternity from South India is among the most sought after professionals. The ever growing number of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff working abroad testify to their caliber. According to reports, 072

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around 35 percent of doctors working in the United States are either Indians or those with Indian origins. Of them, South Indians constitute a great chunk. In Britain, around 80 percent of the doctors working in hospitals under National Health Service (NHS), the network of hospitals run by the Government for the welfare of their citizens, are from India. The number of South Indians among these

Indian doctors is high. Middle-East also portrays a similar picture. Nurses and paramedical staff from South India also outnumber other overseas groups in many countries.

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experience in most modern techniques and innovations in the medical world. When such doctors return home and join a hospital in South India after years of service in such countries, they also carry a treasure of experience with

them. Besides the much needed expertise, they are familiar with the attitudes and behavioural patterns of the people from across the globe. This comes handy for these doctors while treating patients from abroad. Being the backbone of the health care system in the country, those devoting their lives to services in the health sector here also have vast experience and caliber. Many of the doctors do have international stature. South Indian states are internationally renowned not only for a low birth-rate and a high life-span of people but also for the surgeons and physicians who carried out complex surgeries and other treatments elegantly.

Meliorating Technology Better medical facility was found to be a highly significant factor in foreign patients visiting South Indian hospitals.

This is undoubtedly a reflection of the quality of the medical service offered by the service providers in the Medical Tourism Industry in these states. During the post liberalization era, India has outsmarted many other countries so far as the advancement of science and technology are concerned. Medical science and healthcare services in the country have reached new peaks in the last decade. Earlier, the advanced healthcare was the monopoly of the developed countries. So, many a people who could afford the expenses went abroad high quality medical treatment. Now the scenario has changed drastically.

Though the cost of treatment is low in India, compared many other countries which provide world class healthcare, the cost of quality treatment is high for an average Indian.

In healthcare, South India is often compared with the developed countries rather with other parts in the country.

Robotic surgery, which is fast gaining popularity abroad, is taking roots in India too. Robotically assisted surgery was developed to overcome the limitations of minimally invasive surgery and to enhance the capabilities of surgeons performing open surgery. Robotic surgery is being increasingly preferred to open surgery or laparoscopic

surgery for most gynaecology related operations including benign ovarian tumour, complex hysterectomy, fibroids in the uterus, lymph node dissection for uterine cancer& cervical cancer and severe endometriosis. Instead of using the surgery instruments by hand, robotic arms are used 078

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which are controlled by efficient surgeons with the help of advanced computers. The surgeon controls these instruments and the camera from a console located in the operating room. Placing his fingers into the master controls, he is able to operate all four arms of the da Vinci Si - the

world’s most advanced surgical robot, simultaneously while looking through a stereoscopic high-definition monitor that literally places him inside the patient, giving him a better, more detailed 3-D view of the operating site than the human eye can provide. The ultimate effect is to give the surgeon unprecedented control in a minimally invasive environment. The patients can experience a number of benefits compared to open surgery, including less trauma on the body, minimal scarring, and faster recovery time. It is going to be interesting to see how Robotic surgery is going to shape up in south India in the coming years. With larger volumes and increasing number of hospitals employing the technology, the expenses are to take a downward spiral. There are also several companies with medical robots in pipeline and with their emergence we would witness a paradigm shift in the market.

Connectivity Edge Southern India has no dearth of international airports so as to facilitate the arrival of health tourists from abroad to any of the states within. A tourist arriving here by air can reach any of the locations in these southern states with just a couple of hours drive from the nearest international airport. Easy accessibility is the most important factor for the growth of tourism. Earlier, the costs to cities in these states from other Indian cities like Delhi were as high as the fares to destinations in South-East and Middle-East. But the situation has changed for the good thanks to the Open Sky Policy and the emergence of budget airlines in the country. Well connected roads and rail aids comfortable and low prized travel throughout the region.

More and more international airlines are vying with each other to have connections to these South Indian states.

Credibility of the System The growing confidence of foreign patients in the treatments available in South Indian states is a testimonial of the high quality of the region’s holistic healthcare system.

Though number of medical tourists from across the globe

visiting South India has been surging for the last few years, it is those from the Gulf countries who have outnumbered others in this regard. Trade links between South India and many of the Gulf countries which dates back thousands of years coupled with the large number migration from southern part of India to these countries in search of job 082

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has provided them a better knowledge of South India. This comes handy for Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to beat many other competitors. While advising their patients for better medical aid, most of the medical practitioners in Gulf countries ask them to go to South India, thanks to their faith in the healthcare system here.

Interpreters of Indian Medical Services Some of the other plus points of South India’s Medical Tourism are related to the fact that doctors and nurses from these states are accepted all over the world, the 084

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people of the south Indian states are known for their compassion and NRIs all over the world function as ambassadors for Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In fact some US NRIs function as entrepreneurs facilitating

Medical Tourism to South India and many NRI Travel Agents operate in Medical tourism arranging to and fro travel, treatments and sightseeing. With globalization more countries have started to pump in money into Indian market paving way for an opportunity for India to showcase its potentials before them. On the other hand, the workforce and experts of the country have started to long for a job abroad in an unprecedented manner in the post globalization era. They, mainly the doctors and nurses working abroad, also act as ambassadors of Indian medical services. This has started to draw more medical tourists to the country. South India also has a host of well known medical colleges and nurses training establishments producing thousands of doctors and nurses to serve the ailing at home and abroad.

Treatment in the Speciality Centres The speciality hospitals are the mainstay of South India’s medical tourism. Many of the hospitals offer a complete package that includes consultancy with a medical specialist, diagnosis, appropriate medical treatment, pre and post-operative care, and even arrangements for a family member or attendant to stay with the medical tourist.

Speciality hospitals in South India have opened their doors to patients from around the world and have gained a reputation for their quality treatment and medical care.

Speciality Hospitals in South India offer treatment in various medical specialities. From specialized eye care centres to brain and spinal surgery centres, speciality hospitals offer world-class care in select medical disciplines. Many of the speciality hospitals have faculty who have studied and worked abroad and have returned to India to teach and to build a world-class medical infrastructure in India. These speciality hospitals are now attracting patients from around the world. Other specialties for which Kerala is now for include: Neurosurgery, Fertility Treatment, Transplant Surgery, Ophthalmology and Orthopaedic Treatment. Of late Bariatric surgery and robotic surgery are gaining popularity and attracting patients from abroad.

Alternative Medicine Sector The traditional systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha and Naturopathy are the main attractions of South India as far as medical tourists are concerned. When it comes to 088

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serious marketing efforts abroad, alternate Medicine sector is much ahead of Modern Medicine. The fact is that the Alternate Medicine sector is in the forefront of exploiting the tourism potential involved in medical

tourism and takes serious efforts for its promotion. Till recently, it was mainly the Europeans who come to South India seeking alternative treatments. But the trend is slowly changing with those from the middle-east also started to flock for taking Ayurveda and other alternative treatments. Many of the tourists who visit these states choose ayurvedic massage and treatment on hearing about it. According to the hoteliers, it is an unprecedented thing which testifying to the fact the Ayurveda and other alternative medicines are attracting more and more people across the globe.

Cozy Atmosphere The health sector in the United Kingdom conducted a survey to find the reasons for the English seeking medical assistance from other countries. Most of the hospitals in the UK come under the government department of National Health Service (NHS). The network of hospitals under NHS provides most advanced health care to the citizens of the UK. Yet, the number of citizens seeking medical aid in other countries is on the rise. The questionnaire given to those who took part in the survey had been prepared in a manner that gets at even the minutest reasons which have forced the health tourists from the country to seek other destinations. Around 90 percent of the participants gave prime importance to accommodation facilities, cleanliness and communication facilities in the hospital. Aspects like expertise of the doctors took a back seat. They want not only proper medication but cozy atmosphere as well. Rising to the expectations, many of the hospitals in South India which are up to the mark in offering medical services are now catching up with international standards in hospitality facilities in their institutions.

Role of NRIs and Social Media The latest trend in health tourism in South India is the flocking of NRIs in large numbers seeking medical aid in these states. According to the official records, India is

having over 18 million NRI population. People working abroad come to their home states whenever they are to undergo treatment for all diseases except for simple nuisances. A few years back, the destinations selected by such NRIs were Delhi or Mumbai. Back then, it was the lack of proper awareness about many of the hospitals in the south Indian states that had forced the NRIs to go for other states and cities. Now, many of the hospitals have been keen on providing proper awareness to those seeking such services about their institutions and the services rendered by them. Of late, the situation has changed a lot with the authorities of more hospitals recognizing the need for showcasing their institutions’ specialties. As a result, the number of NRIs availing the healthcare services has touched new heights. Now they have become a category of their own among the health tourists coming to South India.

The advent of new trends in internet also had its positive impact in the growth of medical tourism in South India.

Most of the hospitals have own websites and social network groups providing latest information on the facilities and service packages. Word of mouth from those who have already undergone treatment also plays a major role in bringing in more foreign medical tourists to these states. Other tools by which Health care tourism is getting promoted are the websites of Tourism Departments and informative portals, foreign tie ups, promotional books, advertising and fairs.

Domestic Health Tourism Most of the hospitals in the country offer two types of treatment. One is with high quality and high cost. The other offers the services with lesser quality and low cost. As a result only the elite class is able to go for quality treatment.

But in the southern states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu the foundation of them is equality, there isn’t any double standard in healthcare. The hospitals in these states offer world class treatment at a low cost. So the number of patients from other parts of the country started 092

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to seek the service in South India. This has given birth to a new branch in medical tourism - domestic health tourism.

People from other states come to the hospitals in South India for availing better treatment at an affordable cost.

Given the one billion plus population in India, the domestic health tourism is going to be an important branch in medical tourism. Giants in healthcare services in South India have already started moves to tap the potentials of domestic medical tourism.

Major Specialities in Health Tourism The South India has all the potential to grow both horizontally and vertically in healthcare. One can see hospitals equipped with eminent doctors, skilled nurses and paramedical staff and state-of-the-art devices in every nook and corner of these southern states. Quality treatment in any branch of medical science can be availed in the southern part of the country.

Modern Medicine Heart Care at its Very Best: It is one of the branches of medical services which attract many health tourists to South India.

The doctors who have proven track records add to the reputation of the hospitals here. Aortic stent grafting, angiography, angioplasty with contrast, angioplasty, angioplasty with medicated stent, carotid, coronary artery by-pass surgery, double heart valve replacement, electrophysiology complex study (EPS), heart transplant (subject to brain dead donor availability, I.C.D. (Single, double, combo chamber) implantation, pacemaker (single, double chamber, biventricular), paediatric interventional cardiology, RF ablation, paediatric cardiac surgery (ASD,VSD), single heart valve replacement and thoracic aortic aneurysm are some of the cardiac treatments offered by the hospitals in South India. In the case of coronary artery disease, diseases affecting the valves of the heart, diseases present from birth like holes in the heart or blocks in the valves, mixing of blood inside the heart

keyhole bypass surgery will be done. To minimise the risk factor, minimal invasive cardiac surgery is being preferred over normal keyhole bypass surgery. This method minimise the risks like excess bleeding, possible brain problems like stroke, kidney disfunction and increased chances of infection. Cardiac rehabilitation is another important healthcare service offered in the hospitals in South India.

Cardiac rehabilitation programme help increases the functional ability of the person. The first of the four phase programme is for those with the chances of cardiac problems. It is preventive cardiology program in which normal persons are assessed for the risk factors of cardiac illness and they are prescribed an exercise program to keep their heart healthy. The acute cardiac rehabilitation program will take care of the patient admitted in the hospital for a cardiac illness. Post acute cardiac rehabilitation program is the most important phase of any cardiac illness. It is an exercise programme for a period of 8 weeks.

Caring the Eye: It is one of the branches of treatment that has attracted medical tourists from across the world to South India in an unprecedented manner. Specialised Eye Hospitals equipped with latest technology and expertise can be seen in the main cities in Southern India. Many patients from neighbouring countries and the Middle East travel to South India for ophthalmology treatment. The health tourists who are not ready to compromise on the quality of treatment are satisfied with the cost factor as well. In the case of ophthalmology treatment, there needs little follow up treatment. This is another positive factor for Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for attracting foreigners from far away countries. If they had to come frequently to a foreign country for follow up treatment, a health tourist will have a second thought over selecting the destinations. The tendency will be to select neighbouring countries. Surgeries for correcting vision, Lasik - Laser assisted eye surgery for myopia, cataract surgery, corneal transplant surgery and retinopathy are offered by the hospitals in South India.

The Art of Cosmetic Treatment: If we had any say in designing our own body shape, almost all of us would have been debonairs or miss worlds. But unfortunately, the physical appearance of us depends upon a lot of factors including heredity, time and place of birth. It was as a result of the experiments by many experts from across the world that gave birth to cosmetics treatment. Here an individual gets an opportunity to have a remake on the physical appearance of oneself according to his or her wish.

Cosmetic surgeries can enhance one’s looks, persona, sensuality, physical appeal and thereby helping giving a boost to self-confidence. Once underwent a cosmetic surgery, a person will certainly feel more presentable and confident. Cosmetic surgery changes one’s appearance by altering parts of his or her body that function normally but make you unhappy. Some people make physical changes through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. Some prefer to undergo cosmetic surgery. The number of people resorting to cosmetic surgery for correcting the ‘wrong design’ of the body is growing worldwide. Sometimes the correction of even a minor cosmetic defect can make a major positive change, substantially increasing feelings of well-being and selfworth. Surveys conducted among those underwent cosmetic surgeries show that it brought in wholesome change in the person in a positive manner. Cosmetic surgery is the most sought after treatment by the medical tourists across the world. South India hosts a lot of institutions which cater to the needs of those go for cosmetic surgeries. Face lift, forehead lift, fat injection/ grafting, contour thread lift, double chin liposuction, cheek or chin implants, mole removal, scar revisions, facial laser resurfacing, facial rejuvenation, botox rejuvenation, filler injections, upper eyelids, lower eyelids , rhinoplasty or nose job, nasal septum corrections, lip reduction, lip augmentation, prominent ear reshaping, split ear lobe repair, liposuction, laser hair removal, breast implants, breast lift/mastopexy, breast reduction, male breast/ 096

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gynecomastia, breast reconstruction with flap, body contouring, abdominoplasty, liposuction- arms, waist, hips, thighs, legs and flanks, penile lengthening and penile thickening are some of the cosmetic treatments offered by the hospitals in South India. As in the case of other treatments, the cost for cosmetic surgeries are less in India compared to other countries, especially the developed countries. In South India, the cost of cosmetic surgeries is even lesser.

Neuro Surgery: Rectifying damage to brain or spinal cord as a result of an accident, conditions such as epilepsy, removal of tumours of the brain or spinal cord, treatment for stroke and aneurysm are some of the cases which normally require neurosurgery. Surgery on the spine includes micro-discectomy, laminectomy, corpectomy and spinal fusion. Congenital diseases of the brain and spine, tumours of the brain, spine and the spinal cord, vascular diseases such as aneurysms and vascular malformations, regenerative disc and other spinal diseases, instrumentation of the spine and the cranio-vertebral junction, diseases of the pituitary gland, stereotactic surgery, surgery for epilepsy and movement disorders, stroke and haemorrhage in the brain and spinal cord, cortical basal ganglionic degeneration, epilepsy in adults with mental retardation, epilepsy in children with mental retardation are some other cases for which neurosurgery is being recommended. The surgery is being performed after conducting various tests for diagnosing the disease properly. EMG (Electormylogram) which tests the functioning of muscles and nerves, Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) which monitors the carriage of impulses through a nerve, Computerised Tomography Scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan, Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Interventional Neuro-Radiology and Digital Substraction Angiography are the major tests done for diagnosing diseases related to the nervous system.

Gynaecology: These departments in most of the hospitals in South India offer world class services. The hospitals have doctors, nurses and staff who are having lot of experience and expertise. They have proven records in handling any even complicated cases. They have the advantage of advanced technology and state-of-the-art equipment. People from all across the world, especially from the Gulf countries come to South India seeking the services of gynaecologists. The facilities to detect gynaecological disorders at an early stage and to prevent it are there in most of the hospitals. Those from the Gulf countries make a beeline to gynaecology departments in the hospitals Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Though the citizens of the rich Gulf countries can afford the cost of treatment in the Western countries, they come to South Indian States as the quality of treatment in the West and here are same. Just like in other cases, low cost is the key factor which comes in favour of South Indian hospitals while a medical tourist chooses the hospital. The hospitals in South India have women check-up programmes designed to detect the earliest signs of disorders of the breast and the organs. Mammogram and a pap-smear of the cervix and an ultrasound of the pelvis are part of medical check-up for women. Most modern treatment for disorders like menstrual abnormalities, prolapse, fibroids and other tumours of the uterus and ovaries are available in these hospitals recanalisation by microsurgery.

Infertility Treatment: Reproduction is one of the main objectives of life- not for man alone but for the entire creations. That’s why the reports that infertility cases are on the increase globally shock the mankind. If the infertility cases were few and far between a decade ago, now it has touched an alarming level. Medical sciences and its supportive mechanism have risen to the occasion. Giving a ray of hope for millions, infertility treatment has gone much ahead. Southern India also could catch up with the world standards in the branch. Assisted Reproductive 098

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Technology (ART) is provided at specialized hospitals that offer Fertility Treatment in South India. The treatment programme includes medical check-ups of the couple, to determine the physiological causes of infertility. Once ascertained the cause, the appropriate assisted reproductive technique is prescribed. Advanced techniques such as GIFT (Gamete Intra Fallopian Transfer) and ZIFT (Zygote Intra Fallopian Transfer) are offered at wellequipped hospitals. It is the success saga of many of the infertility clinics in South India that attract more couples to seek the service in South India. The flow of domestic and international health tourists has been another reason for infertility clinics mushrooming in these states.

Laparoscopic surgeries for ectopic pregnancies, ovarian cysts and tumours, tubal blocks and even hysterectomies are available. Disorders of ovulation, controlled ovarian stimulation, controlled ovarian stimulation, Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI), Intra-Fallopian Tubal Insemination (IFI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Gamete Intra-Fallopian Transfer (GIFT), Embryo Transfer (ET), Zygote Intra-Fallopian Transfer (ZIFT), sperm donation, freezing egg /oocyte donation, replacement of frozen embryos, full range of treatment of male infertility including micro-manipulation technology and- Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection are the areas where infertility treatment focus on.

Orthopaedics: Yet another emerging medical opportunity is in orthopedics treatments. A number of orthopedic procedures are available such as hip and knee replacement, the Illizarov technique, limb lengthening, Birmingham Hip resurfacing technique, in South Indian Hospitals. Many hospitals specialize in latest techniques and treatments such as minimal invasive surgery, cartilage and bone transplantation, spine surgery and limb sparing surgery. All kinds of musculo- skeletal problems ranging from Arthiritis to sports injuries, to complex broken bones, bone tumors and childhood conditions like scoliosis are treated most effectively. A wide range of spinal surgeries including fixation, stabilization and fusion are regularly undertaken.

Oncological Treatment: Major hospitals in South India have oncology units comprising surgical oncology, medical and radiation therapy as well as the crucial Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT). The BMT unit with high pressure hipa filters has helped achieve a very high success rate in the various types of transplantation in these hosptials.

Cord Blood Transplant and Mismatched Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplants are being performed successfully, a feat that is remarkable and significant, considering the fact that the treatment costs one-tenth of what it does in the west. Special surgeons are available for individual organs.

Plastic surgeons of repute provide treatment for head and neck cancer, breast cancer and other malignancies.

treatment for wide range of diseases associated with the urinary tract. Treatment is offered to cases like Laser Lithotripsy, Nephrectomy or K idney Removal Surgery, Bladder Cancer Treatment, Endopyelotomy, Endoscopic Prostate Surgery, Endoscopic Ureterolithotomy, Enlarged Prostate Treatment , Erectile Dysfunction Treatment , Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy, Glomerulonephritis Treatment, Hydrocele Treatment, Kidney Stones Removal, Penis Enlargement, Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy, Peyronie’s Disease Treatment, Prostate Cancer Treatment, Prostatectomy, Renal Artery Stenosis Treatment, TURP Surgery, Urinary Incontinence Treatment, Uterine Cancer Treatment, Vasectomy and Vasectomy Reversal.

Transplant Surgery: Transplant surgeries are done for replacing an organ that is no longer functioning, with another organ in good condition. Organs are being donated by living and deceased donors. Renal transplant surgery where a kidney is transplanted into a recipient, liver transplant surgery, where part of a liver from a donor organ is transplanted into a recipient, corneal transplant for eye donation and bone marrow transplant used for treating leukemia are the important transplant cases. As transplant surgeries are done when an organ of the patient fails, getting the surgeries done at the earliest is all the more important. So, the patients from western countries like the United Kingdom where they will have to wait long for undergoing the surgery come to South India. The hospitals in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu where there are highly qualified and experienced doctors, trained supporting staff and most modern equipment offer treatment on a par with international standards at an affordable cost.

The success rate of the transplant surgeries conducted in South India is another factor which attracts even foreigners to the hospitals in these states.

Ear, Nose and Throat: Hospitals in these states are placed among the number one ENT hospitals in the world. This has helped hospitals in South India in drawing many a health tourists from many foreign countries. Cochlear Implant for severely deaf children and adults, sinus endoscopy and paediatric otorhinol-aryngology are some of the cases to which treatment is offered by hospitals in South India. The diagnosis facilities like complete audiometric set-up, electronystagmography testing, Brain Stem Evoked Response Audiometry (BSERA) and OtoAciostic Emission (OAE) are available in these hospitals.

Endoscopy used for reconstructive middle-ear surgery, surgery of the facial nerve, congenital ear anomalies, microlaryngeal surgery, surgery for snoring and sleep disorders, thyroplasty, septoplasty and septorhinoplasty, functional endoscopic sinus surgery, head and neck cancer surgeries, revision ear surgeries and phonosurgery.

Urology: With the change in life style, change in climate and long working hours have resulted in the increased number of urologic diseases. Hospitals in South India offer 100

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Dental Care in South India: South India, the divine destination for tourists for rejuvenation and retreat is becoming more and more a tourist attraction. Not only do they carry back wonderful memoirs, but also a long lasting presentable and natural smile and lots of confidence. Dental specialist clinics in South India are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and competent doctors and supporting staff.

Most of the dental tourism providers in these states offer worthwhile dental packages. Low cost and high quality, as in the case of other treatments, are the motive force for the dental tourists for selecting South India as their destination. These specialty centres focus on all areas of dentistry like bleaching, prosthesis on the implant, dental implants, vertical and horizontal bone grafting, gum grafting, gums treatment, palatal orthodontics, intra mouth dental scanning, smile designing, root canal, teeth whitening, extraction of normal or fractured teeth under local anaesthesia, extraction of impacted wisdom teeth, ceramic caps without gold under microscopic control, maxillary surgery, dental bridges, porcelain, ceramic crowns, fluoride treatments for children, cosmetic dentistry, tooth contouring and reshaping and dental fillings. Dental tourism providers in South India offer cosmetic dentistry package to enhance the looks of a person. Under cosmetic dentistry dental bonding, dental veneers, these custommade moldings made of porcelain or ceramic are perfect for spaces, chips, fractures, rotated or maligned teeth, distorted, or discoloured teeth. Thanks to the modern technology and skills of the dentists in South India both the tourists and the Non Resident Indians have made South India their favourite dental rehabilitation destination.

Traditional Systems of Medicine The Touch of Ayurveda: Ayurveda is a traditional Indian therapy. It is the holistic medicine principle derived from centuries of medical tradition in India. Under Ayurveda, original medicines are prepared and used. Availability of ayurvedic therapies can be used as a competitive factor by Indian hospitals in providing the medical tourism package.

Ayurvedic treatments provide excellent preventive care and rejuvenation therapies. Ayurveda has become a synonym for Medical Tourism in Kerala and neighbouring states.

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got branded all over the world. In ancient India every branch of science was developed abiding nature’s rules.

So ancient Indian science and knowledge are extremely befitting for this age. Though they pursued the spiritual world, the saints in India longed for finding solutions to all the issues related to material world as well. It was because they wanted to redress the grievances of the general public. They well knew that anybody who works for the common well being can’t neglect the health of the public. When the Rishis or sages in India put their heads together to find out a system for solving the health problems, the result was Ayurveda. As the term Ayurveda denotes to the knowledge of life it’s not only a system to cure disease but the regimen teaching us ways to achieve Perfect Health from diseased or abnormal conditions and guidelines to lead a life, both physical and mental, to attain the bliss of real life. Keen observation and study of nature including all kinds of life in the world for hundreds of years could only have formulated such a life science which has a concrete basis in Indian philosophy and wide reaching applicability in life of all sorts. Since it is holistic, it approaches man as a whole and cares man’s physical mental and spiritual health. It’s almost as old as mankind and at the same time as new as modern man that no disease is there which is incurable or uncontrollable unless misled too much. According to ayurveda human body is composed of three fundamental elements called Doshas which represent the physicochemical and physiological activities of the body, Dhatu which denotes the materials entering in to the formation of a basic structure of the body cell, thereby performing some basic actions and Malas the substance which are partly used in the body and partly excreted in yet another from after serving their physiological activities. The dynamic equilibrium of these leads to perfect health and imbalance of any of these leads to disease. To attain perfect health we have to maintain the original, natural balance of these. The role of a physician is to understand the imbalance happened

to this dynamic equilibrium and to correct or give advice as how can it be brought to the original state, whether with medicine or with changes in life style. He studies the patient; not only the disease, with some special techniques and gives you some medicines and lot of advice, after which you may feel healthier and no system upset.

Though Doshas, Dhatus and Malas are equally important, Doshas have added dominance; because human body and everything in it are influenced by doshas and maintenance of their balance will correct the defects of the other. Doshas are three - vata, pitta, and kapha and they may not be equal and same in all. According to the dominance of each dosha every man is categorised to different types. There is abundant means to find out body types and it is easy for an ayurvedic doctor to comprehend anyone’s body type.

Ayurveda gives special emphasis on prevention on disease.

Treatment of Making You Healthy: The treatment in ayurveda is classified mainly into two Samana and Sodhana.

Samana is the pacifying way of treatment and sodhana roots out the disease from the body. Oral therapy and easier means of treatment are prescribed under Samana treatment. But Sodhana treatment is extensive, time consuming procedures to change a diseased man to the original healthy man. These are widely used all over India for patients with chronic illnesses. If done with special precautions, regular checkups and extra care Sodhana treatments can work wonders and this is what happens in India, especially in South India, which attracts a lot of foreigners from all over the world to this small state.

Nature’s own Medicine: According to ayurvedic principle you are what you eat. So much significance is given to the food habits and life style. Natural herbs are widely used as medicines. In fundamental principles of Ayurveda 5 basic elements are very important. The universe and anything in the universe is believed to be made of these 5 elementsair, water, earth, fire and space. Quality and nature of everything varies according to difference in the proportion

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of these elements. According to the dominance of these elements each plant or each mineral exhibits its own physical and chemical characters. This basic principle is made use of in the formulation of medicines in Ayurveda.

Panchakarma: Panchakarma is a term most mistaken among people. It is really 5 main treatments, by which vitiated doshas are expelled from the body. They include Vamana (induced vomiting), V irechanam (Purgation), Asthapanam (enema with decoction), Anuvasanam (enema with oil) and Nasyam (Nasal application of oil). According to another school, both the enemas are included under common title Vasti and fifth one is Raktamoksham (Blood letting). The vitiated doshas, waste materials and toxins are expelled by panchakarma. But for the convenience of the complete expulsion they are collected at particular sites by these prepanchakarma process called Snehapanam (oleation) and Swedanam (Steam bath). There are particular, prescribed procedures and steps by which these are carried out. Though the lessons and texts studied are same, the system of treatment is entirely different and far more effective as well.

These special methods of treatments which can be included in the pre and post panchakarma procedures are Sarvanga snehadhara/Pizhichil (oil bath), Shashtikapindaswedam (rice bundle massage), Patrapodala-swedam (leaf bundle massage) Sirodhara (head bath) etc.

Siddha: Originated from the Dravidian culture Siddha system of medicine is the oldest traditional treatment system in the world. The Siddha which flourished in the period of Indus Valley Civilization is older than the treatment systems like acupuncture. The word Siddha comes from the word Siddhi which means an attainment of a rare feat.

According to the preachers of Siddha medicine, it focuses on the techniques to attain Ashtamahasiddhi, the power to tame the eight supernatural powers. Those who achieved such powers are known as Siddhars. There were 18 important Siddhars in olden days and they developed this system of medicine. Hence, it is called Siddha

Medicine. It uses herbal remedies, alchemy and pressure point massages to alleviate sickness and pain. It emphasises on the use of the remedial properties inherent in the natural environment. It has still deep roots in India, especially in the southern states.

Naturopathy and Yoga: For healing all types of diseases, nature has its own remedies. This concept is the foundation stone of Naturopathy treatment. According to the method, the patient will have to follow a nature-friendly lifestyle.

From food habits to sleeping, the patient will have to move in tandem with the nature. Alcohol, smoking, chewing tobacco and the consumption of tea, coffee, and nonvegetarian foods are forbidden in all the centers. Children below fifteen years of age are not allowed inside these centers nor are pregnant women. According to naturopathy system, all healing powers are within one’s body. A person falls ill when he or she goes against Nature. Toxins, the cause of diseases are to be taken out from the body to cure the disease. A thorough rest, which includes fasting, is the most favourable condition in which an ailing body can purify and recoup itself. Yoga the medication programme acclaimed by the world is part of naturopathy.

Yoga is the main attraction for medical tourists.

The Great Tourism Circuits of South India Tourism emerged as the largest global industry of the 20th century and is projected to grow even faster in the 21st century. South India has immense possibilities of growth in the tourism sector with vast cultural and religious heritage and varied natural attractions. South India covers the most beautiful places in India. South India is by sea from three sides on West - Arabian Sea, on East - Bay of Bengal, on South - Indian Sea and on North - Vindhya and Satpura ranges. South India attracting tourists by many ways like Backwaters, Falls, Reservoir, Beaches, Forts, Culture, Temples, Nature, Major Cities and Famous Hill Stations. South India Tourism has embraced a world of nature and wildlife, adventure camp experience, Resorts,

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Honeymoon Getaways, Spas, Camping Sites, Medical and Educational Tourism, Shopping Showrooms, Art and Crafts, Antiques, Adventure and Eco Tourism for tourists. South India is one of the fastest growing tourism destinations.

Kerala, Nestled in the Bosom of Mother Nature Kerala, the lush green state situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of South Western India, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Globally referred as God’s own country, it is named as one of the ten paradises of the world by the National Geographic Traveler. Its unique culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demography, has made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Immensely blessed by Mother Nature, the state has everything that a tourist looks forward to. The captivating greenery, long stretches of palm fringed shores, serpentine back waters, crystal clear rivers, lakes and jungle streams and picturesque forest ranges and valleys are some of the state’s coveted assets in respect of tourism. In the decades that followed, Kerala Tourism was able to transform itself into one of the niche holiday destinations in India. The tag line KeralaGod’s Own Country was adopted in its tourism promotions and became a global super brand. Kerala is regarded as one of the destinations with the highest brand recall. The state’s tourism agenda promotes ecologically sustained tourism, which focuses on the local culture, wilderness adventures, volunteering and personal growth of the local population. Efforts are taken to minimise the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people.

Enchanting Backwaters: The backwaters in Kerala are a labyrinthine chain of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. The backwater network includes five large lakes linked by 1500 km of canals, both manmade and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually the entire length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents

creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. Forty one west flowing and 3 east-flowing rivers along with its tributaries are the lifeline of evergreen Kerala. The river banks which are rich in flora fauna are ideal spots for a rejuvenating sojourn. A tourist coming to Kerala will not like miss a cruise along the backwaters here. A cruise along the backwaters gives the tourist the taste of the culture, history, lifestyle and the scenic beauty of Kerala. In Alappuzha, not only the tourists but the locals too enjoy the cruise along the backwaters. Many of the carnivals here are associated with backwaters. The Nehru Trophy Snake Boat race held here every year is one of such carnival. The unique feature of Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala is that the fields are below sea level. These paddy fields are barricaded from the surrounding backwaters by earthen bunds. Kumarakom is another location for backwater tourism. A journey in the house-boat will be an unforgettable experience. Kollam is an ancient seaport on the banks of the Ashtamudi Lake. The cruise from Kollam to Alappuzha which lasts eight hours is the main attraction for tourists visiting the area. Kochi known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea is known for its natural harbour. Kochi which consists of a cluster of islands is the apt place to start backwater cruise. Kappil, Kozhikode, Thiruvallam, Valapattanam and Valiyaparamba are also major backwater destinations in Kerala.

Evergreen Hill Stations and Jungle Tourism: Eastern Kerala, housing the majestic Western Ghats; the region thus includes high mountains, gorges, and deep-cut valleys. The wildest lands are covered with dense forests, while other regions lie under tea and coffee plantations or other forms of cultivation. One of the most exciting hill stations in Kerala is Ponmudi perched on the Western Ghats at an altitude of 1100 ft. above sea level. Lush green woods, lazily meandering streams and countless varieties of butterflies and birds make this hill station unique. Another jungle abode is Nelliampathy, a forest range of 75 km sq km in Palakkad district. It comprises a chain of ridges cut off from one another 108

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by valleys of dense evergreen forests and orange plantations.

The entire area is a perfect paradise of nature lovers. Nestled in the green and serene Kannan Devan Hills, lies the pristine hill station of Munnar, at an altitude of 1524 mtrs from sea level and 136 km off Kochi. The misty mountains, the green carpet of tea gardens and long stretches of grass lands makes this hill station a virtual paradise on earth. Tourists throng Munnar round the year for a retreat in the very bosom of nature. Nearby is Eravikulam National Park, the home of the endangered Nilgiri Tahrs that roam on the sprawling stretches of grasslands. In the high ranges there are a number of other picturesque jungle abodes like Idukki, Kumily, Devikulam, Vagamon, Peerumedu which are surrounded by a spread of beautiful, wooden valleys and fresh water streams. Idukki is also the home of the state’s hydel power thanks to the giant arch dam built across river Periyar. Vagamon in the high range Idukki district is yet another Hill station ideal for trekking. It is an ideal tourist spot surrounded by the greenery of tea gardens, beautiful meadows, valleys and dales. Thekkady is one of India’s most exciting natural wildlife sanctuaries which offer opportunity to watch wildlife at close range. The vegetation, the flora and fauna and the birds of Thekkady are uniquely rich, vast and varied. Notable among wild life population in this sanctuary which attracts a steady stream of visitors round the year is the majestic Asiatic wild elephants, Nilgiri langur, wild boar, wild dog, bison, bear tigers and leopards. The greatest attraction in Thekkady is a leisurely cruise across the expanse of the fresh water lake in the midst of the sanctuary. Lakkidi in Wayanad district is another hill station of great scenic beauty with its picturesque hills, streams and luxuriant vegetation, one of the highest locations in Wayanad, and registers the second highest degree of rainfall in the world.

Surrounded on all sides by meadows and hills, it has become a favorite picnic spot of tourists. Wayanad district also offers a variety of other tourist attractions like the Kuruva Islands, Pookote Lake, Chembra Peak, Edakkal Caves etc.

Sandy Beaches: Flanked on the western coast by the Arabian Sea, Kerala has a long coastline of 580 km; all of which is virtually dotted with sandy beaches. These sandy beaches and sea shores are ideal for sunbathing while the shallow coastal waters are extremely safe for swimming and a refreshing sea bath. The cool breeze that blows on the beaches will be soothing for both the body and soul. The most popular beach in the state is Kovalam, one of India’s internationally acclaimed beaches. A cluster of three crescent shaped beaches, Kovalam is ideal for an adventurous water sports like wind surfing swimming and thrilling boat ride either in catamaran or a wooden craft.

The Varkala beach flanked by the brick red cliffs is an ideal sea side resort and spa. It is also a pilgrim centre. Alleppey is another spectacular beach where you can venture safely into the sea to enjoy the massaging touch of the gentle waves or sit on sand dune hearing the song of the sea.

Kappad beach in northern Kerala is where history comes alive. It is on these shores Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese mariner set his foot in 1498 tracing an easiest maritime trade route to India. Bekal is another serene beach set in the backdrop of an array of swaying palms and the elegant Bekal Fort. Cherai Beach, Chowara Beach and Poovar Beach are also tourists’ paradises with golden sand and surf. Black rocks protected Muzhappilangad beach is the only drive in beach in Kerala. Nattika, the hidden treasure of Malabar Coast is a beautiful beach with panoramic views.

Plantation Tourism: The Western Ghats at an average altitude of 900 mtrs from the sea level, with a number of peaks well over 1,800 m in height and their slopes and valleys are known for its exotic spices like cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, and cash crops like tea, coffee and rubber. The Midlands, lying between the mountains and the lowlands, is made up of undulating hills and valleys which are rich in cashew, areca nut, tapioca, banana, rice, sugarcane and vegetables of myriad varieties. These areas have now become hotspot of plantation tourism. Many of the

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plantation estates are in the scenic locales of the Western Ghats. The breathtaking panoramas bring one to a world of wonder. Though plantations are the lands of leisure, it also imparts cognition about the cultivation and processing of these great crops. The opportunities for trekking, fishing, swimming and other recreations proffer an experience of being one with the virgin nature. Idukki, Wayanad and Kottayam are the major plantation centres in Kerala. The exotic smell of the spices elates to a heavenly ecstasy.

Sense the spirit of eco-tourism and adventure tourism through the green plantations. Stay with nature, dine with nature and rejoice with nature.

Bird Sanctuaries: Birds have always evoked the curiosity of man. Maybe the wish to fly is prime reason. The beauty, the way in which they make its nest, its ability to sense even the subtle changes in the nature and the nature of migration and their mating- all associated with birds are keenly watched by man. Bird sanctuaries are major attraction for tourists. Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is the most renowned bird sanctuary in the state. Started in 1983, the bird sanctuary located in Thattekkad in Ernakulam district was the first bird sanctuary of Kerala. Spread over an area of 25 sq km in the forests surrounded by the tributaries of the Periyar River. One can see a variety of migratory and resident bird species, including the rare Ceylon frogmouth and the rose-billed roller. Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is another important one. Migratory birds like darters, egrets, herons, teals, waterfowls, cuckoos and wild ducks are some of the varieties found here. The Siberian storks migrate to Kumarakom every year.

Pakshipathalam, situated 1740 mts above sea level, can be accessed only by trekking. Rare species of birds can be sighted from the watch tower of this bird sanctuary.

Kadalundi Bird sanctuary is spread over a cluster of islands in a scenic area surrounded by hillocks where the Kadalundi River flows into the Arabian Sea. The estuary at Kadalundi is a heaven for migratory birds.

Vibrant Festivals and Cultural Diversity: It is the land of colourful and beautiful art forms and festivals. The major festival in Kerala is Onam. Kerala has a number of religious festivals. Thrissur Pooram is the major temple festival in 112

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Kerala. It is conducted at the Vadakumnathan temple, Thrissur. The tradition of classical arts in God’s own country dates back over a thousand years. The UNESCO has recognised some of the art forms as the part of world

heritage. Kerala’s culture is mainly Dravidian in origin, deriving from a greater Tamil-heritage region known as Tamilakam. Later, Kerala’s culture was elaborated on through centuries of contact with overseas cultures. Native

performing arts include koodiyattom, kathakali and its offshoot Kerala natanam, koothu, mohiniaattam ottamthullal, padayani, and theyyam. Apart from these there are several religion related art forms such as chavittu medical tourism

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nadakom and oppana. Pulikkali, performed during Onam festival has a spectacular view. There are also several ancient ritualised arts including the martial art form of kalaripayattu. Other ritual arts include theyyam, poorakkali and Kuthiyottam. Kuthiyottam is a ritualistic symbolic representation of human bali. Folklore exponents see this art form, with enchanting well structured choreography and songs, as one among the rare Adi Dravida folklore traditions still preserved and practiced in Central Kerala in accordance to the true tradition and environment. In respect of Fine Arts, the State has an abounding tradition of both ancient and contemporary art and artists. The traditional Kerala murals are found in ancient temples, churches and palaces across the State. These paintings, mostly dating back between the 9th to 12th centuries AD, display a distinct style and a colour code which is predominantly ochre and green. Like the rest of India, religious diversity is very prominent in Kerala. The principal religions are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, and Buddhism have smaller followings.

The state’s historic ties with the rest of the world have resulted in the state having many famous temples, churches, and mosques. The Paradesi Synagogue of the Jews in Kochi is the oldest Jewish place of worship in the Commonwealth of Nations. Recognising the potential of tourism in the diversity of religious faiths, related festivals and structures, the tourism department launched a Pilgrimage tourism project.

