METRO MART February 2019

Volume 8 Issue 8 February 2019

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Aattukal Pongala

The Largest Annual Gathering of Women

NISHAGANDHI LUMIERE STORE IN DANCE FESTIVAL THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

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Dear Readers, nother Pongala season has set in waking up Kerala to celebrate the ten days long Pongala festival. The entire city of Thiruvanthapuram is in a real festive mood absorbing the spirit of the festival, which has a Guinness record for being the largest single gathering of women for a religious activity.

Festivals are great occasions.

Each festival irrespective of religion carries with it the indelible impressions of heritage and tradition and is an integral part of the culture of a region.

Festivals are times which make people forget their differences and personal problems and make them stand united. Festival times see enthusiasm and energy flowing across the community.

This issue brings to you a feature on Attukal Pongala, which we hope would be of interest to our readers. We dedicate this issue to Attukal Pongala festival.

Foreword

SIJI NAIR

Managing Editor & Director e-mail: sijicn@gmail.com

We have also included a variety of articles and features on other topics of general interest in this issue. We hope our readers would find this issue interesting and informative.

Happy reading.

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COVER STORY Volume 8 - Issue 08 - February 2019

www.metromartdaily.com Read our e-edition: www.issuu.com/metromart

AATTUKAL PONGALA

THE LARGEST ANNUAL GATHERING OF WOMEN

Annual Subscription Rs- 500

Publisher

Hari Shanker

Managing Editor & Director

Siji Nair

Sijicn@gmail.com Executive Editor

N. Vijayagopalan Editor

V. Viswanath

Editorial Assistant

Ampili Nair Projects Head

Raj Nijith Business Development Manager

Ratheesh Kumar Asst Manager - Sales & Marketing

Jayaprakash RP Creative Head

Kiran Mohan Manager - Administration

Sabu C.N. Manager - Accounts

Sindhu R.

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NISHAGANDHI DANCE FESTIVAL IN THIRUVANATHAPURAM

Corporate Office:Metromart Thiruvananthapuram MERA 44, Eanthivila Lane, Murinjapalam, Medical College P.O. Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695 011 Tel: 0471 4015593 M: 0091 9995139933 / 9947733339

Published, Edited and Printed by Hari Shanker A.G. and Owned by Haritha Media Pvt Ltd and Printed by him at SB Press Private Limited, Statue, Trivandrum 695 001 and Published from Tharangam, Kodunganoor Post, Trivandrum 695 013

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Metro Mart reserves the right to use the information published here in any manner whatsoever. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published in this edition, neither the Publisher nor any of its employees accept any responsibilities for any errors or omissions.

Pune | Kolkata | Bangalore | Kochi

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Metro Mart is a monthly journal published from Trivandrum, Views and opinions expressed in the journal are not necessarily those of the Publishers.

All Rights Reserved

RNI No: KERENG/2011/40037

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KUTCH EMBROIDERY THE HERITAGE OF GUJARAT

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KARUNYA COMMUNITY PHARMACY A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL KERALA MODEL

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Contents 42

LUMIERE STORE IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

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PHILANTHROPISM OF BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

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NATIONAL SEMINAR IN ECONOMICS

TWENTY14 HOLDINGS MARKS ENTRY INTO SWITZERLAND

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IYER ATTHU CHAKARAI PONGAL

UDS HOTELS CREATED HISTORY BY MAKING LARGEST DESERT PUDDING

KERALA FEATURES IN CNN TRAVEL’S 19 PLACES TO VISIT IN 2019 KERALA TO IMPLEMENT ONE-OF-ITS-KIND ONLINE CLEARANCE MECHANISM FOR ENTREPRENEURS

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COVER STORY

Aattukal Pongala

The Largest Annual Gathering of Women Beena Vijay

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The ceremony concludes with the sprinkling of holy water by temple priests at the appointed time in the evening accompanied by an aerial showering of flowers to the honour and glory of the Goddess Almighty.

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T

he annual ‘Pongala’ festival is celebrated with great fervor at the Attukal Bhagavathy temple popularly known as the ‘Sabarimala of Women’ at Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala. Pongala, held on the ninth day of the ten-day-long festival, is the most important ritual of the temple. The Attukal Pongala is the largest congregation of women for a festival in the world.