Wildlife, Flora and Fauna: Most of Kerala, whose native habitat consists of wet evergreen rainforests at lower elevations and highland deciduous and semi-evergreen forests in the east, is subject to a humid tropical climate.

However, significant variations in terrain and elevation have resulted in a land whose biodiversity registers as among the world’s most significant. Most of Kerala’s biodiversity tracts of wilderness lie in the evergreen forests of its easternmost districts. There are also numerous protected conservation areas, including 1455.4 sq km of 114

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the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. In turn, the forests play host to such major fauna as Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Nilgiri Tahr and Grizzled Giant Squirrel. More remote preserves, including Silent Valley National Park in the Kundali Hills, harbor endangered species such as Liontailed Macaque, Indian Sloth Bear and Gaur. More common species include Indian Porcupine, Chital, Sambar, Gray Langur, Flying Squirrel, Swamp Lynx, Boar, a variety of catarrhine Old World monkey species, Gray Wolf, Common Palm Civet. Many reptiles, such as king cobra, viper, python, various turtles and crocodiles are to be found in Kerala.

Kerala’s avifauna include endemics like the Sri Lanka Frogmouth, Oriental Bay Owl, large frugivores like the Great Hornbill and Indian Grey Hornbill, as well as the more widespread birds such as Peafowl, Indian Cormorant, Jungle and Hill Myna, Oriental Darter, Black-hooded Oriole, Greater Racket-tailed and Black Drongoes, bulbul, species of Kingfisher and Woodpecker, Jungle Fowl, Alexandrine Parakeet, and assorted ducks and migratory birds.

Additionally, freshwater fish such as kadu and brackishwater species such as Choottachi also are native to Kerala’s lakes and waterways.

Monsoon Tourism: The four month-long, copious monsoon and recurrent flurry make this land a perfect nursery for all living being. On account of this monsoon tourism is now being promoted in a big way in the state. The word monsoon imparts a festive spirit to the whole world. The smell of the dry earth getting soaked elates you to an exotic experience. It becomes the best time to explore the virgin nature intact. A land which is very precious to God with a vast network of 44 rivers and its tributaries welcomes monsoon with much exuberance. Yes, Kerala eagerly expects the sound of splashing waters after a long summer.

The farmers exult in the drops of prosperity that shower a new beginning. It is the queer season which can refresh you completely. The God’s own country is blessed with a great season of monsoon that lasts for three months. You will find the leaves get washed and they will smile with

you. The aplomb air cools your body and mind. It is the season of great fun. Get wet in the dribs of rain and sail the paper boats in the water. Walk through drenched beaches and find merriment of getting wet. Swim in the pure water which is given to you by the Mother Nature.

Karnataka, Blend of Many Worlds Karnataka is a place where vibrant worlds seamlessly meld into one another, every few hundred kilometres. Sedate plains suddenly rise to dizzying mist-covered hilly heights and then plunge with careless abandon in a white-water freefall, to become languid rivers that flow past cities, cities where time has stopped altogether and cities where time rushes a relentless rush to keep up with the world; cities that sometimes escape into the deep quiet of thick forests and sometimes, stretch their arms wide open to embrace the sea. Karnataka has hosted and continues to host a wide melting pot culture community. Along with the native Kannadigas, Kodavas, Tuluvas, Konkanis and several tribal sects have, across the centuries, lent colour and content to the vibrant culture the state calls its own.

Karnataka is also home to the largest Tibetan settlement in South India. In addition to Kannada, knowing Tulu, Hindi, English, Telugu or Tamil will safely get you by. Jainism, Hinduism and Islam are the predominantly practised religions. But in recent times, Sikhism, Christianity and Buddhism have also found their place and people.

In dance, drama, theatre, crafts, art, poetry, architecture and scholarly pursuits, Karnataka brings with it a legacy of learning that predates the earliest dynasties. Karnataka as a patron of the arts has nurtured it into the exemplar.

Poets, musicians, dancers, thespians, story tellers, writers, artists have flourished in these parts and have contributed to the state’s well-versed repertoire. India’s most respected schools of music, Carnatic and Hindustani over the centuries, were perfected here, with the state bringing forth many greats. Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Odissi have found their niche in the mainstream culture,

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and the state boasts some of the best schools in the country. Karnataka’s millennia-long tryst with royalty has left an indelible mark on its celebrations. There’s nothing understated about the way Karnataka celebrates.

V irgin Beaches: The sandy beaches and sea shores in Karnataka are ideal for getting refreshed. A sleepy Brahmin town, lodged somewhere between a conservative society and a faithful hippy fan following, Gokarna is a dream beach destination in the state. With gentle waves, miles of golden sand, a tranquil ambience, and acres of emerald foliage, Karwar has all the makings of a perfect holiday destination. Murudeshwara help you to seat yourself at a vantage point on a hillock and watch the relentless wave’s crash against the rock. Situated 12 km south of Udupi on the coastal belt that passes through the West Coast National Highway, Kaup has a lovely beach. At the mouth of the Malpe River, about 6km from Udupi, is the natural harbour of Malpe, an important fishing centre that enriches Karnataka’s coastline with its fabulous beach. About 6 km from the Malpe coast into the Arabian Sea, one gets to see the palm-fringed St. Mary’s Island which bears the cross that Vasco Da Gama placed when he landed in 1498. The island is 300m long and 100m wide. 15km north of Ullal, Suratkal beach is near the promontory on which the new lighthouse stands. Take in the spectacular views at Marawanthe, a seaside town where the West Coast Highway cruises alongside the Arabian Sea on one side, with the picturesque Kodachadri Hills forming a backdrop to the Sauparnika River on the other.

Enthralling Waterfalls: The milky white waterfalls are inimitable by itself, primarily due to the grandeur of the evergreen forests that wrap it. Jog Falls bear witness to nature’s headlong tumble as the Sharavati River makes a spectacular drop of 253m in four distinct cascades, known locally as Raja, Rani, Rover, and Rocket to create the highest falls in Asia. Shivanasamudra Falls helps to discover nature’s handiwork and is 65km east of Mysore. The Kavery

River as it plummets from a height of 75m into a deep, rocky gorge with a deafening roar, to form two picturesque falls. Tucked away between private coffee and spice estates, Abbey Falls offers a splendid backdrop for picnics.

Nestling beside the Rajiv Gandhi National Park (Nagarahole), Iruppu Falls presents a stunning sight during the monsoon. The mesmerising Magod Falls are located 80km from Karwar. Situated in the midst of dense forests, Sathodi Falls is locally known as the Mini-Niagara of Uttara Kannada District. Hebbe Falls is located at a distance of 8km from Kemmanagundi. River Ghataprabha takes a leap over a rocky bed 170ft down which makes a beautiful Gokak Falls and is also known as the Northern Mysore Falls.

Invigorating Hill Stations: Nature can be experienced in its full splendour in Karnataka. A hedonist’s paradise by all means, Coorg is a dream you’ll never forget. Hills, oldworld charm, coffee, amazing food, vivid cultures and warm hospitality - there’s something in the air in Coorg that makes all things beautiful. Rambling hills, pristine pools, fascinating nooks and crannies complete with a shrine, intriguing caves, lush mists and dreamy woods make the geography of Chikmagalur. If you enjoy spectacular sunsets, sparkling streams, verdant village vistas, and an untouched rustic ambience, Agumbe is the place for you.

Located in Chikmagalur district, the picturesque hill station of Kemmangundi is located at a height of 1434m above sea level. The highest peak between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris, Mulliyanagiri stands at a height of 1,930 metres (6,330ft). Situated 100km from Shimoga and 36km from Hosanagara is this enchanting mountain which overlooks the vast Western Ghats. The Kudremukh (Horse Face) Range gets its name from the unique shape of its main peak. Nandi Hills, popular weekend getaway is just 60km from Bangalore. There are many trekking trails in BR Hills including one that leads up to Honnamati, the highest point of the range. Located on Theerthahalli-Agumbe road, about 12km from Theerthahalli, Kundadri Hill is a gigantic monolithic rock formation.

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Fascinating Cities: Bengaluru, the capital city is South India’s most alive city. A melting point of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, the hoi polloi of Bangalore is charmingly mixed. Malls, parks, pubs, theatre, cafes, art galleries, palaces etc at any given point, Bengaluru is buzzing and alive with activity. Almost at the heart of South India, this cosmopolitan city is everything a world city needs to be.

Mysore is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka and it lies about 140 km southwest of Bengaluru. The city spread across an area of 128.42 sq km and situated at the base of the Chamundi Hills which is one of the most important tourist centres of the Karnataka. Mysore is also known as Palace City of India which can genuinely boast of one of the most visited monuments in India, the Mysore palace. Brindavan Gardens of Mysoe is a show garden that has a beautiful botanical park, full of exciting fountains, as well as boat rides beneath the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam. Ensconced on the coast, Mangalore makes a pleasant and convenient stop between Goa and Kerala.

With its narrow, winding streets fringed with coconut palms, quaint houses with terracotta-tiled roofs, beautiful beaches, temples and churches, and the aroma of spicy coconut curries, it has preserved its old-world charm. For a commercial and business hub, Hubli’s name translates into sheer poetry. Bellary has seen a long line of rulers and therefore, it comes as no surprise that Bellary, despite being a progressive industrial district, still has the airs and graces of a forgotten time. Known as the land of heroes, of which Rani Chennamma of Kittur undoubtedly reigns supreme as the face of the sobriquet, Belgaum is one of Karnataka’s oldest and largest cities.

Hoary Tradition: Karnataka is a land of rich historical heritage. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades, the Mysore Palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. Known as Amba V ilas Palace, it was designed

by Henry Irwin, the British consultant architect of Madras State and completed in 1912 on the site of the old wooden

palace that was destroyed by fire in 1897. From atop the Matanga Hill at daybreak, Hampi is every inch the capital city of a golden empire. The capital of the mighty Badami Chalukyas might have shrunk into a few scenic square kilometres in terms of touristy value. But Badami still retains its majesty. Known as the cradle of temple architecture, Aihole is an experience of time travelling, by all means. Once the destination of kings, Pattadakal was where kingdoms were bestowed upon heirs apparent.

Once the capital city of the Hoysala dynasty, Belur is home to the Chennakesava Temple known as the ‘jewel in stone’ - a title it’s held unsurpassed since 1116 AD. Halebeedu, before it became Halebeedu or the destroyed city, was the second capital of the Hoysalas and went by the name Dwarasamudra. Today, the Hoysaleshwara Temple, though the sole survivor of all the grandeur that once was, hitherto the plunder of successive invaders, still tells a mean tale.

Many monuments and historical places like Bijapur, Chitradurga, Srirangapatna, Bidar, Gulbarga, Bellary Fort, Somnathpur, Bangalore Palace and Kolar speak much about the golden era of the state. A visit to Tipu’s Fort in Bengaluru is an enriching experience.

Tamil Nadu, Land of Temples and Folklore Tamil Nadu has had more than 5000 years of continuous cultural history and tradition. It has some of the most remarkable temple architecture in the country and a living tradition of music, dance and fine arts. The state is also well renowned for its temple towns and heritage sites, hill stations, waterfalls, national parks, local cuisine and the fabulous wildlife and scenic beauty. There are several places of tourist interest in the State and in Chennai, the state’s capital city. Mamallapuram - the beach resort, Kanchipuram - the land of 1000 temples, Madurai - famous for the Meenakshi temple, Rameswaram, Thiruchirapalli and Thanjavur - form the temple trio, Chidambaram - holy place for Saivites as the famous Nataraja Temple, Coimbatore - third largest city of the state, Courtallam -

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the Spa of the south, Hogenakkal - beautiful waterfalls, Velankanni - one of the most visited pilgrim centres in India, Theni - southern part of the state etc add charm to this south Indian state. Kanyakumari at the tip of the Indian peninsula is where the seas meet. The waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and of the Arabian Sea join together at this point. This small town is renowned for the spellbinding views of a fantastic sunrise and sunset. The state houses a number of heritage sites mainly composed of the ancient temples and deities of the Pallava and Chola empire scattered along various parts of Northern and Central-Eastern parts of Tamil Nadu. The state boasts the second largest tourism industry in India with an annual growth rate of 16%. Tamil Nadu with a GDP of $98 million is the fourth largest economy of the country and tourism is one of the main sources of its revenue. Tamil Nadu is a year round tourist destination and the industry is the largest in the country only second to the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. Tamil Nadu has well knit road, sea, rail and air connectivity. The capital city of Chennai has one of the busiest international airports in the country.

Picturesque Hill Stations: The hill stations of Tamil Nadu offer the visitor the most spectacular views of nature. Called the Queen of Hill Stations picturesque, green Udhagamandalam better known as Ooty is the most popular hill station in the South. Located in the Western Ghats at a height of 2240m, Udhagamandalam is the headquarters of the Nilgiris district where the two Ghats ranges meet. Nature has been generous with this region which is by far the most beautiful in the state. Apart from coffee and tea plantations, trees like conifers, eucalyptus, pine and wattle dot the hillside in Udhagamandalam and its environs. Summer temperature is rarely higher than 25°c with a minimum of 10°c and winter is are distinctly cooler with a high of 21°c and a low 5°c. Another renowned hill station, Kodaikanal known as Princess of Hill Station, is breathtaking with wooded slopes and gigantic trees.

The mighty rocks, bowers, creeks and slopes captivate the

visitors. The hill station Kodaikanal was created to serve the needs of the British and Europeans in India. The 20th century saw elite Indians enter in Kodaikanal to enjoy its charm and beauty and to harness its natural wealth for development. Yercaud, a Jewel of the South, on the Shevaroy hills of the Eastern Ghats is the only one of its kind in northern Tamil Nadu. Coffee and citrus fruits, most notably oranges are grown in abundance apart from bananas, pears and jack here. Yelagiri Hill, situated amidst four mountains well known for its salubrious climate prevails throughout the year. Tribal people live in villages in these hills.

Anamalai Hills is a range of mountains in southern India, in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, forming a portion of the Western Ghats after this range has been broken by the Palghat Pass, south of the Nilgiris. Kolli Hills is a small mountain range located in central Tamil Nadu in India. The Nilgiris are a trekker’s paradise. Landscaped by nature, the hills abound in trek for lovers of nature.

Land of Festivals: Tamil Nadu is a terra firma of many festivals. January marks the beginning of the festival season in the state. Pongal is the first festival and it is celebrated with much enthusiasm. It is the harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. Pongal is actually the name of a rice and lentil dish cooked in Tamil Nadu, and on this festive day Pongal is cooked. It is celebrated on January 14, each year.

In fact, four festivals are celebrated in Tamil Nadu for four consecutive days in that week. Bhogi is celebrated on January 13, Pongal on Jan 14, Maattu Pongal on Jan 15, and Kannum Pongal and Thiruvalluvar Day on Jan 16.

Temple Land: The state is also well renowned for its temple towns. The state has many temples dedicated to Lord Muruga and some of these are in rarefied environs. The journey to the Aruppadai Veedu or the Six Houses of Lord Muruga may be arduous but it has its own rewards. The six abodes of Lord Muruga are located in Thiruthani, Swamimalai, Thiruchendur, Pazhamudhir Cholai, Tirupparankundram and Palani. Palani, located 120 km from

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Madurai is one of the most hallowed shrines of Lord Murugan. Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple (twin temples) is one of the biggest temples in India. The original temple built by Kulasekara Pandyan was in ruins.

The plan for the current temple structure was laid by V iswanath Naikar and was completed by T irumalai Nayakar. There are 12 massive gopurams in the temple, the four tallest gopurams at the outer walls. The districts of Thanjavur, Kumbhakonam and Nagappattinam boast of hundreds of ancient temples. The town of Thanjavur was the seat of the glorious Chola Empire of Tamilnadu, and was later on the seat of the Nayaks and the Marathas.

Rameswaram and Chidambaram Temples are also important temples for worship.

Blue Beaches: Tamil Nadu is known especially for its blue beaches and sunny skies. Some of south India’s nicest beaches dot Chennai’s long seafront. The Marina beach is a 12 km long stretch of fine sandy shore and is known as the Pride of Chennai, the Kovalam beach is quiet and far away from the distractions of the city and the Elliot’s beach is the preferred destination for those with a clean atmosphere in mind. 58 km south of Chennai is the Mahabalipuram beach, famous for its unique 7th century Shore Temple. Kanyakumari Beach at the southernmost tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet is an important pilgrim centre.

Poompuhar Beach Yet another beach resort created in memory of erstwhile Kaveripoompattinam, a legendary Port city, washed away by the sea. The present complex was designed on the basis of the information available in the Tamil epic Silapathikaram. The historical happenings depicted in Silapathikaram and the land marks mentioned therein are brought back to life here in stone.

Wildlife: The topography of Tamil Nadu is delightfully varied and diverse. Of the 1,30,058 sq km land area, 17.6% is covered with forest area which spreads over the plain and on mountain slopes. Dry lands are bestowed with dry-

deciduous forests, thorn forests, scrubs and mangroves.

The Western Ghats and a few cooler regions are endowed with moist deciduous, wet evergreen forests, sholas and grasslands. There are 5 National Parks and 17 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu. The Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Nilgiri Hills, at a point where the Western Ghats meet the Eastern Ghats. Situated in the Thuthukudi district, Vallanadu Sanctuary is a scrub forest area that is spread over 16.41 sq km. V iralimalai is a small town situated 30 km from Thiruchirapalli and is bestowed with a large number of wild peacocks. Sprawling on 17.26 sq km surrounded by sea and shore, comprising forests of tidal swamps and forests of mangroves, Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the Nagapattinam district. Indira Gandhi National Sanctuary, spread over 958 sq km, can be reached from top slip in the Anamalai Hills in the Western Ghats. An ecological Paradise, this sanctuary is a National Park with an area covering 108 sq km. Mundanthurai Sanctuary and Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctuary situated in the Thirunelveli District.

Srivilliputhur Sanctuary, located in the V irudhunagar District, 45 km off Virudhunagar Town, has a composition of dry deciduous forests, moist mixed deciduous forests and grasslands. The Guindy National Park is one of the prime spots to visit for those people who come to Chennai during vacation. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is the oldest bird sanctuary in the country. Gulf of Manner Marine National Park is a Marine Biosphere and it runs along with coasts of Ramanathapuram and Thuthukudi Tuticorin Districts. The Mukkurthi National Park is located in the high altitudes of the Nilgiris and is made up of rolling downs interspersed with sholas and woodland.

Things to be Kept in Mind Medical tourism not only provides an opportunity to people who want to avail quality and affordable medical treatments, but also enables a patient to get medical treatment along with vacation in foreign destination. The 124

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following is certain tips to those intend to embark on a medical tourism trip to India. It is essential to meet your family doctor to know about your current health conditions.

He can guide you better about the medical procedure, which can help you to deal with your health condition. It is beneficial to carry all your current medical test reports. This will help the doctor on the medical tourism destination to understand your health condition. Language is a major problems that you may face during your journey. It is good to choose a destination where you can communicate easily with treating facility or you can ensure that translator facilities are available. Understanding your health insurance as a medical tourist outside your country is very important because many health insurance policies do not provide coverage for huge medical treatment costs overseas. So, it becomes important for you to choose an insurance policy that provides complete or maximum coverage for medical journey. You should carry a medical kit should include ointments, painkillers, anti-allergy medicines, insect repellent, bandage, and other important things. You cannot make your medial trip without planning, as it is essential for smother and successful journey. If you consider important things before embarking on your medical trip then it can help you to get proper benefits of the trip.

Having the knowledge of the etiquette and the law of land will certainly be helpful for the tourists to enjoy the trip without facing any hardship. According to the law of the land, there will be heavy penalties including jail term for possessing or using narcotic drugs. To visit a wildlife sanctuary, prior permission has to be taken from the authority concerned before visiting a wildlife sanctuary. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring. Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centres honour major credit cards.

All standard restaurants in these states have varieties including Continental, Chinese, Indian and typical Kerala in their menu. Tap water is purified and safe to drink. Bottled water is also available. It is not advisable to drink water from slow moving streams, lakes or dams.

find your hospitals

AL SHIFA Super Speciality Hospital NH 17, Near Railway Overbridge Edappally, Kochi - 24, Kerala, India Ph: +91 484 2363777 Help Line: 9846 500 500 Email: info@alshifahealthcare.com Web: www.alshifahealthcare.com Piles is the new add-up to the list of lifestyle diseases and it brings in inferiority complex to the affected, unlike most others. It also causes mental stress and carelessness, taking away much of the productivity of the person. Here, we required a place where we can get all international facilities to cure piles and related diseases. AL SHIFA Super Speciality Hospital, Edappally, Kochi, is an established super specialty hospital for the effective treatment of Piles, Fistula, Fissure and other ano rectal diseases, using a broad spectrum of curative methods including advanced modern non invasive LASER technology.

It is a 100 bedded hospital with two most modern operation theatres. For the last 14 years the hospital has been maintaining world class quality and professional

administration confirming to international standards. It is the world’s first and biggest laser treatment centre for piles and South Asia’s first HFLT treatment centre for High and Low fistula. The hospital is situated at Edappally with the main access from National Highway17, hardly 20 km from Cochin International Airport and 10 km from Ernakulam Junction and Town Railway Stations. The hospital is having ISO accreditation in keeping quality and standard. Dr. Shajahan Yousaf Sahib, World renowned Proctologist is the Founder Chairman and Managing Director of AL SHIFA Super Speciality Hospital, With more than 70,000 procedures, he becomes the undisputed authority in the field of Laser Treatment for piles and related diseases as a very specialized proctologist. Supported by a team of specialized and qualified doctors from foreign countries like USA, UK, Poland, Austria, Briganz & Russia and fully qualified nursing staff ensure the best of care for the patients. The Hospital follows the ideal system of therapy which is highly effective and result oriented. Back up Services are available round the clock. The supporting medical team includes Cardiologist and Paediatrician on call. There are Intensive care unit and post and pre operative wards. The Hospital has modern technologies like Digital Rectal Scan, Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy to detect the diseases in the rectal region. Using this technology it is also possible to detect anal cancer in its primary stage itself. The newly introduced Sphinctometer is suitable for monitoring the function of the lower esophageal sphincter and has subsequently been successfully incorporated into an ambulatory system for patient use. A full-fledged laboratory offers a full range of tests, and all other required tests backed by a team of experts. A well stocked Pharmacy offers round the clock service. There is a fully functional casualty department with minor operation theatre ready to handle any sort of emergency. Ambulance fully equipped with ventilators and oxygen lines are also available throughout the day and night. International Help Desk functioning at the Hospital medical tourism

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caters to all the needs of International patients. A specially chosen team of multi-linguistic staff take care of all communication problems during their stay at the hospital.

Patients can choose from VVIP Suite Rooms, VIP Deluxe Rooms and Ordinary Rooms, fully Air conditioned with 24 hours constant power supply and water supply. All the rooms have Nurse Calling Units and telephone in conformity with NABH/JCI standards. A 24 hour service with a doctor is available at Help Line No. 9846 500 500 for giving information regarding Piles and related anal diseases. Different types of health check-ups are offered including well women checkup and Gastro intestinal Health check up for early detection of Carcinoma Rectum.

The newly introduced mobile application, ‘Al Shifa/ Haemorrhoids/Piles’ can be downloaded free of cost from Google play store to get hospital details, facilities, consultation and treatment booking. Attached to this hospital there is a research wing ‘AL SHIFA International Proctology Institute and Research Centre’. This research wing studies the various causes and probabilities of piles and associated diseases. The Hospital has tie up with more than 400 national and international insurance companies and their third party operators besides Central and state government institutions in the State. The Kerala Government and UT of Lakshadweep Administration has issued orders empanelling the hospital for getting reimbursement of medical expenses to government servants. The exemplary work has brought in many awards including the Mahatma Gandhi Sevana Puraskar for excellence in Medical Field in the year 2003-2004, All India Business and Community Foundation National Award for Health Excellence in the year 2004-2005, Nehru Sevana Puraskar for excellence in Medical Field for the year 2006, Mother Teresa Puraskar for outstanding contribution in the field of Piles and associated diseases for the year 2006-2007, Recognition from the Lone star Healthcare Group, Texas, USA, Vocational Excellence Award 2014 from Rotary International, Medical Excellence Award from 126

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Bahrain Malayalee Association and Special Recognition from Bahrain Parliament (Kingdom of Bahrain). The Hospital is committed to provide excellent quality health care of international standard at affordable cost to the public.

Amar Hospital Centre for Advanced Reproduction Attingal P.O, Trivandrum - 695 101 Kerala, India, Ph: +91 470 2627676, 2627666 Web: www.amarfertility.com Email: amarhospital@yahoo.in Amar Maternity and Fertility centre, located in the heart of Attingal town is an NABH Accredited ISO 9001-2008 certified hospital with 75 beds including 35 ICU beds. The hospital is situated at Kacheri junction, Attingal near to NH-47 and nearly 30 km from Trivandrum city and 35 km from Trivandrum International Airport and Trivandrum Central Railway station. Amar Maternity and Fertility Centre was established in 2003 offering high quality services in Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Infertility, High risk pregnancy, General surgery, Key-hole surgery, Urology and Andrology, Paediatrics and Neonatology, & Orthopeadics . Led by Dr.P.Radhakrishnan Nair, MD, DGO, one of the pioneers of

Laproscopic surgery in Gynaecology and Infertility since 1989, the Centre for Advanced Reproduction now offers the latest technology in infertility treatment –ICSI, IVF, PESA and TESA and Real time IMSI- the last resort for male infertility and failed IVF cases. The first baby through Real time IMSI in North Kerala was born in this centre . The centre is equipped with advanced ICSI/ IMSI Micro manipulator and most advanced Microscopic Systems (Olympus-Japan), Hera cell incubators, Cryocans for Embryo Freezing, Sperm banking and advanced Andrology Laboratory. Most advanced and Hi-Tech 3D/4D Ultrasound scan VOLUSON E-10 and World class Ultramodern 3 CHIP SPIES CAMERA for laparoscopic surgery are our main highlights.There are well equipped theatres with advanced Laproscopy and hysteroscopy equipments and Clean Air System and spacious recovery rooms. This impeccable infrastructure added to the highly motivated service providers has made it possible for the hospital to record the least Neo natal and maternal Mortality and Morbidity as well as the least Surgical complications in Laproscopy and open surgeries. The Neonatal and Paediatric care is equipped with level II-III NICU with 14 beds having Neonatal Ventilator, C-PAP, Radiant Warmer, Infusion Pumps, Phototheraphy units and centralized Gas and Suction. High risk pregnancy care with detailed Antenatal Screening for Foetal anomaly and the supervision of Senior Gynaecologist of great experience ensures least perinatal mortality and morbidity. There are facilities for different types of General surgery including Appendectomy, Hernioplasty, haemorrhoidectomy, Cholecy-stectomy, Breast lump exercision, Thyroidectomy, and Varico-celectomy. The hospital infrastructure is world class with 24 hour pharmacy, ambulance and casualty services. There is an advanced clinical laboratory with Haematological autoanalyser, semi auto analyser and fully automated Hormone Analysis etc. The hospital offers the services of a highly dedicated and experienced team of doctors and other staff led by Dr.P. Radhakrishnan Nair. Dr.Radhakrishnan Nair

has done more than 50,000 Laparoscopic procedures to his credit. He was the recipient of the Nehru Award 2007-08 for his outstanding contribution in the field of Health and Family Medicine. The Amar Maternity and Fertility Centre was awarded the Kerala State Pollution Control Award (2011, 2013, 2014). The hospital has lived up to its declared objective of providing low cost infertility treatment services under one roof - from treatment of fertility till delivery.

Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences AIMS, P.O. Ponekkara, Kochi - 682 041 Kerala, India Ph: +91 484 280 1234, 668 1234 Fax: +91 484 280 2020 Email: marketing@aims.amrita.edu Web: www.aimshospital.org Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), established in 1998, based in Kochi, Kerala, is one of the biggest healthcare centres in India and has over 56 clinical departments under various centres of excellence to provide a total healthcare solution to any patient. More than 800 doctors and 4000 support staff members are engaged in providing high quality patient care. The institute has over medical tourism

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1200 beds including the 250 ICU bed. The overall ICU survival and care at AIMS is significantly higher than any other hospital in India. AIMS brings together a dedicated team of physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals to offer international standards of medical care and the centre is especially well known for its surgical excellence. Recently, the institute has been awarded the coveted British Medical Journal (BMJ) India Award 2015 for the Best Surgical Team of South Asia. The award was bestowed for its two successful double hand transplants, the first and the second bilateral hand transplants in South Asia. Previously the institute had won the BMJ India Healthcare Award for Paediatric Heart Program in 2014 and the National Healthcare Excellence Award for Best Hospital (CSR Category) in India by FICCI in 2013. In the era of the suture-less and minimally invasive surgery, AIMS has gone one step ahead by doing extremely difficult procedures through key holes in many departments. The institute widely employs the da V inci Surgical System for Gastrosurgical, Uro-surgical and Gynec-oncologic surgeries and the robotic facility ROSA for Neurosurgery, the first in AsiaPacific region. The Centre of Excellence in Organ Transplantation in AIMS is one of the largest and unique centres in India carrying out organ transplantation of Liver, Kidney, Stem Cell, Heart, Pancreas, Small bowel, Cornea, Hand and Trachea. The Amrita centre of excellence in fetal care provides state of the art, comprehensive fetal care services under one roof. It is the first of its kind in the country and the only centre in Asia offering open Fetal surgery. All departments are equipped with most modern and advanced equipment. The costs of the procedures are affordable even to the common man. The AIMS corporate social responsibility is committed to provide compassionate medical care to those in need regardless of race, caste, or religion. Unlike most private hospitals, AIMS looks up at research and publications. Many research projects are funded and supported by international health agencies. A separate institute of medical research is 128

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functioning with special emphasis on molecular medicine and nano technology. AIMS does not just specialize in Healthcare, but strives to transform the future of healthcare by unifying Competence, Compassion and Commitment.

Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute Chacka, NH Bypass Thiruvananthapuram - 695 024 Kerala, India Ph: +91 471 2579900, 2506868 Fax: +91 471 2506969 Email: ananthapurihri@vsnl.net Web: www.ananthapurihospitals.com Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute (AHRI) is a 500 bedded Tertiary care Hospital located at KazhakuttamKovalam Bypass Road, close to International Airport and about 3 km from Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station/ Thampanoor Bus Stand. Ananthapuri Hospitals offers unparalleled spectrum of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives with highly experienced doctors, skilled and distinguished in their respective fields of expertise. Presently the Hospital has more than 35 major Departments with state-of-the-art infrastructure to cater to the health needs of the people nationally and

internationally. Complementing them and paving the way for the smooth functioning of the hospital is a team of highly dedicated paramedical personnel, thus fulfilling the hospital’s mission for providing service with sincerity and solicitude. AHRI, tertiary hospital project of Ananthapuri Hospitals Private Limited, is conceived and implemented with the vision to create a better world where people can lead a healthier life in the new millennium.

AHRI aims to play a predominant role in the development of healthcare services in the world by setting new trends and bringing about changes cherished and earnestly sought by the society.

Aster DM Healthcare Ltd. Kuttisahib Road, Near Kothad Bridge P.O. South Chittoor, Cheranelloor Kochi - 682 027, Kerala, India Ph: +91 484 6699999 Web: www.astermedcity.com Email: marketing.astermedcity@dmhealthcare.com One of India’s most advanced healthcare facilities, Aster Medcity combines the best talent and technology to provide holistic treatment. Set in a 40 acre waterfront campus in Kochi, Kerala, Aster Medcity is a 670 bed quaternary care

facility with one Multispeciality Hospital and eight separate Centres of Excellence in Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Orthopaedics & Rheumatology, Nephrology & Urology, Oncology, Women’s Health, Child & Adolescent Health and Gastroenterology & Hepatology. Patient-centric in terms of design and philosophy, Aster Medcity lives by its simple promise: We’ll Treat You Well. The first JCI (Joint Commission International) accredited quaternary care hospital in Kerala, Aster Medcity is the first in India to receive all relevant accreditations and certifications within one year of opening its doors to the world. In addition to the JCI accreditation, this includes the NABH accreditation, Green OT certification, ISO 9001, ISO 22000 and the first ever NABH award for nursing excellence. Aster Medcity has an outstanding team of doctors who take time out to listen to patients carefully, understand their problems holistically and recommend the best way forward.

Multidisciplinary in approach, they provide optimal, evidence-based treatment to patients with the help speciality-trained nurses, paramedics and technicians. The departments at the Multispeciality hospital include Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery, Pulmonology, Podiatry, Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Dentistry, ENT, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Infectious Diseases & Infection Control, Clinical Imaging & Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Anaesthesia & Critical Care and Emergency Care. Aster Medcity has integrated Ayurveda into its fold. The traditional system of medicine that originated in India 5000 years ago, Ayurveda helps achieve physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing in a completely natural way. One of the most technologically advanced hospitals in India, Aster Medcity offers a comprehensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic technology to facilitate accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment. This includes: South Asia’s first OR1 Karlstroz Operation fusion integrated Operation Theatres with autopilot anaesthesia, India’s first flat panel bi-plane vascular hybrid cathlab, India’s first robotic pharmacy, South medical tourism

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India’s first ICCA (IntelliSpace Critical Care and Anaesthesia) ICUs & 135 independent ICUs with a view, Kerala’s first da Vinci Robot for Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery, Kerala’s first True Beam Linear Accelerator for high-precision radiotherapy, Kerala’s first fourth generation Time of Flight 16 Slide PET CT etc. The first hospital in Kochi to introduce First Responder Service on motorbikes to ensure faster, onsite medical assistance during emergencies, Aster Medcity will launch its Integrated Emergency Services comprising Water Ambulance and Air Evacuation soon. Aster Medcity is the flagship initiative of Aster DM Healthcare, a global healthcare group with 291 medical establishments across 9 countries including India, Africa and the GCC.

Aster MIMS Mini By-pass Road, P.O. Govindapuram Calicut - 673 016, Kerala, India Ph: +91 495 3911400 Fax: +91 495 2741329 Email: mimsclt@mimsindia.com Web: www.astermims.com Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences Ltd. (Aster MIMS), offering the finest referral tertiary healthcare in North Kerala. Aster MIMS combines the advantage of serene 130

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environment, world class tertiary healthcare facilities at affordable costs. Aster MIMS, the First NABH accredited Multi-speciality hospital in India, has set international standards in medical expertise, nursing care and diagnostic services, with over 40 disciplines supported by highly experienced healthcare professionals with most modern medical equipments. Aster MIMS Laboratory Services is the first NABL accredited hospital Laboratory in North Kerala. Aster MIMS is the First Liver transplant centre in North Kerala and the second centre in India with 3D Laparoscopic Urology. The hospital continuously updates clinical and other programs in line with the challenges posed by ever-evolving technology, meeting the changing needs of the society. The Aster MIMS Hospitals at Calicut and Kottakkal under the Chairmanship of Dr. Azad Moopen, a doctor turned entrepreneur from Kerala, is also the founder of DM Healthcare which is a leading healthcare conglomerate in the Middle East and India. His endeavours brought quality healthcare at an affordable cost closer to the people, delivered with care and compassion. Aster MIMS has set up an exclusive International Desk that offers a single window arrangement for foreign national patients.

This includes pre hospital screening at the country of residence, visa liaising, flight ticket, proposed management cost to the whole package etc. Some of the salient features of this program are Exclusive Floor for International patients, Multi linguistic Guest Relation Executives, Wi-Fi internet connection, Individual patient attention by the Guest Assistants, Transportation assistance in Calicut, Sight seeing programs on request, Assistance for VISA registration and other formalities, High quality food with hygienic environment etc. The other Support Facilities are 14 well equipped Operation Theatres, State-of-the-art medical equipments (1.5 Tesla MRI, 128 Slice CT, Two Cardiac Catheterization labs with latest facilities like IVUS and FFR), V ideo endoscopes, SPECT CT & GAMMA Camera, PET CT, Neuro navigation stealth station 7, Linear Accelerator and Brachytherapy for Radiation,

Excellent facility for providing emergency and trauma care of level 4 status for various emergencies (heart attack, road traffic accidents, snake bites, burn injuries, internal bleeding etc), One among the few IT enabled hospitals in India which maintains 100% electronic medical records, Blood bank with component separation facility, 24 hours Pharmacy facility, World standard CSSD department that assures zero rate nosocomial infection, Aster MIMS has one of the best and most effective programs in disposal and treatment of hospital waste with state-of-the-art Sewage Treatment Plant and Quality Assurance Department etc. Aster MIMS Kottakkal: Aster MIMS has setup its first of the many satellite hospitals at Kottakkal, Malappuram.

The 150 bed tertiary level, super specialty hospital with NABH accreditation, brings quality healthcare within the ambit of common man. At Aster MIMS Kottakkal, we endeavour to provide the most reliable and state-of-theart technology, backed by well trained, highly qualified medical professionals who administer premium, yet costeffective medical services across all broad specialties.

The comprehensive trauma care centre at Aster MIMS Kottakkal is first of its kind in Malappuram district with expertise that matches global standards. Aster MIMS has already started projects at Perinthalmanna and Kannur in Kerala apart from the expansion of Calicut & Kottakkal hospitals. Aster MIMS also setup a medical centre at Eranhipalam, Calicut.

Believers Church Medical College Hospital St. Thomas Nagar, P.O. Kuttapuzha Thiruvalla - 689 103, Kerala, India Ph: 0469 3023100, 3023101 Email: info@bcmch.org Web: www.bcmch.org Disease prevention and health promotion are essential attributes of a people oriented welfare state. The health of its people is a reflection of the health of the nation.

Creating a large group of committed, patient centered

healthcare professionals who will make this happen should be a key ingredient of any effort to provide holistic care. The Believers Church Medical College Hospital seeks to present to our people, a new paradigm in healthcare and in medical education. A culture of care and compassion illuminates every interpersonal relationship.

We reach out to the poor, the needy and the marginalized.

We will work with the mission network to extend our services to needy areas in our country. We will introduce innovative ideas to train our students - medical, nursing and allied health - to be competent, relevant and filled with the passion to serve in the Spirit of Christ. Our vision is to bring hope and healing with the love of Christ to the people of our land and of neighbouring countries. The Believers Church Medical College Hospital is a 500 bed hospital in Thiruvalla, Kerala. Expert doctors, competent nurses, skillful technical and support staff work together with a holistic approach to provide the best possible medical and nursing care. Our Surgeons are talented and committed, well supported by a highly qualified Anaesthesia Team.

With well equipped Operation theaters, state-of-the-art laboratories, imaging facilities and excellent Critical Care Units, BCMCH provides every patient the very best of modern medical care. Having established the hospital in response medical tourism

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to a need, BCMCH also seeks to equip aspiring medical and nursing students with the knowledge and abilities to respond effectively to the growing healthcare needs in the country. At Believers Church Medical College Hospital, it is compassion and empathy that drive the organization in its journey towards accomplishing its mission. We hope to be torchbearers and trendsetters in providing an efficient, effective model in healthcare.

CIMAR Thykkavu Stop, NH 17, Cheranallore Edappally, Cochin - 682 034 Kerala, India, Ph: +91 484 4134444 Fax: +91 484 4134455 Email: cimarcochin@gmail.com Web: www.cimarindia.org Set up in early 1996 within the limited space available in the 300 bed Edappal Hospital in the small town of Edappal, Dr. Gopinathan, the brain behind and the Founder Chairman of this noble institution, had christened the centre as CIMAR - CENTRE FOR INFERTILTY MANAGEMENT & ASSISTED REPORDUCTION. Today, CIMAR stands to be a name that recon with the best fertility centres internationally and boasts of a state-of-the-art unit in Cochin since 2010.

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In the last 16 years of its establishment, CIMAR has seen many a first and continues to make breakthrough in the field of infertility and fetal medicine. CIMAR is the only centre in India to have all facilities under one roof and is one of the most advanced fertility and fetal medicine hospitals in the country with centres at Edappal, Cochin, Coimbatore, Thiruvalla and Dubai. CIMAR has recently achieved NABH accreditation from Quality Council of India as a mark of continuing its supremacy and continues to make breakthrough in the fields of infertility and fetomaternal medicine. Dr. K.K. Gopinathan who is the Chief of CIMAR Unit, is recognized as the first Laparoscopic Surgeon of Kerala State Health Services and is a former State President of Kerala Association of Gynecological Endoscopists (KAGE) as well as the South Zone Co-ordinator of Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR). FOGSI has recognized him as a Laparoscopic Trainer and National Board of Examinations has acknowledged his skills as trainer of DNB course which is equivalent to MD Gynecology.

Today, his team comprises of over 15 gynecologists specialized and dedicated to the field of fertility and fetal medicine. He has already supervised more than 100,000 deliveries till date. The important milestones of CIMAR are: CIMAR started functioning at Edappal in 1996, Introduced ICSI Treatment in Kerala in 1997, ICSI baby born through PESA and MESA in 1998, Baby born in India using Recombinant FSH (Recagon) in 1999, Baby born after Laser assisted hatching in 2000, Started Fetal Medicine department for the first time in Kerala in 2000, Baby born after PGD using FISH in 2001, Introduced Triple Gas Incubator in India in 2002, Introduced Intra-uterine Blood Transfusion Treatment in Kerala in 2003, FOGSI Recognition as Infertility Training Centre in 2004, CIMAR awarded ISO Certification in 2005, CIMAR Cochin starts functioning and Introduced IMSI in Kerala in 2010, 1st IMSI baby of South India born in 2011, Pollution Control Award from Kerala State Pollution Control Board in 2011, CIMAR Coimbatore started functioning in 2012 etc. At the various CIMAR

Centres, patients of infertility are provided the finest infrastructure, state-of-the-art technology and qualified professionals on a par with world standards. CIMAR has a unique fetal medicine department which helps patients deliver a healthy child and a separate genetic department which analyses chromosomal abnormalities. CIMAR specializations are Infertility, Fetomaternal medicine, Genetic Lab, Neonatology and Gynecology. CIMAR is also a training ground for many aspiring specialists all over India and abroad. CIMAR is recognised for the following courses - National Board Post Graduate Training Centre in OBG, FOCSI recognized Advanced Infertility Training Centre, FOGSI recognized Laparoscopic Training Centre, FOGSI recognized USG Training Centre, Fellowship in Reproductive Medicine and Fellowship in Feto Maternal Medicine. When Dr. Gopinath commenced his journey from a humble hospital in Malappuram District, little did he know that he would play a pioneering role in bringing the smile of happiness to thousands of couples, and that his hospitals would carve out a niche for themselves. As a step to spread its wings across the globe, CIMAR has already opened its outlet at Dubai. CIMAR’s team of professionals regularly attend national and international training seminars, CMEs and the like, so that the hospital continues to rub shoulders with fertility centres of international repute.

CIMAR has also been conducting advanced training programs for upcoming professionals on a regular basis, with a view to promote expertise in this field. Even though infertility treatment has its own limitations, especially with regard to percentage of success rate, CIMAR tries to ensure that all its patients get the right treatment and leave the institution fully satisfied on having obtained the best care. The services by CIMAR have been acknowledged with State level Awards, especially for its control on pollution. Edappal Hospitals, now positioned as one among the best specialty hospitals in Kerala, continues to deliver more happiness to more people. Being an NABH accredited institution, strict quality checks and

consistent quality assurance systems are maintained at CIMAR. These are notably rigorous in the theatre and the laboratories. All state-of-the-art equipments are proactively maintained and subjected to regular inspections.

CIMAR believes that every patient is an individual and hence deserves individual care. Rather than following standard, rigid protocols based on age or medical history alone, CIMAR monitors the patient intensively, treating him/her with compassion and offering personalised care.

Every patient who walks out of the centre will feel a deep sense of quality and personal touch in the level of care they have received. As a part of their commitment to go green, CIMAR has organized an ambitious environment friendly programme called “kuttimaram - a tree for every child”, a program to hand out a sapling to every couple blessed with a baby at CIMAR. DM WIMS Medical College & Hospital Naseera Nagar, P.O. Meppadi Wayanad - 673 577, Kerala, India Ph: +91 4936 287200 Fax: +91 4936 287287 Email: medicalcollege@dmwims.com Web: www.dmwims.com The establishment of DM Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (DM WIMS) - India’s first ‘green concept’ medical campus, located at Meppadi in Wayanad. The campus spans over 50 acres, having a 700 bed multi-specialty and emergency care teaching hospital, in the serene backdrop of Wayanad. The medical college enrolled its 3rd batch of 150 MBBS students in the last year. DM WIMS will set new benchmark in India’s medical education system on par with global perspective, with its mission to emerge as one of the top 10 medical colleges in India within 10 years.

DM WIMS is a unique medical education model in India, implementing an integrated system by developing international standard facilities and infrastructure for medical education, technical education and healthcare medical tourism

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services. DM WIMS guarantee the qualities and competencies a doctor must possess before starting to practice. The budding doctors at DM WIMS see the challenges and the potential of competent medical practice at its best. The programmes are designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge required to become active and engaged in a global context. DM WIMS is developed and run by DM Education and Research Foundation (DMERF), a non-for-profit Trust with the objective of promoting health education and medical services in the Kerala. Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare - the leading healthcare conglomerate in the Middle East and India - is the Founder, Chairman and the Managing Trustee of the DMERF. Education is a subject close to Dr. Moopen’s heart.

Being a medical academician-turned-practitionerentrepreneur himself, Dr. Moopen formed the DMERF aimed to play a significant role in reforming the medical education system in the State. In 1980s, Dr. Moopen was a lecturer of internal medicine at the Calicut Medical College. Incidentally, Dr. Moopen is an MBBS gold medalist, before pursuing his MD in General Medicine from the same 134

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college. He also did a Diploma in Chest Diseases from Delhi University before taking up the lecturer’s job in the college where he studied. Dr. Moopen continued his role as a medical academician for five years before migrating to Dubai in 1987. DM WIMS is the latest model for his social commitment as the teaching hospital addresses the healthcare needs of a mass tribal population in the backward region. DM WIMS is also playing a significant role by providing healthcare to a large tribal population at the border district of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, simultaneously grooming hundreds of young doctors to eventually serve the Indian population. The medical college hospital will cater to patients in the districts Wayanad, Calicut & Kannur districts in Kerala, Gudalur in Tamil Nadu and Gundalpet, Coorg in Karnataka, providing them with immediate attention to emergency cases, especially to the patients from the tribal and BPL population. The establishment of a tertiary care hospital at Wayanad was much awaited among the 20 lakh people of these areas. The great response and patients’ load right from day one of the opening of the DM WIMS Hospital has proved that th acute need of the people in this region has been addressed. Subsidised and free treatment will be provided to the needy at the DM WIMS Hospital, where a “Not for Profit” Cancer Care Centre with radiation oncology facility, and a Dialysis Centre will be set up by the Dr. Moopen’s Foundation. The DM WIMS shall also help the overall development of the region by providing employment to the local population and helping the local economy on the whole. “At DM WIMS, we have implemented the clinical settings, where the students are trained to possess high order professional skills on par with the global quality standards, but instilling a sense of dedication and public service in them. Our purpose is to ensure patient welfare and safety with great focus on the quality and quantity of the doctors being produced, in sufficient quantity of the skill mix,” says Dr. Moopen. DM WIMS provides excellent academic opportunities through

a distinguished faculty to impart the best medical education to prospective doctors. Using innovative methods of teaching, the DM WIMS faculty headed by Dr. Sheshgiri, is actively engaged in teaching, training and research. DM WIMS also has created Information Technology Aided Teaching (iTAT), an exclusive student portal and online database, ushering in revolutionary changes in the medical education further extending the student’s opportunities for learning beyond the clinical settings. Besides the usual departments of a normal medical college hospital, DM WIMS Hospital offers Super Specialty care in like Emergency Medicine & Trauma Care, Nephrology, Interventional Cardiology, Neurosurgery, Urology, Gastroenterology, Plastic Surgery & Cosmetology, Peadiatric surgery. Dr. Azad Moopen envisions DM WIMS Medical College and Hospital to become the preferred destination for medical education and treatment in the near future.

of Pulmonology, Allergy-Immunology from New York and V ienna Medical Universities. Further specialized in Allergic Dermatology from Cardiff University, UK. Started the first Triple speciality Centre of excellence in Kollam as specialized walk-in clinic. WHO recommended world class allergy tests and Immuno vaccines from reputed manufacturers gave us the status of most reputed triple speciality centre in kerala. We are the only identified Drug Allergy tests centre in South kerala including medical colleges, catering large, small hospitals, clinics and dentistry from neighbouring districts too. Kollam being a coastal town, Respiratory ailments and allergic skin diseases are in plenty and our reputed Dr.Babu’ s Chest & Skin Allergy Speciality Centre with specialized supportive dedicated staff able to serve thousands and thousands of Allergic-asthmatic-COPD-skin allergy patients far and wide along with Gulf patients. We are small but big enough to serve the patient community in whichever way they need help and assure them an Easy Breathe. It is a global destination for Respiratory Diseases, allergy immunology & allergic skin diseases @ Kollam and Adoor.

Dr. Nair’s Hospital Asramam, Kollam - 691 002 Ph: +91 474 2766180 - 185 Email: mail@drnairshospital.com Web: www.drnairshospital.com

Dr. Babu’s Chest & Skin Allergy Speciality Centre Near High School Jn, Thevally P.O. Kollam - 691 009, Kerala Ph: 0474 2798363, 0473 4220372, 85745 98363 Email: allergycentrekollam@gmail.com Web: www.chestandskin.com Established in 1990 at Kollam pioneered by a successful NRI professional Dr.Babu Thomas specialized in the field

Dr.Nair’s Hospital has risen to be on par with the best in Kollam, Kerala, in terms of technical expertise, deliverables and outcomes. It has now evolved into one of a kind institution. Dr.Nair’s Hospital is the first ISO 90012008 multi speciality hospital in Kollam, Kerala and a perfect example of an integrated healthcare system offering solutions. Dr.Nair’s Hospital, a 300 bedded multispecialty hospital with over 25 specialties covers the entire spectrum from illness to wellness and is thus a health care organization handling close to 1 lakh patients a year.

In Dr.Nair ’s Hospital, most of the consultants have medical tourism

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P.Mohan Nair M.S., specially trained for this surgery is handling this department. Our other departments are Aneasthesiology, Dermatology, Dentistry, ENT, Gastroenterology, Gyenacology, Orthopaedics, Peaditrics, Psychiatry, Plastic & Reconstrictive surgery, General Medicine, General surgery, Cardiology, Nephrology & HaemoDialysis, Diabetology, Neo Level II and III and Urology. We also have an Ayurveda & Physical Medicine Department for rehabilitation. We have now completed 48 years of service in health care. We’ll take good care of you.

international experience either educational, work experience - related or observational. The average staff to patient ratio for the hospital is 5:1 with a 1:1 ratio prevailing in priority areas like the Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiac Care Unit. Dr.P.Mohan Nair, M.S, S/o. Late Dr. K.P.Nair, (Founder Director) is the present Director of the Hospital and he is assisted by Ms. Usha Mohan Nair, Chief Executive Officer.

Some of the value added services offered at Dr.Nair ’s Hospital are - Accommodation of patient’s attendants, Personal attention, Guest relations service, Dedicated staff, 24hrs coffee shop, well equipped hospital cafeteria, 24hrs ambulance service etc. Neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU) at Dr. Nair ’s Hospital is one of the best units in Kerala specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants and directed by well qualified and experienced Neonatologists and specially trained staff nurses. Low birth weight babies of 600 gm and 24 week premature babies have gone home from our Institution in good health. The team consists of Dr. Rajesh Chandran P., (Neonatologists) who is heading the department of Neonatology and Dr.Renu Joseph. The unit is taken care 24x7 by trained Resident Doctors. Dr.Nair’s hospital has recently introduced HAL RAR surgery (for Haemorrhoids) suitable for treating low to medium grade haemorrhoids, and is extremely effective in addressing the symptoms of haemorrhoidal disease. Dr. 136

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Elite Mission Hospital P.O. Koorkenchery, Thrissur - 680 007 Kerala, India, Ph: +91 487 2436100 Fax: +91 487 2436167 Email: info@elitemissionhospital.com Web: www.elitemissionhospital.com Since 1979, Elite Mission Hospital has made quality healthcare more convenient to communities throughout Thrissur and central Kerala. Today, they continue to take pride in their commitment to you - bringing the latest medical advances closer to home. The hospital is a 350beded community-owned health care center offering a wide range of both inpatient and outpatient care. Look around to find out more about taking care of yourself and your family - and how they can help. Elite Mission Hospital

always put their Patients First. The Management realizes that patients require appropriate specialized care and support during their time of treatment and Ensure that their road to recovery is as smooth as possible. From its humble beginning as Elite Arogya Bhavan in 1979, with a 20-bed inpatient facility and just 2 departments, it zoomed to envious heights of eminence and growth and now looms large over the skyline of Thrissur with an imposing and magnificent edifice providing inpatient facility of 350 beds with 60 doctors and more than 300 paramedical and nonmedical staff. Today, Elite mission Hospital is a reputed health care centre with most modern and Hi-tech facilities.

It ranks among the largest hospitals in Kerala and is widely recognized for the excellence in health consultants. Now the hospital has all Basic departments with Major super specialty services. They pride themselves on tertiary patient care, and are well known in various clinical disciplines including Anesthesiology, Audiology, Cardiology, Dental surgery, Dermatology, Dietics, ENT, Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal surgery, General Medicine, General Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Microbiology, Neonatology, Nephrology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Pathology, Physiotherapy, Plastic surgery, Psychiatry, Psychology, Radiology, Urology, Rheumatology, Sports Medicine and Social work. Elite Mission Hospital is the first ISO 90012008 certified hospital in allopathic medicine in Thrissur and second in Kerala. Its full complement of medical staff represents a wide range of specialists, with many consultants being leaders in their fields. Elite is designed to provide state-of-the-art inpatient and Outpatient medical care with maximum efficiency in a patient-andvisitor-friendly environment. Elite Mission Hospital has received the NABH accreditation from Quality Council of India with effect from 15th January 2016. The Institution pursues excellence in providing quality Health Care Service with state of the art facilities, Teamwork of reputed health care specialists and dedicated staff.

Krishnendu Ayurveda Hospital Chingoli P.O, Karthikappally, Alappuzha Ph: +91 479 2486337, 2485588 Email: krishnenduhospital@gmail.com Web: www.krishnendu.org Ayurveda, the holistic healing system is divine with its age-old history. Down the centuries, this science of life has proved beyond doubts that it is pure and effective in bringing glory to life, beating diseases and other body disorders. This art of healing boosts up your energy level stamina and alleviates your stress and anxiety, there by giving you a healthy mind in a healthy body. The treatment is prescribed after considering the age and physical health of the patient and the severity of the ailment. The unique feature of the Ayurvedic treatment is that it is possible to root out the disease under this system. Following the hallowed mantra of ayurveda, krishnendu is completely dedicated to propagate this authentic healing system and comes as a clear choice for treatment and rejuvenation programmes. Established in 1908 by late M.C.Kunjuraman vaidyan and developed by Vaidya Kala Nidhi R.Krishnan Vaidyan, Krishnendu has been rich in possessing wisdom of four generations with the grace of ayurveda to cure and refresh Nestled at picturesque and refreshing ambience, medical tourism

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Krishnendu brings exclusive, holistic and personalized treatment programme for a host of diseases including Arthritis and spine disorders to restore optimal health and well being. Dr.Suresh Babu & Dr.Mohan Babu expanded it further by establishing the out-patient department and the Department of Research for Ayurvedic Medicines. Now, the hospital is run by the fourth generation of doctors and treatment based on the ancient concept continues to be offered while utilizing modern equipments also. Many patients who have not got relief at other places come to Chingoli on hearing about it from those who have benefitted from the treatment here. The specialty of the treatment here is that all the conventional methods of Ayurvedic treatment are strictly followed. This can be seen in the good results achieved. It is well known that Ayurvedic treatment is not as expensive as the other branches of medicine. All the medicines used at the Chingoly Ayurvedic Hospital are prepared at its own factory with strict quality control. The Hospital offers the best treatment with its well equipped Panchakarma Thheatres.

There are efficient and well qualified doctors and other staff in the in-patient and out-patient departments. All this is available to the patients at affordable rates. In Krishnendu various combinations of ayurvedic therapies are advised after a detailed examination of the patient medical history at the initial consultation. Then the patients will receive an individualized module consisting of therapeutic massage, dietary counseling, body detoxification and rejuvenating treatment. All therapies are conducted under the supervision of professional ayurvedic physicians. As part of extended rejuvenation programme, Krishnendu’s packages include the five fold body purification or detoxification programme known as panchakarma and the renowned ayurvedic way of rejuvenation known as Kayakalpa. Krishnendu Holds ISO 9001-2008 along with Green Leaf certification from Ministry of Health, Govt of Kerala as an authentic ayurvedic treatment center for medical reimbursement to its employees.

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Proposed Lakeshore Building

Lakeshore Hospital & Research Centre Ltd. Maradu, P.O. Nettoor, Kochi - 682 040 Ph: +91 484 2703951, Fax: +91 484 2701996 Email: info@lakeshorehospital.com Web: www.lakeshorehospital.com Initiated by a group of medical professionals under the leadership of Padma Shri Dr. Philip Augustine as a new business model in advanced healthcare delivery, The Lakeshore Hospital & Research Centre Ltd., in Kochi, Kerala seems to have set a model for several such initiatives in India. In the short span of its existence Lakeshore has achieved much more than its original mission of bringing world class health care to the people of Kerala at affordable cost. The impact of Lakeshore was so much that people from the rest of the country and the nonresident Indian communities also have accepted this institution as a centre of excellence in healthcare. With its extremely talented medical staff and world class infrastructure it was no surprise to see overseas patients from several countries frequenting the hospital to avail high end treatments like cardiac surgeries, joint replacements, keyhole abdominal surgeries, pinhole neuro surgeries, advanced endoscopic treatments and

even transplant surgeries. For the aspiring medical value travelers, Lakeshore Hospital & Research Centre offers the best eco-friendly experience of high end treatments at possibly the lowest rates anywhere in the world. To add to this, the celebrated Kerala hospitality and the humane touch of the Nightingales of Kerala give you an unparalleled experience of “Medical Tourism” here.

Experiences of numerous patients from around the globe bear the testimony to this fact. This institution is already a landmark in the fast improving healthcare scenario of Kerala. Work is already in progress for second phase of Lakeshore Hospital, which will have world class facility for advanced cancer care and upgraded centres for Gastroenterology and Cardiology.

Lords Hospital Chackai, P.O. Anayara Trivandrum - 695 029, Kerala, India Ph: +91 471 3045 111, 2741111 Fax: +91 471 2742424 Email: lords@lordshospital.org Web: www.lordshospital.org Lords Hospital, a multi specialty ISO 9001:2008 certified medical centre with advanced keyhole surgical facilities

was commissioned at the start of the new millennium to deliver accessible, high quality health services in a focused and caring environment. The close proximity to the National Highway bypass, Pettah Railway Station and Trivandrum International Airport is the locational advantage unique to the hospital. The hospital houses state-of-the-art equipments and makes use of the best technology in the medical field and is well supported by a highly enthusiastic, qualified and well-experienced medical team. The Laparoscopic Surgery Unit with its excellent infrastructure headed by Padma Shri Prof. Dr. K.P. Haridas continues to conduct the most challenging laparoscopic, liver and pancreatic surgeries. A combination of all these factors has helped the hospital in becoming a major referral centre for advanced medical treatment in South India. Lords is committed to providing affordable, quality health care to patients by incorporating improvement in its day-to-day schedule. It provides continuous and regular training for employees to bring out the best in them to achieve quality improvement in service. The hospital understands the needs of the patients and upholds standards of professionalism to improve the level of patient satisfaction.

It renders quality service that is responsive, efficient, courteous and helpful. The hospital has all the advanced facilities required for aiding accurate diagnosis. Other amenities include central gas supply, standby generator, water purification plant, sewage treatment plant and cafeteria / restaurant. Round the clock emergency service manned by a dedicated team of professionals is one of Lords’ strengths. Advanced laboratory facilities, Scanning, Imageology, multi channel ECG machine etc. complement Lords’ services. Lords’ well established Laparoscopic facility and Upper GI endoscopic unit needs to be highlighted.

Being a premier centre for laparoscopy, liver, pancreatic and thyroid surgeries, they undertake advanced Laparoscopic procedures in various specialities. Lords most advanced endo-urology facility deals with all types of kidney diseases.

The hospital has been running an excellent Nursing School medical tourism

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nurtured by professional medical faculty from 2004 onwards.

With an ethical and service-oriented growth, Lords Hospital delivers patient care of the highest order at the most affordable rates without compromising on quality.

Care Clinic, state-of-art Emergency department with CT scan, dialysis and all other facilities. The hospital undertakes many charitable services and has started ‘Angel Charitable Trust’ for doing free treatment for patients who are below the poverty line. They have a dedicated service for International Patients and have extensive tie-up within Middle East region for treating NRI patients worldwide.

Malabar Hospitals Eranhipalam, Calicut - 20,Kerala,India Ph: +91 495 2376822, 2376823 Fax: +91 495 2375347, Watsapp: 7025767676 Email: info@malabarhospitals.com Web: www.malabarhospitals.com Malabar Hospitals had its inception as a Urology centre in 1992 under the leadership of Dr. P.A Lalitha and Dr.V.N.Moni . Today it has grown into a full fledged multi speciality hospital with the capacity for 150 inpatient beds.

Malabar Hospitals is well equipped with most modern set up, technology and equipments and the first Urology Laser Treatment Center in North Kerala. They have a strong work ethics inside their organization where they work on the Moto ‘Care Concern Commitment.’ Departments: Urology, Nephrology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, ENT, Orthopedics, Oncology and Early Cancer Detection Clinic, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Dermatology, Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Hair Transplant Clinic, Orthopedics, Hand and Spine surgery Clinic, Medical Gastroenterology, Surgical Gastroenterology, General Medicine, 24-hour diabetic and Foot 140

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Medical Trust Hospital M.G. Road, Kochi - 682 016 Ph: +91 484 2358001 - 11, Fax: +91 484 2358031 Email: info@medicaltrusthospital.org Web: www.medicaltrusthospital.com Kerala has always been a favoured destination for traders and travelers. Today the State also attracts people from the world over seeking reliable and affordable healthcare facilities. Kochi has the pride of place in this respect and Medical Trust Hospital has been in the forefront providing internationally acclaimed holistic health care. Medical Trust Hospital was founded by Late Dr. P.A. Varghese and has been synonymous with excellent medical expertise and compassionate care from its inception. Since 1973 it has been one of the most ‘referred to’ hospitals in the State.

The Hospital was established to provide specialized treatment hitherto unavailable in the region to the populace at a lesser cost. Today it has grown in size, specializations provided and standards maintained. Medical Trust Hospital now is a 750-bed NABH accredited integrated health care referral centre offering services in primary, secondary and tertiary fields of medical sciences. The hospital is the pioneer in Cardiac Transplantation, Multi Organ Transplantation, Cadaver Kidney Transplantation and Reimplantation of severed limbs. It is well known for Plastic Cosmetic & Micro vascular Surgery, Bariatric Surgery (Weight Reduction) and Oral, Maxillofacial & Dental Surgery. It is one of the best centers for poly trauma care. V ictims of accidents, natural disasters and man-made disasters find expert and compassionate treatment here. Many private and public sector concerns trust the Medical Trust Hospital to look after the healthcare of their employees. It meets global standards and caters to International Patients from United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Israel, South Africa, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Australia. All assistance is provided for the patients including to and fro travel, accommodation, and multi lingual assistance. Medical Trust Hospital is the reliable centre for sports medicine providing support to all the sporting events in and around Cochin, like International cricket matches and the Volvo Ocean Race- stopover Kochi.

In all these events the services provided by the hospital were highly appreciated by organizers and the sports persons, according to whom the facilities were at par with the best centers across the world. Medical Trust has spread its wings to Kuzhuppilly near North Paravoor which is aimed to provide solace to the ailments of the people of Gosree and Vypeen Islands. The future plans include a dedicated multi organ transplant centre in Cochin and a world class medical campus in Irumbanam near airport - seaport road which will encompass a Medical College, a teaching hospital and a corporate hospital. The hospital gives impetus to

education and research also. It is recognized for Post Graduate Medical courses and other paramedical courses.

The Hospital is committed to offer holistic health care.

Medical Trust Hospital remains committed to its vision of compassionate, patient -centered care. It is doing its share in the mammoth job of ensuring medical care for the growing Kochi and the State.

Modern Hospital Kodungallur Ltd PB No. 22, Kodungallur Post Thrissur -680664 Ph: 0480 2802022, 6451456 (5 Lines) Email :helpline@modernhospital.com Website: www.modernhospital.com The Modern Hospital was established in January 1993 by a group of Non resident Indians, consisting of well known visionaries in business and social fraternity. It is today a 250 bedded full fledgedmulti specialty tertiary care and referral hospital. The hospital offers high quality health care services with state-of-the art technology, meticulous cleanliness and courteous personal attention. The motto of Modern Hospital, kodungallur is to be ‘Your family hospital always’. The hospital combines the advantage of a serene setting with the decade long quality health care medical tourism

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affordable to all classes of patients. The hospital has made kodungallur secure a prominent place in the healthcare sector in the district. The Modern hospital offers the services of well experienced expert doctors in Super Specialty departments like Neuro Surgery, Cardiology, Neurology, Gastro Enterology, Paediatric Surgery, Nephrology, and Urology. Specialists in Emergency & Trauma Care, Internal Medicine & Family Medicine, Paediatrics, OBG, Infertility & assisted reproduction, Orthopeadics, General Surgery, Laproscopic Surgery, Radio diagnosis, ENT, Anaesthesiology, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Nutrition, Comprehensive Health care department, psychology and physiotherapy also are available for consultation. Dedicated team of doctors offering their excellent services at Modern Hospital & the team is supported by a dedicated team of nursing and Paramedical staff. Modern hospital facilities are Cath Lab, CT, MRI, Blood Bank , Dialysis unit, Laboratory, Computerized Radiography, Physiotherapy, Dietary etc.

Modern Heart care (Cath Lab) is managed by well qualified and experienced cardiologist. Full fledgedcath Lab is functional with 24hours Angiogram and Angioplasty. Blood bank at Modern Hospital is one among the few blood banks in Thrissur District. Which is functional round the clock.

We cater to the needs of almost all hospitals in and around Kodungallur on emergency. Dialysis Unit with 10 state of the art Haemodialysis machine for stable chronic dialysis patients, 75% permanent dialysis patients receive Haemodialysis in 3-4 sessions every day. On an average of 700 Haemodialysis are performed per month in the unit.

The hospital became the first hospital to achieve the approval of Indian Nursing Council New Delhi and Kerala Nursing Council Thiruvananthapuram to start school of Nursing (3½ Year General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course) in the year 2005. Modern hospital institute of Medical Technology started Since 2012. Courses offered are Diploma in Operation Technology, Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technician, Diploma in Pharmacy Assistant course, Diploma in X- Ray Technician.

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Muthoot Health Care College Road, Kozhencherry Pathanamthitta - 689 641 Kerala, India Ph: +91 468 2314000, 2312491 Fax: +91 468 2214427 Web: www.muthoothealthcare.com Email: marketing@muthoothealthcare.com MGM Muthoot Medical Centre, Kozhencherry: Established in 1988, Muthoot Medical Centre, Kozhencherry, is an ISO 9001:2008 certified multispecialty hospital with 300 beds and offers 15 specialties and 9 super specialty medical services. The hospital has more than 300 medical and paramedical staff. The hospital today caters to the medical needs of a population well beyond the limits of Central Travancore and its surroundings. Muthoot Medical Centre has already earned a reputation of being the best-staffed, best-equipped and the fastest growing medical centre in Kerala. MGM MMC Kozhencherry has become the 1st NABH Accredited Hospital in Central Travancore. The hospital has become the NABH Safe I for Hospital Infection Control and ISO 9001:2008 Certified Hospital and this further illustrate the division’s commitment toward providing quality healthcare to the rural community. For more information:

MGM Muthoot Medical Centre, College Road, Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta - 689 641, Ph: +91 468 2314000, 2312491, Fax: +91 468 2214427, Helpline: +91 95625 01213. MGM Muthoot Medical Centre, Pathanamthitta: Mar Gregorious Memorial Muthoot Medical Centre is a division of Muthoot Health Care. Housed in a cluster of majestic buildings of architectural excellence and surrounded by the scenic enchanting hillocks, MGM Muthoot Medical Centre has a host of unique features. Founded under the aegis of the Muthoot Group, this health care provider has been in continuous pursuits of excellence from its very inception on 11th July, 2003. This 300 bedded hospital is situated in the heart of Pathanamthitta. At present there are 12 specialties and 7 Super specialities. The supportive systems include 24 hrs- Trauma Care, Laboratory, Pharmacy, Radiology, CT, MRI, Quality and infection control department etc. A new state-of-the-art Cathlab is now operational at MMC Pathanamthitta, which has enhanced the capabilities of the Department of Cardiology. MGM MMC Pathanamthitta is an accredited NABH Safe-I and ISO 9001:2008 certified hospital. We are committed to our standards of excellence and dedicated to exceeding the expectations of those we serve. We consistently strive to provide the highest quality, safe patient care. For more information: MGM Muthoot Medical Centre, Ring Road, Pathanamthitta - 689 641, Ph: +91 468 3005500, Fax: +91 468 3005550, Helpline: +91 94477 22370. Muthoot Diagnostics: Muthoot Diagnostics was established in 2004 with the vision of providing quality diagnostics services to patients and doctors with faster and better diagnosis. The unit now consists of laboratories and scanning centres, 18 of which are spread out through Central Travancore covering most of south Kerala. Diagnostics offer clinical laboratory services, MRI, CT, and ultrasound. Clinical lab services have biochemistry, haematology, microbiology, pathology etc. and have the latest and best fully automated machines.

With over 10 MRI centres and 10 CTs, Muthoot Diagnostics is the largest radiological imaging services provider in

Kerala, and growing. All labs carry out strict internal and external quality assurance programmes under CMC Vellore External QA Programme.

PSG Hospitals Peelamedu, Coimbatore - 641 004 Tamil Nadu, India Ph: +91 422 4345353, 2598822 Help Line: +91 99521 49911 Email: psghospitals@psgimsr.ac.in Web: www.psghospitals.com The First Teaching Hospital in Tamilnadu to be Accredited by NABH. PSG Hospitals is a house of healing and not a corporate conglomerate. Its guiding values are ethics, science, quality and personalized care. The particular strengths are ethical practice of medicine, compassionate and empathetic touch to the art of healing, and a fixed and transparent fee schedule. It was established in 1989 by the PSG & Sons Charities. With more than 25 years of dedicated medical service, the hospital is endowed with a rich pool of committed staff, bringing together a dedicated squad of doctors, nurses and other health acres professionals. It is located in inspiring settings spread across 94 acres alongside the health sciences academic institutions. Spacious out-patient departments and wards, medical tourism

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as well as the vast green surroundings provide the ideal ambience for the patients seeking care for their ailments.

Consistently investing in technology and infrastructure to match international benchmarks, the hospital is committed to provide world class comprehensive care to its patients.

PSG hospital is a 1400 bedded multi speciality and super speciality hospital, with State of the Art facilities. The edge, however, is by virtue of being a teaching affiliate of PSG Institute of Medical Sciences & Research. First and foremost, the clinicians are, by virtue of being academicians and teachers in their speciality, are well up on the advancements in the field. Evidence based medicine care is practiced, ensuring accepted standards of medical care to patients.

Secondly, the hospital has all the clinical departments and diagnostic services under one roof, thus providing comprehensive care. A medical college hospital also requires specialists to be on duty and be available within the hospital 24 hours a day. There is a strong emphasis on research, both clinical and molecular. In fact, the institution has an advanced research lab, with several national and international funded projects. Finally, the hospital has a state of the art simulation lab, which allows doctors to continuously hone their skills and practice procedures.

SK Hospital Edappazhanji, Thiruvananthapuram Ph: +91 471 30222222, 3250038 Fax: +91 471 2356261 24 hours Tele. Booking No: 2356260 Email: skhospitals@yahoo.co.in Web: www.skhospitals.com SK Hospital has made quality health care to communities in and around Thiruvananthapuram since 2003. Today we continue to take pride in our commitment to you - bringing medical advances closer to home. This is a 300 bedded multi specialty hospital which is a land mark health care in Kerala with multi disciplinary capacity, state-of-theart facilities and excellent patient care. This hospital is

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poised to become the most advanced health care destination in this part of Kerala. Since inception SK Hospital has maintained unswerving focus on evolving in to a monument of pioneering medical treatment and practice. SK has spearheaded intricate surgeries and pioneered several medical procedures including bilateral single sitting knee replacement surgery using pre-plan patient specific Jigs. With over 24 full-fledged and highly specialized departments including Gastroenterology, Orthopedics, Gynecology, Advanced Neonatology, Nephrology, Aesthetic Dental Department with Implantology and Dental Laser Clinic, Neurology, Urology and Cardiology, in house drug store and excellent ambulatory services including “Heal On Wheel�, an ambulance with doctor and team to face any emergency at the beck and call round the clock. We have newly introduced Express OP for the patients to have quick access to doctor consultation and medication, thus the patients save time. For personalized assistance do call us or e-mail us.

SUT Hospital, Pattom P.O. Pattom Palace Thiruvananthapuram - 695 004 Kerala, India.

Ph: +91 471 4077777, 4077888 Fax: +91 471 2444304 Email: info@suthealth.com Web: www.sutpattom.com Sree Uthradom Thirunal (SUT) Hospital, founded in the year 1987 has gained reputation for its outstanding services in the field of healthcare. SUT has become a destination of choice for quality medical care for the residents of Thiruvananthapuram and neighbouring regions. It provides high quality care in a reassuring and responsive environment. Plans are on to increase the capacity of the hospital to 400 beds in order to offer better and enhanced services to a larger section of the population. The hospital will continue to be the referral point for secondary hospitals in the vicinity. The first multi-speciality hospital in Kerala, SUT Hospital offers dedicated medical and surgical

treatments with 24 hour emergency services. The first private hospital in Kerala to perform Open Heart Surgery and start a Cardiac Catheterization Lab, SUT Hospital has been credited with introducing many advanced techniques and procedures in the medical history of Kerala such as Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty and Bypass Surgery on beating heart.

The hospital retains the longest and the best safety record in Elective Open Heart Surgery including Coronary Bypass Surgery. Accurate, Scientific and Precise are the three words that encapsulates the SUT motto. The features that has enabled SUT to say ahead of the race are: Advanced Technology, Modern Infrastructure, Well Qualified, Young Diligent Doctors and Staff, and Total Patient Care. SUT is all set to start its ‘Physician Management Alignment Program’ through which benchmarks will be created in the fields of Diagnosis, Treatment, Nursing and Surgery. Health care goals are demonstrative of diverse characteristics. It is safe as it is free from any hazard or risk to the patients. It is effective, providing services based on scientific knowledge. The care given is patient-centered being respectful and responsive to individual patient preferences. Timely attention reduces critical delays and long waits. The treatment is equitable providing equal care for all. The measures of healthcare provided at SUT are compared to benchmarks of international excellence. The methods are innovative as the hospital expands knowledge through a solid foundation of education and research. The treatment given and the functioning are appropriate as per the culture and the governmental instructions of the area. SUT works in coordination with other health care facilities for better results for the patients. SUT Hospital Pattom, has been steadily working towards promoting better quality of life by enhancing delivery of health care services in patient care.SUT has recently joined hands with Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE) to set up Centre of Excellence for Nursing called NICE- Nursing Institute for Career Enhancement. The Institute provides opportunities in nursing skill development by providing quality and relevant medical tourism

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training programs that will enable nurses to enhance their leadership qualities, and improve their career and professional development opportunities globally. This institute will surely add value to the socio-economic fabric of Kerala. Dr. B.R. Shetty , the Chairman of SUTand BR Life group of hospitals is the Founder, CEO and MD of New Medical Centre which is one of the largest hospital chains in Middle East and is UAE’s largest private sector healthcare provider. Sree Uthradom Thirunal (SUT) Hospital, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram was the first BR Life hospital in India.

Sree Narayana Hospital (SNH), Raipur, The Grande International Hospital (GIH), Nepal and the upcoming Nepal Mediciti are the other hospitals under BR Life. Dr. Shetty who has been honoured with Padmashri from the Govt. of India believes that “Healthcare is simply not about detecting, diagnosis or treating an individual but it is much more than that - It is about helping people to lead a wholesome and healthy life”. Mr. Sudhakar Jayaram is currently the MD and CEO of SUT Hospital and is also the Country Head and Group CEO of Bright Life network of Hospitals (Owned by Dr. Shetty), a leading health care brand with hospitals across the Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa. Mr. Sudhakar Jayaram says “Knowing that healthier communities build prosperous countries, we steadily work towards our goal of working together for a healthier India. At SUT , we believe in promoting better quality of life, by facilitating people’s access to best breed of healthcare services”.

Thangam Hospital of PMRC Chadanamkurussi West Yakkara Palakkad, Kerala - 678 004, India Ph: +91 491 2515717 (8 Lines) Ambulance: +91-944 777 5717 Web: www.thangampmrc.com The erstwhile granary of Kerala is better known today as a rapidly growing centre of medical excellence, thanks to

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the pioneering strides made by Thangam Hospital of PMRC (Palakkad Medical & Research Centre) - a unique, 300 bedded healthcare destination, offering subsidised medical care of exceptional quality in all primary specialities and super specialities including Cardiology, Neurology, Urology, Nephrology, Gastroenterology and Limb Reconstruction (limb lengthening and deformity correction), alongside comprehensive and integrated healthcare facilities. Other medical specialities include Accident & Trauma, Anaesthesia & Critical Care, ENT, General Surgery including Laparoscopic Surgery, General Medicine & Diabetology, Gynaecology, Infertility & Reproductive Medicine, Orthopaedics, Oncology with attached Pain & Palliative Unit, Ophthalmology, Paediatrics & Neonatology, Pulmonology, Dentistry and Dermatology.

The Hospital also has a state of the art laboratory that is managed by two full time pathologists, who conduct all investigations under one roof, and a Radiology department with all modalities of Imaging Services including MRI, CT, Ultrasound, Digital Mammogram and Long V iew Exposure Cassette used in Digital X-Ray (by the Department of Limb Reconstruction, which has patients visiting from all over India and overseas), in order to ensure that patient diagnosis and treatment, are both prompt and precise.

Established as the first corporate hospital in Palakkad

and a prominent player in the industry, the Thangam campus is a sprawling and green estate that houses a team of dedicated doctors in all major disciplines, as well as numerous paramedical staff and healthcare professionals who work round the clock, making themselves available to all patients, at all times, and attending to their needs with the utmost care. No patient is referred out of the hospital unless absolutely necessary, or in that rare instance where specific facilities are unavailable in the Hospital. This in itself, is an indication of the confidence with which the doctors and staff carry out their work in the hospital. A dynamic front office, multiple enquiry desks, round the clock emergency and trauma centre with attached MOT (Minor Operation Theatre) and ambulance services, multiple consultants committed to 24x7 patient care, Resident Medical Officers on the floor and in critical areas like ICUs, the presence of vigilant, skilled paramedical and nursing staff, besides other thoughtful additions like a Stem Cell Collection Centre, Diabetic Clinic, Campus Dietitians and Physiotherapists, in-house Modular Pharmacy, WiFi Zones, Waiting Areas & Bystander Accommodation, Close Circuit Security Systems, ATM Kiosks and a hygienic, vegetarian canteen & snack bar, make the Hospital an autonomous, infrastructurally sound campus offering multiple conveniences to patients and their bystanders. Built on the foundation of its values, Thangam also takes pride in its multiple community initiatives that span key areas including Education, Medical Aid & Assistance, Energy Conservation, Recycling, Public Awareness and Opportunity Creation amongst a demographic where these remain overwhelming challenges. Facilities like Antenatal classes for expecting couples, Screening, Assessment and Remediation for various learning disorders in children in association with ALDI (Association of Learning Disabilities in India) and a suicide prevention hotline CHANGATHI (friend) alongside psychological assessments and counselling services by trained professionals, are made

available free of cost to the public. As an Accredited Hospital for Karunya Benevolent Fund Scheme (a Kerala Government Initiative that gives Financial Aid to the needy), the Hospital provides several heavily subsidised services, like Angioplasty under the department of Cardiology, and Dialysis under the department of Nephrology, for both infected and non-infected patients in a world-class environment utilising the highest quality imported machines – the first of its kind to be established in Palakkad. Situated away from the city crowd, yet easily accessible, and equipped with cutting edge research, the latest technology, clinical experts and modern medical equipment, but in a serene atmosphere, surrounded by lush green paddy fields, hillocks and rivers, Thangam is a taste of the best of both worlds – contemporaneity and innovation on the one hand, old world charm and traditional hospitality on the other. Here, at whatever hour you come, you will find light, help and human kindness.