Pongala, which means ‘to boil over’, is the ritual in which women prepare sweet payasam (a pudding made from rice, jaggery, coconut and plantains cooked together) and offer it to the Goddess or ‘Bhagavathy’. ‘Pongala’ is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. The offering of Pongala is a very special temple practice in the southern parts of Kerala. The ten-day- long celebration commences in the Malayalam

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month of Makaram-Kumbham (Feb - March) on the Karthika star. Pongala ceremony is on the auspicious day of Pooram star which coincides with full moon.

The festival commences with the musical rendering of the story of the Goddess (Kannaki Charitam) during the “Kappukettu ceremony”. The musical renderings are conducted by the families authorised for this purpose. The story invokes the presence of Kodungallur Bhagavathy and the slaying of the Pandyan King.

The song will continue for all the nine days preceding Pongala. The event of the Goddess annihilating the Pandyan King is accompanied by much sound and fury of the temple drums and “Vaykurava” by devotees, immediately followed by the lighting of the hearths for the preparation of the offering for the Goddess.

This festival commemorates the victory of Good over Evil, by

the slaying of Pandyan King. The Goddess Kannaki (Bhadrakali) is the main deity in Attukal temple. As per local legend, the Pongala festival commemorates the hospitality accorded by women in the locality to Kannaki, the divine incarnation of the heroine of the Tamil epic ‘Silappadhikaram’ while she was on her way to Kodungallur in central Kerala after destroying Madurai city to avenge the injustice done to her husband Kovilan.

Throughout the festival an atmosphere of celebration and festivity prevails and there are the solemn observances such as regular conduct of Bhajans, musical concerts, ballets depicting folk and temple arts etc. in the temple premises. This is symbolic of the philosophy that human and divine affairs are minutely inter-woven.

Processions of colourful floats of the deity from all around, carried with

pomp and devotion by the devotees congregating in the temple premises provide a pleasing experience.

A Rare Charm of the Festival

On the 9th day of the festival, it would appear as though all roads in and around Thiruvananthapuram city lead to the Attukal Temple. The entire area of about 10 km radius around the temple, with houses of people of all caste, creed and religion open fields, roads and commercial institutions emerges as a consecrated ground for observing Pongala ritual for the lakhs women devotees assembling from different parts of Kerala and outside.

This ceremony is exclusively confined to women folk. It is a delightful sight to see waves after waves of women of all age groups without caste, colour and creed surging into this area well in advance mostly carrying on their head February 2019

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The ten days Aattukal Pongala festival gives a tremendous boost to Kerala’s economy in myriad ways. Several sectors are major beneficiaries of this festival. materials such as firewood, earthern pots rice, jaggery, coconut etc. to mark out specific spots for the preparation of their offerings to the Goddess. The important ritual in the ‘Pongala’ is the preparation of rice or varieties of sweet rice using hearths and the earthern pots in the open.

The signal for lighting -the hearth is given by the chief priest of the temple at a prefixed auspicious time followed by the humming of the temple at Thidappally . Lightining of hearth at Thidappally is done by Melsanthi and at Panadara aduppu and Saha melsanthi.

The ceremony concludes with the sprinkling of holy water by temple priests at the appointed time in the evening accompanied by an aerial showering of flowers to the honour and glory of the Goddess Almighty.

The temple authorities make all necessary arrangements for the welfare of this huge congregation with the active participation of the voluntary agencies, local people, members of the festival committee and the various government departments. They ensure law and 20

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order in the area with the support of the police and the volunteers specially detailed for the purpose.

The enormous crowd which gathers here is reminiscent of the huge gatherings of the Kumbha Mela festival of North India.

Kuthiyottam

Kuthiyottam is performed by boys with the hope that the Goddess almighty would be pleased to bestow on them beauty inward and outward, health, wealth and happiness. Boys below the age of 12years make the offering of Kuthiyottam. These young boys represent the wounded soldiers of the Goddess Mahishasura Marddini.

On the third day of the festival these young boys receive the prasadam (offering) from the temple priest and start a seven day penance to purify their body and mind. For the purpose they have to pass through rigorous physical and mental discipline such as sleeping in mat, observing strict diet restrictions, staying in the temple etc. Besides these, the boys have to undergo such disciplines like prostrating 1008 times before the deity after their morning and evening oblations.