The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore) Ltd. Corporate Office: 42, Perumal Koil Street Ramanathapuram P.O Coimbatore - 641 045 Ph: +91 422 2315412, 4322999 Email: avt@avpayurveda.com Web: www.avpayurveda.com Since its inception in 1943, The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore) Limited [AVP] has established a reputation for treating ailments through authentic ayurvedic medications and processes. Presently led by Shri. P R Krishnakumar, the founder’s (Late Aryavaidyan P.V. Rama Varier) son, AVP has over the years expanded from ‘ayurvedic medicine manufacturing’ to the field of ‘treatment centres’, ‘education and research’, and ‘manufacturing of ayurvedic equipment’ to ensure a high quality of products, practitioners and services. The twin values of commitment to ‘quality of care’ and ‘purity of treatment’ are the distinguishing factors of AVP. The main

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treatment facility of AVP called The Arya Vaidya Chikitsalayam & Research Institute (AVC), functioning since 1957, is located in the heart of Coimbatore city in Tamil Nadu state, India. AVC has the distinction of being one of the first ayurvedic hospitals to become ISO 9001:2008 certified for its compliance with international quality standards. AVC had partnered with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for research on efficacy of ayurvedic treatment in rheumatoid arthritis. In recognition of this pioneering work, AVC has been the recipient of funding by National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA for the first ever clinical research project to scientifically evaluate Ayurveda outside the USA. After much scrutiny by the western media and medical fraternity, due to its relentless efforts to propagate ayurveda, AVC has been featured by the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in its investigative feature on Ayurveda and it has also been acclaimed as the ‘Mayo Clinic of Ayurveda’ by the Washington Post! Department of AYUSH, Government of India awarded “Centre of Excellence” in clinical rheumatology in the year 2009. AVP initiated a comprehensive clinical documentation program to produce preliminary data on safety and efficacy of Ayurveda treatments. AVC provides classical ‘Panchakarma’ and traditional ‘Kerala Treatments’ based 148

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on assessment by the physician. Specialized ayurveda care is offered for ano-rectal diseases like piles and fistula and also for eye diseases. AVC provides out-patient as well as residential in-patient facilities in its unique green campuses in Coimbatore which offers different categories of accommodation including executive cottage, deluxe cottages, deluxe suites, deluxe rooms as well as regular rooms with a total capacity for 300 beds. Preferred accommodation should be booked in advance to ensure availability. The AVCRI, Ramanthapuram campus is also famous for a unique ‘Dhanwantari Temple’ (Dhanwantari is the God of medicine and healing) and attracts patients from all over the world. The Arya Vaidyan P V Ramavarier Birth Centennial Ayurveda Hospital and Training Academy (popularly known as Mankarai Campus) is located at the foothills of the Western Ghats in a serene, unpolluted and picturesque environment. It is a chosen destination of many foreigners with learning and treatment interests. Saranya Ayurveda Hospital (popularly known as the Navakkarai Campus) is the other facility off the National Highway to Kerala is nestled in a beautiful rustic location. AVP’s manufacturing facility in Kanjikode, Kerala is GMP certified and its newest facilities are created to meet the World Health Organization’s GMP standards. It produces nearly 500 products, majorly traditional formulations, in these facilities blending the best of tradition and modernity and by adhering to a strict quality control mechanism. AVP has nearly 600 outlets across the country, where all these medicines and expert clinical services are available. AVP has official tie-ups with Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Switzerland and Latvia to conduct academic and research activities. AVP Baltics was registered in 2015 in Riga, Latvia with an aim to promote Ayurveda in European Union, with Baltic countries as the base. We invite you to visit www.avpayurveda.com for more information and would consider it a privilege and an honour if we could help you with any stubborn medical ailments that you are seeking relief from. For personalized assistance please do call or e-mail us.

and employees ensure a seamless benefit for our patients with no interruptions & no compromise to patient care”, he added. Mr. A. Abdul Salam, Secretary to Trust, said, “Kerala lags behind the western world when it comes to disease prevention. One of the important criterions of TMC is that it bridges this existing gap, be it in technology or clinical services.” Whether it is regular consultation, preadmission advice in case further treatment, or posttreatment follow-ups, TMC will serve you with the best-inclass services and facilities.

Travancore Medicity NH Bypass, P.O. Umayanalloor Kollam - 691 589, Kerala, India Ph: +91 474 2729393, 2726161 Fax: +91 474 2724411 Email: tmc@tmc.ac.in Web: www.tmc.ac.in Travancore Medicity: Leading the Way to a Better Life.

Travancore Medicity which started in the year 2007 is one of the best super specialty hospitals in terms of infrastructure, facilities, service and expertise in Central Kerala. Being one of the largest of its kind, this ISO 90012008 certified healthcare institution’s mission is to provide all the patients excellent and cost-effective healthcare with utmost kindness, respect and dignity and thereby promote new knowledge and technology in the delivery of patient care through its novel research programs. Having the highest standard of treatment protocol, the vision of TMC is to improve the health, well-being and happiness of all with convenient and timely healthcare. “TMC provides a better access to high-quality healthcare distinguished by intensive, individualized therapy and advanced technologies,” said Mr. A.A. Salam, Chairman to Trust. “The dedication and tireless efforts of the Management Team

Westfort Hospital Group PB No. 803, Westfort Thrissur - 680 004 Kerala, India Ph: +91 487 2382130 Fax: +91 487 2380039 Email: wfh@westforthospitalgroup.org Web: www.westforthospitalgroup.com Westfort Hospital Group is a conglomeration of divergent Firms. Its history dates back to the year 1989 when it launched its first venture in health-care sector by establishing a multi-specialty hospital under the rubric medical tourism

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of Westfort Hospital at West Fort, Thrissur. Now the group holds two Allopathic Hospitals and an Ayurvedic Hospital in the healthcare sector. The farsighted vision of Mr. K.M. Mohandas, the Managing Director and Mr. Dinesh Mohandas, the Managing Partner has enabled the Hospital Group to fulfill its mission to provide dedicated and affordable service and the best patient care. The Westfort Hospital Group always strives to feel the pulse of the needs of the society and foster a culture of innovation. Situated close to the Thrissur and Punkunnam Railway stations and the KSRTC and Private Bus Stands, the Hospitals are within easy reach for the patients who come from far. The Hospitals aim at bringing international standards in health care sector while maintaining accountability in a responsible manner. This will lead to the physical, social and spiritual well being of the patients as well as the whole community. The expertise in the medical field shown by the leading medical consultants in Westfort Hospitals, the support staff, nurses, paramedical and technical staff, contribute to the holistic way to complete health. The Hospital recognizes the value of human life and the approach to the patient is framed accordingly. The entire staff in the hospital works with selflessness, righteousness, integrity, team spirit and mutual respect.

High ethical standards are kept and the perspective is anchored to the concept of Epistemological Revolution.

The Group is empanelled with major government corporate sectors like ESI Corporation, Food Corporation of India etc.

With all ultra modern facilities the Westfort Hospital Group offers excellent services the people. For more information: Westfort Hospital, Westfort, Thrissur - 04, Email: info@westforthospital.org, Ph: +91 487 2439300, Fax: +91 487 2380039. Westfort Hi-Tech Hospital, Guruayoor Road, Punkunnam, Thrissur - 02, Email: hitechhospital@gmail.com, Ph: +91 487 2388999, Fax: +91 487 2381051. Westfort Ayurveda Hospital, Behind Westfort Hospital, Westfort, Thrissur - 04, Email: info@westfortayurveda.org, Ph: +91 487 2388780-83.

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KERALA HOSPITALS find your hospitals | alappuzha Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital Park Junction, Kayamkulam - 690 502 Ph: 0479 2449715 Email: kyklm@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org Amravathy Eye Care Opp. Municipal Office Mavelikkara - 690 101 Ph: 0479 2343451 Mob: 96056 46566 Central Travancore Specialist Hospital Chengannur, Alappuzha - 689 121 Ph: 0479 2469469 Century Hospital Mulakuzha, Chengannur Alappuzha - 689 505 Ph: 0479 2469469, 2468710 Web: www.centuryhospital.org Deepa Hospital Haripad, Alappuzha - 690 514 Ph: 0479 2413054 Ebenzeer Hospital Kayamkulam Alappuzha, Ph: 0479 2442102 Huda Trust Hospital Kumarapuram P.O, Haripad - 690 514 Ph: 0479 2412005 Josco Multi-Speciality Hospital Edappon, Josco Jn Pandalam - 689 501 Ph: 0479 2374982

Kinder Women’s Hospital & Fertility Centre Maruthorvattom Temple Road, Near N.H 47, Cherthala - 688 539 Phone: +91 478 2830000 Email: contactus@kinderhospital.in Web: www.kinderhospital.in

Sree Narayana Medical Mission Hospital Cherthala, Alappuzha Ph: 0478 2822506

Krishnendu Ayurveda Hospital Chingoli P.O, Karthikappally, Alappuzha Ph: +91 479 2486337, 2485588, 2485577 Email: krishnenduhospital@gmail.com Web: www.krishnendu.org

St. Thomas Hospital Chengannur, Alappuzha - 689 121 Ph: 0479 2452860

Lourdes Matha Hospital Edathua, Alappuzha - 689 573 Ph: 0477 2212305 Madhava Medical Mission Haripad, Alappuzha - 690 514 Ph: 0479 2412282 Mammen Memorial Hospital Chengannur, Alappuzha Ph: 0479 2452823 Monash IVF KVM Kinder Hospital P.B. No. 30, Cherthala - 688 524 Ph: 0478 2821555 Email: monashivf@kvmkinder.com Web: www.kvmkinder.com Pushpagiri Medical Society Pushpagiri Buildings Tiruvalla - 689 101, Ph: 0469 2700755 Fax: 0469 2701045 Web: www.pushpagiri.in S.H.G. Hospital Green Gardens Cherthala, Alappuzha Ph: 0478 2811337

Sreevenkateswara Hospital Cherthala Ph: 0478 2812451

Vrindavan Ayurveda Hospital Mavelikkara, Alappuzha Ph: 0477 2302607 find your hospitals | ernakulam Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital Puthiya Road Junction NH Bypass, Palarivattam Kochi - 682 025 Ph: 0484 2346555 Email: ekm@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org AL SHIFA Super Speciality Hospital NH 17, Near Railway Over Bridge, Edappally Kochi - 682 024, Kerala, India Ph: +91 484 2363777 Help Line: 9846 500 500 Email: info@alshifahealthcare.com Web: www.alshifahealthcare.com Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences AIMS, P.O. Ponekkara, Kochi - 682 041 Kerala, India Ph: +91 484 280 1234, 668 1234 Fax: +91 484 280 2020 Email: marketing@aims.amrita.edu Web: www.aimshospital.org

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Arogyalayam Hospital Bye-Pass Junction Bridge Road, Aluva-683 101 Ph: 0484 2625252, 2625226 Aster DM Healthcare Ltd. Kuttisahib Road, Near Kothad Bridge P.O. South Chittoor, Cheranelloor Kochi - 682 027, Kerala, India Ph: +91 484 6699999 Email: marketing.astermedcity@dmhealthcare.com Web: www.astermedcity.com Bourn Hall Clinic 27/ 3218 A, M. G Road Opp. Kochi Shipyard Atlantis, Kochi - 15 Ph: 0484 3983302 Email: info@bournhall-clinic.com Web: www.bournhall-clinic.com Chaithanya Eye Hospital Ravipuram, Kochi - 682 016 Ph: 0484 2357135 Fax: +91 484 2357098 Email: cehcochin@gmail.com Web: www.chaithanya.org CIMAR Thykkavu Stop, NH 17, Cheranallore Edappally, Cochin - 682 034 Kerala, India, Ph: +91 484 4134444 Fax: +91 484 4134455 Email: cimarcochin@gmail.com Web: www.cimarindia.org City Hospital M.G.Road, Padma Junction Kochi - 682 035 Ph: 0484 2361809 152

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Devamatha Hospital Koothattukulam, Ernakulam - 686 662 Ph: 0485 2252271, 2251341, 2253371, Fax: 0485 2252571 Email: admin@devamatha.org, dmh@devamatha.org Web: www.devamatha.org Dr.Promodu’s Institute of Sexual and Marital Health Pathadipalam, Edapally, Kochi - 682 024 Ph: 0484 2555301, 2555302 Ernakulam Medical Centre NH Bypass, P.O. Vennala Palarivattom, Kochi - 682 028 Ph: 0484 2807101-109, Fax: 0484 2805011 Email: mail@emccochin.com Web: www.emccochin.com Goutham Hospital Panayappally, Kochi - 682 005 Ph: 0484 2210510 JNM Lakshmi Hospital Eloor, Udhyogmandal - 683 501 Ph: 0484 2547201, 2547202 Email: lhjnm@lakshmihospital.com Web: www.lakshmihospital.com Karothukuzhi Hospital Pvt Ltd Market Road, Aluva Ph: 0484 2625228, 2621001 KIMS Hospital & Surgical Center Pathadipalam, P.O. Changampuzha Nagar Edappally, Kochi - 682 033 Ph: 0484 3041000, 2543420 Fax: 0484 3961222, Email: info@kimskochi.com Web: www.kimskochi.com Krishna Hospital Chittor Road, Kochi - 682 011 Ph: 0484 2368230 Email: info@krishnahospital.in

Kurias Earth Ayurveda Hospital Thykoodam, Vyttila, Kochi - 682 019 Ph: 85890 77776 Email:kochi@earthhospital.in Web: www.earthhospital.in Kusumagiri Mental Health Centre Kusumagiri, Kakkanad - 682 030 Ph: 0484-2422215,2422160 Email: kusumagirihospital@bsnl.in Web: www.kusumagiri.org Lakeshore Hospital & Research Centre Ltd. Maradu, P.O. Nettoor, Kochi - 682 040 Ph: 0484 2703951, Fax: 0484 2701996 Email: info@lakeshorehospital.com Web: www.lakeshorehospital.com Lakshmi Hospital Diwan’s Road, Kochi - 682 016 Ph: 0484 2382111, Fax: 0484 2374067 Email: admin@lakshmihospital.com www.lakshmihospital.com Lisie Hospital Ernakulam North, Kochi - 682 018 Ph: 0484 2400812 - 14 Email: contact@lisiehospital.org Web: www.lisiehospital.org Little Flower Hospital & Research Centre P B No. 23, Angamaly Ph: 0484 2452546-48, Fax: 0484 2452646 Email: admin@lfhospital.org Web: www.lfhospital.org Lotus Eye Care Hospital S.A. Road, Kadavanthra, Kochi - 20 Ph: 0484 2322333, Fax: 0484 4070670 Email: info@lotuseye.org Web: www.lotuseye.org

Lourdes Hospital Vaduthla, Kochi - 682 012 Ph: 0484 4123456, 4125555 Fax: 0484 2393720 Email: lourdeshospital@vsnl.com Web: www.lourdeshospital.in Luke Memorial Hospital Perumbavoor, Kochi - 683 542 Ph: 0484 2522123, 2523507, 2525232 Macare International Dental Hospital 36/2322 A & B, Chammany Chambers Kaloor-Kadavanthra Road Kochi - 682 017 Ph: 0484 3195616 Email: macarekaloor@gmail.com Web: www.manappuramhealthcareltd.com Medical Trust Hospital M.G. Road Kochi - 682 016 Kerala, India Ph: 0484 2358001 - 11 Fax: 0484 2358031 Email: info@medicaltrusthospital.org Web: www.medicaltrusthospital.com Najath Super Speciality Hospital Bank Junction, Aluva - 683101 Ph: 0484 2623693, 2631157 Nechupadam Dental Clinic No.29, IIIrd Floor GCDA Commercial Complex Marine Drive, Kochi - 31 Ph: 0484 2350502 Mob: 09387277213 Email: thomasnechupadam@gmail.com Web: www.nechupadam.com medical tourism

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PNVM Hospital & Research Centre Banerji Road, Kochi - 682 018 Ph: 0484 2390097 Email: pramod@md2.vsnl.net.in Web: www.pnvmhospital.in

Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences (SNIMS) North Kuthiyathodu P.O, Chalakka, Ernakulam - 683 594 Ph: 0484 2573023, 2573024, 2573060-66 Fax +91 484 2478093, Email: snims1@gmail.com Web: www.snims.org

Polakulath Narayanan Renai Medicity PB No.2310, Palarivattom, Kochi - 25 Ph: 0484 2880000, 3919000 Fax: 0484 2331561 Email: HRD@renaimedicity.org Web: www.renaimedicity.org

Sree Sudheendra Medical Mission Hospital Chittoor Road, Kochi - 682 018 Ph: 0484 2354139, 2382390, 2382457 Email: sreesudheendra@yahoo.co.in Web: www.sreesudheendra.gsb.in

Punarnava Ayurveda Hospital P.O. Edappally North, Kochi - 682024 Ph: 0484 2801415, 2801416, Email: punarnava@punarnava.net Web: www.punarnava.net PVS Memorial Hospital Ltd. Kaloor, Cochin - 682017 Ph: 0484 2345451, 2345471.

E-mail: info@pvsmemorialhospital.com Web: www.pvsmemorialhospital.com Rajagiri Hospital Chunagamvely, Aluva - 683 112 Ph: 0484 66 55 000 Email: mail@rajagirihospital.com Web: www.rajagirihospital.com Samad IVF Telemedicine Centre Kathrukadavu Jn, Kochi - 682 017 Ph: 09349440111 Email: samadhospital@gmail.com Web: www.samadhospital.com Specialist’s Hospital Opp. North Railway Station, Kochi - 18 Ph: 0484 2395952, 2887800(30 lines), Fax: 0484 2392945 Email: specialistshosp@gmail.com Web: www.specialistshospital.com

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Sunrise Hospital Kakkanad, Kochi - 682 030 Ph: 0484 2428913 - 16, Fax: 0484 2428917 Email: enquiry@sunrisehospital.in Web: www.sunrisehospital.in Vasan Eye Care Hospital 27/3215, M.G. Road, Opp. Cochin Shipyard Kochi - 682 015, Ph: 0484 3989000 Fax: 0484 2357777, Web: www.vasaneye.in Vasan Eye Care Hospital A-1, Opp. India V ision Palarivattom, NH Bypass Road Kochi - 682 024, Ph: 0484 3989050 Fax: 0484 3091449, Web: www.vasaneye.in VG Saraf Memorial Hospital Ravipuram, Kochi - 682 016 Ph: 0484 2380452, 2363949 Fax: 0484 2370595 Email: vgsarafhospital@gmail.com Web: www.vgsarafhospital.com Vijaya Institute of Medical Sciences Kadavanthra - Kaloor Road Kadavanthra, Kochi - 682 020 Ph: 0484 2205261, 2205290, Fax: 0484 2206072 Email:ivfviji@md3.vsnl.net.in Web: www.vijaya-ivf.com

Welcare Hospital S.A. Road, Vyttila Ernakulam, Kerala-682019 Ph: 0484 4091111 Email: welcare.kochi@gmail.com Web: www.welcarehospital.org find your hospitals | idukki Archana Hospital Vannappuram, Idukki Ph: 0486 2222824 Arpana Hospital Thookupalam, Idukki Ph: 0486 8236340 Bishop Vayalil Medical Centre Moolamattom Moolamattom, Idukki - 685 589 Ph: 04862 252304, 252305, 252306 Fax: 04862 252304 Email: bvmcmoolamattom@gmail.com Central Hospital Kumily, Idukki, Ph: 0486 9322045 Chazhikkatu Hospital Thodupuzha, Idukki Ph: 0486 2222445 Devamatha Hospital Rajakumary, Idukki Ph: 0486 8243225 District Hospital Cheruthoni, Idukki, Ph: 04862 232444 Excelsior Hospital Thodupuzha, Idukki Ph: 0486 2300500 Holy Family Hospital Muthalakkodam, Idukki Ph: 0486 2222234

Karuna Hospital Thodupuzha, Idukki Ph: 0486 2226120 Medical Trust Hospital Nedumkandam, Idukki Ph: 0486 8232056 Email: avmrglm@mdz.vsnl.net.in Morning Star Medical Centre Nazareth Hill, Adimali Idukki - 685 561, Ph: 0486 4222114 Periyar Hospital Kumily, Idukki Ph: 0486 9222088 Sahayagiri Hospital Kovilkadavu, Marayoor, Idukki Ph: 0486 5252245 St. John’s Hospital Kattappana, Idukki Ph: 0486 8274158, 8272230 St. Mary’s Hospital Thodupuzha, Ph: 0486 222525 Taluk Hospital Thodupuzha, Idukki, Ph: 0486 2222630 find your hospitals | kannur AKG Memorial Cooperative Hospital Thalap, Kannur, Ph: 0497 2762500 Email: akghospital2005@rediffmail.com Web: www.akghospital.org ARMC IVF Fertility centre 2nd floor, Grand Plaza building Prabhath junction, Fort Road, Kannur Ph: 0497 2766018-19, Helpline: +91 9526141400 Email: info@armcivf.net Web: www.armcivf.net medical tourism

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Ashirvad Hospital South Bazzar, Kannur Ph: 0497 2700070 Ashoka Hospital S.Bazar, Kannur - 670 002 Ph: 0497 2704688,Fax: 0497 2768070 Email: ashokahospital2009@gmail.com Web: www.ashokahospital.in Christhuraj Hospital Kannur, Ph: 0490 2365636 Web: www.christurajhospital.com Dhanalakshmi Hospitals Pvt. Ltd. Tana, Kannur - 670 002 Ph: +91 497 2714200, 2701524-26 Fax: +91 497 27065272 Email: mail@dhanalakshmihospitals.com Web: www.dhanalakshmihospitals.com Koyili Hospital Talap, P.O. Pallikkunnu Kannur - 670 004 Ph: 0497 2704371 Email:info@koyilihospital.com Web: www.koyilihospital.com Lourde Hospital Kannur, Kannur Ph: 0460 2200775

Mukunda Hospital Payyanur, Kannur - 670 307 Ph: 0498 5205119, 5202939 Email: info@mukundahospital.com www.mukundahospital.com

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Santosh Hospital Thalassery Kannur - 670 101 Ph: 0490 2342702 Speciality Hospital Kannur, Ph: 0497 2712770 Tellicherry Co-operative Hospital Co-operative Hospital Junction Thalassery, Kannur Ph: 0490 2341604 Fax: 0490 2344301 Email: tchtly@dataone.in Web: www.cooperativehospital.in Vasan Eye Care Hospital Nethra Builbing, Near SBI Bank Fort Road, Kannur - 01 Ph: 0497 3989000 Fax: 0497 276167 Web: www.vasaneye.in find your hospitals | kasaragod

M.K Ummerkoya Memorial Hospital Prasyanikadavu, Kannur Ph: 0497 2781745

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Pariyaram Medical College Pariyaram, Kannur - 670502 Ph: 0497 2808080 Fax: 0497 2808125 www.mcpariyaram.com

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Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital Opp District Hospital P.O. Bella, Kanhangad Ph: 0467 2200844 Email: kanhangad@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org Carewell Hospital Kasaragod Ph: 04994 230180

Dream Flower IVF Centre Centre @ Janardan Hospital Bank Road, Kasaragod - 671 121 Ph: 04994 230243, 94470 00616 Email: jayalakshmisuraj@yahoo.com Web: www.ivfkeraladf.com

Azeezia Medical College Hospital P.O. Meeyannoor, Kollam - 691 537 Kerala, India, Ph: 0474 3069200, Fax: 0474 3069397 Email: medicalcollege@azeezia.com Web: www.azeezia.com

Fathima Hospital Kasaragod Ph: 04994 230524

Bishop Benziger Hospital Beach Road, Kollam - 691 001 Ph: 0474 2768201, Fax: 0474 2741762 Web: www.bishopbenzigerhospital.com

Janardan Hospital Bank Road, Kasaragod - 671 121 Ph: 04994 230243, 226555

C.S.I. Hospital Kalayapuram, Puttoor Mukku Kottarakkara, Kollam, Ph: 0474 2741501

Kamath Medical Centre Kasaragod, Ph: 04994 230004

Christuraj Hospital Kottarakkara, Kollam, Ph: 0474 2452512 Dr. Babu’s Chest & Skin Allergy Speciality Centre Near High School Jn, Thevally P.O. Kollam - 691 009, Kerala Ph: 0474 2798363, 0473 4220372, 85745 98363 Email: allergycentrekollam@gmail.com Web: www.chestandskin.com

Kasaragod Institute of Medical Sciences Ashwini Nagar, Kasaragod - 671 121 Ph: 04994 219402, 219401 Web: www.kimskasaragod.com Mansoor Hospital Kanhangad, Kasaragod Ph: 0467 2202070 P.N Panicker Souhruda Ayurveda Medical College P.O. Parakalai, Anandasram (V ia) Kanhangad Kasaragod - 671 531 Ph: 0467 2244700, 2244701 find your hospitals | kollam ARMC IVF Fertility centre Unitide Building OPP Janayugam Daily Kadappakkada Junction Kollam - 691 008 Ph: 0474 2743500-01 Email: info@armcivf.net Web: www.armcivf.net

Dr. Nair’s Hospital Asramam, Kollam - 691 002 Ph: +91 474 2766180 - 185 Email: mail@drnairshospital.com Web: www.drnairshospital.com Holy Cross Super Speciality Hospital Kottiyam, Kollam - 691 571 Ph: 0474 2530121, 2530122, Fax: 0474 2530531 Email: admin@holycrosskottiyam.org Web: www.holycrosskottiyam.org Matha Medical Centre P.O. Mathilil, Near Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam - 691 601 Ph: 0474 2703003, 2704003, 97463 00111, Fax: 0474 2704396 Email: mathamedicalcentre@gmail.com Web: www.mathamedicalcentre.com medical tourism

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Mohans Hospital Edayadi, Poothakulam S.Paravur - 691302, Ph: 0474-2513679 Padmavathy Medical Foundation Manakkara, Sasthamkotta Kollam - 690 521, Ph: 0476 2831408 Email: padmavathyhospital@yahoo.com Web: www.padmavathyhospital.com Samad IVF Hospital Kaval, Thangassery Kollam - 691 007, Ph: 0474 2798706 Email: samadhospital@gmail.com Web: www.samadhospital.com Sanker’s Hospital Q.S.Road , Kollam, Ph: 0474 2743847 Travancore Medicity NH Bypass, P.O. Umayanalloor Kollam - 691 589, Kerala, India Ph: +91 474 2729393, 2726161 Fax: +91 474 2724411 Email: tmc@tmc.ac.in Web: www.tmc.ac.in Upasana Hospital & Research Centre Q.S. Road, Kollam - 691 001, Ph: 0474 2762887 Web: www.upasanahospital.com find your hospitals | kottayam Abraham’s Infertility Treatment Centre Athakkatt Chamers, Changanacherry Ph: 0481 2410356, 2421049 Web: www.airgc.com Bharath Hospital Azad Lane, Kottayam - 686 001 Ph: + 91 481 2582947, 2581974 Web: www.bharathhospital.com 158

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Caritas Hospital P.O. Thellakom, Kottayam - 686 016 Ph: 0481 2790025-29, Fax: 0481 2790164 Web: www.caritashospital.org CNK Multi Speciality Hospital IE Nager, Madukkummoodu Changanacherry - 686 106 Ph: 0481 2722888 Indo-American Hospital ‘Brain & Spine Centre’ Chemmanakary Vaikom - 686 143, Kerala, India Ph: 04829 273281,273282,273283 9446083281, 9747553281 Email: indoamericanhospital@rediffmail.com Web: www.indoamericanhospital.in Mary Queens Mission Hospital Palampra, Kanjirapally, Kottaym - 686 518 Ph: 04828 201301, 204065, Fax: 04828 205504 E-mail:maryqueenkply@hotmail.com Web: www.maryqueenshospital.org Matha Hospital Thellakom, Kottayam - 686 016 Ph: 0481 2790921, 2790930 S.J. Eye Hospital & Research Institute Karukachal, Kottayam - 686 540 Ph: 0481 2487164 Email: us@info@sjeyehospital.org Web: www.sjeyehospital.com find your hospitals | kozhikode Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital West Nadakkavu, Calicut, Ph: 0495 2762800 Email: calicut@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org ARMC IVF Fertility centre BMT Centre, Puthiyara

Kozhikode, Kerala, India Tel +91 495 2724101,102, 3103555 Help Line: 1800 3000 3100 Email: info@armcivf.net Web: www.armcivf.net Aster MIMS Mini By-pass Road, P.O. Govindapuram Calicut - 673 016, Kerala, India Ph: +91 495 3911400, Fax: +91 495 2741329 Email: mimsclt@mimsindia.com Web: www.astermims.com Baby Memorial Hospital Limited Indira Gandhi Road Kozhikode - 673 004 Kerala, India, Ph: 0495 2777777 2723272, Fax: 0495 2723484 Email: info@babymhospital.org Web: www.babymhospital.org Calicut Medical College Medical College P.O, Kozhikode - 673 008 Ph: 0495 2356531,Fax: 0495 2355331 Email: principal@calicutmedicalcollege.ac.in Web: calicutmedicalcollege.ac.in

KMCT Medical College Hospital West Mampetta, P.O. Manassery Mukkam, Calicut - 673 602 Ph: 0495 2293500 Fax: 0495 2294753 Email: kmctcch@gmail.com Web: www.kmctmedicalcollege.org Malabar Hospitals Eranhipalam, Calicut-20, Kerala, India Ph: 0495 2376822, 2376823, Fax: 0495 2375347 Email:info@malabarhospitals.com www.malabarhospitals.com Metromed International Cardiac Centre Thondayad Bypass Road Kozhikode - 673014 Ph: 0495 6615555 Email: info@micc.in Web: www.micc.in National Hospital Indira Gandhi Road, Calicut - 673 001 Ph: 0495 2723061-66, Fax: 0495 2720466 Email: contactnationalhospital@gmail.com Web: www.nationalhospitals.com

Chest Hospital Kozhikode, Ph: 0495 2359645, 2721644

Poonoor Hospital & Research Centre Madheethunoor, Poonoor, P.O.Unnikulam, Kozikode Ph: 0496 - 2648231, 2648232

Fathima Hospital Bank Road, Kozhikode - 673 001 Ph: 0495 2766630, 2766340, Fax: 0495 2766610 Email: mail@fathimahospital.com Web: www.fathimahospital.com

PVS Hospital Pvt. Ltd. Railway Station Road, Kozhikode - 673 002 Ph: 0495 2302541, 2301212, Fax: 0495 2702044 Email: info@pvshospital.com Web: www.pvshospital.com

IQRAA International Hospital and Research Centre Malaparamba, Calicut - 673 009 Tel: 0495 2379100 (30 Lines), Fax: 0495 2373825 E mail: mail@iqraahospital.in Web: www.iqraahospital.in

Starcare Hospital Kozhikode Pvt. Ltd. Thondayad Bypass, Chevarambalam Post Kozhikode -17 Ph: 0495 2351060 Web: www.starcarekozhikode.com

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find your hospitals | malappuram Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital Changuvetty, Kottakkal, Malappuram Ph: 0483 2751228, Email: ktkal@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org Arya Vaidyasala Kottakal, Malappuram, Ph: 0483 2742216 Chaliyar Hospitals Pvt. Ltd. Nilambur, Malappuram, Ph: 04931 220178 Edappal Hospitals Pvt. Ltd. P.O. Edappal, Malappuram - 679 576 Ph: 0494 2680755, 2680788 Fax: 0494 2680755 Email: cimaredappal@gmail.com Web: www.cimarindia.org KIMS Al Shifa Super Speciality Hospital Ootty Road, Perintalmanna - 679322 Ph: 04933 227616 Fax: 04933 229818 Email: mail@alshifahospital.com Web: www.alshifahospital.com K.P.M. Hospital Malappuram, Ph: 0483 2734969

Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences Ltd. P.O. Kottakkal Malappuram - 676 503 Ph: 0483 2807000 Fax: 0483 2807888 Email: mimskottakkal@mimsk.com Web: www.mimskottakkal.com Moulana Hospital PB No. 31, Ootty Road Perinthalmanna - 679 322 Ph: 04933 300600 Fax: 04933 228011 Email: mail@moulanahospital.com Web: www.moulanahospital.com Prasanthi Hi-Tech Hospital Court Road, Manjeri- 676 121 Malappuram, Kerala Ph: 0483 2769500 (12 Lines) Fax: 0483 2769513 Email: prasanthihospital@yahoo.com Web: www.prasanthihospital.com find your hospitals | palakkad

Korambayil Hospital & Diagnostic Centre Pvt. Ltd. Manjeri, Malappuram - 676 122 Ph: 0483 2764555, 3003000 Fax: 0483 2762555 E-mail: info@korambayilhospital.com Web: www.korambayilhospital.com

Ahalia Ayurvedic Hospital Elippara, P.O. Kozhippara Palakkad - 678 557 Ph: 04923 235888 Fax: 04923 235900 Email: mail@ahaliaayurvedic.org Web: www.ahaliaayurvedic.org

Malabar Ayurvedic Hospitaland Research Centre (MAHAR) Salafi Gramam, Pulikkal Malappuram - 673 637 Ph: 0483 2790521, 2793754, Fax: 0483 2793760 Email: maharayurvedic@gmail.com Web: www.maharayurvedic.com

Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital PB No. 120, Kanal Piruvu Palakkad, Ph: 04923 225000 Fax: 04923 235888 Email: mail@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org

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ARMC IVF Fertility centre 3rd Floor Surya corner English church road, Palakkad Ph: 0491 2523405-06 Help line: +91 9544575700 Email: info@armcivf.net Web: www.armcivf.net Balaji Hospital Palakkad, Ph: 0491 2522879 Crescent Medical Centre P.O. Alathur, Palakkad - 678 541 Ph: 04922 224411 Email: crescenthospital@gmail.com Web: www.crescenthospital.com Paalana Institute of Medical Sciences P.O. Kannadi, Palakkad - 678 701 Ph: 0491 2520901 Email: paalana@rediffmail.com Web: www.paalana.com P.K. Das Institute of Medical Science P.O. Vaniyamkulam, Ottapalam Palakkad - 682 522, Ph: 0466 2344500 Email: info@pkdashospital.com Web: www.pkdashospital.com Thangam Hospital of PMRC Chadanamkurussi, West Yakkara Palakkad, Kerala - 678 004, India Ph: +91 491 2515717 (8 Lines) Ambulance: +91-944 777 5717 Web: www.thangampmrc.com Valluvanad Hospital Complex Ltd Kanniyampuram P.O Ottapalam, Palakkad – 679 104 Tel: 0466 2244423, 2246252 Web: www.valluvanadhospital.com

find your hospitals | pathanamthitta Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital College Road, Pathanamthitta - 689 645 Ph: 0468 2224240, Email: pta@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org Believers Church Medical College Hospital St. Thomas Nagar, P.O. Kuttapuzha Thiruvalla - 689 103, Kerala, India Ph: 0469 3023100, 3023101 Email: info@bcmch.org Web: www.bcmch.org Holy Cross Hospital Adoor, Pathanamthitta Ph: 04734 228246 Lifeline Hospital 14th Mile, P.O. Melood Adoor - 691 523 Ph: 04734 223377, 228373 Email: info@lifelinehospitalkerala.com Web: www.lifelinehospitalkerala.com Mary Queens Hopital Allergy, Skin & Cosmetology Centre Kurishukavala Thiruvalla-689 101 Tel: +91 469 2730594, 2738175, 99473 95151 Email: maryqueenstvla@gmail.com Web: www.maryqueenshospital.com MGM Muthoot Medical Centre College Road, Kozhencherry Pathanamthitta - 689 641 Ph: +91 468 2314000, 2312491 Fax: +91 468 2214427 Helpline: +91 95625 01213 Email: marketing@muthoothealthcare.com Web: www.muthoothealthcare.com

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MGM Muthoot Medical Centre Ring Road, Pathanamthitta - 689 641 Ph: +91 468 3005500 Fax: +91 468 3005550 Helpline: +91 94477 22370 Email: marketing@muthoothealthcare.com Web: www.muthoothealthcare.com NSS Medical Mission Hospital Pathalam, Pathanamthitta Ph: 0473 4252237, 4252237 Poyanil Hospitals Kozhencherry, Pathanamthitta - 689 641 Ph: 0468 2310600 Fax: 0468 2214360 Email: poyanilhospitals@gmail.com Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital Thiruvalla - 689 101 Ph: 0469 2700755 Fax: 0469 2701045 Web: www.pushpagiri.in Sudarshanam Netra Chikitsalayam Manjadi, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta - 689 105 Ph: 0469 2630718, 3290630 Email: info@netrafoundation.com Web: www.netrafoundation.com Thiruvalla Medical Mission Hospital Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta Ph: 0469 2630145, 2630146 find your hospitals | thiruvananthapuram Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital Near Uloor Bridge, Medical College Post Trivandrum - 695 011, Ph: 0471 2449970 Email: tvm@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org 162

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AMAR Hospital P.O. Attingal, Trivandrum - 695 101 Kerala, India Ph: 0470 2627676, 2627666 Web: www.amarfertility.com Email: amarhospital@yahoo.in Anadiyil Hospital Thekkumoodu, Vanchiyoor P.O Trivandrum-35 Ph: 0471 2304086 Ananthapuri Hospitals and Research Institute Chacka, NH Bypass Thiruvananthapuram - 695 024 Kerala, India Ph: +91 471 2579900, 2506868 Fax: +91 471 2506969 Email: ananthapurihri@vsnl.net Web: www.ananthapurihospitals.com BNV Hospital Pvt Ltd Thiruvallam Thiruvananthapuram - 695 027 Ph: 0471 2381508, 2380736, 2380737 Chaithanya Eye Hospital Kesavadasapuram Thiruvananthapuram - 695 004 Ph: 0471 2447183 Fax: 0471 2443985 Email: chaithanyaeye@gmail.com Web: www.chaithanya.org Cosmopolitan Hospitals Pvt. Ltd. Murinjapalam, Pattom Thiruvananthapuram - 695 004 Ph: 0471 2521252, Fax: 0471 2449188 Email: cosmopolitan@cosmopolitanhospitals.in Web: www.cosmopolitanhospitals.in

Credence Hospital Near Ulloor Bridge, Thiruvananthapuram - 11 Ph: 0471 2554343, 4033333 Fax: 0471 2554344, 403 3334 Email: info@credencehospital.com Web: www.credencehospital.com

Meditrina Hospitals TC 2 / 2367-1, Pattom Thiruvananthapuram - 695 004 Ph: 0471 3063000, Email: tvm@meditrinahospitals.com Web: www.meditrinahospitals.com

GG Hospital Medical Collage P.O Thiruvananthapuram - 695 011 Ph: 0471 2557744, 2445832

NIMS Medicity Aralumloodu, Neyyattinkara Thiruvananthapuram - 695 123 Ph: 0471 2223544, 2223542 Fax: 0471 2225154 Email: info@nimshospital.com Web: www.nimshospital.com

Jubilee Memorial Hospital Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 034 Ph: 0471 2334561,62,63 Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences PB No.1, P.O. Anayara Trivandrum - 695 029 Ph: 0471 3041000, 2447575 Fax: 0471 2446535 Email: marketing@kimskerala.com Web: www.kimskerala.com KJK Hospital Fertility Research and Gynaec Centre Nalanchira, Trivandrum Kerala, India Ph: 0471 2544080, 2544706 Fax: 0471 2543926 Email: kjkhospital@gmail.com Web: www.kjkhospital.com Lords Hospital Chackai, P.O. Anayara Trivandrum - 695 029 Kerala, India Ph: +91 471 3045 111, 2741111 Fax: +91 471 2742424 Email: lords@lordshospital.org Web: www.lordshospital.org

Pankaj kasturi Herbals India Pvt. Ltd Level-4, Aikkara Arbour P.O. Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram-14 Ph: 0471 2337348, 2320487 Web: www.pankajakasthuri.in PRS Hospital Killipalam, Thiruvananthapuram - 02 Ph: 0471 2344442, 2344443 Fax: 0471 2345358 Email: admin@prshospital.com Web: www.prshospital.com Regional Cancer Center Medical College Campus Thiruvananthapuram - 11 Ph: 0471 2442541, Fax: 0471 2447454 Email: webmaster@rcctvm.org Web: www.rcctvm.org Samad IVF Hospital V.V.Road, Pattoor, Thiruvananthapuram - 35 Ph: 0471 2451926, 2474203 Fax: 0471 2574045 Email: info@samadhospital.com Web: www.samadhospital.com medical tourism

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Samad IVF Hospital Near KSRTC Bus Stand Attingal - 695 101, Ph: 0470 2624611 Email: samadhospital@gmail.com Web: www.samadhospital.com Santhigiri Ayurveda Hospital Santhigiri P O Pothencode Thiruvananthapuram Ph: 0471 6454571, 6615300 Web: www.santhigiriashram.com Santhwana ENT Hospital N. C. C. Road Ambalam Mukku Thiruvananthapuram Ph: 0471 2433030, 2432121, 2435490 Email:saliment@sancharnet.in SK Hospital Edappazhanji Thiruvanathapuram Ph: +91 471 30222222, 3250038 Fax: +91 471 2356261 24 hours Tele. Booking No: 2356260 Email: skhospitals@yahoo.co.in Web: www.skhospitals.com SP Fort Hospital Fort, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 023 Ph: 0471 2450540, 2466664 Fax: 0471 2465746 Email: info@spfort.com Web: www.spfort.com SR Super Speciality Hospital Akathumuri, P.O. Vennecodu Varkala - 695318 Ph: 0470 2611176, 2611177 Email: info@srisankaradentalcollege.com Web: www.srisankaradentalcollege.com

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Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology P.O. Medical College Thiruvananthapuram - 695 011 Ph: 0471 2443152 Fax: 0471 2446433 Email:sct@sctimst.ac.in Web: www.sctimst.ac.in Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama Charitable Hospital Sasthamangalam Thiruvananthapuram - 695 010 Ph: 0471 2722125, 2722453, 2726603 Fax: 0471 2313502 Email: srkachtvm@gmail.com Web: www.sriramakrishnaashrama.org SUT Hospital, Pattom P.O. Pattom Palace Thiruvananthapuram - 695 004 Kerala, India.

Ph: +91 471 4077777, 4077888 Fax: +91 471 2444304 Email: info@suthealth.com Web: www.sutpattom.com SUT Royal Hospital Kochulloor, Trivandrum Ph: 0471 4177777, Email: sutgrouphospitals@gmail.com Web: www.suthospital.com The India Hospital Trust Melethampanoor Thiruvananthapuram - 695 023 Ph: 0471 2333193 Vasan Eye Care Hospital Pattom, Trivandrum – 695 004 Ph: 0471 4089000, Fax: 0471 2554001 Web: www.vasaneye.in

find your hospitals | thrissur Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital Kuruppam Road, Thrissur Ph: 0487 2428740, Email: afehtcr@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org Amala Cancer Hospital & Research Centre P.O. Amalanagar, Thrissur - 680 553 Ph: 0487 2304000, Email: amalaims@yahoo.com Web: www.amalaims.com Ansar Hospital Perumpilavu, P.O. Karikakd, Thrissur Ph: 04885 281320, 281638 Email: info@ansar.in, Web: www.ansar.in ARMC IVF Fertility centre Falkaland Tower, Ayyanthole Ground Thrissur, Kerala ,India , Ph: 0487 3105100 Help Line: +91 9846255155, Email: info@armcivf.net Web: www.armcivf.net Aswini Hospital Ltd. Karunakaran Nambiar Road Thrissur - 680 020 Ph: 0487 6612345, 2475000 Fax: 0487 2338991 Email: info@aswinihospital.org Web: www.aswinihospital.org CRAFT Hospital & Research Centre Chanthappura, Kodungalloor-680 664 Ph: 0480 2808808, Email: drashraf3@gmail.com Web: www.craftivf.com Elite Mission Hospital P.O. Koorkenchery, Thrissur - 680 007 Kerala, India, Ph: +91 487 2436100 Fax: +91 487 2436167 Email: info@elitemissionhospital.com Web: www.elitemissionhospital.com

Irinjalakuda Co-operative Hospital Ltd. Kolothumpady, P.O. Nadavarmbu, Thrissur - 61 Ph: 0480 2822779 Fax: 0480 2831300 Email: care@cooperativehospital.com Web: www.cooperativehospital.com Jubilee Mission Medical College & Research Institute PB No. 737, Thrissur - 680 005 Ph: 487 2432200 Fax: 0487 2421864 Email: jubileemission@jmmc.ac.in Web: www.jubileemissionmedicalcollege.com KARE Centre Seetharam Mill Road, Poonkunnam Thrissur - 02, Ph: 0487 2389466, 2389866 Web: www.karecentre.in Lal Memorial Hospital Mapranam, Irinjalakuda Ph: 0480 2826799, 2826570 Metropolitan Hospital (Trichur Metropolitan Health Care Pvt.Ltd) Koorkanchery P.O, Trichur -680 007, Kerala Ph: 0487 2425123, 2425142 Fax: 0487 2429661 Email: metropolitanh@gmail.com Modern Hospital Kodungallur Ltd PB No. 22, Kodungallur Post Thrissur -680664 Ph: 0480 2802022, 6451456 Email: helpline@modernhospital.com Website: www.modernhospital.com Mother Hospital P.O. Pullazhi, Olari, Thrissur - 680 012 Ph: 0487 2434100, Fax: 0487 2361097 Email: motherhospitalthrissur@gmail.com Web: www.motherhospitalthrissur.org

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Okay Mission Hospital Ltd. Kodungallur, Irinjalakuda Ph: 0480 2802644 Rajah Hospital Muthuvattoor, Chavakkad, Thrissur - 680 506 Ph: 0487 2502429, 2502430, 2502884, 2556996 E-mail: todnb@rajahhospital.com Web: www.rajahhospital.com St. Joseph’s Hospitals Velupadam, Varandarapilly, Irinjalakuda Ph: 04885 236589 Sun Medical and Research Centre A Unit of Trichur Heart Hospital Ltd ST Nagar, Thrissur - 01 Ph: 0487 2433101 Fax: 0487 2442025 Email: hearthospital@trichurheart.com Web: www.trichurheart.com Trichur Institute of Head and Neck Surgery Shornur Road Thrissur - 680 001 Ph: 0487 2335145, 2335185 Email: saroja@md4.vsnl.net.in Vasan Eye Care Hospital T.B. Road, Opp. IMA Office Near Sakthan Stand Thrissur - 01 Ph: 0487 3989000 Fax: 0487 2442453 Web: www.vasaneye.in Westfort Hospital Westfort, Thrissur - 680 004 Ph: +91 487 2439300 Fax: +91 487 2380039 Email: info@westforthospital.org Web: www.westforthospitalgroup.com 166

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Westfort Hi-Tech Hospital Guruayoor Road, Punkunnam Thrissur - 680 002 Ph: +91 487 2388999 Fax: +91 487 2381051 Email: hitechhospital@gmail.com Web: www.westforthospitalgroup.com Westfort Ayurveda Hospital Behind Westfort Hospital Westfort, Thrissur - 680 004 Ph: +91 487 2388780-83 Email: info@westfortayurveda.org Web: www.westforthospitalgroup.com find your hospitals | wayanad Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital New Bus Stand, Kalpetta Wayanad - 673 121 Ph: 04936 206032 Email: kalpetta@afeh.org Web: www.afeh.org Assumption Hospital S.Bathery, Wayanad Ph: 04936 223120 DM WIMS Medical College & Hospital Naseera Nagar, P.O. Meppadi Wayanad - 673 577, Kerala, India Ph: +91 4936 287200 Fax: +91 4936 287287 Email: medicalcollege@dmwims.com Web: www.dmwims.com Fathima Hospital Kalpetta, Wayanad, Ph: 04936 202413 Jyothi Hospital Mananthavady, Wayanad, Ph: 04935 240371

Leo Hospital Kalpetta, Wayanad, Ph: 04936 202550 M.E.S Hospital S.Bathery, Wayanad, Ph: 04936 220285 Swami Vivekananda Medical Mission V ivekananda Nagar, Muttil Kalpetta North, Wayanad - 673 122 Ph: 04936 202528, 204360, Fax: 04936 204360 E-mail: svmm_muttil@hotmail.com Web: www.svmm.org KARNATAKA HOSPITALS Fortis Hospital 154/9, Bannerghatta Road Opposite IIM-B, Bangalore - 560 076 Karnataka, India Ph: 080 66214444, 22544444, Fax: 080 66214242 Email: enquiries@fortishealthcare.com Web: www.fortishealthcare.com Fortis Hospitals No 14, Cunningham Road Sheriffs Chamber, Bangalore -560052 Ph: 080-41994444, 9686860310 Email: enquiries@fortishealthcare.com Web: www.fortishealthcare.com A.J. Hospital & Research Centre NH 66 Kuntikana, Mangalore Karnataka - 575004, Ph: 0824 222 5533 Web: www.ajhospital.in Bangalore Baptist Hospital Bellary Road, Hebbal Bangalore - 560024, Ph: 080 22024700, 23437971 Fax: 080 23437970, 23337817 Email: info@bbh.org.in, bbh@bbh.org.in Web: www.bbh.org.in

BGS Global Hospitals, Bengaluru 67, Uttarahalli Road, Kengeri Bangalore- 560 060, Karnataka Ph: 080 2625 5555 Fax: 080 2860 5775 Web: www.globalhospitalsindia.com Chord Road Hospital Pvt. Ltd. No. 100/101, LIC Colony Near Shankar Mutt West of Chord Road Basaveswaranagar Bangalore - 560079 Ph: 080 23225848, 23225868 Columbia Asia Medical Centre - Hebbal, Bangalore 26/1, Brigade Gateway, Beside Metro Malleswaram West Bangalore - 560 055 Ph: 080 3989 8969 Fax: 080 3092 5454 Health Care Global - Speciality Centre #8 P.Kalinga Rao Road Sampangi Ramnagar, Bangalore - 560027 Ph: 080 3366 9999 Fax: 080 2248 5962 Email : info@hcgoncology.com Web: www.hcgoncology.com Hosmat Hospital 45 Magrath Road Off Richmond Road Bangalore - 560 025 Ph: 080 25593796, 25543797 Fax: 080 25593798 Email: mail@hosmatnet.com Web: www.hosmatnet.com

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KR Hospital 979,1st Stage, 50 Feet Road Banashankari, Opposite P.E.S. College Bangalore - 560050 Ph: 080 26755800 Email: admin@krhospital.net Web: www.krhospital.net

Narayana Nethralaya 121/C, Chord Road, 1st ‘R' Block Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore - 560 010 Ph: 080 66121300 - 1305 Fax: 080 23377329 Email: info@narayananethralaya.com Web: www.narayananethralaya.org

Mallya Hospital No.2 Vittal Mallya Road, Bengaluru - 560001 Ph: 080 22277979 Fax: 080 22121282 Email: info@mallyahospital.net Web: www.mallyahospital.net

Narayana Super Speciality Hospitals No 24, 9th Cross, Margosa Road Malleshwaram Bangalore - 560 003 Ph: 080 2308 4000, 094835 32532

Manipal Hospital 98, HAL Airport Road, Bangalore - 560017 Fax: 080 2526 6757 Ph: 080 25024444, 3344 Email: info@manipalhospitals.com Web: www.manipalhospitals.com M S Ramaiah Memorial Hospital New B E L Road, M S Ramaiah Nagar MSRIT Post, Bangalore - 54 Ph: 080 2360 8888, 2360 9999 Fax: 080 2218 3276 Email: info@msrmh.com Web: www.msrmh.com Narayana Hrudayalaya Health City Bommasandra Industrial Area Hosur Road, Anekal Taluk Bangalore- 560099 Ph: 080 7122 2222 Fax: 080 2783 2648 Email: info@hrudayalaya.com Web: www.narayanahospitals.com 168

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Nephrolofe Care (India) Pvt. Ltd First Floor, Berlie Street, Langford Town Shantinagar Bengaluru - 560027 Ph: 080 49129900 Fax: 080 49129922 Email: info@nephrolife.in Web: www.nephrolife.in Nethradhama Superspeciality Eye Hospital (A unit of Nethradhama Hospitals Pvt. Ltd.) 256/14, Kanakapura Main Road, 7th Block Jayanagar, Bangalore - 560 082 Ph: 080 26088000, 26633533 Fax: 080 26633770 Email: appointment@nethradhama.org Web: www.nethradhama.org NU Hospitals C.A. 6, 15th Main, 11th Cross, Padmanabhanagar, Bangalore - 70 Ph: 080 42489999 Fax: 080 26392693 Email: info@nuhospitals.com Web: www.nuhospitals.com

Panacea Hospital 334, 8th Main, 3rd Stage Basaveswaranagar Bangalore - 560 079 Ph: 080 43307777 Email: info@panaceahospital.com Web: www.panaceahospital.com P.D. Hinduja Sindhi Hospital Sindhi Hospital Road,12th A Cross Behind Woodlands Hotel Sampangiramanagar Bangalore - 560 027 Ph: 22237535, 117 Email: pdhsh@airtelmail.in Web: www.hindujasindhihospital.com P.V.S. Hospital 6th Cross, J.C.R. Extension Chitradurga - 01 Ph: 08194 230210 Fax: 08194 230654 Email: info@pvschitradurga.org Web: www.pvschitradurga.org Rangadore Memorial Hospital 1st Cross, Shankarapuram, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, Karnataka-560004.

Ph: 080 26983300 Fax: 080 26621645 Email: info@rangadorehospital.com Web: www.rangadorehospital.com Sagar Hospitals, Banashankari Shavige Malleshwara Hills, Kumaraswamy Layout, Bangalore - 560078 Ph: 080 42999999, Fax: 080 42999050 Email: bsk105@sagarhospitals.in Web: www.sagarhospitals.in

Santosh Hospital 6/1, Promenade Road Behind Coles Park Near Goodwill School Bangalore - 560 005 Ph: 080 40848888, 41252500 SPARSH Hospital 29/P2, The Health City, Bommasandra Industrial Area Hosur Road, Bangalore - 560 099 Ph: 080 33271038, Fax: 080 33271112 Email: infojobs@sparshhospital.com Web: www.sparshhospital.com St. John's Medical College and Hospital Sarjapur Rd, Koramangala 2 Block Madiwala, Bangalore, Karnataka 560034 Ph: 080 2553 6514, Web: www.stjohns.in Suguna Hospital 1A/87, Dr. Rajkumar Road, 4th 'N' Block, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru - 10 Ph: 080 40194444, 23327777 Email: info@sugunahospital.com Web: www.sugunahospital.com Trinity Hospital & Heart Foundation Near R.V. Teacher's College Circle Basavanagudi, Bangalore - 560 004 Ph: 080 41503434, 26563993 Fax: 080 26563995 Email: trinityhospital@hotmail.com Web: www.trinityhospital.in Vijay Srishti Fertility Centre Shiv Complex, Opp. Vijay Hospital Old Bangalore Road, Hosur - 635 109 Ph: 04344 320888 Email: vijaysrishtifertilitycenter@gmail.com medical tourism

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Vikram Hospital Private Limited 2909, New No.22 & 21/1, Temple Road, Near Vontikoppal Circle Mysore - 20, Ph: 0821 4242424 Web: www.vikramhospital.com Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre 82, Nallurahalli, Near BMTC 18th Depot Whitefield, Bangalore - 560 066 Ph: 080 28412956, 28413381 Email: info@vims.ac.in, Web: www.vims.ac.in TAMIL NADU HOSPITALS Apollo Hospitals, Chennai Off Greams Road, Chennai - 600006 Ph: 044 28290200, 28293333 Fax: 044-28293524, 28296022 Web: www.apollohospitals.com Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Madurai Lake V iew Road, K.K. Nagar Madurai-625020, Tamil Nadu Ph: 0452 2580892, 2580893, Fax: 0452 2580199 Email:healthline_mdu@apollohospitals.com Web: www.apollohospitals.com Christian Medical College Ida Scudder Road, Vellore - 632004 Ph: 0416 2222102,Fax: 0416 2232035 Email: gsoffice@cmcvellore.ac.in Web: www.cmch-vellore.edu CIMAR Coimbatore 2nd Floor, Manu Hospital, Paari Nagar Sungam Bye-pass Road, Coimbatore - 641 045 Ph: 0422 6472227 Email: cimarcoimbatore@gmail.com Web: www.cimarindia.org 170

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Dr. Agarwal's Eye Hospital Ltd. 19, Cathedral Road, Chennai - 600 086 Ph: 044 28112811, 28112525, Fax: 044 28115871 Email: dragarwal@vsnl.com. Web: www.dragarwal.com Dr. Mehta's Hospitals No.2, McNichols Rd, 3rd Lane Chetpet, Chennai - 600 031 Ph: 044 42271001 - 1005, Fax: 044 42271217 Email: info@mehtahospitals.com Web: www.mehtahospital.com Frontier Lifeline Hospital R-30-C Ambattur Industrial, Estate Road Mogappair, Chennai - 600 101 Ph: 42017575, 26564224 Email: drkmc@frontierlifeline.com Web: www.frontierlifeline.com Ganga Medical Centre & Hospitals Pvt Ltd 313, Mettupalayam Road, Coimbatore - 641 043 Ph: 0422 2485000, Fax: 0422 2436444 Email: srs@gangahospital.com Web: www.gangahospital.com Global Hospitals & Health City 439, Cheran Nagar, Perumbakkam, Chennai - 100 Ph: 044 2277 7000, Fax: 044 44777100 Web: www.globalhospitalsindia.com K.G. Hospital Arts College Road, Coimbatore - 18 Ph: 0422 2212121-29, Fax: 0422 2211212 Email: drgb@kggroup.com Web: www.kghospital.com Kovai Medical Centre and Hospital Avanashi Road, Coimbatore - 641 014 Ph: 0422 3083800, 4323800-802, Fax: 0422 2627782 Email: getwell@kmchhospitals.com Web: www.kmchhospitals.com

Kumaran Hospitals Pvt. Ltd. 214, E.V.R Periyar Salai, Poonamallee High Road Kilpauk, Chennai - 10, Ph: 044 4295 6777 Web: www.kumaranhospitals.com

Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre Melur Road, Lake Area Madurai - 625007, Ph: 0452 2588741 Web: www.meenakshimission.org medical tourism

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Noble Hospital No. 4(44), Audiappa Mudali Street Purasawakkam, Chennai - 600 084 Ph: 044 40042222, Fax: 044 26403300 Email: balaji_noble@hotmail.com Web: www.noblehospitals.com

St. Isabel's Hospital 49, Oliver Road, Mylapore Chennai - 04, Ph: 044 24991081-83 Fax: 044 2498 4776, 2498 6550 Email: info@stisabelshospital.in Web: www.stisabelshospital.in

Parvathy Hospital 241, G.S.T.Road, Chromepet, Chennai - 600 044 Ph: 044 22382248, 22383456 Web: www.parvathyhospital.com

Sugam Hospital Thiruvotriyur, Chennai - 19.

Ph: 044 25733830, 2573 3296 Fax: 044 25739902, 2573 0695 Email: sugamhospital145@gmail.com Web: www.sugamhospital.com

PSG Hospitals Peelamedu, Coimbatore - 641 004 Tamil Nadu, India Ph: +91 422 4345353, 2598822 Help Line: +91 99521 49911 Email: psghospitals@psgimsr.ac.in Web: www.psghospitals.com Sankara Nethralaya Nungambakkam, Chennai - 06, Ph: 044 28271616 Fax: 044 28254180, Email: mrf@snmail.org Web: www.sankaranethralaya.org Sri Narayani Hospital & Research Centre Sripuram, Vellore - 632 055, Ph: 0416 2206300 - 302 Mobile: 099524 16821, 99524 16824 Email: info@snhrc.org, Web: www.snhrc.org Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre Kamala Nagar, Mugalivakkam Chennai- 16, Ph: 044 2476 5512 Web: www.sriramachandra.edu.in Sree Renga Hospital No .12, Varada Reddy Street Vedachala Nagar, Chengalpattu - 01 Ph: 044 27432240, 27431544, Fax: 044 27426736 Email: info@sreerengahospital.com Web: www.sreerengahospital.com

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Sundaram Medical Foundation Annanagar, Chennai - 600 040 Ph: 044 26268844, Fax: 044 26284257 Web: www.smfhospital.org The Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (Coimbatore) Ltd. 42, Perumal Koil Street, Ramanathapuram P.O. Coimbatore - 641 045, Ph: +91 422 2315412, 2316220 Email: avt@avpayurveda.com Web: www.avpayurveda.com Vadamalayan Hospitals 9- A, Vallabai Road Chokkikulam, Madurai - 02 Ph: 0452 2545400, Fax: 0452 2522225 Web: www.vadamalayan.org VGM Hospital Trichy Road, Rajalakshmi Mills Stop Coimbatore - 05, Ph: 0422 2572573, 2572202-05 Fax: 0422 2572207 Email: admin@vgmhospital.com Web: www.vgmhospital.com Vijaya Hospital Group of Hospital N.S.K. Salai, Vadapalani, Chennai -600 026.

Ph: 044 66646664, 66616661, Web: www.vijayahospital.org

Indian Banking Industry - Remarkable Paces The pace of development for the Indian banking industry has been tremendous over the past decade. Even when the world reeled under the global financial meltdown, India’s 174

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banking sector, which has an eventful history managed to maintain resilience while continuing to provide growth opportunities, a feat unlikely to be matched by the banking sectors in developed countries. Over the last three decades,

there has been a remarkable increase in the size, spread and scope of activities of banks in India. The business profile of banks has transformed dramatically to include nontraditional activities like merchant banking, mutual funds, new financial services and products and the human resource development. The advent of internet and other developments 176

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in communication technology has revolutionized the Indian banking sector beyond imagination in recent times.

Eventful History The genesis of banking in India dates back to the last decades of the 18th century. The first banks were The General Bank of India which started in 1786, and the Bank

of Hindustan, both of which are now defunct. The oldest bank in existence in India is the State Bank of India, which originated in the Bank of Calcutta in June 1806, which almost immediately became the Bank of Bengal. This was one of 178

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the three presidency banks, the other two being the Bank of Bombay and the Bank of Madras, all three of which were established under charters from the British East India Company. For many years the Presidency banks acted as

quasi-central banks, as did their successors. The three banks merged in 1925 to form the Imperial Bank of India, which, upon India’s independence, became the State Bank of India (SBI). The period between 1906 and 1911, saw the establishment of banks inspired by the Swadeshi 180

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movement. The Swadeshi movement inspired local businessmen and political figures to found banks of and for the Indian community. A number of banks established then have survived to the present such as Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Indian Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank

and Central Bank of India. Between 1906 and 1913, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, and Bank of Mysore were set up. Reserve Bank of India was established in 1935. During the first phase of the Indian banking industry, the growth was very slow and banks also experienced periodic failures between 1913 and 1948. There were approximately 1100 banks, mostly small.

To streamline the functioning and activities of commercial banks, the Government of India came up with The Banking Companies Act, 1949 which was later changed to Banking Regulation Act 1949. Reserve Bank of India was vested with extensive powers for the supervision of banking in India as the Central Banking Authority.

Nationalization and its Aftermath In 1955, the Government nationalised Imperial Bank of India with extensive banking facilities on a large scale especially in rural and semi-urban areas. State Bank of India acted as the principal agent of RBI handling banking transactions of the Union and State Governments all over the country. Seven banks forming subsidiary of State Bank of India was nationalised in 1960. In another drastic measure at the initiative of the then Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi, fourteen major commercial banks in the country were nationalized in 1969. After the second phase of nationalization in 1980, as much as 80% of the banking segment in India came under Government ownership. In the third phase of the history of the Indian banking sector products and facilities offered by the banks rose to greater levels. In 1991, under the chairmanship of M Narasimham, a committee was set up by his name which worked for the liberalisation of banking practices. Today the country is also flooded with several foreign banks and their ATM stations.

Phone banking and net banking is introduced. The entire system became more convenient and swift. Time is given more importance than money. Nationalization of banks paved way for retail banking and as a result there has been an all round growth in the branch network, the deposit mobilization, credit disposals and of course employment.

The first year after nationalization witnessed the total growth in the agricultural loans and the loans made to SSI by 87% and 48% respectively. The overall growth in the deposits and the advances indicates the improvement that has taken place in the banking habits of the people in the rural and semi-urban areas where the branch network has spread. Such credit expansion enabled the banks to achieve the goals of nationalization, it was however, achieved at the coast of profitability of the banks.

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The Epidemic Reforms The recommendations made by a high level committee on financial sector, chaired by Mr M. Narasimham, laid the foundation for the banking sector reforms during the post liberalization era. These reforms tried to enhance the viability and efficiency of the banking sector. The Narasimham Committee suggested that there should be functional autonomy, flexibility in operations, dilution of banking strangulations, reduction in reserve requirements and

adequate financial infrastructure in terms of supervision, audit and technology. The committee further advocated introduction of prudential forms, transparency in operations and improvement in productivity, only aimed at liberalizing the regulatory framework, but also to keep them in time with

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international standards. The emphasis shifted to efficient and prudential banking linked to better customer care and customer services. It was in the early 1990s, the then Narasimha Rao government embarked on a policy of liberalization, licensing a small number of private banks.

These came to be known as New Generation tech-savvy banks, and included Global Trust Bank which later amalgamated with Oriental Bank of Commerce, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank. This move, along with the rapid growth in the economy of India, revitalized the banking sector in India, which has seen rapid growth with strong contribution from all the three sectors of banks, namely, government banks, private banks and foreign banks. The 188

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next stage for the Indian banking has been set up with the proposed relaxation in the norms for Foreign Direct Investment, where all Foreign Investors in banks may be given voting rights which could exceed the present cap of 10%, at present it has gone up to 74% with some restrictions.

The new wave ushered in a modern outlook and tech-savvy methods of working for traditional banks. People started not just demanding more from their banks but also received

more. As of today, banking in India is generally fairly mature in terms of supply, product range and reach, even though reach in rural India still remains a challenge for the private sector and foreign banks. In terms of quality of assets and capital adequacy, Indian banks are considered to have clean, strong and transparent balance sheets relative to other banks in comparable economies in its region. With the growth in the Indian economy expected to be strong for quite some time, especially in its services sector, the demand for banking services, especially retail banking, mortgages and investment services are expected to be strong. The period is also likely to witness more mergers, takeovers and asset sales.

Technological Revolution Information Technology has basically been used under two different avenues in Banking. One is Communication and Connectivity and other is Business Process Re-engineering.

Information technology enables sophisti-cated product development, better market infrastructure, implementation of reliable techniques for control of risks and helps the financial intermediaries to reach geographically distant and diversified markets. In view of this, technology has changed the contours of three major functions performed by banks.

They are access to liquidity, transformation of assets and monitoring of risks. Further, Information technology and the communication networking systems have a crucial bearing on the efficiency of money, capital and foreign exchange markets. The Software Packages for Banking Applications in India had their beginnings in the middle of 80s, when the Banks started computerising the branches in a limited manner. The early 90s saw the plummeting hardware prices and advent of cheap and inexpensive but high-powered PCs and servers and banks went in for what was called Total Branch Automation (TBA) Packages. The middle and late 90s witnessed rapid revolution in communication technol-ogies and evolution of novel concept of ‘convergence’ of computer and communication techno-logies, like Internet and phones.

Internet has significantly influenced delivery channels of the banks. Internet has emerged as an important medium 190

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for delivery of banking products and services. Rapid strides in information technology have, in fact, redefined the role and structure of banking in India. Banks are also coping and adapting with time and are trying to become one-stop financial supermarkets. The market focus is shifting from mass banking products to class banking with the introduction of value added and customised products. Customised banking products, such as Investment Advisory Services; photo-credit cards; cash Management services; Investment products and Tax Advisory services have already been introduced by a few foreign and private sector banks. A few banks have also gone in to market mutual fund schemes. New distribution channels are being widely used by banks. More and more banks are introducing services like disbursement and servicing of consumer loans and credit card business. Direct Selling Agents (DSAs) of various Banks go out and sell their products.

They make house calls to get the application form filled in properly and also take your passport-sized photo. Home banking has already become common. Now, you can order a draft or cash over the phone or internet and have it delivered home. User can now access account information over a secure line, request cheque books and stop payment, and even transfer funds between Bank accounts.

Bank of India Zonal Office, Kaloor Towers Kaloor - Kadavanthara Road Kaloor, Cochin - 682 017 Ph: 0484 2725720 Email: ZO.Kerala@bankofindia.co.in Web: www.bankofindia.co.in Founded on 7th September, 1906 by a group of eminent businessmen of Mumbai, Bank of India has crossed 110 years of its purposeful existence. The Bank has rich heritage.

From the very beginning, it has established a reputation of high standards for service. The Bank has been a pioneer in the Indian Banking world and has put in place time tested established practices and standards. Known for its

resilience and adeptness at responding to changes in the banking environs, the Bank has successfully passed through many turbulent periods. The Bank has a total network of 4963 Indian branches and 60 foreign outlets providing service to your banking needs anywhere you need. In order to render service exclusively to NRIs, Bank has opened specialized 6 NRI branches at important cities apart from 14 NRI centers at certain key centers. The total business mix of the Bank has crossed Rs.9.08 Lakh Crores as on 31/12/2015. The Bank has presence in 13 countries, in all time zones. Total number of Bank’s ATMs increased to more than 6800 and total number of E-Galleries is more than 450 spread across the country. All domestic branches of the Bank are networked under Core Banking Solutions (CBS). In line with its penchant for being the first in many technology enabled initiatives, BOI 1 st started Instant Money Transfer IMT amongst the peer banks to transfer domestic cash 24*7 with mobile number. The Bank has set up a Global Processing Centre at Singapore for networking operations amongst all foreign branches of the Bank. The Bank has always stood to its value ‘Relationship beyond banking’ providing customers flavor of satisfaction meanwhile getting transformed to ‘Bank of choice’. Bank of India along with Union Bank of India and Dai-Ichi Mutual Life Insurance Company of Japan have set up a joint venture Life Insurance Company. Bank offers National Swasthya Bima Policy, a Health Insurance product for their customers under a strategic tie up with National Insurance Company.

City Union Bank Ltd. ‘Narayana’ Administrative Office 24 B, Gandhinagar Kumbakonam-612 001 Ph: 0435 2402322, 2401622 Fax: 0435-2431746 Web: www.cityunionbank.com The Kumbakonam Bank Limited was started in the year 1904 as a limited company at Kumbakonam. The first

branch outside Kumbakonam was opened in Mannargudi in 1930 and the first branch outside Tami lnadu was opened in 1980. Two other banks were amalgamated with this bank and in 1987 the name was changed to City Union Bank. Thanks to some sterling performance by the leaders and the staff, today it has 500 branches all over India, and 1310 ATMs to serve its customers. There has been a steady graph of growth for the bank throughout the 112 years of its service. The Staff Training College was started in Kumbakonam in 1989. The Foreign Exchange Dealers’ license was obtained the next year.

All the branches were computerized the same year and today they are connected by the Core Banking System.

All the schemes offered have been appreciated by the customers thereby making the bank go for better and more varied services. On line banking provides facilities for all regular banking services without being physically present at the branch. Utility Bi ll payments, Tax payments, Corporate net banking, Mobile Banking, On line shopping and booking railway tickets are some of the services provided. The Bank has entered into the sale of insurance products of LIC. There is a tie up with Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation for marketing its products. The bank has a franchise arrangement for money transfer service scheme of M/s.UAE Exchange & Financial Services, ICICI Bank, Doha Bank and Bank of India for effective and speedy receipts of funds remitted from abroad. The Bank has obtained license to function as Depository Participant under National Securities Depository Limited.. A number of awards and recognitions have come to the bank in its 110 years of service such as Best Mid-Sized Bank on Profitability and Efficiency by the Business Today Survey, 2012. Industrial Economist Excellence Award 2012, Sri. V isvesvaraya Industrial Award ,(TNSB) Innovation Award and Business Excellence Award 2014 by India Business Journal are some of them.

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Federal Bank Ltd. Federal Towers, Corporate Office P.B No: 103, Aluva - 683 101 Ph: 0484 2623620-27, 2630996 Fax: 0484 2622283 Web: www.federalbank.co.in Federal Bank with its Head Quarters at Aluva in Kerala today enjoys the trust and confidence of more than 6 million customers across the world. Started in the preindependence era, it gradually transformed into a fullfledged bank under the able leadership of its Founder, Mr. K P Hormis. It is the largest traditional private sector Bank in India and 4th among all private sector banks in India in terms of footprint. The Bank’s shares are listed in the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange in India. Federal Bank’s global depository receipts are listed at the London Stock Exchange. The Bank follows sound principles of corporate governance and values human capital as the primary source of its strength. The Bank has 1247 branches and 1485 ATMs (as on 31st March 2015) spread across 25 States and Union Territories of the country. One of the the first banks in India to computerize all its branches, Federal Bank offers its customers, a variety of services such as Internet banking, Mobile banking, online bill payment, on-line fee collection, online religious offerings, depository services, online e trade services, Cash Management Services, merchant banking services, RTGS / NEFT facility, IMPS etc. as part of its strategy in enhancing the convenience to its customers. Federal bank leads the way in implementation of technology & enhancement of banking convenience. It is the first Bank to offer Electronic Telephone Bill Payment in the country, e-shopping payment gateway, Mobile Alerts & Mobile Banking service, Express Remittance Facility from abroad and RTGS facility across all its branches. It is the first among the traditional banks in the country to introduce Internet Banking Service and offer IMPS facility through Internet Banking and offer a debit card with an overdraft facility against pledged gold

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as well as the first Bank to be the sponsor bank for White Label ATMs. Federal bank is the first to offer mobile based electronic passbook and V irtual Accounting System (VAS).

Federal Bank was one among the first to take technology enabled state of the art services and products to rural and semi-urban areas reaching out to the common man, at almost free of cost or at affordable cost. 68 % of our branches are in rural and semi-urban centres. It changed the way of banking by these underprivileged sections of people. Bank has a very reasonable and comparatively low service charge structure. Additions to Federal Bank’s innovations have been made recently. FedBook Selfie - A power packed Account Opening - cum-electronic passbook.

Scan n Pay - An aid to scan the QR Code & pay through your Cell phone. Virtual Accounting System (VAS) - A boon to Institutional Clients of Federal Bank. E-Maintenance - A hand maiden to Residents Associations/Housing Societies.

APNA GOLD 24*7 is a cost- effective alternative to the credit Card and Fed Rise - An OD against RD - an aid in emergency. With all these innovations and the reliable banking practices, the Federal Bank has become one of the strongest and most stable banks in the country.

Punjab National Bank Head Office 7, Bhikhaiji Cama Place New Delhi - 110 066 Ph: 011 26102303 Web: www.pnbindia.in The Punjab National bank is one of the largest nationalized banks in the country with over 6894 branches in India and 5 overseas branches. The bank serves more than 82 million customers with prudent and trustworthy banking. With strong fundamentals, large franchise value and good brand image, the bank can meet the growing aspirations of all groups of people. Some of the accolades for the bank in 2014 - 15 include MSME Banking Excellance Award, RBI Rajbhasha Award, Annual Social Banking Excellence

Award, ‘Golden Peacock Business Excellence Award’ by Institute of Directors, PNB Received Award For CSR Activity, Golden Peacock award for innovative Product/Service, Vigilance Excellence Award , ABP News presented PNB with Global CSR Excellence and Leadership Award for ‘Organisations with Best CSR Practices’. The bank enjoys rank No.26 among FE 500 India’s Finest Companies. In business performance the bank has maintained its Number One position in Savings Deposits, CASA Deposits, Total Income, Non Interest Income, Operating Profit and Net Profit among the nationalized banks. The bank has been able to protect the interests of both the customers and the stake holders. In operational performance also the bank has been able to put forth excellent results. With 6894 branches, 9021 ATMs, 7000 Business Correspondents, the bank has been the forerunner in the initiatives for Financial Inclusion Programmes. The bank is also actively participating in the Direct Benefit Transfer Programme of the Government. For the techno savvy young generation the bank offers Fund Transfer, Bill Payments mobile registration for generation of SMS alerts, Direct Tax Payment, request for stop payment of cheques etc from its network of ATMs. The bank offers Internet Banking including online bill payment for utility services, Railway/ air ticket booking, e-payment of service taxes and many more. All the branches are RTGS and NEFT enabled. PNB MetLife India Insurance Company is the new initiative of the bank. Other services include credit and debit cards, Gold Business, Merchant Banking, Mutual Fund, Factoring Services etc. 703 branches are now Pragadi Branches with a queue management system, self-service area with Pass Book Printing Terminal, Cash and Cheque Deposit Machine for speedy and convenient delivery of services. The bank has branches in Hong Kong, Dubai, Afghanistan, an Offshore Banking Unit in SEEPZ, Mumbai, and Subsidiaries in UK, Bhutan, and Kazakhstan. The bank has 48 branches in its joint venture with Everest Bank, Nepal. There are five representative offices in Sydney, Dubai, Almaty, Shanghai

and Oslo. The bank will keep on dedicating itself and fulfilling the needs of the people with excellent financial services in the years to come.

State Bank of Travancore Head Office: Poojapura Thiruvananthapuram - 695 012 Web: www.statebankoftravancore.com State Bank of Travancore (SBT) is an Associate of the State Bank of India and a member of the State Bank Group, the largest banking group in India. The Bank offers credit to the Priority Sectors and also the special schemes announced by the Government meeting need based requirements of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Agriculture sector. The Bank attaches priority to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, helping technocrats and women entrepreneurs. Bank’s Technical Consultancy Cell assists the small units in evaluation of techno-economic feasibility of their projects. The Bank caters to the needs of farmers through its rural and semi-urban branches and specialised Krishi Point Branches, encouraging investment credit activities in dairy, poultry, piggery, fishery, plantation, horticulture, construction of warehouses and farm mechanisation. The Kisan Credit Card Scheme, gives farmers more flexibility in meeting their requirements. Assistance is given to tenant farmers also. The Bank has introduced Kissan Gold Card scheme, Produce Marketing Loans, Advance against Ware house receipts, Karshaka Suhrut, SHG and JLG to groups for Agriculture and allied activities, including dealers in fertilizers, poultry feed, cattle feed, agricultural implements etc. The Bank concentrates on capital investment in agriculture by providing Agricultural Term Loans in association with Govt. of India, NABARD and State Govt. Agencies. The Bank has surpassed the bench mark level of 18% under Agriculture sector for the past two years in succession. The Bank has been allocated 35 villages having a population over 2000 for providing Basic Banking services. The State Bank of Travancore is a member

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of the National Automated Clearing House (NACH) and the Central Plan Schemes Monitoring System (CPSMS) As a registrar for Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) enrollment of residents for issuing Aadhaar is taking place in various centers in Kerala State. The State Bank of Travancore is the first choice for NRIs, having the highest amount of NRI Deposits in the state of Kerala. It has Rupee Drawing arrangements with 43 Exchange companies and one bank. Money Trans-provides faster and speedy remittance. Instant Credit facility is available to accounts in SBT through all exchange companies having tie-up with the Bank. SMS Alert facility is provided for customers in Gulf countries and X press Remit, from UK. The bank shares the social responsibility with 643 Social circles providing community service, free Medical Camps, Rehabilitation Programs and help for orphanages, care homes, geriatric centres and the student community.

Union Bank of India Nodal Regional Office Union Bank Buildings M.G Road, Kochi - 682 035 Tel: +91 484 2385200 Web: www.unionbankofindia.co.in Email: pndroernakulam@unionbankofindia.com Union Bank of India, one of the premier Public Sector Banks with Pan India presence, was established on 11th November, 1919. Its Registered Office in Mumbai was inaugurated by none other than the Father of our Nation.

The Bank has about 4134 branches and more than 7000 ATMs. Union Bank’s ATMs to Branches ratio is 1:71, which is considered to be the Best in the industry. Total Business of the Bank is around Rs. 5,90,000 crores as on 31st December 2015. With a customer base of more than 30 million and 32000 dedicated Staff, Union Bank is poised for a big leap to become the ‘Bank of first choice in chosen areas by building beneficial and lasting relationship with customers through a process of continuous improvement’.

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Union Bank offers technology - based products and services at par with new generation banks. The Bank achieved cent percent CBS connectivity way back in 2008, well ahead of other public sector banks. Union Bank has been the proud recipient of many awards and commendations. The Bank won the first prize in B region under Indira Gandhi Rajbhasha Puraskar for 2014-15 and for all three regions under RBI Rajbhasha Shield for 2013-14. For its Network Operations the Bank won the first place for Express Uptime Champion Award 2014. The Bank bagged the SKOCH ORDEROF-MERIT Award for 2015 for implementing various technology initiatives to support all Government schemes under Financial Inclusion. Bank also bagged IBA technology award 2016. Project Utkarsh launched by the Union Bank of India is a new wave of the transformational journey for the Bank to scale new heights. Project Utkarsh is mainly intended to gravitate the distribution network of the Bank towards a Lean Branch Model which will ensure faster decision making. The Project stresses on five key areas. It will ensure better customer experience and improvement through digitization across branches. It aims at higher customer cross-sell through smart analytics leveraging internal customer data. Higher liabilities and asset sales productivity will be achieved through the distribution network and marketing teams and better service performance, and sales through multi-channels including ATM, Call Centers, Mobile and Internet. There will be stronger HR proposition across training, performance management, manpower, succession planning and leadership development. The Bank has repositioned the ATMS to SAMPURNA ATMs having features of IMPS, NEFT, ecash remittances etc. Union Bank was the first Bank to launch mobile Banking. The Bank has a scheme of rewarding points, which can be converted to cash savings to its debit and credit card holders. Union Bank has already made its presence overseas with full-fledged Branches at Hongkong, Dubai, Antwerp (Belgium) and a subsidiary office at London. Bank’s Representative Offices are

functioning at Shanghai, Beijing and Abu Dhabi. A New branch is slated for opening at Sydney. The Training System of the Bank is one of the finest in the Industry. With technology backed service and products, Union Bank is sure to play a vital role in the financial sector of our country in the coming years.

Andhra Bank 5-9-11, Dr Pattabhi Bhavan Secretariat Road, Saifabad Hyderabad 500 004. Telangana Ph: 040- 23252000 Web: www.andhrabank.in AXIS Bank Ltd Corporate Office Bombay Dyeing Mills Compound Pandurang Budhkar Marg Worli, Mumbai - 400 025 Ph: 022 24252525 Web: www.axisbank.com Bank of Baroda Baroda Corporate Centre Plot No - C-26, G - Block Bandra - Kurla Complex Bandra (East) Mumbai - 400 051 Ph: 022 6698 5000 - 04, Fax: 022 2652 3500 Web: www.bankofbaroda.com Bank of India Star House, C-5, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex Bandra East, Mumbai-400 051 Ph: 022 66684444, Web: www.bankofindia.com Bank of Maharashtra Head Office, ‘Lokmangal’, 1501 Shivajinagar, Pune-411005 Ph: 020 - 25532731, 25532733 Web: www.bankofmaharashtra.in

Canara Bank Head Office, 112, J.C Road Bangalore - 560 002 Ph: 080 22221581 Web: www.canarabank.com Catholic Syrian Bank St. Mary’s College Road Thrissur, Kerala - 680020 Ph: 0487 2333020 Fax: 0487 2333170 Web: www.csb.co.in Central Bank of India Corporate Office, Chander Mukhi Nariman Point Mumbai - 400 021 Ph: 022 66387777 Web: www.centralbankofindia.co.in City Bank N.A, mail Desk, No: 2, Club House Road Annasalai, Chennai - 600 002 Web: www.onlinecitybank.co.in City Union Bank Ltd. ‘Narayana’ Administrative Office 24 B, Gandhinagar, Kumbakonam - 612 001 Ph: 0435 2402322, 2401622 Fax: 0435-2431746 Web: www.cityunionbank.com Corporation Bank Mangaladevi Temple Road, Pandeshwar Mangalore 575 001, Karnataka Ph: 0824 2426416 to 420, Fax: 0824 2440964 Web: www.corpbank.com Dena Bank Bandra Kurla Complex, Banrda East Mumbai - 400 051,Ph: 022 26545000, 26545035 Web: www.denabank.com bank

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Dhanalakshmi Bank Ltd. Dhanalakshmi Building PB No: 9, Nayakanal Thrissur - 680 001, Ph: 0487 6617000 Fax: 0487 6617222, Web: www.dhanbank.com

Indian Overseas Bank Central Office, 763 Anna Salai Chennai - 600002 Ph: 044 28524212 Web: www.iob.in

Federal Bank Ltd Federal Towers Corporate Office, P.B No: 103 Aluva - 683 101 Ph: 0484 2623620-27, 2630996 Email: fbl@federalbank.co.in Web: www.federalbank.co.in

Indusind Bank Ltd Corporate Office 8th Floor, Tower 1C One India Bulls Centre 841, S B Marg Elphinstone Road Mumbai - 400013 Ph: 022 24231999 Web: www.indusind.com

HDFC bank Ltd Chandivali, Off Sakivihar Road Sakinaka, Andheri East Mumbai - 400 072 Ph: 022 28569009 Web: www.hdfcbank.com ICICI Bank ICICI Bank Tower Bandra Kurla Complex Mumbai - 400 051, Ph: 022 33667777 Web: www.icicibank.com IDBI Bank Ltd. IDBI Tower, WTC Complex Cuffe Parade, Mumbai-400 005 Ph: 022 66553355, 66937000 Web: www.idbi.com Indian Bank Corporate Office, C-Wing, 254-260 Avvai Shanmugam Salai Royapettah Chennai - 600 014 Ph: 044 28134300, 28134457, 28134583 Email: indianbankccd1@gmail.com Web: www.indianbank.in

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ING Vysya Bank Ltd ING Vysya House No: 22, M.G. Road Bangalore - 560 001 Ph: 080 25559222 Web: www.ingvysyabank.com Jammu and Kashmir Bank Moulana Asad Road, Sreenagar Kashmir - 190 001 Ph: 0194 2481930 Web: www.jkbank.net Karnataka Bank Limited Mahaveera Circle, Kankanady Mangalore - 575 002 Karnataka State Ph: 0824-2228222 Web: www.karnatakabank.com Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd Ground Floor, Samsung Buildings 158, CST Road, Santacruz East Mumbai - 400 098 Ph: 022 66768311 Web: www.kotak.com

The Lakshmi Vilas Bank Ltd Administrative Office LVB House 4,Sardar Patel Road, guindy Chennai - 600032 Tamil Nadu Ph: 044 22205207 Web: www.Ivbank.com Oriental Bank of Commerce Corporate Office, Plot No. 5 Institutional Area Sector-32 Gurgaon – 122001 Ph:0124 4126200, 4126300 Web: www.obcindia.co.in Punjab National Bank Head Office 7 Bhikhaiji Cama Place New Delhi - 110066 Ph: +91 11 26102303 Web: www.pnbindia.in Punjab & Sind Bank 1st Floor, 21 Rajendra Place New Delhi - 110008 Ph: 011 25719082 Fax: 011 25723793 Web: www.psbindia.com South Indian Bank Head Office, SIB House TB Road Mission Quarters Thrissur, Kerala - 680 001 Ph: 0487 2420020, 2420058 Email: sibcorporate@sib.co.in Web: www.southindianbank.com

State Bank of India Central Office Madam Cama Road Mumbai - 400 021 Web: www.statebankofindia.com State Bank of Travancore Head Office Poojapura Trivandrum-695 012 Web: www.statebankoftravancore.com SyndicateBank Corporate Office Gandhinagar Bangalore-560 009 Ph: 080 22267545, 22267548 Web: www.syndicatebank.in Union Bank of India Central Office Union Bank Bhavan Vidhan Bhavan Marg Nariman Point Mumbai - 400 021 Ph: 022 22892000, 22892400 Website: www.unionbankofindia.co.in UCO Bank Head Office, 10 B T M Sarani Kolkata - 700 001 West Bengal Web: www.ucobank.com Vijaya Bank Head Office, 41/2, Trinity Circle M.G. Road Bangalore - 56000 Ph: 080 25584066 (20 lines) Web: www.vijayabank.com

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Real Estate - India Growth Story The real estate industry in India faced the heat of the global economic crisis in terms of a demand slow down and severe liquidity crunch. But it managed to emerge without much distress because of the strong fundamentals of the economy, some regulatory intervention and an

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overall better protected financial regime. The industry is pretty well organized today with the active involvement of international real estate players, foreign investors and big Indian corporate houses entering the field. Only a third of India is urbanized and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ambitious plans for building smart cities. These are

potent drivers for home demand over the longer term.

Sustained GDP growth cannot leave real estate behind for long. Real estate is at the core of infrastructure development and will respond to these positive changes over the longer 202

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term. We have seen it play out before: The IT boom in Bangalore and Hyderabad, the BFSI boom in Mumbai, the decentralization of Central Business Districts and expansion of peripheries (Navi Mumbai, NOIDA, Gurgaon).

This cycle will play out again when economic growth picks up. When it does, we will see new infrastructure, new cities and the demand created by these will have a positive impact on home prices. The demand for commercial and residential property will shoot up. The improved infrastructure and better facilities also play a major role in boosting the realty prospects in any area. Emphasis on infrastructure and affordable housing will create demand.

Financial reforms across all aspects of the real estate business including land acquisition, through regulating the industry’s initiatives to take care of customer interests, 204

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liberalization of FDI, and introduction of real estate investment trusts (REITS) has brought in more trust in the industry. With globalization, the investors will invest their money where they see investor friendly environment and an associated ease of operation. India has the unique challenge of meeting the requirements of the population polarized at the two ends of the economic spectrum. But the talented Indian real estate industry and the policy makers can meet the challenge. In this year’s budget we see a glimpse of such an effort.

In some major declarations made in the budget regarding affordable

housing, it is clear that government is keen to give a boost to affordable housing segment, being also in line with government’s initiative to provide housing to all by 2022.

100% Service tax exemption has been given to make houses up to 30 sq mtr in 4 metros and up to 60 sq mtr in others.

This policy will benefit the home buyers, especially the middle and lower income group. Increased tax rebate to 206

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60000 will benefit in a big way, those living in rented houses. Certain issues related to direct and indirect taxes have been addressed which is also good for the sector.

The major cities of India were already looking for better housing and commercial facilities. The growth of the IT sector, the better financial position of the employees and the massive increase in migration has led to this demand.

This prompts the builders to plan more projects across the country. There are both public and private players in this.

The increase in property rates is seen even in smaller towns. Investors have realized that investing in stock markets with its ups and downs has its own related problems. Bank deposits and mutual funds are restrictive in returns. When you invest in real estate, you are buying physical land or property. Some real estate costs you money every month you hold it - like a vacant parcel of land that you hope to sell to a developer someday but have to come up with cash out-of-pocket for taxes and maintenance. Some real estate is cash generating - like an apartment building, rental houses, or strip mall where the tenants are sending you checks each month, you pay the expenses, and keep the difference as the profit. Metros and small cities have recorded a rise of at least 25 to 30% rise in the last five years. The residential sector is the favourite with both the property developer and property investor. According to real estate analysts, hosing sector is bound to grow many fold in the coming years. With the industrial and infrastructure development that is on the anvil, the demand for apartments, villas and houses will only go up. The rental values of residential areas tend to go up while that of the commercial areas tend to come down. Hence investors and builders prefer the residential sector. The building up of independent houses, multi storied apartments and duplex houses, the upcoming bed and breakfast facilities and villas is bound to bloom.

India’s real estate sector will become the most lucrative investment option for domestic and foreign investors. With the industrial and infrastructure growth there will be more demand for commercial complexes, industrial structures, hospitality buildings, healthcare facilities and many more which will give a boost to the building sector.

But the maximum growth will be in the IT sector since almost 70% of the new constructions are for that sector.

The investment scenario has undergone a paradigm shift in India. Investors no longer look for equity bonds and

shares. Surveys show that while the returns from bonds and shares may be upto 6%, the income from rental incomes on investment in commercial property in the Indian metros is around 10.5% which is the highest in the world.

The capital value of the commercial office space is also on the increase with the increased demand from IT, ITES and BPO sectors. The investor confidence is sustained by the strong regulatory and financial management in the country. The real estate boom is supported by the country’s flourishing economy on a sustainable basis. Lower interest rates, easy availability of housing finance, burgeoning income and better job prospects and increase in nuclear families have given the boost for residential builders.

There is hardly any reason for the property prices to fall significantly, with seventh pay commission round the corner and a commensurate raise in the wages for private sector employees will ensure that the demand does not slip much and therefore waiting for a deep correction may not be a sound idea, to invest in the places where growth is imminent would be wiser. Real Estate in 2025 will be very different and much better than what we see today.

For the Next Decade Smart City is the current buzz word and the Government has already announced many across the country. Growth in these places will not be restricted to one sector. As more people will be involved and more money will be available all sectors will benefit and the real estate sector will never be left behind. With an aim to achieve “inclusive growth”, the Smart City Mission promotes integrated city planning, where the government’s policies such as Swachh Bharat Mission and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation complement each other. The new parameters set by the Ministry have created a “perform or perish” situation where municipal councils “cannot afford to miss this opportunity of recasting the country’s urban landscape”. The Ministry will impose fines on States that violate the timeline of 60 days of finalising the projects.

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Of the 98 cities and towns that five years down will graduate into smart cities, 24 are capital cities, another 24 are business and industrial centres, 18 are culture and tourism influenced areas, five are port cities and three are education and health care hubs. While UP has maximum of 13 cities, followed by 12 in Tamil Nadu and 10 in Maharashtra to be developed as Smart Cities, Madhya Pradesh has seven cities in the project. Karnataka and Gujarat have six cities each while Bihar and Andhra has three each and the rest of the states have two and one cities respectively in the project.

The Urban Development Ministry would provide Rs. 100 crore to each city over the next five years. The success of the government’s Smart City Mission is largely dependent upon the finance generation at the State-level as well as private investments. The Centre has set aside Rs. 48,000 crore for the mission and the money will be released to urban local bodies at frequent intervals in the next five years. The Centre has asked the State governments to generate the rest of the Rs. 48,000 crore as the grand total of the mission is estimated at Rs. 96,000 crore. A large percentage of investors have already shown interest in these cities and the amount of growth to be achieved will depend on the investment made by the private sector also.

The real estate boom in these cities will certainly be phenomenal. Many projects with over 1000 units are gaining gound in South India in regions like Devanahalli and Hoskote in Bangalore and Old Mahabalipuram Road and Grand Southern trunk Road in Chennai. The availability of enough vacant land is prompting builders to invest in these areas both in residential building and infrastructural development. As these hubs become functional the real estate growth at India’s hinterlands will be exponential.

Affordable housing has become significant after the announcement of the policy of “housing for all” by 2022.

The National capital Region will be the key player in boosting India’s real estate business. Faridabad and greater Faridabad are expected to be the hotspots in NCA

as they have a live connectivity with Noida, Gurgaon, Greater Noida and Delhi. Greater Faridabad is a newly formed residential and industrial city. Its growth will be speeded up when the plan to connect it with the Delhi Metro is implemented.

What is in Demand On an all India basis, it is seen that buyers of property are looking more for basic amenities than luxuries. Security, power back-up, garden, play area, gym, and intercom seem to be more in demand than ultra-luxuries. In Metros smaller properties are preferred. Large swanky homes that prove to be a burden on maintenance are shunned in preference to smaller, well built residences. So the builders are ready to cater to this sector. The demand for ready-to-move-in properties is also increasing The initiative of the REIT, and FDI in the building sector, more projects have been initiated. Along with this there is also a good market for resale of property Cities like Bangalore, Pune, and Chennai at the top of the list for maximum resale of properties.

Real Estate in the Union Budget 2016 Union budget 2016 has focused on some key issues which is positive for real estate sector. In a move to boost the housing demand, deduction of Rs 50,000 has been given on a loan of up to 35 lakhs. There has been allocation of funds for infrastructure development which includes construction of road networks and setting up of 300 urban clusters. Affordable housing has been given a fair share.

This would kick start the real estate in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities along with new mushrooming areas in major cities as well. Direct Dividend Tax (DDT) is now exempt from REITS. Rent-payers and first time home buyers have also been considered and their tax deduction limit has been enhanced. These measures will benefit realty sector in a big way. The government expects the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill to become a reality soon. Various tax concessions and reliefs announced 212

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would go a long way in meeting the long-standing demand of the construction sector. The housing and construction sector has been given infrastructure status in the Budget for 2016-17, even without being formally declared so, The Budget has also proposed several concrete measures to enable flow of investments into affordable housing.

Despite the focus of the Budget on agriculture and rural development, the urban sector has also got its due. As against the increase of 15 per cent in the total Central Plan Outlay for 2016-17 over Revised Estimates for the current fiscal, Plan Outlay for the urban sector has been increased by 55 per cent. The share of urban sector in the total Central Plan Outlay for the current fiscal and the next fiscal remained at about 5 per cent. About Rs 21,000 crore was allocated to the Urban Development Ministry, while Housing and Poverty Alleviation got Rs 5,400 crore. To promote rental housing, which meets the needs of migrants and those who can’t afford to build a house, the deduction limit has been increased by Rs 36,000, from the present Rs 24,000 to Rs 60,000.

Other announcements like modernisation and digitisation of land records, facilitating ease of doing business and further liberalisation of FDI conditions would also go a long way in channelling much desired investments into the housing sector, including affordable housing.

According to the Budget proposals, several concrete steps are being taken to ensure flow of investments into affordable housing and construction. These measures include introduction of Public Utility (Resolution of Disputes) Bill later this year to streamline institutional arrangements for resolution of disputes in infrastructure related construction projects, PPP and public utility contracts. A new credit rating system for infrastructure projects with emphasis on in-built credit enhancement structures has been put in place. It does away with relying upon a standard perception of risk, which often result in mispriced loans. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) will set

up a dedicated fund to provide credit enhancement to infrastructure projects.

Real Estate as an Investment Option The real estate sector in India is a good investment option as compared with other sectors. Many reasons can be attributed to the safety of this sector. For one it is too big to fail: There are simply too many vested interests in real estate to allow it to slip into panic-led chaos. Politicians, real-estate developers, banks, NBFCs– all of them have too much at stake. Then there are hard-working, salaried employees paying EMIs. This is an industry which reaches a majority of India’s population. Like Wall Street in the USA, India’s real estate industry is too big to fail. At worst, it might see a Lehman-like moment. A few builders will vanish but, as Wall Street figured out, a few casualties – like a Lehman or an AIG – are acceptable collateral damage in the overall scheme of things. But the Government will cobble together a bail-out of sorts. Builders will be rescued, homes will be saved. The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) all-India Residential Property Price Index (Base = FY09-10) shows that the dizzying ascent in home prices is already reversing at a rapid pace. In two years, the rise in home prices has fallen to 4% in 3QFY15 from a high of 28% in 3QFY13. In fact, 3QFY15 saw declines in home prices in cities like Mumbai (-3%) and Chandigarh (-8%). This might not be much, but do remember that real estate is an illiquid asset where prices can take years to correct. In financing home loans, Banks and NBFCs have aided a move towards transparency in the process of owning a home.

This is a huge change from the past where the salaried class would raise funds from friends and families to buy a house and still not be assured of a clear title. Today, agreements are registered and soft copies in CDs accompany registration papers. Upcoming changes like Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), appointment of an industry regulator will add to opening up the sector and improving transparency levels. All of these will go a long way in overhauling the real estate industry.

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India’s real estate today reminds one of the pre-Harshad Mehta, early 90s days in the stock market. A private club owned, operated and gamed by a few strong players in connivance with the authorities to manipulate prices at will. It took years – and more than a few scams and crashes – for this old order to change. It took the birth of SEBI, opening up the sector to domestic and foreign investors, overhauling corporate governance and many more changes to bring us where we are today in capital markets. Real estate will follow a similar path. If a few collapses and crashes do happen along the way, they will eventually improve the real estate sector. Like stock market crashes, any real estate crash will also provide opportunities for investment. Real estate is often a more comfortable investment for the lower and middle classes because they grew up exposed to it (just as the upper classes often learned about stocks, bonds, and other securities during their childhood and teenage years. It is likely that most people heard their parents talking about the importance of “owning a home”. The result is that they are more open to buying land than many other investments. When you invest in real estate, you invest in something tangible.

You can look at it, feel it, drive by with your friends, point out the window, and say, “I own that”. For some people, that’s important psychologically. It’s more difficult to be defrauded in real estate compared to stocks if you do your homework because you can physically show up, inspect your property, run a background check on the tenants, make sure that the building is actually there before you buy it, do repairs yourself ... with stocks, you have to trust the management and the auditors. Using leverage (debt) in real estate can be structured far more safely than using debt to buy stocks by trading on margin. Real estate investments have traditionally been a terrific inflation hedge to protect against a loss in purchasing power of the dollar. Compared to stocks, real estate takes a lot of handson work. You have to deal with the midnight phone calls about exploding sewage in a bathroom, gas leaks, the

possibility of getting sued for a bad plank on the porch, and a whole host of things that you probably never even considered. Even if you hire a property manager to take care of your real estate investments, it’s still going to require occasional meetings and oversight. Real estate can cost you money every month if the property is unoccupied. You still have to pay taxes, maintenance, utilities, insurance, and more, meaning that if you find yourself with a higherthan-usual vacancy rate due to factors beyond your control, you could actually have to come up with money each month!

Where to Invest Real Estate is the oldest business of India it will never fail. Hyderabad, Pune, Navi Mumbai, and Ahmedabad are among the 10 affordable property markets in the country where flats are available within the budget of Rs 30-50 lakh, according to JLL India. The other six cities are Kochi (Kerala), Ghaziabad(Uttar Pradesh), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Surat (Gujarat) and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. In its latest report, property consultant JLL India has listed 10 cities that offer great lower-budget real estate investment prospects over medium to long term.

These towns and cities offer a wide spectrum of investable options in real estate with relatively lower property price levels, providing the incentives for future capital appreciation and healthy returns The Real Estate Market Before making an investment it is essential to know the characteristics of the real estate market. The first step is to find out the market value of a property from the listings of the values in the neighbourhood. The next step is to find out the current trends in real estate in the area. The real estate market will favour the buyers at times and the sellers at other times. If the area is about to figure as an employment hub, the real estate value will certainly increase. At such times you can sell a property and make some profit. When there is a great demand for property 216

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and the supply is less you will get a good price on sale. If the prices are low and the demand is less, it is a buyers’ market. This happens when there are more homes on sale and the interest rates on loans is high. The closing down of a company which forces people to move away will lower the price of homes as they will be forced to sell at whatever price they can get and re-locate themselves. The Real Estate Market Analysis is a tool people use in order to know the market. As a first step one should gather information about the market through different online surveys, focus groups and every possible relevant sources. A good market analysis would surely include information on the real estate trends, full assessment of Real estate companies, their strategies and a relevant data about potential.

According to Frost and Sullivan’s Survey, Indian IT sector is under pressure from Chinese and other upcoming potential outsourcing hubs of the world. The survey suggests that India’s lead over China in outsourcing is narrowing. The reasons that were cited by the research firm are Poor Infrastructure, High attrition rates and Sky rocketing wages of IT workers. According to the survey, India was the top hub, followed by China, Ireland, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Philippines and Canada. The survey reviewed some 300 multinational firms in seven sectors: financial services, technology, health care, fast-growing consumer goods, transportation, energy, and media and entertainment. Although India is churning out more than 3 million graduates every year, demand for experienced professionals in India is outpacing supply, leading to attrition levels of up to 40 percent or higher, especially in the Information Technology sector. Due to this gap, other upcoming outsourcing countries are looking to grab the share of consolidating Indian outsourcing market.

But with the firm determination on the part of the governments and the interest shown by the private investors, India will soon regain the initiative in this sector and this will enhance the the general economic situation in the country.

Dream Home in Kerala Kerala, one of the most sought after destinations for tourism is also emerging as the ideal place to set up your dream home. Its natural greenery and the moderate climatic conditions make it the best place to live. Kerala tourism has been doing extremely well in the last few years and this has a direct bearing on related industries like hospitality and real estate. The real estate scene in kerala has been brightened by the developments in the IT sector, the industrial sector and the establishment of major projects like the International Container Transshipment Terminal at Kochi, the up gradation of the Airport at Kozhikode and the commencement of the V izhinjam Port at Trivandrum. These developments have encouraged many real estate companies to invest in the State in order to cater to the increased need for commercial space and residential accommodation. The clients have faith in the Kerala real estate sector owing to the world renowned status that the state enjoys. Many established and upcoming real estate companies in Kerala have been vying with one another to offer their clients the best of properties including luxury or budget hotels, resorts and home stays as well as apartments, villas and independent houses in ideal locations.

The IT sector boom in Kochi and Trivandrum and the elevation of Kochi as a Smart City has led to the setting up of IT parks with state of the art buildings and hi-tech campuses, thereby enhancing the scope for real estate sector in the state. As a part of the latest trend in the tourism industry, religious tourism has been a motivating factor in the realty boom seen in the famous holy centres of Kerala like Guruvayoor. The moderate climate, tropical geography with hills and valleys, backwaters, palm fringed shores and a vast coast line, the best international connectivity and its multi-cultural ambience has been attracting real estate investors to the state in a big way. In spite of the economic slowdown, the real estate sector 218

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never lost its position. With the state government also implementing new ways to attract FDIs in the form of real estate investments, the realtors of Kerala are playing a pivotal role in the economy of the state. Realtors from outside the state also have started taking a keen interest in this sector. The concept of affordable homes and green buildings are catching up in Kerala and this makes it the favourite place for people from all over the country to settle down. With the growing concerns about global warming, the green building concept with its fuel saving capacity is a big attraction for owners as well as the civic authorities.

As it is done with materials available in the locality it proves to be cost effective also. Both the builders and the clients are aware of the advantages of construction of houses and commercial spaces while taking care not to harm the environment. The real estate companies are vying with one another to retain their clientele and attract new ones. They do their utmost to provide excellent and affordable residential and commercial properties. With easy access to home loans and other schemes offered by banks and private institutions, the people are ready to raise their budgets if they get the right type of property without mush hassle. The real estate companies and builders have realized that unless they deliver exclusive and valuable services promptly, they will lose their clients as competition is very high in this field. The arrival of international builders on the scene has familiarized the clients with high technology standards in construction and infrastructure. So anyone who offers less than that will be thrown out of the race. This is seen in the luxury apartments provided with exclusive covered parking space, landscaped garden, health clubs and recreational clubs and high speed modern lifts. Great care is taken to choose good quality construction. The new residential and commercial complexes are built using the best available materials.

Professional management companies and the growing industrial sector in Kerala has brought about a change in the concept of the commercial buildings also. The value of

the commercial buildings in Kerala has always been on the rise. All the major national builders have come forward to prove their merit in Kerala. The state has always been a favourite destination for the tourists. All the district offer different attractions like serpentine backwater stretches, extensive and beautiful beaches, lush green paddy fields, wild life sanctuaries, hills with plantations of various cash crops and spices, coconut trees swaying on the water front, rich cultural diversity, ancient heritage sites and exclusive hamlets that are unique to the state.

This has led to the construction of the hospitality sector all over the state. There are innumerable hotels and restaurants, resorts and home stays which offers a competitive platform for the real estate players to show case their abilities.

Keralites of yore preferred the individual houses with vast land surrounding it, covered with fruit trees and vegetable gardens. But of late they prefer the apartments for many reasons. The breaking up of the joint family system has necessitated the smaller residences that can be managed without much external help. Security is another factor that prompts working couples to go in for apartments in lieu of individual houses. This has led to the rise of innumerable apartment complexes in the bigger cities of Kerala. The younger generation with better earning capacity look for their own living spaces at an early stage of life.

This has led to the preference for luxury apartments as contrasted with the austere living spaces preferred by their ancestors. Realising this trend, the property developers are bringing world class quality into their work. The trend is looking up with all the builders announcing new ventures in all the major towns and cities especially in Trivandrum, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kottayam and Thrissur. Kochi tops the list as it has now got the added attraction of being the Smart City with both Governmental and private players involved in it. The construction of residential properties continues to gain momentum all over the state .

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The real estate sector can be said to have grown with the IT sector which has generated professionals with disposable income. The NRIs is another set that invests a lot in residential and commercial property. The village population is also migrating to the urban areas thereby increasing the demand for residential places. With many residential complexes coming up other infrastructural growth is also necessary. This leads to the construction of shopping malls with entertainment facility, hotels and restaurants, hospitals, schools and colleges. Though the share in the undivided land of the apartment for the individual apartment is low, it does not affect the value of the apartment.

The government should help the industry by providing good roads, water and power . supply as well as the drainage system. . The industry should also be subject to strict control by the monitoring authority of the government to protect the interest of large number of investors The newly constituted Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) is expected to protect the customers by bringing all the builders under a common platform and ensure their registration with the authority. It will actually work as a watchdog between the buyer and the seller to ensure fair trade and trace violations. For those who abide by the rules in the sector, it would be beneficial to establish their trust but fraudsters would face legal action and pay compensation to the clients. The average size of the apartment and quality of construction and facilities offered in Kerala are far higher than those in the rest of the states in India. For an average buyer the cost of an apartment is high on the agenda. The builders in Kerala should realise this major concern of an investor and think of affordable housing for the middle class . For the rich and NRIs a flat in the city is a second home. All these pave the way for the steady growth of real estate industry in Kerala. The cities are certainly going to witness growth of residential and commercial complexes side by side especially with the

completion of mass transportation infrastructure like metro rail in Kochi and similar arrangements in Trivandrum and Calicut .

Smart Kochi JLL India Chairman and Country Head Anuj Puri remarked on Kochi : “Gone are the days when the city’s builders focused only on affluent buyers. Today, the Kochi residential real estate market is dominated by affordable housing segment, which accounts to about 60 per cent of the total housing projects in the city.” Kochi can genuinely be described as the most happening place as far as real estate development is concerned. Kochi is the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala. The Ernakulam district has a population of almost thirty one lakhs residing within 2408 square kilometre area. With the coming up of more new projects, the population in the city is bound to rise further. Kochi had trade relationships with the Chinese, Arabs Dutch, French and English traders. The present day Kochi has witnessed a business boom The real estate sector has certainly gained from this boom. The IT and ITES sectors in Infopark, VSNL’s Primary International Gateway in India, Cochin Special Economic Zone, KINFRA, Export Promotion Industrial Park, CUSAT, Cochin Refineries, BPCL, Cochin Shipyard, Cochin Port Trust, FACT, HMT and the NPOL have had a great impact on the economic position of the City. Property rates have always been high here especially in areas like the Marine Drive, M.G. Road, Kadavanthra, Panampilly Nagar, Edappally, Thevera and Kakkanad. A multitude of residential complexes are coming up in these areas as well as in the suburban areas.

Tripunithura, Aluva, Palarivattom and Vyttila have been witnessing fast growth both in residential and commercial construction. The Cochin Bye pass is another area that is developing very fast. The commencement of the Kochi Metro will certainly make the areas connected by it extremely valuable as far as real estate business is concerned. Land rates differ in these areas depending on the locality. The

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apartment rates vary largely depending on the facilities offered apart from the location of the apartment. The extra facilities range from swimming pool, children’s play area, roof garden party area, private boat jetty, clubhouse with indoor recreation facilities, health club, EPABX system with intercom, 24-hour security, water and power, modern waste disposal system, sophisticated fire safety devices, centralised gas supply, to name a few.

There is a lot of demand for residential as well as commercial properties from NRI returnees, employees of IT companies. The demand is so high that even before the construction starts, most of the pieces in the structure built by well known and dependable builders are sold out. Many buy apartments to give it out on rent which ensures a regular income without much hassles. In Kochi today buying an apartment is a better option than going for a rented one. Even so the demand for apartments on rent has never gone down. With home loans coming at low-interest rates, repaying the loans in several years is a better option than giving a larger sum for rental. Currently, over 50-60 apartment projects are at various stages of construction to cater to the needs of the city within a few years’ time.

The commercial market in Kochi is now centered around the many Malls that have come up. The proposed Dubai Internet City, the Leela Group and the Technopolis, are to create an unprecedented area of commercial space in Kochi. Kochi Metro, the 25-km long stretch between Aluva and Petta would link important junctions, is a promising corridor for the growth of real estate in Kochi. While convenient transport is the agenda, real estate is banking upon locations along the stretch. Property prices have already been on the rise.

Thiruvananthapuram on the Fast Track Thiruvananthapuram is today emerging as a vibrant, modern metropolis, leaving aside its picture as a bureaucratic city. IT establishments, residential complexes and tourist resorts are coming up in Thiruvananthapuram

especially in the coastal region. Statistical studies show that the city will be witnessing a huge appreciation in realty in the coming decade. Major infrastructure projects like V izhinjam port and monorail and other developments like Technocity and Biotechnology park which will generate huge employment opportunities are all set to boost prospects for real estate appreciation in and around the city. The better employment opportunities will bring in a lot of people to the city, thereby increasing the demand for residential complexes. Residential rentals in prime areas could go in the range of 25000 plus in prime areas which is more than what an investment in Kochi would give. The proposed V izhinjam Container Trans Ship Terminal has created a keen sense of interest in the real estate market. This huge investment is sure to give the real estate sector a major boost in Thiruvananthapuram V illas are likely to see tremendous demand in the coming year compared to apartments in Thiruvananthapuram according to recent surveys. While Kochi may be the real estate hub of Kerala and commands a major volume of business, Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city has seen some action over the past few years. Unlike Kochi where there has been a saturation in the recent past, Thiruvananthapuram is a growing market with a steady growth of 15% annually.

According to market analysts realty business in Thiruvananthapuram has clocked a cumulative growth of around 50 to 60% over the last five years. Today the realty market is in high demand due to smallish nature of the city with just about 5 square kilometer in radius. This means an increase in the number of high rises and also high end properties which have a Rs one crore plus price tag but also offer great amenities and imported fittings.

The Other Vibrant Cities In Thrissur town, the real estate scenario continues to be bright.In Palakkad district, Ottappalam, Pattambi and Mannarkkad areas show signs of increased real estate activity. With infrastructure development as in the Kannur

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air port and the Cyber park, the Malabar region is in for a lot of developmental activity which will certainly pave the way for realty boom also. With the Kannur Airport being opened for air traffic recently, the Malabar area is certain to witness a lot of commercial, trade and industrial activities. This augers well for the real estate sector also.

It will also develop the North Malabar region into a growth centre for travel and tourism based growth. The Cyber Park, the first IT Special Economic Zone in the Malabar Region with an estimated investment of Rs.600 crores will add to the developmental dreams of the region. The forest area in Wayanad is sure to be the hub for jungle tourism which is becoming very popular all over the world. This is sure to lead to a lot of constructions in the hospitality sector. An over all resurgence of industrial activity is also certain to come in its wake. In Alappuzha district, the boom is fast spreading in the water front areas of Thuravoor, Chemmanadu and Cherthala lying on the side of the National Highway. In Kottyam district the boom is mainly centered on plantations Prominence of Vaasthu The ancient buildings like the temples, churches and palaces have all been built according to the tenets of ancient architectural sciences which became forgotten in the modern times with technology coming to the fore. But recently the ancient science has come into acceptance with most builders in Kerala. This must have been because of the realisation of the longevity and the strength of the construction which has enabled these buildings to stand the test of time. Vaasthu is no longer considered a superstition it is recognized as the science dealing with all matter and energy and time and space in the universe and its use of creating dwellings, temples, forts, monumental structures and even vehicles. It deals with the architectural and engineering needs of any structure.

Adherence to the tenets of the Sastra is expected to bring good fortune, well being and good health to the occupants.

find your dream makers Mather Projects Pvt. Ltd. Rajaji Road, Cochin - 682 035 Kerala, India Ph: +91 484 4114444 Mob: +91 98950 11111 Fax: +91 484 2352488 Email: info@matherprojects.com Web: www.matherprojects.com Mather Projects is the realty wing of the Mather Group, which was incorporated in 1942. The Group has interests in housing, hospitality, engineering and education. Mather Projects began in a modest way undertaking individual projects. Today, it is a full-fledged housing company, synonymous with lifestyle housing in the state. With 20 projects completed and many more ongoing in under a decade, Mather today has cemented its position as the leading builder in Cochin, creating the homes customers most aspire to own. Mather, which has a customer base of over 2000, has built over 50 lakh sq.ft to date. Projects are usually located in the elitest residential areas, central locations or in scenic settings such as the waterfront.

Luxury and aesthetics are Mather’s forte. With each project, it reinvents design. Clean, minimalistic and contemporary finishes are given preference. The result is understated elegance that is trendy without being ostentatious. Mather focuses on beautiful finishes; be it for the interiors of an apartment, or for its common areas. By using international designer brands and design concepts Mather has quietly effected a lifestyle revolution in Kerala. Common areas are beautifully laid out, landscaped and lit. Homes are spacious and airy, displaying the quality that comes from using only the best materials. Mather homes are all about luxury. In fact, the company recently launched its Platinum Range of homes which offers apartments and villas where no luxury will be spared. It has been created exclusively for the well traveled home owner, who appreciates the quality

of a well made product and the effort that goes into creating something rare and signature. With numerous celebrities buying Mather homes, and sold out projects continuing to appreciate in value, there is no doubt that Mather has managed to capture the imagination of the people.

Nikunjam Constructions Pvt Ltd Indraprastham, T.C.4/2554 (3) Pattom-Kowdiar Road Thiruvananthapuram- 695 004 Ph: +91 471 2436175, 2436173 Email: indraprastham@asianetindia.com Web: www.nikunjambuilders.com Nikunjam Constructions Pvt. Ltd, incorporated in 1999 as a Private Limited Company, is rated as one of the leading builders of Apartments, V illas and Commercial properties in Kerala. The company has completed more than 1800 apartments and independent villas in more than 28 projects with a total built up area of more than 4 million square feet. Nikunjam Projects are rated among best in apartment lay out, uncompromising quality on materials and construction, quality fittings, superior finishes etc.

The company was promoted by Mr. S. Krishna Kumar, Managing Director who is an Engineer by profession and had served ISRO for more than 14 years. The company’s operation is managed by professionals with vast experience in Construction / Building industry. The company is accredited with ISO-9001-2008 Certification. The completed commercial properties include Nikunjam City Square (Pothys) at M.G. Road, the biggest mall in Trivandrum, ‘Nikunjam Sarass’ at Pattom Junction, Nikunjam Imperial court at Kuravankonam, Nikunjam Orient at Kumarapuram and Nikunjam at Panampally Nagar, Cochin. ‘Nikunjam i Park’ located at Kazhakuttam, a 36 storeyed apartment project, housing 138 Nos 2/3/4 Bed Apartments including duplexes with an infinity swimming pool on the 28th floor, recently completed is a land mark project in the State of Kerala. The ongoing projects include

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Nikunjam Palm Grove Nxt in Bypass Road, Nikunjam Rialto near Medical College, Nikunjam Tharangini, near Kesavadasapuram.

Nikunjam has ownership of land at various strategic locations in Trivandrum City limits for the launch of Apartments, V illas and Commercial complexes.

Sobha Limited 3rd Floor, G K Arcade NH Bypass, Palarivattom Kochi - 682 028 Tel: 0484 2808457, 2808467 Email: vinay.gopikrishnan@sobha.com Web: www.sobha.com Sobha Ltd, India’s ‘Most Admired Real Estate Company’ is a leading construction conglomerate with prestigious projects spread across the country and overseas. The one distinguishing feature is the precedent they set when it comes to offering world class living options. Like its first project in Kerala - Sobha City at Thrissur which is Kerala’s largest and one of India’s most innovative and meticulously planned, self-contained residential enclaves spread over 55 acres, having the first of its kind man-made 6.5 acre lake. The second project at Kozhikode Rio Vista is designed for the connoisseurs of contemporary lifestyle.

Sobha Ltd’s new Premium Luxury Apartment project Rio Vista nestles on the banks of the legendary Chaliyar River, Kozhikode. One can experience a never ending tryst with nature that infuses the golden optimism of the sparkling waters and the magnificent inspiration of glorious sun sets. The super luxury apartments are coming up in 3.66 acres of elevated land overlooking the river where one can enjoy a life lived amidst the green surroundings, the legendary river and the infinite horizon that descends into the sea. The project extends easy connectivity to all city landmarks and outside. Bela Encosta also at Kozhikode, relives the historic lifestyle in Super Luxury Villas inspired by the eternal Portuguese architectural style. Nestled in the nature-endowed landscape of Velliparamba,

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Kozhikode, the villas are tastefully designed to entice connoisseurs of exotic lifestyle. With easy access to the city, yet tucked away from its hassles, this haven of tranquility extends the right setting for a great villa life.

Sobha Isle at Kochi is the first of its kind super luxury project, located on an island, right at the heart of the city at Vytilla.

The project ensures easy access to sought after educational institutions, super specialty hospitals, IT hubs like the Info Park, shopping hubs, churches, temples, mosques and the airport not to mention its close proximity to the mobility hub 300 meters away. Sobha Isle with 70% open space, abundance of greenery and backwaters is the ideal choice for those who want an exclusive and serene super luxury home at Kochi. For more information: M/s Sobha Ltd, First & Second Floor, ‘Empora Gemz’ Nellicode P.O, N.H Bypass Road, Near Thondayad Junction, Calicut - 673 016, Ph: 0495 2359368, 2359365, Email: regionaloffice.calicut@sobha.com, Web: www.sobha.com Veegaland Developers Pvt. Ltd. 4th Floor, KCF Tower Bharath Matha College Road Kakkanad, P.O. Thrikkakkara Kochi - 682 021 Ph: +91 484 3004000, 2973944 Mob: 9746 77 4444, 9746 54 2222 Email: mail@veegaland.in Web: www.veegaland.com ONE TRUSTED NAME. THREE VERSATILE HOME OPTIONS. Veegaland Developers is the realization and a long cherished dream of V-Guard Group’s founder, Chairman and Patron, Mr. Kochouseph Chittilappilly. Being the fastest growing business group with proven expertise in entertainment, hospitality, electronics and Garments industry, the name ‘V–guard’ became synonymous with quality and services. Following the tradition of unwavering concern for high quality and to exceed expectations, Veegaland Developers is also set to become one of the

most reliable builders in Kerala just within a couple of years. Veegaland Developers’ latest launch ‘Kings Town’ at Tripunithura will be a bang-in-the-middle-of-town location with close proximity to schools, college, hospital, tourist spots, shopping malls, multiplex etc and is just 350 meters from NH 49 and proposed Metro station. Kings Town is all set to be the most relevant project for Kochi offering 75 stylish apartments with prime space, premium features and peaceful landscapes. Another distinctive project of Veegaland Developers’ is ‘Petunia & Begonia’, a unique twin tower luxury apartment complex located at Kaloor in the heart of Kochi, just steps away from the proposed metro station and all other amenities. The exterior walls of these buildings are constructed with “POROTHERM” a block, which reduces heat inside the house. Super quality electrical and sanitary fittings, all around ventilation etc. makes these apartments world class. Conceived with organic principles, the apartments are unique in architecture, amenities and ambience with a pronounced leaning towards nature. Work of this project is fast progressing and will be ready for handing over by August 2016.

Veegaland Developers’ maiden housing project was ‘Green Clouds’ Vertical Garden Bungalows at Vazhakkala, Kakkanad, which is an exclusive housing project of expansive 4 bed super luxury apartments, each apartment having a space of 8795 sqft. Built in 50 Cents of land, the 15 storey building have only 11 apartments. The super luxury facilities provided in these apartments and its sprawling area makes this project the first of its kind in Kerala. VRF Air conditioning, solar power/panels, Waste Treatment Plant, Treated drinking water, 100 % rainwater harvesting etc. makes it eco friendly. Modern security system, smart card entry and 24 Hrs surveillance cameras are also provided for the safety of the customers. Swimming pool, fitness centre, Jacuzzi, recreation facility etc. are arranged in two floors. The interior of the apartments are done as per customer ’s choice. Situated just 60 meters away from the Palarivattom-Kakkanad main Road at

Vazhakkala, the project is ready for occupation. The upcoming premium project at Edapally is carved out in sheer luxury and promises a life of grandeur. Proximity to Prime commercial malls like Lulu mall and like, quality Health care centers and good educational institutions is an added advantage. Many more ambitious projects are on the drawing board of the management and are definite to make a telling difference in housing development sector.

Veegaland’s customer orientation and commitment to deliver quality products at right time are sure to win over the trust of discerning home seekers. find your dream makers | ernakulam Abad Builders 8th Floor, Abad Nucleus Mall & Office Kundanoor - Pettah Road Maradu, Cochin Tel: +91 484 3930999 Web: www.abadbuilders.com AC City Projects Pvt. Ltd. AC Estate, S.A Road Vyttila, Kochi - 682 019 Tel: +91 484 2341719,2304142 Fax: +91 484 2347592 Email: mail@accity.in, Web: www.accity.in Ambady Constructions Ambady’s Panthyil Towers Warriam Road Kochi - 682 016 Tel: +91 484 2372331, 2361870 Email: krishnanambady@gmail.com, Web: www.ambadyconstructions.com Anna Properties Appasserry Buildings, INTUC Junction Nettur, Kochi, Tel: +91 484 6465843 Email: info@annaproperty.com Web: www.annaproperty.com

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Ansal Buildwell Ltd. Ansal City Kureekad P.O Kochi - 682 305 Tel: +91 484 6517340, 6510340 Fax: +91 484 2774586 Email: mktgkochi@ansalabl.com Web: www.ansalabl.com Asset Homes Pvt. Ltd. No: 4, Anchorage, Palliyil Lane Off. Fore Shore Road, Kochi-682 016 Tel: +91 484 6456474 Email: mail@assethomes.in Web: www.assethomes.in Bavasons Constructions Pvt. Ltd. VBM Bava Chambers, Paramara Road, Kochi - 682 018.

Tel: +91 484 2390407, 2393163, Fax: +91 484 2391193 Web: www.bavasonsconstruction.com BCG Builders BCG Estates,NH-Bypass, Kochi – 682 025 Tel: +91 484 2535085, 2535086 Email: info@bcgbuilders.com Web: www.bcgbuilders.com Chakolas Habitat Pvt Ltd Willingdon Enclave, Thevara Ferry Road Kochi – 682 013 Tel: +91 484 2663113, Fax: +91 484 4044056 Email: marketing@chakolashabitat.net Web: www.chakolashabitat.net Cherian Varkey Construction Co. Pvt. Ltd. 5th Floor, Alpha Plaza K.P. Vallon Road, Kadavanthara Cochin - 682 020, Tel: +91 484 2319845, 2313628 Fax: +91 484 2312461 Email: info.housing@cherianvarkey.com Web: www.cherianvarkey.com

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Clearway Builders Pvt. Ltd. Seema One Bldg., Sreekandath Road Ravipuram, Kochi - 682 016 Tel: +91 484 2366554, Fax: +91 484 2366554 Email: admin@clearwaybuilders.com Web: www.clearwaybuilder.com Confident Group 868/2, S.A Road, Vyttila Kochi-682 019, Tel: +91 484 4093333 Web: www.confident-group.com Desai Homes Second Floor, D.D Trade Tower Kaloor - Kadavanthra Road Kochi - 682 017, Tel: +91 484 4177888 Email: desaihomes@eth.net Web: www.desaihomes.com DLF Home Developers Dooradarshana Road Seaport - Airport Road, Kakkanad, Kochi Tel: +91 484 4042100, 4042111, Web: www.dlf.in Dewa Projects Pvt. Ltd Near Goshree Bridge Cochin - 682 018 Web: www.dewapier20.com Earthspace 40/406 E, 4th Floor, Beejay Towers Rajaji Road, Kochi - 35 Tel: +91 484 4031550 / 551 Email: mailus@earthspacelife.com Web: www.earthspacelife.com Galaxy Homes Pvt. Ltd. Kaloor, Cochin, Kerala - 682 017 Tel: + 91 484 2539311, 2530344 Email: galaxyhomes@asianetindia.com Web: www.galaxyhomes.com

Gokulam Engineers India Pvt. Ltd. Anjam Apartment, Chittoor Road Kochi - 682 011, Tel: +91 484 2352666, 2351603 Fax: +91 484 2384084 , Email: mail@gokulam.com Web: www.gokulam.com Heavenly Homes Pvt. Ltd. 5D, 5th Floor, Oxford Business Centre Sreekandath Road Ravipuram, Kochi - 682 016 Tel: +91 484 2368075, 4028301 Email: heavenlyhome@gmail.com Web: www.heavenlyhomeskerala.com Heera Construction Company Pvt. Ltd. National Residency, Bank Junction Edapally, Kochi-25 Tel: +91 484 2346484, 2346485 E-mail: heerakochi@heeragroup.com Web: www.heeragroup.com Holiday Projects Kerala Pvt. Ltd. Holiday House, 46/2157 NH Bypass, Kochi-32, Tel: +91 484 2808885 E-mail: marketing@holidaygroup.in Web: www.holidaygroup.in

Jain Housing Constructions Ltd. G - 361, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi - 682 036 Tel: +91 484 2316111, 2320333 Web: www.jainhousing.com Jairaj Projects XXXIV/138E, Knowell Jairaj NH By-pass, Edappally, Kochi - 24 Tel: +91 484 2807400 Email: jairajmd@vsnl.com Web: www.jairajbuilders.com Jewel Homes Pvt. Ltd. Casagrante Building Deshabhimani Jn, Kochi - 17 Tel: +91 484 2335315, 2348856 Web: www.jewelhomes.net Jomer Properties & Investments Pvt. Ltd. Jomer Arcade, Chittoor Road Kochi - 682 016 Tel: +91 484 2376027, 2376028 Email: marketing@jomerproperties.com Web: www.jomerproperties.com

Holy Faith Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd. 34/2353, Mamangalam, Kochi - 682 025 Tel: + 91 484 2340330, 2340411 Email: mail@holyfaith.net Web: www.holyfaith.net

Kalpaka Builders Pvt. Ltd. Door No: 38/4113 GHRA/3, Govt High School Road Edapally, Kochi - 682 024 Ph: +91 484 4074444 Email: sales@kalpakabuilders.com Web: www.kalpakabuilders.com

Infra Housing Pvt. Ltd. I st Floor, C.L.S. Building M.G. Road , Kochi - 682 011 Tel: +91 484 2363333 Fax: +91 484 2370261 Email: sales@infrahousing.com Web: www.infrahousing.com

Kent Homes Lily’s Towers Palarivattom Kochi - 682 025 Ph: +91 484 3298787, 3268787 Email: kentcoindia@hotmail.com Web: www.kentcoindia.com

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KGL Builders Pvt. Ltd. 5th Floor Lalan Towers Banerjee Road Kochi-682 031 Tel: +91 484 3919333, 3919444 Email: kglbuilders@kglbuilders.com Web: www.kglbuilders.com KP Varkey & VS Builders Golden Heaven Apartments Moolepadam Road Vazhakala Cochin-682030 Tel: +91 484 4011018 Email: sales@kpvandvs.in Web: www.kpvandvs.in Kristal Group Chimney Buildings, Opp: IBP Petrol Pump Toll Junction, Edapally-24 Tel: +91 484 2544607, 2544608 Email: kristalkochi@kristalgroup.com Web: www.kristalgroup.com Kunnel Engineers and Contractors Pvt. Ltd. Mareena Buildings Ravipuram Kochi- 682 016 Tel: +91 484 2359680 Email: kunnel@md3.vsnl.net.in Web: www.kunnel.com Madhurya Builders Pvt Ltd Shiva Temple Road Thottakkattukara Aluva-683 108 Tel: +91 484 6450164, 9249576760 Email: madhuryabuilders@vsnl.net Web: www.madhuryabuilders.com 230

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Manadath Homes Pvt Ltd Rail Road Near Bank Junction Aluva-683 101 Ph:+91 484 4063638, 6504076 Email: info@manadathhomes.com Web: www. manadathhomes.com Manjooran Housing Pvt. Ltd. Mamangalam Kochi - 682 025 Tel: +91 484 2345617 Fax: +91 484 4054865 Email: sales@manjooran.com Web: www.manjooran.com Mather Projects Pvt. Ltd. Rajaji Road, Cochin - 682 035 Kerala, India Tel: +91 484 4114444 Mob: +91 98950 11111 Fax: +91 484 2352488 Email: info@matherprojects.com Web: www.matherprojects.com Meera Homes 19/44, First & Second Floor Hill Road, Aluva-683 101 Tel: +91 484 4058809 Email: sales.meerahomes@gmail.com Web: www.meerahomes.com Meridian Homes 3rd Floor, Vallamattam Estate Ravipuram M.G. Road Kochi-682 015 Tel: +91 484 2383795 Email: meridianindia@eth.net Web: www.meridianindia.com

MIR Realtors Pvt. Ltd Corporate Office Door No: 41/2073 D Kalabhavan Road Ekm North Kochi-682 018 Tel: 0484 4128444 Email: info@mirrealtors.in Web: www.mirrealtors.in Motif Builders & Developers Pvt Ltd Hayath Tower Near Juma Masjid Padamukal, Kakkanad Tel: +91 484 4052777 Email: gm@motifbuilders.com Web: www.motifbuilders.com Nagarjuna Constructions Company Ltd. G-183, Panampilly Nagar Kochi - 682 036 Tel: +91 484 2324721, 2319214 Email: ncckochi@vsnl.net Web: www.nagarjunaproperties.com Nagpal Builders NH Bypass Palarivattom Kochi - 682 028 Tel: +91 484 6599550, 2803330 Email: marketing@nagpalbuilders.in Web: www.nagpalbuilders.in National Builders and Developers Sunny Estate Mamangalam Kochi - 682 024 Tel: +91 484 2340781 Fax: +91 484 2330047 Email: marketingkochi@nationalbuilders.in Web: www.nationalbuilders.in

Nest Infratech Compass, NH - 47 Bypass Chakkaraparambu Cochin - 682 032 Tel: +91 484 4477555 Email: info@nestinfratech.com Web: www.nestinfratech.com Oceanus Infrastructure Pvt Ltd Thomson Buildings, Cheruparambathu Road Kadavanthara, Kochi-20 Tel: +91 484 2324881, 2324882 Email: ekmmktg@oceanus.co.in Web: www.oceanus.co.in Olive Builders Olive House, Edappally, Kochi - 682 024 Tel: +91 484 2332190, 2332890 Email: info@olivebuilder.com Web: www.olivebuilder.com Orchid Builders F - 4th Floor, Apple Tower Edappally, Kochi -24 Tel: +91 484 2349922, 4055975 Email: orchidbuilders@rediffmail.com Oxoniya Builders Pvt Ltd Elizabeth Enclave Desabhimani Road Kaloor, Kochi-17 Tel: +91 484 4060501 Email: oxoniyabuilders@gmail.com Web: oxoniyabuilders.com Puravankara Projects Ltd. Panampilly Avenue Kochi - 682 036.

Tel: +91 484 2310055 Fax: +91 484 2319904 Email: saleskochi@puravankara.com Web: www.puravankara.com dream makers

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RDS Project Ltd. Alpha Plaza, KP Vallon Road Kadavanthra, Kochi - 682 020 Fax: +91 484 2323012 Email: mail@rdsproject.com Web: www.rdsproject.com Relcon Properties Pvt. Ltd. Pukalakkattu Complex, Palarivattom Kochi - 682 025, Tel: +91 484 2348420, 2336188 Email: sales@relcongroup.com Web: www.relcongroup.com Royal Projects Group Statue Junction, Tripunithura, Kochi - 682 301 Tel: +91 484 2775897, 2781177 Email: royal.group@gmail.com Web: www.royalprojectsgroup.in Shwas Homes Pvt. Ltd Second Floor, Shawas Mystic Heights - 1 Kaniyampuzha Road, Eroor P.O., Vyttila Kochi - 682 306, Tel: +91 484 4166000 Email: admin@shwashomes.com Web: www.shwashomes.com SK Constructions Second Floor Palmland Complex Temple Road, Bank Jn, Alwaye Tel: +91 484 4063522, 4063523 Email: contactus@skconstructions.net Web: www.skconstructions.net Skyline Builders Skyline House N.H. Bye Pass Road, Vennala Kochi - 682 028 Tel: +91 484 2363695 Fax: +91 484 2374176 Email: marketing@skylinebuilders.com Web: www.skylinebuilders.com

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Sobha Limited 3rd Floor, G K Arcade NH Bypass Palarivattom Kochi - 682 028 Tel: 0484 2808457, 2808467 Email: vinay.gopikrishnan@sobha.com Web: www.sobha.com Souparnika Group Opp. Taluk Hospital Thripunithura Kochi - 682 301 Tel: +91 484 2780011, 3257744 Fax: +91 484 2537854 Email: mail@souparnikamansions.com Web: www.souparnikamansions.com SRK Shelters Pvt. Ltd Sky Wings Near Marthoma School Thengod P.O, Edachira Kakkanad-682030 Tel: 93495 82233 Email: srkcochin@srkconstructions.com Web: www. srkconstructions.com SR Properties Silver Castle, Statue Jn Kalikkotta Road Tripunithura - 01 Tel: +91 484 3194004 Fax: +91 484 2780484 E-mail: srpropertieskerala@gmail.com Web: www.srpropertieskerala.com Stavara Realtors India Pvt. Ltd. Sana Complex, M V Road Palarivattom, Kochi - 25 Tel: +91 484 2341719 Email: stavararealtors@gmail.com Web: www.stavara.com

Sudhir Gopi Developers Pvt Ltd Mosque Lane SRM Road, Kochi-682 018 Tel: +91 484 4060906, 4060907 E-mail: info@sudhirgopidevelopers.com Web: www.sudhirgopidevelopers.com

Ultima Builders & Developers Pvt Ltd HHYS Buildings Rajaji Road, Kochi - 682 035 Tel: +91 484 2370614, 4041500 Email: ultimadreamhomes@yahoo.com Web: www.ultimabuilders.in

Synergy Homes Ltd. Diwan’s Road, Kochi - 682 016 Tel: +91 484 236 3073, 4028822, 23, 24 Email: mail@synergyhomesltd.com Web: www.synergyhomesltd.com

Veegaland Developers Pvt. Ltd. 4th Floor, KCF Tower Bharath Matha College Road Kakkanad, P.O. Thrikkakkara Kochi - 682 021 Ph: +91 484 3004000, 2973944 Mob: 9746 77 4444, 9746 54 2222 Email: mail@veegaland.in Web: www.veegaland.com

Tanzeel Builders II Floor, HHYS Building Rajaji Road, Kochi - 682 035 Tel: +91 484 6593473, 6520544 Fax: +91 484 2380052 Email: tanzeel@vsnl.com Web: www.tanzeelbuilders.com Tiknar Homes Pvt. Ltd. 1st Floor, Profnet Plaza Mamangalam Palarivattom, Kochi - 682 025 Tel: +91 484 2333507, 2333508 Email: sales@tiknarhomes.com Web: www.tiknarhomes.com Travancore Builders Travancore House MG Road North End, Kochi - 35 Tel: +91 484 2383366, 4021400 E-mail: info@ travancorebuilders.com Web: www.travancorebuilders.com Trinity Builders & Developers Opp. Changampuzha Park, Edappally, Kochi - 24 Tel: +91 484 2339916, 2339919 Fax: +91 484 2339918 Email: info@trinitybuild.com Web: www.trinitybuild.com

Yasoram Builders Convent Road, Kochi - 682 035 Tel: +91 484 2366726, 2352271, 2352437 Fax: +91 484 2373830 Email: mail@yasoram.com Web: www.yasoram.com find your dream makers | kozhikode Ace Structures Pvt. Ltd. Leela Towers Kallai Road, Calicut - 673 002 Tel: +91 495 2304848 Email: acestructures@sify.com Web: www.acestructures.com Calicut Landmark Builders & Developers India (P) Ltd Third Floor, CD Tower Mini Bye-Pass Road Calicut Tel: +91 495 2721950, 3919100 Email: info@landmarkbuilders.co.in Web: www.landmarkbuilders.co.in dream makers

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Express Housing Complex Pvt. Ltd. 2nd Floor, Express House Kallai Road, Calicut - 673 002 Tel: +91 495 2701272, 2702914 Email: exphou1980@gmail.com Web: www.expresshousing.com Galaxy Builders Red Cross Road, Calicut, - 673 032 Tel: +91 495 2369422 Fax: +91 495 2366830 Email: contact@galaxy-builders.com Web: www.galaxy-builders.com Hi-lite Builders Pvt. Ltd. Business Park Hi-lite City Thondayad Bypass Road Calicut - 673 014, Tel: +91 495 2352500 Email: sales@hilitebuilders.com Web: www.hilitebuilders.com Malabar Developers Malabar Gate, Rammohan Road Calicut - 673 004, Tel: +91 495 4040916 Email: info@malabardevelopers.com Web: www.malabardevelopers.com PVS Apartments KTC Building Y M CA Road, Calicut - 673 001 Tel: +91 495 2766244, 2766362 Email: infopvsapts@ktcgroup.com Web: www.pvsapartments.com Seiken Property Developers Pvt. Ltd. Seiken Chambers Kannur Road, Calicut - 673 001 Tel: +91 495 2761555, 3264555, Fax: +91 495 2367778 Email: salescalicut@seikenproperties.com Web: www.seikenproperties.com

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Sobha Limited First & Second Floor Empora Gemz, Nellicode P.O N.H Bypass Road Near Thondayad Junction Calicut - 673 016 Tel: 0495 2359368, 2359365 Email: regionaloffice.calicut@sobha.com Web: www.sobha.com find your dream makers | thrissur Cheloor Property Development Projects Ltd. Cheloor Residency Shankarankulangara Pookunnam, Thrissur - 680 002 Tel: + 91 487 2388168, 2388180 Email: contact@cheloor.com Web: www.cheloor.com Emmatty Towers St Thomas College Road East Fort, Thrissur - 680 005 Tel: +91 487 2426293, 2427355 Email: binnyemmatty@yahoo.co.in Web: www.emmattyproperties.com Iskcon Builders and Developers Iskcon Gardens, Cheroor Thrissur - 680 008 Tel: +91 487 3251456 Email: iskconbuilders@gmail.com Jayaprakash & Prakash Constructions Pvt. Ltd. Sreekumara Samajam Buildings West Nada Kodungallur Tel: +91 480 2808618 Email: jpandp@rediffmail.com Web: www.jpandp.net

Lord Krishna Builders IVth Floor, Centre Point, M.G.Road Thrissur - 680 004, Tel: +91 487 3200000, 2388840 Fax: +91 487 2382266 Email: mail@lordkrishnabuilders.com Web: www.lordkrishnabuilders.com Mookambika Builders 20/343, Poothole Lane, M.G Road Thrissur - 680 004 Tel: +91 487 2385099 Email: mookambikabuilders@yahoo.co.in Web: www.mookambikabuilders.com Mulberry Homes Mundupalam Junction Kuriachira P.O Thrissur - 680 006 Tel: +91 487 2251192, 9847034390 Email: mulberryhomesindia@gmail.com Web: www.mulberryhomesindia.com Parappilly, The Builders Bishop Palace Junction East Fort Thrissur - 05 Tel: +91 487 2333949 Fax: +91 487 2333949 Email: mail@parappilly.com Web: www.parappilly.com Sobha Limited ‘Sobha City’ Puzhakkal Post Guruvayoor Road Thrissur - 680 553 Tel: +91 487 2389770, 2389771 Fax: +91 487 2389773 Email: sls.sobhacity@sobha.com Web: www.sobhacity.co.in

Thrissur Builders Pvt. Ltd. 25/1160/1, Machingal Lane, Thrissur-680 001 Tel: +91 487 2336652, 2336653 Email: thrissurbuilders@yahoo.com Web: www.thrissurbuilders.com Unidesign Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd. EL 51/74, Sathi, Civil Lane Road Ayyanthole, Thrissur -680 003 Tel: +91 99959 91111, Fax: +91 487 2382944 Email: contact@unidesignbuilders.com Web: www.unidesignbuilders.com Vasthuhara Developers and Real Estate Limited Premji Road, pallathu Lane West Punkunnam P.O., Thrissur - 680 002 Tel: 0487 2380640, 2380641 Web: www. vasthuhara.com find your dream makers | thiruvananthapuram Arjun & Associates Viswam Towers, Adarsh Nagar, Pattom Thiruvananthapuram - 695 004 Tel: +91 471 2553735, 2555533 Email: info@arjunassociates.com Web: www.arjunassociates.com Artech Realtors Pvt. Ltd. Artech House, TC 24/2014(1) Near Taj V ivanta, Thycaud Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695014 Tel: 0471 3018114 Email: sales@artechrealtors.com Web: www.artechrealtors.com Favourite constructions Pvt. Ltd. Statue - Gen. Hospital Road Trivandrum - 01, Tel: +91 471 3918877 Email: info@favouritehomes.com Web: www.favouritehomes.com dream makers

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Heera Construction Company Pvt. Ltd. M.P.Appan Road Vazhutacaud Thiruvananthapuram - 695 014 Tel: +91 471 2331980, 2321562, 2338859 Email: heera@heeragroup.com Web: www.heeragroup.com

Samson and Sons Builders & Developers Pvt. Ltd TC 3/ 679, Kaliveena Buildings TKD Road, Pattam, P.O. Muttada Thiruvananthapuram - 695 025 Tel: 0471 3914000, 2540780 Web: www.samsonandsons.com

Muthoot Builders Peral Heaven Muthoot Vazhuthacaud Trivandrum - 14 Tel: +91 471 2323790, 2334865 Email: muthoot@muthootbuilders.com Web: www.muthootbuilders.com

Si Property (Kerala) Pvt. Ltd. Silver Oaks, Golf Links Road Kowdiar Trivandrum - 03 Tel: +91 471 2430177, 2430277 Fax: +91-471-2539022 Email: mail@siproperty.in Web: www.siproperty.in

Nikunjam Constructions Pvt Ltd Indraprastham T.C.4/2554-3 Pattom-Kowdiar Road Thiruvananthapuram- 695004 Tel: +91 471 2436175, 2436173 Email: indraprastham@asianetindia.com Web: www.nikunjambuilders.com

Sivaji Builders Pvt. Ltd. Sivaji Complex TC No: 9/948, Panickers Lane Sasthamangalam P.O, Trivandrum - 10 Tel: +91 471 2722096, 2722097 Fax: +91 471 2722099 Email: info@sivajibuilders.com Web: www.sivajibuilders.com

Prime Property Developers B2, Jawahar Nagar Trivndrum - 41 Tel: +91 471 2722817 Email: ppdindia@rediffmail.com Web: www.ppdindia.com

Skyline Foundations & Structures Pvt. Ltd. Skyline Plaza, Vellayambalam Trivandrum - 10 Tel: +91 471 2726992,2721803, 2729467 Fax: +91 471 2726978 Email: marketing@sfshomes.com Web: www.sfshomes.com

PRS Builders Soundarya Building M G Road Trivandrum- 01 Tel: +91 471 2328745 Fax: +91 471 2330990 Email: prsbuilders@yahoo.com Web: www.prsbuilders.com 236

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Sowparnika Projects and Infrastructure Private Limited A-26, Kowdiar Gardens, Kowdiar Thiruvananthapuram - 695 003 Tel: +91 471 3222012 Fax: +91 471 3054990 E mail: enquiry.tvm@sowparnikaprojects.com Web: www.sowparnikaprojects.com

India is blessed with a long coastline of 8118 km and after declaration of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in 1977, the oceanic resources available to India are estimated at 2.02 million sq. km, comprising 0.86 million sq. km (42.6 % of the total) on the west coast, 0.56 million sq. km (27.7%) on the east coast and 0.60 million sq. km (29.7%) around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The continental shelf area amounts to 530 000 sq. km of which 71 percent area is available in the Arabian Sea (west coast) and the remaining 29 percent in the Bay of Bengal (east coast).

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With the abundance of water resources and tropical climate, India is home to rich and varied fish. Our estimated fishery potential is 4.24 million metric tons from the marine sector, and according to CMFRI the level of exploitation in 2011 is about 3.84 mmt.

About 90% of the present marine production from a depth range of 50 to 60 meters of the sea and the remaining 10% is from depths extending upto 200 meters. Fishing efforts are mostly done by the mechanised, motorised and non-motorised artisanal sectors. Mechanised sector contributed 79% of the total annual

catch while the Motorised and non-motorised artisanal sectors accounted for 19% and 2% respectively. Marine products are of great demand in the world market solely because of their high health attributes. Seafood is claimed to be one of the fastest moving commodity in the world market. Within the last decade, the world market for seafood has doubled reaching US$ 49.32 billion. India’s share in this market is about 2.4% depending on shrimp as a product, and giving increased attention to other fishery resources like squid, cuttlefish etc and penetrating into

western European and south East Asian markets. With shrimp farming and introduction of several resource specific vessels to increase marine fish landings, India anticipates a steady growth in exports of marine products. India exported only dried marine products like dried fish and dried shrimp till the end of 1960. Since 1961, export of dried marine products was overtaken by export of frozen marine items, leading to a steady growth export earnings. Export of frozen and canned items registered a significant rise with the devaluation of Indian currency in 1966.

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Thus from the traditional buyers in neighboring countries, Indian market in frozen marine products spread to other developed countries. Before 1960, when our exports were dominated by dried items, markets of our marine products largely confined to neighboring countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Singapore etc.

With the development of technology and modernization, these dried marine products gave way to canned and frozen items. Thus, as the product changed, market also was changed. As a result, more affluent developed countries like Japan, USA, Europe, Australia etc became our buyers. Several units of seafood processing with modern machinery were set up across the country for freezing and production of marine products. Till 1977, USA was our principal buyer of shrimp, but later Japan emerged as the principal buyer of the product followed by the west European countries. Till 2001-02, Japan remained the single largest buyer of our marine products, accounting about 31% of the total export value. In the year 2002-03 and 2003-04, USA emerged as the single largest buyer of our marine products. In the year 2004-05, European Union emerged as the largest importer of Indian marine products and remained in this position till 2010-11. After 2011 South East Asia become the largest market for Indian marine products followed by European Union, USA, Japan and China.

Quality Control Processed products in sea food industry are highly heterogeneous and perishable in nature, especially in tropical conditions.

Therefore, quality control of sea food is very vital in seafood industry. Taking this into consideration, the industry has adopted modern methods of processing sea food with stringent quality control methods. Safety has become a matter of great concern over the past few years, especially in developed countries where food safety offences are considered in government level. With the advancement of technology and public awareness, consumers are becoming increasingly demanding in terms of quality, freshness, nutritional value and microbiological safety of food.

The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) plays a pivotal role in implementing HACCP system in the processing units and residue monitoring in the aquafarming sector to ensure food safety.

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Ornamental Fish Trade Developed countries are getting more and more interested in ornamental fish keeping, which is the second most popular hobby after photography. There is a steady growth in aquarium fish trade with the growing interest in aquarium fishes. The retail value of the global ornamental fish trade is US$ 6 billion whereas wholesale value is US$ 1 billion. The entire industry including accessories and fish feed, is estimated to be worth around US$ 18-20 billion. Out of nearly 8000 marine ornamental, only 25 are bred in captivity and more than 90% of freshwater fish are captive bred. Ornamental fish are imported by more than 120 countries, among them the EU is the major importer, followed by North America, and Japan. In the EU, UK holds 19% of the trade share whereas Germany holds 18% of it. France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Italy are also major importers of ornamental fish. In North America, USA plays the role of largest importer with 85% share. Singapore is the largest exporter of ornamental fishes with exports doubles that of other exporters. India has most suitable climate, bio diversity, manpower and abundant water resources. But India’s share in global ornamental fish trade is very less as India dominates in wild caught species. Also, the unit value of ornamental fish is higher than the food fish in our domestic markets. India is the first country to prepare strategies and measures aimed at the sustainable development of freshwater ornamental fish sector. A task force was formed by MPEDA for the purpose and brought out ‘Green Certification Guidelines for Freshwater ornamental fishes’, which is acknowledged as a welcome move the stakeholders across various countries.

Shrimps More than 85 species of shrimps are known to exist in Indian waters and 55 among them are reported to be commercially more important and having considerable demand in international market. Among these, the post larvae and juveniles get into the estuarine waters, grow and then migrate back to the sea for reproduction. These species breed at different depths of the sea and among them. Species such as Fenneropenaeus indicus, Penaeus monodon, P. merguiensis, P. semisulcatus, Metapenaeus

monoceros, M. affinis, M. Dobson and Parapenaeopsis stylifera, are having high demand in domestic and international markets.

P. monodon is widely farmed along the coastal states. Besides, India also produces exotic Pacific Whiteleg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei in sizeable quantity. During 2012-13, the contribution of cultured shrimp to the total shrimp export was 72.26% compared to 55% in 2011-12. The export of cultured shrimp shown tremendous growth of 32.55% in quantity and 83.96% in dollar terms in 2013. There is a marked reduction in the export of Black Tiger which was greatly compensated by L. Vannamei shrimp, which had shown a tremendous growth to 1,34,372 MT in 2013 from 69565 MT in 2012.

Marine Products Export Development Authority The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) is a statutory body set up by the Government of India under the MPEDA Act 1972. The MPEDA functions under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India. The role of MPEDA as per the statute is, promotion of raw material production by capture & culture fisheries, processing, marketing, extension, export standards and training in various aspects of the industry. The MPEDA has various activities in its fold, ranging from regulatory function to operating financial assistance schemes for the stakeholders of the seafood producing and processing sector, registration of fishing vessels, pre-processing units, processing units, cold storages, marine product exporters and ornamental fish breeding units through its field offices in all the maritime states of India. The MPEDA has two Trade Promotion Offices functioning at Tokyo, Japan & New York, USA. During the financial year 2012-13, Exports of marine products reached an all-time high of Rs 18,856 crores. Marine product exports, crossed all previous records in quantity, rupee value and US $ terms. Exports aggregated to 928215 tonnes valued at Rs. 18856.26 crores and USD 3511.67 million. Compared to the previous year, seafood exports recorded a growth of 7.68% in quantity, 13.61% in rupee and 0.1% growth in US$ earnings respectively. Frozen Shrimp continued to be the major export value item accounting a share of 51.35% of the total US $ earnings. Shrimp exports during the 242

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period increased by 20.88%, 18.73% and 3.56% in quantity, rupee value and US$ value respectively. South East Asia continued to be the largest buyer of Indian marine products in 2013 with a share of 23.12% in terms of US $ value realisation. European Union (EU) is the second largest market with a share of 22.14% followed by USA (21.29%), Japan (10.61%), China (7.67%), Middle East (5.96%) and Other Countries by 9.22%. The estimated potential brackish water area suitable for shrimp farming is about 1.2 million hectare of which around 15% is utilized for farming, producing about 2.72 lakh tons of shrimp, scampi, crab, tilapia and seabass which is going to the export basket. India’s total fishery production is about 8.0 million tons from both capture and aquaculture sources. During the year 2012-13, shrimp aquaculture production has increased significantly. The Black Tiger shrimp production was around 1,23,303 MT from an area of 93,110 ha. The production of vannamei shrimp was 1,47,516 MT from 22,715 ha area. The production of scampi during the year was 6464 MT. Diversification in aquaculture practices are promoted through trials on cage culture of Asian Seabass, grouper and tilapia, demonstration of mud crab culture and soft shell crab production. India produced 747 MT Mud crab and 474 MT Seabass and 77 MT of Tilapia for export during 2012-13. Cobia and Tilapia are the fish varieties that hold immense potential for export production. Simultaneously, MPEDA is actively pursuing its organic aquaculture programme launched in 2007. It has also achieved production of organic scampi first time in the world. MPEDA supports ornamental fish production and export in various states to increase production base and quality. It has also brought in Green Certification guidelines for the first time in the world for Freshwater ornamental fish with an aim to inculcate sustainable development of the sector. India is one among the biggest seafood processing hub in Asia with 470 processing units, of which 266 units have been approved by EU with a freezing capacity of over 18,520 MT/day. The MPEDA has a system in place to ensure quality control regime that comply International standards for seafood and hygiene. MPEDA implements pre-harvest screening of antibiotics in farmed shrimps through its 20 ELISA labs and other residues under a regular monitoring plan through its three NABL

accredited labs. Besides, MPEDA has also set up three societies, viz., NETFISH, NaCSA and RGCA to provide adequate attention in the fields of capacity building and applied research. Network for Fish Quality Management and Sustainable Fishing (NETFISH), is established for capacity building of both fishing and fish processing sectors at the grass root level in order to improve the quality of fishery products, and works in close coordination with international and national institutions of excellence in the field of extension and training. National Center for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA), organizes small farmers to form primary aquaculture societies, provides technical support to build their capacity to produce quality shrimps in a sustainable manner. It also facilitates linkages between aquaculture stake holders, implement voluntary guidelines on Best Management Practices, and formulate strategies that benefit the entire shrimp farming community. Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA) is the Research & Development arm of MPEDA that has evolved as a Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture. RGCA is actively involved in the development of various sustainable aquaculture technologies for different aquatic species having export potential. It has a state-of-the-art technology transfer and training centre to disseminate the technologies developed to the interested stakeholders. RGCA is developing SPF brood stock of Black Tiger Shrimp in its research facility situated in the A&N islands. RGCA has also set up a central quarantine facility for the first time in India at Chennai to check the imported Specific Pathogen Free L. vannamei shrimp brood stock. As a part of promotional activities MPEDA participates in various national and international trade fairs wherein the activities and strength of the sector is showcased.

Besides, it also organizes India International Seafood Show and Aqua Aquaria India, which are international exhibitions respectively for the seafood processing and aquaculture / ornamental fish culture sectors. The next India International Seafood Show will be held in January 2014. MPEDA has a vision to make India a leading player in seafood production and processing. For more information: The Marine Products Export Development Authority, MPEDA House, Panampilly Nagar, Kochi-682 036, Kerala, India, Tel: +91 484 2311979, Fax: 2313361, Email: mpeda@mpeda.nic.in, Web: www.mpeda.com 244

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Fishery Resources Group Name - Prawns

Trade Name: Black Tiger prawn Scientific Name: Penaeus monodon French: Crevette, Japanese: Ebi, Spanish: Camaron Gear Used: Trawl net, gill net and Traps Peak Season: November to May Distribution: East coast and South-west coast of India Areas of abundance: West Bengal and Orissa coasts Trade Name: Indian White Prawn Scientific Name: Fenneropenaeus indicus French: Crevette, Japanese: Ebi Spanish: Camaron, Gear Used: Trawl net and Gill net Peak Season: Throughout the year except Monsoon season Distribution: Entire west coast and south-east coast of India Areas of abundance: Kerala and Karnataka coasts Trade Name: Flower prawn Scientific Name: Penaeus semisulcatus French: Crevette, Japanese: Ebi, Spanish: Camaron Gear Used: Trawl net, Peak Season: October to February Distribution: East and west coasts of India Areas of abundance: Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat Trade Name: Pink shrimp Scientific Name: Metapenaeus dobsoni

French: Crevette, Japanese: Ebi, Spanish: Camaron Gear Used: Trawl net Peak Season: July to October Distribution: West and East coasts of India Areas of abundance: Kerala and Karnataka coasts

Production method: Scientific farming Production areas: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu & Andhra Pradesh Group Name - Butter Fishes

Trade Name: Brown shrimp Scientific Name: Metapenaeus monoceros French: Crevette, Japanese: Ebi Spanish: Camaron, Gear Used: Trawl net Peak Season: November to May Distribution: West and East coasts of India Areas of abundance: Coasts of Andhra pradesh and Orissa Trade Name: Kiddi prawn Scientific Name: Parapenaeopsis stylifera French: Crevette, Japanese: Ebi Spanish: Camaron, Gear Used: Trawl net Peak Season: May to October Distribution: Throughout the west coast and certain parts of East coast Areas of abundance: West coast

Trade Name: Pacific White Leg Shrimp Scientific Name: Litopenaeus vannamei French: Crevette pattes blanches Japanese: vannamei, Spanish: Camaron pattblaco

Trade name: Silver pomfret Scientific Name: Pampus argenteus French: Castagnole, Japanese: Managatsuo Spanish: Pampano Gear used: Gill net, Dol net and Trawl net Peak season: September to January Distribution: Middle-West and North-East coasts of India Areas of abundance: Maharashtra, Gujarat and Orissa coasts Trade Name: Chinese pomfret Scientific Name: Pampus chinensis French: Castagnole, Japanese: Managatsuo Spanish: pampano, Gear used: Gill net and Dol net Peak season: August to December and March Distribution: East and West coasts of India Areas of abundance: Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts Trade Name: Black pomfret Scientific Name: Formio niger French: Castagnole, Japanese: managatsuo marine resources

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Spanish: Pampano, Gear used: Gill net and Trawl net Peak season: August to December Distribution: West and East coasts of India Areas of abundance: Maharashtra and Gujarat coasts Group Name - Crustaceans

French: Crabe, Japanese: Kani , Spanish: Cangrejo Gear Used: Trawl net and Shore seines Peak Season: July to December Distribution: West and East coasts of India Areas of abundance: Off the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka and Gujarat Group Name - Carangids

Trade Name: Blue Swimming crab Scientific Name: Portunus pelagicus French: Crabe, Japanese: Kani, Spanish: Cangrejo Gear Used: Trawl net, Drag net and shore seines Peak Season: July to December Distribution: West and East coasts of India Areas of abundance: Off the coasts of W.Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra Trade Name: Mud crab Scientific Name: Scylla serrata French: Crabe, Japanese: Kani, Spanish: Cangrejo Gear Used: Crab traps, Trawl net and Drag nets Peak Season: July to October Distribution: West and East coasts of India Areas of abundance: Coasts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Orissa Trade Name: Three Spot Swimming Crab Scientific Name: Portunus sanguinolentus

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Trade Name: Scad Scientific Name: Alepes mate French: Carangue, Japanese: Hiraaji Gear used: Trawl net and Gill net Peak season: January to June and Sept to November Distribution: West and East coasts of India Areas of abundance: Coasts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andamans Trade Name: Horse mackerel Scientific Name: Megalaspis cordyla French: Chinchard Japanese: Muroaji Spanish: Jurel, Gear used: Gill net and Purse seine Peak season: September to November Distribution: South-East coast and West coast of india Area of abundance: Kerala and Tamil Nadu coasts Trade Name: Leatherskin Scientific Name: Scomberoides lysan Gear used: Gill net Peak season: September to January Distribution: East and West coasts of India Areas of abundance: Andhra, Tamil nadu and Kerala coasts

India is one of the largest producers of coconut in the world. Coconut in India is predominantly a small holders crop contributing to about Rs.83,000 million annually which

is about 2% of the contribution of agriculture and allied sectors. More than 10 million farming families are dependent on this crop for their livelihood. Even though a coconut

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major producer of coconut, India consumes more than 40% of its coconut production of 20.44 billion nuts per annum as raw nuts for culinary and religious purposes. 30% of the production is utilized for conversion to copra, 25% for tender nut, 0.05% for seed purposes and hardly 4% is utilized for value addition and industrial purposes. Coconut has the advantage of having hundreds of uses which no other oil seed or horticultural crop can claim. Coconut products and by-products can be commercially utilized for multiple purposes. Coconut is a food as well as an oil seed crop. It is also a source of fiber, timber, and fuel. Coconut palm is also a beverage crop in many states in the country. The kernel is an integral part of the diet of the people of the West Coast of India. Nutritious milk is obtained from the kernel, which yields oil on its boiling. Coconut milk is an essential ingredient in many culinary preparations. The dried kernel or the copra is the richest source of cooking oil of Kerala. Coconut oil is also used as hair oil, body oil and industrial oil throughout the country. It is an illuminant and lubricant as well. Coconut oil is an ingredient in most of the premium cosmetic products.

Coconut oil yields many oleo chemicals which have wide applications in various sectors. It can also be converted into bio-diesel. The coconut oil cake, the residue obtained after the extraction of oil from copra is a good cattle feed.

Coconut palm yields toddy from which jaggery, vinegar and arrack are manufactured. The timber of coconut is used in house construction and to make furniture, wall panels, show pieces and floor tiles. The inflorescence of coconut is used to make ayurvedic medicines. Tender coconut is used as a nutritious health and sports drink and is a base for many ayurvedic preparations. The water of mature nut yields products such as vinegar, jelly, nata de coco and wine. The shell is used as a fuel besides manufacturing various commercial products like shell powder, shell charcoal, shell based activated carbon, ice cream cups, buttons of garments, utility articles and show pieces. The soft bud of the palm is edible and nutritious. Spongy ball 250

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like haustorium developing inside the nut when stored over a period is a sweet delicacy which can be exploited as a commercial value added product. The leaf of the palm is used for thatching houses. Dried leaves are used as fuel besides serving as country torch in villages. The spindle leaf is used for decoration and costuming in folk dances. The midribs of leaves are used to make brooms, fish traps, baskets and tongue cleaners. The husk yields fiber and pith. The fiber is made into hundreds of products, which enjoy both domestic and export market. The pith is a soil conditioner and rooting medium besides having many other uses. The spathe and stipules are used as fuel and for manufacturing handicrafts. It is rightly said “The coconut palm is alone sufficient to build, rig and freight a ship with bread, wine, water, oil, vinegar, sugar and other commodities�. The various products of coconut other than copra and coconut oil offer a vast scope for further development, value addition and commercialization. A large number of products are developed from coconut. However due to paucity of space, this article covers only the major products developed from coconut, coconut water, coconut kernel and coconut shell.

Coconut for health and wealth Coconut is having a product basket with value added products like virgin coconut oil, desiccated coconut, coconut milk, coconut milk powder and milk cream. Flavoured coconut milk, coconut milk curd, yogurt, cheese and ice cream are the other novel and innovative products that can be developed from coconut which is already having good demand both in the domestic and international markets. The nutritional and therapeutic benefits of fresh coconut kernel, coconut milk extracted from coconut kernel, coconut oil extracted from dried kernel, virgin coconut oil, derived from coconut milk, tender and mature coconut water etc are being discussed world over. This indicates that like other essential commodities there exists a consistent demand for coconut and coconut products. Coconut Juice,

diabetic friendly neera cookies and coconut chips are few of the new generation innovative coconut products for better health and wealth Coconut Juice – a Ready to Serve Beverage Coconut juice is a popular choice of vegans and makes a good base for smoothies, milkshakes or can be used as a dairy alternative in baking which is prepared with the base of coconut milk. Coconut milk is the oil-protein –water emulsion obtained by squeezing fresh grated coconut kernel. It can be obtained by manual or mechanical extraction of comminuted coconut meat with water. The composition of coconut milk depends on the amount of water used for the extraction, affecting significantly moisture and fat content. Freshly extracted coconut milk has a pH of 6. Coconut milk can be processed as a nutritional health beverage with varying flavours according to consumer acceptability. Unlike cow's milk, coconut milk is lactose free and can be used as a milk substitute by those with lactose intolerance. A technology for processing flavoured coconut juice has been developed by CDB Institute of Technology. Fresh green nuts with 9-10 months maturity are suitable for processing of flavoured milk. The milk extracted from young fresh nut is thick and is less in fat content. The fresh nut water is mixed with the extracted juice so as to enrich the nutrient contents. Consistency is made in such a way to get acceptance as a ready to drink beverage. An average yield of 800 – 1000 ml flavoured coconut juice is obtained from one nut. Flavoured coconut juice contains fat mostly in the form of Medium Chain Saturated Fatty Acids (MCFAs) of which 50% is contributed by lauric acid. Lauric acid is converted in the body into a highly beneficial compound called monolaurin, an antiviral and antibacterial properties that destroys a wide variety of disease causing organisms. It is therefore now accepted that consumption of coconut juice may help protect the body from infections and viruses. Milk fat is composed of 252

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Medium-chain triglycerides of saturated fatty acids that are not available in many types of food. MCFAs are rapidly metabolized into energy in the liver. Unlike other saturated fats, MCFAs are used by the body more quickly and are less likely to be stored as fat. Flavoured coconut juice is a source of antioxidants like Vitamin E and Vitamin C which can help to reduce free radical activity within human body.

It also provides vitamin A,K&D in small amounts. One of the benefits of coconut juice is its antimicrobial properties, including antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal elements to boost the body’s immune system. Milk Juice is a rich source of minerals like Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Iron, Copper and Calcium.

Flavoured coconut juice consists of naturally occurring bioactive enzymes such as acid phosphatase, catalase, dehydrogenase, diastase, peroxidase, RNA-polymerases etc. In effect, these enzymes help in the digestion and metabolism. Flavoured coconut juice is a wholesome and nutritious drink. So it can be considered as a functional food since it provides additional health benefits apart from nutritional constituents.

Tender Coconut Water Tender coconut water serves as a mineral drink with therapeutic properties that help in regaining the vitality of the human body. The characteristic flavor of tender coconut is contributed by delta lactones. Glucose and fructose form an important constituent of the tender nut water. Tender Coconut Water contains most of the minerals such as potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorous, iron, copper, magnesium etc. Tender Coconut Water has become popular as an emerging, natural and healthy product.

Packaged Tender Coconut Water The Coconut Development Board in collaboration with the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Mysore has developed a technology for preservation and packing of tender coconut water in pouches and aluminum cans. The

DFRL, Mysore has succeeded in retention of its flavour when packed in pouches/aluminum cans for a period of three months under ambient conditions and six months under refrigerated conditions. The product has acclaimed consumer acceptance throughout the country. The products are available in both domestic and international markets.

Major exporters of the product are Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Coconut Chips Coconut chips are a ready to eat snack prepared from 9-10 months old coconuts. It can be prepared by dehydrating the intermediate moisture coconut kernel. Coconut Chips is crispy and can be packaged and marketed in laminated aluminium pouches, which will have a shelf life of 6 months. Since it is in ready-to-eat form, it could be used as snacks at any time. Coconut chips with different flavours can be prepared by adding the required flavour essence in the osmotic medium. Instead of sweet, salted coconut chips and medicated coconut chips can also be prepared by suitable change in the osmotic medium.

Coconut Milk Coconut Milk refers to the oil-protein-water emulsions obtained by squeezing fresh grated coconut kernel. Coconut milk is obtained by extraction of fresh coconut wet gratings with/without water. This is an instant product, which can either be used directly/diluted with water to make various preparations such as fish & meat dishes, curries, sweets, deserts, puddings, cocktails, cakes, cookies, coconut jam, ice creams etc. It can also be used in the manufacture of bakery products and for flavouring food stuffs. Preserved forms of coconut milk such as canned cream or milk and dehydrated whole milk are now available in many coconut growing countries.

Coconut Skimmed Milk Coconut fresh kernel is a rich source of plant protein and could well be an invaluable material for the preparation

of milk substitutes. Coconut skim milk is a solution of the soluble components of coconut after the cream is separated in a cream separator. Skimmed milk is a good source of quality protein suitable for the preparation of many useful food products or as supplemental protein source, especially in regions deficient in animal proteins. Skim milk can be used for the production of a variety of products like spray dried powder, coconut honey, coconut jam and sweetened condensed milk. In addition, it can also be used as a substitute for the preparation of fermented beverage concentrate and also as a source of vegetable casein. The gastro-intestinal disturbances in infants can be treated by feeding coconut milk, which shows that coconut skim milk having the same protein level (1.6 percent) as mother ’s milk is well-utilized by infants.

Spray Dried Coconut Milk powder Coconut milk powder is the dehydrated form of the coconut milk. This product has a good keeping quality and retains the natural flavor, texture and taste of coconut milk. CDB in collaboration with the CFTRI has developed technology for spray drying of coconut milk, which is the most potential method for preservation of flavour and texture of coconut milk with good keeping quality. The product has consumer demand in both domestic and international markets. Spray dried milk powder is produced on a commercial scale in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and India.

Virgin Coconut Oil VCO can be produced from fresh comminuted coconut kernel or coconut milk. Different production processes are adopted depending upon the scale of operations, degree of mechanisms and investment available.

Ball Copra Ball copra is made by storing unhusked coconuts in a suitable store, which is usually a two-storey brick and

mortar building, the floor and the four sides of the upper storey being made of wooden bars spaced two to three inches apart. Fully ripe nuts of twelve to fourteen months are stored in the upper floor of the store. They are frequently stirred and smoked by a slow fire, set under the platform using coconut palm waste or cheap firewood.

During the period of storage, the water inside the nuts gets dried up and the kernel gets detached from the shell.

The entire process takes eight to twelve months. When quite dry, the nuts are husked, the shells are broken with a heavy iron knife and the copra balls removed. The copra is clean, white inside and sweet in taste and is therefore highly priced.

Neera The vascular sap collected from immature unopened coconut inflorescence is popularly known as ‘Neera’ in fresh form. It is a sugar containing juice and is a delicious health drink and a rich source of sugars, minerals and vitamins. It is sweet and oyster white in colour and translucent. It is tapped from the coconut inflorescence and is filtered, pasteurized, and bio preservatives added to preserve the product. Treated Neera can be preserved in cans upto 2 months at room temperature. It can also be packed in tetra packs or glass bottles. Tapping can be done for 6 months in an year. Neera is popular as a delicious health drink. It is good for digestion, facilitates clear urination and prevents jaundice. The nutrient-rich ‘sap’ has low Glycemic Index (GI of only 35) and is hence diabetic-friendly since very low amounts of the sugar is absorbed into the blood. It is an abundant source of minerals, 17 amino acids, vitamin C, broad-spectrum B vitamins, and has a nearly neutral pH. Coconut crystals can be made out of this pure, low glycemic natural sap.

While most brown sugar is boiled at temperatures up to 221 degrees F with the end product containing 93% sucrose, 256

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sap crystals contain only 0.5% glucose, 1.5% fructose, 16% sucrose and 82% inulin - a prebiotic that promotes digestive health. It can be used as an ideal sweetener. Neera fetches much better returns compared to copra. This was one product that Mahatma Gandhi, a strict vegetarian, used in his diet regularly. He used to take at least 40 to 50 gms of coconut blossom sugar everyday along with goat’s milk, leafy and other vegetables, lettuce and ghee. He was specially interested in this product as can be seen from his own words. “The juice of coconut tree can be transformed into a sugar as soft as honey. Nature created this product such that it could not be processed in factories.

Palm sugar can only be produced in palm tree habitats.

Local populations can easily turn nectar into coconut blossom sugar. It is a way to solve the world’s poverty. It is also as antidote against misery.” Gandhi wrote this in 1939.

It can, as the Father of our Nation envisaged, add nutrition, dignity and prosperity to our community.

Value Added Products from Neera Neera Drink: Neera can be hygienically processed to a natural health drink. Quality of raw neera determines the quality of drink processed. So, raw neera of pH above 5 is always preferred for neera drink. Raw Neera is centrifuged, pasteurized and packed in aseptic conditions to produce Neera drink. Neera drink can also be produced in different flavours (Green apple, litchi, green coconut, lemon etc) for consumer acceptance. Neera could become a nutritious drink offering a healthy alternative to aerated beverages and soft drinks available in the market.

Primary Products of Neera Neera can be concentrated to different brix (value of total solids) level at different temperatures to produce primary products like Neera sugar, Neera jaggery, Neera semi solid jaggery, jaggery syrup, Neera honey, and Neera concentrate.

Coconut Sugar: Coconut sap sugar is obtained by boiling freshly harvested neera in moderate heat to evaporate the water at 115 degree Celsius. The scum formed while boiling is removed. When the liquid turns into syrup, it is continuously stirred to avoid burning and to form granulation. At this stage the liquid will change into solid form. When it is cooling, stir and breaks the lumps. Sieve the sugar to have uniform particle size and to produce quality product. Coconut sugar is also known as coconut palm sugar, coco sugar or coco sap sugar. It is considered to be one of the best natural sweeteners. It is completely natural coming directly from the inflorescence of coconut and there are no added chemicals. Coconut sugar has been used as a traditional sweetener for thousands of years in the South and South-East Asian regions especially in India, where the coconut palm is in abundant supply. It is truly a perfect and healthier substitute for artificial sweeteners which are toxic to one’s health as well as better alternative to other natural sugarcane based sweeteners such as refined white sugar, brown sugar, molasses and others. It is a rich source of potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron (Table 3). In addition to this, it contains all essential amino acids required for protein synthesis, and is rich in B complex Vitamin like B1, B2, B3 and B6.

Neera Jaggery: Coconut sap jaggery is a by-product of coconut inflorescence sap with pH 6.5 to 7.0. Fresh sap is slowly boiled and evaporated in small batches. This minimal processing is done without the aid of sophisticated equipment such as vacuum evaporators and does not require any additives or enzymes. The biochemical and mineral composition of coconut jaggery prepared from the sap collected freshly without adding lime and the sap collected with lime is compared with the sugar cane jaggary available in the market Neera jaggery is produced by boiling (temperature-103oC -105oC) and concentrating

Neera(pH>7) upto a brix level 0f 85o and then solidifying it by continuous stirring and after judgment of end point, moulding it into desirable size and shape. Yield of the product is 12-15%. Neera Semisolid Jiggery: Neera jaggery in its semi solid form is Neera semi solid jaggery. It is prepared by concentrating the sap and removing from fire before reaching the strike temperature for jaggery. It is very fine with loose bonding. Yield of the product is 1215%. Neera Jaggery Syrup: Neera Jaggery Syrup is produced when fresh neera (pH e� 6) is heated under moderate temperature (103oC -105oC) and concentrated to syrup consistency (75 - 80o brix). Yield of the product is 18-20%.

In many countries, Neera, syrup is used as a health and wellness drink and is prevalently used in Ayurveda and other systems of medicine. Neera Honey: Neera honey is produced by concentrating neera (pHd�5.5) up to 70o brix level. It is thick liquid syrup like honey. It is used as table syrup as a sweetener in confectionary items like ice creams. Yield of the product is 20-22%.

Diabetic friendly Neera Cookies It is known that having healthy snacks between main meals will help maintain the glucose levels in diabetic patients. Cookies made with Neera jaggery is fit for this purpose since its GI is very low. Diabetic friendly cookies are made with whole wheat, desiccated coconut or grated coconut and neera jaggery. Different types of cookies with oats and multigrain are also possible as a main content.

Neera Jaggery is derived from the sap of coconut inflorescence. It has been used as a traditional sweetener for centuries in regions where coconut trees flourish, such as Southeast Asia and is superior to cane jaggery. Coconut jaggery is also rich in amino acids, B vitamin complex and minerals. One of the biggest attractions of Neera and its value added products are its low glycemic index score of 35, which is comparable to most fruits and vegetables. coconut

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Consequently, these products have little impact on blood sugar levels, making it suitable for diabetics, pre-diabetics and anyone else who wants to avoid blood sugar spikes.

Sweets and confectionaries from Neera Neera has a high potential for value addition due to its health benefits. Sweets and confectionaries prepared from normal sugar and jaggery can be prepared by substituting with neera sugar/jaggery/syrup/honey.Some of the products which can be produced from Neera include neera spicy jaggery, neera cookies, neera chocolate, neera cake, neera fruit spread, neera squash, neera ice-cream etc. Diversified products could be produced from coconut neera by adopting simple technologies requiring not much capital investment. At house hold levels, it could provide employment opportunities to a sizeable population.

When the production is organized in a cooperative sector like Farmer Producer Organisations(FPOs), adequate quality control is necessary for the production of good quality products.

Palm W ine: Palm wine is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm tree such as the palmyra, date palms and coconut palms. Palm sap begins fermenting immediately after collection, due to natural yeasts in the pores of pot and air (often spurred by residual yeast left in the collecting container). Within two hours, fermentation yields an aromatic wine of up to 4% alcohol content, mildly intoxicating and sweet. The wine may be allowed to ferment longer, up to a day, to yield a stronger, more sour and acidic taste. Spices are also added in order to brew and drink and give it its distinct taste.

Palm Honey: It is produced at 78 Brix level. It is thick liquid syrup like honey. It is used as table syrup as a sweetener in confectionary items like ice creams. It is a rich source of iron for anemic patients and hence it is mainly used in pharmaceuticals formulation.

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Palm Candy: Like palm gur, palm candy has also its importance among the products of Neera. It is being produced and used since procuring sweet Neera from palmyra has been known. It has got its various uses in Ayurvedic medicinal preparation as well as direct use.

Therapeutic Value of Palm Candy: Thirst due to excess of heat, urine trouble due to heat and over heat due to small-pox will be cured with palm candy.

Coconut Development Board Exports have been increased as a result of various export promotion activities undertaken by the Coconut Development Board. Export Products are directed at around 84 countries of the world. The Board is planning to undertake export promotion activities in overseas markets by sending trade delegations to potential markets, organizing participation in the important trade fairs/ exhibitions etc. so as to penetrate into new potential markets and to consolidate in the already explored export markets. With an eye on the export market the Board has developed different value added products in association with the leading research institutions in the country viz.

DFRL, CFTRI etc. It is expected that many of these products could find export markets. The Board is also exploring the possibility of exporting particleboards made from the softwood waste of coconut trees and coconut oil based herbal formulations. In order to help coconut products exporters the Board is in the process of setting up a web portal, which would provide export trade lead, and business trade leads generation. For more information: Coconut Development Board (Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India), Kera Bhavan, Kochi - 682 011, India.

Tel: +91 484 2377266, 2377267 Fax: +91 484 2377902, E-mail: cdbkochi@gmail.com,cdbpub@gmail.com V isit: www.coconutboard.gov.in Courtesy: Coconut Development Board, Kochi - 682 011

Genus of plant : Coffea, Family : Rubiaceae Class of plant : Dicotyledoneae Coffee is the most widely used beverage worldwide. Coffee with its caffeine content has a stimulating effect in humans. It is a widely consumed stimulant beverage prepared from roasted seeds, commonly called beans, of the coffee plant. Coffee is a black color beverage, which

consumers take in the morning itself as bed coffee. It is useful against numerous illnesses, particularly those of the stomach. Coffee was first consumed in the 9th century, when it was discovered in the highlands of Ethiopia. Today, coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide.

Coffee berries, which contain the coffee bean, are produced by several species of small evergreen bush of the genus coffee

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Coffea. The two most commonly grown species are Coffea canephora and Coffea arabica. Once ripe, coffee berries are picked, processed, and dried. The seeds are then roasted, undergoing several physical and chemical changes. They are roasted to various degrees, depending on the desired flavor. They are then ground and brewed to create coffee.

Coffee can be prepared and presented by a variety of methods. During roasting, aromatic oils, acids changing the flavor; at 205 °C (400 °F), other oils start to develop. One of these oils is caffeol, created at about 200 °C (392 °F), which is largely responsible for coffee’s aroma and flavor.

Coffee has played an important role in many societies throughout modern history. In Africa and Yemen, it was used in religious ceremonies. Many studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and certain medical conditions. Coffee appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer ’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver etc. From ninth century, from the highlands of Ethiopia, it spread to Egypt and Yemen, and by the 15th century, had reached Azerbaijan, Persia, Turkey, and northern Africa, then to Italy, and the rest of Europe, Indonesia, and to the Americas. Even though Coffee is an everyday word, it also has got certain qualifications to claim, unlike any other plant species. The modern Green House concept was first tried with Coffee plants by King Louis XIV of France who was an avid Coffee drinker. Coffee was also the first plant to be grafted, and that apart it was the first plant to spread the whole planet as an agricultural crop. It is believed that Coffee beans first originated in Ethiopia in a region called Kaffa. Historical books mention that roasting of Coffee began around Damascus, because of the availability of a special kind of iron, which could handle the thermal characteristics required for roasting Coffee seeds. It also says that Coffee beans were being chewed raw for many centuries.

Originally Coffee drinking became popular because of Ottoman Sultan who ruled Istanbul. He noticed that Coffee is 262

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getting recognition more than he wanted so he banned the trade of Coffee in 1543, but it is a fact that the first Coffee house was established in Istanbul during 1544.

Coffee houses started to spread everywhere, and people used to hang out in these pubs to spend their leisure time listening to music, play some games, and also for discussions. Coffee came to India through a man called Baba Budan who smuggled a few Coffee seeds from Arabia, by hiding it onto his belly. He then planted it in the jungles near Chickmangalur in Karnataka state in south India, where he belongs. Now, this variety officially known as Old Chick supplies one third of India’s Coffee needs, the rest is being imported. India stands 7 th among the top coffee producing country in the world. Brazil and Columbia are the topers. In India coffee is mostly grown in Chikkamangalore of Karnataka 3/4 th of Indian market need is fulfilled from Chikkamangalore coffee. Coffee berries and their seeds undergo several processes before they become the familiar roasted coffee. First, coffee berries are picked, generally by hand. Then they are sorted by ripeness and color and the flesh of the berry is removed, usually by machine, and the seeds - usually called beans - are fermented to remove the slimy layer of mucilage still present on the bean. When the fermentation is finished, the beans are washed with large quantities of fresh water to remove the fermentation residue, which generates massive amounts of highly polluted coffee wastewater.

Finally, the seeds are dried; the best, but least utilized method of drying coffee is by using drying tables. In this method the pulped and fermented coffee is spread thinly on raised beds, which allows the air to pass on all sides of the coffee. The next step in the process is the roasting of the green coffee. Coffee may be brewed by several methods: boiled, steeped, or pressured. Brewing coffee by boiling was the earliest method, and Turkish coffee is an example. It is prepared by powdering the beans with a mortar and pestle, then adding the powder to water and bringing it to a boil in a pot. This produces a strong

coffee with a layer of foam on the surface. Machines such as percolators or automatic coffeemakers brew coffee by gravity. Ground coffee and hot water are combined in a coffee press and left to brew for a few minutes. A plunger is then depressed to separate the coffee grounds, which remain at the bottom of the container. Because the coffee grounds are in direct contact with the water, all the coffee oils remain in the beverage, making it stronger and leaving more sediment than in coffee made by an automatic coffee machine.

Botanical description of Coffee Coffee has become a vital cash crop for many Third World countries. Coffee is from the family Rubiaceae and an evergreen shrub or small tree that may grow 5 meters tall.

The leaves are dark green and glossy, usually 100–150 millimeters long and 60 millimeters wide. It produces clusters of fragrant white flowers that bloom simultaneously. The fruit berry is oval, about 15 millimeters long and green when immature, but ripens to yellow, then crimson, becoming black on drying. Each berry usually contains two seeds. Coffee is usually propagated by seeds.

The traditional method of planting coffee is to put 20 seeds in each hole at the beginning of the rainy season; half are eliminated naturally. The first Coffee plants grew wild to a height of 30 feet in the African tropical forests. But in systematic plantation practices the plant is pruned and kept at a height of about15 feet, for easy picking of the Coffee berries. While Robusta is a shrub and grows like a bush spread out with several trunks, the Arabica plant is of a smaller variety. Coffee plant produces white flowers at the axils of the leaves in thick clusters. A ripe Coffee berry is red in colour and when it starts maturing it turns to bright red and then to reddish brown and finally falls down to the ground. As a normal harvesting practice, many planters pick it up from the ground, but most of them pluck it when it turns red in colour. Coffee plants are best grown in higher altitudes in tropical 25 degree latitude on either sides of

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the equator. To escape the infection of various parasites, Coffee plants are grown at an elevation of 3000 to 6000 feet MSL. Coffee plants does not agree to too much of sunlight, so when it grows on mountain slopes it gets the natural advantage of getting only half a days sunlight. They best suits to filtered or moderate sunlight which peeps though overhead shady trees. Coffee yields for more than 50 years.

Coffee Board Coffee Board is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India, constituted under the Coffee Act VII of 1942. The Board consists of a Chairman appointed by the Govt. of India and 32 members representing the various interests like members of Parliament, representatives from Governments of principal coffee growing states viz. Karnataka, Kerala Tamil Nadu and A.P., representatives of large coffee growers, small coffee growers, coffee trade interests, coffee curing establishments, labour interests, coffee growing states other than principal coffee growing states, consumer interests, instant coffee manufacturers, eminent personality in the filed of Research/Marketing/ Management/Promotion of coffee. The Mission of the Board is to function as the leader in conducting research, providing extension support to improve production, productivity and quality; undertaking promotional efforts to boost exports and domestic consumption; gathering statistical and other relevant data concerning the industry and disseminate the information to various segments of the industry; to act as the recognized spokesperson on behalf of the coffee industry to the Government, media, trade and general public; and to guide the overall growth and development of the coffee industry in the country. Coffee Board represents the Indian Coffee Industry in various international forums like International Coffee Organization (ICO), International Science Organizations, Specialty Coffee Associations etc and associate with them for the overall benefit of the coffee industry. Conduct focused research on

coffee to achieve improved production, productivity and quality. Transfer of technology from lab to land and implement various development programmes like replanting, new planting, water augmentation, quality up-gradation etc. through the extension network spread all over the country.

Carry out various export promotion activities like participation in overseas trade fairs, organizing Buyer-Seller Meets, Coffee Tasting sessions, visits of Roaster delegations from abroad to Indian Coffee tracts etc. Take up domestic promotion efforts to increase domestic consumption. Regular 266

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dissemination of market information. To provide policy formulation advice to Government relating to coffee. Provide necessary support to the planters in crisis and carry out necessary Labour Welfare Measures. Help upgradation of quality of coffee produced in India. Various other coffee industry related issues coming up from time to time. For more information: Coffee Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, No.1, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore - 01, Tel: +91 80 22266991- 6994, Fax : +91 80 22255557, Email: adpdkn@gmail.com, Web: www.indiacoffee.org

Tea industry occupies an important place and plays a very useful role in the national economy mainly due to its preeminence as a foreign exchange earner and its contributions to the country’s GDP. Over the years, India has emerged to be the world leader in production, consumption and export of tea with over 30% share of the

global production. It is perhaps the only industry where India has retained its leadership over the last 150 years.

Tea production in India has a very interesting history to it.

Tea plantations are mainly located in rural hills and backward areas of Northern Eastern and Southern states.

The major tea growing areas in India are concentrated in tea

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Assam, West Bengal, Tamilnadu and Kerala. The other areas growing tea to the extent is Karnataka, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Bihar. Tea known as Cha, Chai in India and in Sri Lanka is a very common drink, sipped regularly during the mornings and evenings.

Courtesy demands most of us to offer Tea to our guests both at homes and in our offices. During conferences and business meetings an interval is set apart known as Tea break. It is a common phenomenon to find Tea shops particularly in India and in most Asian countries. In Kerala it is called Chaya Kada in Tamilnadu it is called Tea Kada and in northern parts of India it is called Chai Ki Dukhan. It is a pleasure to watch the tea makers making tea for their customers. India is the largest producer and consumer of black tea in the world. Tea is grown in 15 States in India, of which Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala account for about 95% of the total tea production. The traditional States where tea is grown to a small extent are Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar and Karnataka. The non-traditional States that have entered the tea map of India in the recent years include Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Sikkim. The teas originating from Darjeeling, Assam and Nilgiris are well known for their distinctive quality the world over. Tea exports contribute foreign exchange into the country; the sector also contributes revenue to the tea growing states and national exchequer by way of VAT, agricultural and corporate income tax, etc. The tea industry provides direct employment to more than a million workers, of which a sizeable number are women. Additionally, more than six million people derive their livelihood from ancillary activities associated with the industry.

Botanical description of tea Botanists call Tea as Camellia sinensis, which belong to the Theaceae family, a Tea family member. They have recognized that tea come in two varieties. One is Camellia sinenses var. sinenses which has come from China and the other is Camellis 270

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sinensis var. assamica from Assam or can be called as Indian Tea. Even though Tea is an evergreen shrub who can grow up to a height of 17 meters, it is pruned and kept at a height of 2 meters for easy harvesting of the buds and shoots. They have bright shiny greenish leaves with a hairy underside. Its flowers are aromatic and will be single or in clusters of 2 to 4. The brownish-green fruits contain 1 to 4 of spherical shaped or flattened seeds.

History of Tea Tea has a history dating back to 4500 years. Chinese mythology says that in 2737 BC, the then emperor, Shen Nung, who was a Scholar as well as an herbalist had the first cup of Tea in the world, and that too as an accident.

The story goes like this. The Emperor’s servant was boiling water while they were out in the forest; suddenly a leaf fell into the bubbling water, but the Emperor instead of removing the leaf decided to try the brew. This is how the first cup of Tea originated in the world. Later, tea was researched out for its properties as a healthy refreshing drink. The benefits of Tea drinking derives from the many stories which were told as well as written, mainly during the third century AD, and from the Tang Dynasty (618 AD – 906 AD) Tea was declared as China’s national drink, and also the word Ch’a was used as the term to describe tea.

Chinese author Lu Yu was the first person to write a book about Tea, which was titled Ch’a Ching. It comprises of three volumes, and explains in detail about its growth, making and also about it’s drinking. It also had illustrations of many utensils, historical notes, names of ancient famous tea plantations etc. There was also a mention about the Japanese Tea Ceremony and how it inspired the Buddhist priests. The Chinese were sole suppliers of tea to the world till the Japanese broke their stranglehold in the 9th century and the first business rivalry was kicked off. Tea time for India and indeed the rest of the western world began with the advent of the British. According to records, the seeds of Darjeeling tea – often called the champagne of teas – were planted in 1841. But commercial production

began only in 1852. The second half of the 19th century saw a massive expansion of tea cultivation in India.

Amazing strides Today Indian Tea Industry is having about 1692 registered tea manufacturers, 2200 registered tea exporters, 5548 number of registered tea buyers and nine tea auction centers. The total turnover of the tea industry is around Rs. 10,000 crores. Since independence tea production has grown over 250%, while land area has just grown by 40%.

There has been a considerable increase in export too in the past few years. Total net foreign exchange earned by Indian tea industry per annum is around Rs 1847 crores.

The labour intensive tea industry directly employs over 1.1 million workers and generates income for another 10 million people approximately. Women constitute 50% of the workforce. The Indian tea industry has grown to own many global tea brands, and has evolved to one of the most technologically equipped tea industries in the world.

Tea trading Tea trading in the domestic market is done in two waysAuction and Private Selling. Six major auction centers in India are, Calcutta, Guwahati, Siliguri, Cochin, Coonoor, Coimbatore.

The export market for Indian Teas are mainly in the Russian and CIS countries with 90 million kgs of the total exports going to these countries. This is equivalent to 43% of India’s Tea exports. India exports Tea to most of the European Countries, U.S.A. Japan, West Asia and the Asia Pacific Region.

In fact, there is hardly any country where Indian Tea is not found. The range of tea offered by India - from the original Orthodox to CTC and Green Tea, from the aroma and flavour of Darjeeling Tea to the strong Assam and Nilgiri Tea- remains unparalleled in the world. Tea production, certification, exportation, and all other facets of the tea trade in India is controlled by the Tea Board of India.

Tea Board Tea Board was set up as a statutory body on 1st April, 1954 as per Section (4) of Tea Act 1953. As an apex body it looks

after the overall development of the tea industry. The Board is headed by a Chairman and consists of 30 members appointed by Government of India representing various interests pertaining to Tea Industry. The Board’s Head office is situated in Kolkata and there are two zonal offices — one for North Eastern Region at Jorhat in Assam and another for Southern Region at Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.

Under the control of these offices there are ten field offices spread over in all the major tea growing states. It has also three overseas offices at London, Moscow and Dubai whose 274

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activities are mostly promotional in nature. Tea Board has wide functions and responsibilities which include extending financial and technical assistance to the tea growers, manufacturers and producers, workers welfare, export and domestic promotion, quality improvement, regulating and control of various facets of tea trade including that of Tea Auctions, facilitating R&D activities, collection, collation and dissemination statistical data etc.

For more information: Tea Board, 14, B.T.M. Sarani, Kolkata 700 001, Ph: 033 2235 1331, Web: www.teaboard.gov.in

Over the years, man’s desire for decorating his place of living with natural and sustainable methods has been on the rise. The latest fashion accessory is coir. Being natural and eco-friendly, Coir comes in an exquisite range of colours and combines elements of good designs with functional value for the home or office. What distinguishes coir from other alternate products is the unique comfort it provides regardless of the climate, that perfect warmth during winter and a cool feeling during summer.Coir it saves earth, adds life and beauty to our interiors. Coir, one of the most versatile materials man had ever extracted from Mother nature, has travelled a long way since its humble beginnings in Kerala centuries back. Today, in its multifold manifestations coir touches every facet of man’s life and activities from door mats to rugs, rubberised coir mattresses, decorative rugs, tufted carpets, geotextiles, garden atricles and wood substitutes. Through centuries the Indian Coir has carved a niche for itself and created a genre of its own, only because of its superior quality and the excellent craftsmanship this sector have. The Indian Coir is unique for its rich golden colour and texture. Now coir is not just a door mat. The green movement has launched coir into a hot commodity globally. Coir is available in a mindboggling range, from live-in-style products to geotextiles and garden articles.With the green waves riding high, definitely coir is making a lifestyle fashion statement as it is ecofriendly, durable and affordable. Coir is a bi-product of coconut. Coconut rooted its presence from the Vedic period itself in India. Valmiki had given references about coconut in Ramayana.

Marcopolo the famous traveler called coconut as ‘Indian nut’. As per studies historians argues coconut cultivation started in Kerala after the arrival of Portuguese. Ropes and cordages made from coconut fibres were in use from centuries ago. Indian navigators used coir as ship’s cables and for riggers even during ancient times. The first coir industry was recorded to be in U.K, and first coir factory in India, in Alleppey of Kerala. As per records 1859 is the year when an Alleppey factory started producing coir, coir mats,

mattresses, floor matting etc. The wide sandy beaches of Kerala on the west to the Western Ghats are glorified with the presence of coconut. This tree which belongs to the Palmacea family with long slender pinnate leaves is known as ‘Kalpavriksha’. From the top to bottom this tree is used for various purposes. Name of the state Kerala itself means the Land of Keras (coconut trees). Husk of the coconut is used to make coir. In olden days this husk was thrown away as a waste or used as a fuel. Later this waste husk became the hero of Kerala economy. Total world coir production is approximately 250,000 tons. Developing world gives more importance to this Industry and 90% of the production is shared by India and Sri Lanka. Out of this 60 % of the production is mainly from Kerala especially Alleppey district.

Costal districts of Alleppey and Quilon are the major producers of coir among which Alleppey can be considered as the nerve of coir industry. Over millions of people are employed in this cottage industry which is the largest traditional Industry of Kerala. Both men and women are employed in this industry. Women are mainly involved in the yarn spinning sector and the men in the product weaving sector. Most of the families in Alleppey District earn their livelihood through the coir industry. A journey through the Alleppey district will explain the power of coir in this area.

This district itself is blessed with a mind blowing natural scenic beauty with a lot of lakes, ponds, inter-linked canals.

All this environmental blessings expresses that this coir industry is especially meant for the Alleppey people, though they promote tourism also to maximize the exploration of the natural treasures blessed by the God. Presence of coir products can be seen every where with great importance.

Coir ropes to coir mattress, various ranges of products are now produced by coir industry. Coir ropes are used in agricultural sector to industrial sector, ranging from different strength to measures, thickness to length. Lot of families in Alleppey earns their livelihood by producing hand made coir. Government gives full support to this sector by helping to form societies and marketing federations etc. Coir mats coir

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are made very beautifully and used in houses, vehicles and commercial concerns etc. Various designed door mats are available in the market. Car mats for all types of vehicles are produced at par with the production of new generation vehicles. Coir mattresses are supposed to be the best for health conditions if we sleep in this. Coir net cots were used in Kerala from very ancient period onwards. These mattresses compete even with the latest sponge mattresses in quality and price wise very competent. So many handicraft products are also made by coir. Colorful, attractive antique looking products made of coir attract not only Indians but also tourists from foreign countries. Attraction for coir products also started many years back. Coir products attract export business in its new fashion than from the olden style. Now all the coir products are exported and our country earns a good amount of revenue from this. The traditional values of our state also are connected with every functions and festivals we celebrate. The bio-factor in this industry is very important as the waste has been converted to such an economically valuable product. The pith and dust removed after taking the fibres for coir production are biodegradable and believed to be useless. Now this also is used for mulching, soil treatment and as a hydroponics growth medium. Researches and new innovations are donated from the coir field in many ways. Rubberized coir products also now get an attraction and importance in the market. Small to big emporiums, highway side shops to coir show rooms in the state shows the importance of coir in the minds of Kerala.

The Coir Industry Coir industry is a traditional, labour intensive, export oriented, agro based cottage industry. The industry originated in the State of Kerala centuries ago and over the years it has spread over to other coconut growing States like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, etc. Coconut husk which was considered as a throw away material of the coconut is the basic raw material of this industry. The industry therefore generates wealth from

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waste. The industry employs more than half a million people and majority of them are from rural areas and belonging to economically weaker sections of the Society.

80% of the workforces are women. The industry is of great significance to the coconut producing States of India as coconut husk, the raw material for Coir industry, is available in abundance in regions of concentrated cultivation and this can be used for generation of income to a sizeable amount of population with relatively low investment. Coir industry is an export oriented industry and coir and coir products are exported to more than eighty countries all over the world. Coir fiber is extracted from the outer cover of coconut known as Coconut husk either by a process known as retting, practiced in the State of Kerala or by mechanical decortications in vogue in States other than Kerala. The fiber extracted from green coconut husks by the process of retting is known as ‘white fiber’ and the fiber extracted from dry husks/green husks through machineries is known as ‘brown fiber’. The fiber is spun into coir yarn and a wide range of coir products are produced out of coir yarn. In Kerala, the coir manufacturing and its export is generally concentrated in some major areas. Ernakulam, Cherthala, Alappuzha, Kayamkulam and Kollam are the important among them.

The Coir Board The Coir Board was set up under the Coir Industry Act, 1953 by the Government of India, for the overall sustainable development of the Coir industry in India. The functions of the Board as laid down under the Act include undertaking, assisting and encouraging scientific, technological and economic research, modernization, quality improvement, human resource development, market promotion and welfare of all those who are engaged in this industry. With the concerted efforts of the Coir Board and the State Governments concerned, the production of coir fiber in the major coconut producing States have been making a steady progress during the past three decades.

In the wake of globalization and liberalization, the Board has assumed the role of a promoter and facilitator rather than that of a regulator. The Coir Board, the apex body for promotion of coir in the country, has completed more than fifty years of its service to the Indian Coir Industry. For the coming years the Board has lined up a host of promotional activities. Product based marketing missions will be sent to selected potential markets abroad besides undertaking generic publicity through selected trade magazines.

Participation in more international exhibitions is another area for pushing exports. Efforts are also under way to encourage exporters for better utilization of provisions under the Market Development Assistance Scheme. This can boost existing markets as well as explore new ones.

The results of the effort made by the Board had seen record achievements in export and domestic markets during 201011 onwards. The Board has entered a contract with DGS & D, Government of India in order to promote domestic market. On receipt of the contract, the Board is looking forward for a leap jump in the domestic market avenue.

Government of India has sanctioned a scheme is called Rejuvenation, Modernization and Technology Upgradation of the Coir Industry (REMOT). The scheme aims at the integration and development of units which are in the small and medium sector. The scheme would provide more employment opportunities for women in the rural sector for gender empowerment. Government also aims at more profitable and sustained employment for traditional industry artisans and rural entrepreneurs through the Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI). The sole aim is to make traditional industries more competitive with more market driven, productive and profitable. Twenty six clusters have been identified for the Coir Sector for the implementation of the project. These clusters are from various coir producing states viz. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Gujrath, Goa, West Bangal, North East Region, A&N Islands and Lakshadweep. For more information: Coir Board, M G Road, Kochi-682 016, Tel: +91 484 2351807, 2351788,Fax: 2370034, Web: www.coirboard.gov.in