Thalappoli

Thalappoli by girls is a popular ritual made on the Pongala day. A stream of young girls below 12 years dressed in traditional attire holding Thalappoli starts very early in the morning with the hope that the

Goddess almighty would be pleased to bestow on them beauty inward and outward, health, wealth and happiness.

Vilakkukettu

‘Vilakkukettu’ as nercha(offering) reaches in Temple during night from 1st to 9th day of Pongala festival.

One of the most spectacular sights of the festival is the vilakkukettu, in which beautifully decorated structures bearing idols and pictures of the Goddess are carried in the heads of the devotees, as they way to the temple from different parts of the city every night of festival accompanied by chendamelam music etc.

No sooner are the boys adorned for accompanying the Deity than the grand procession begins. The procession with illumination, floats and colourful festoons on either side of the road generate a gala atmosphere. This is made more

attractive with various art forms like peacock dance, poykuthira dance, kolkali, theyyam, kumbhadance, display of other art forms which are followed by kuthiyottam, panchavadyam. Lastly a sight to behold is, the magnificent procession of Attukal Bhagavathy on the caparisoned elephant displaying with Alavattom and Venchamaram under the resounding echo of occasional gun shots. Enroute it is a splendid sight to see the devotees who assemble on either side of the road welcoming the goddess in reverence with different kinds of offerings in salvers and “vaykurava”.

The procession starting from Attukal temple reaches the Sastha Temple at Manacaud in the small hours of the morning and after the necessary pooja ceremonies performed there, the entourage returns to Attukal.

Thereafter, the deity is received back in the sanctum with Deeparadhana.

Soon after the Deeparadhana, the February 2019

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‘boys are delivered of the penance in an orderly manner. At night, rendering of devotional songs takes place which is followed by the ceremonial removal of the “Kappu”.

The ten day festival Culminates with the sacrificial offering known as ‘Kuruthi Tharpanam’ at night.

The ten days Aattukal Pongala

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festival gives a tremendous boost to Kerala’s economy in myriad ways. Several sectors are major beneficiaries of this festival. It is reported that the rooms of hotels of different types in Trivandrum get booked one year before the Pongala. Vendors of mud pots, vessels and other utensils used for Pongala make a good fortune during the festival. Several voluntary organizations provide soft drinks, light refreshments etc. to the Pongala pilgrims free of cost.

In 2009, Attukal Pongala made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest religious gathering of women on a single day when over 2.5 million people took part in it. The participation in Attukal Pongala has been increasing in an astonishing manner year after year. The annual event is organised by the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple Trust.

PERFORMING ARTS

NISHAGANDHI DANCE FESTIVAL IN THIRUVANATHAPURAM

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he Nishagandhi Dance Festival, the annual tradition of enlivening the sprawling spread of Kanakakkunnu with the rhythmic chime of the anklets to the accompaniment of mellifluous music, was held in Thiruvanathapuramin in January 2019.

His Excellency the Governor of Kerala Justice (Retd) Shri P Sathasivam inaugurated the festival. Inaugurating the seven-day-long Nishagandhi Dance Festival, the Governor said, “Art and culture have a major role to play in the rebuilding of Kerala,� and called upon stakeholders to leverage them. Due weightage has to be given to folk and indigenous forms,

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along with classical dance, the Governor added. The Governor gave away the prestigious Nishagandhi Puraskaram to Mohiniyattam exponent Kalamandalam Kshemavathi on the occasion. The coveted honour, bestowed on top-notch choreographers in recognition of their life-long contributions, carries a purse of Rs 1.5 lakh, a bronze statuette of sage Bharathamuni and citation.

The Governor also distributed awards to the best performers of the recently concluded ‘Vasanthotsavam’ Flower Show 2019.

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The cultural extravaganza saw the staging of a wide variety of genres of Indian dance including Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi.

Tourism Minister Shri Kadakampally Surendran who presided over the inaugural function announced that Monsoon Rag Awards to celebrate outstanding performance in music will be given away from this year.

Shri K Muraleedharan MLA, Shri VK Madhu, District Panchayat President; Shri V K Prasanth, Mayor, Shri M

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Vijayakumar, Chairman, KTDC, Smt Rani George IAS, Secretary Tourism and Culture, and Shri P Bala Kiran IAS, Director, Tourism also spoke at the event.

After the opening ceremony and a choreographed curtain-raiser, a Mohiniyattam performance by eminent choreographer Dr Neena Prasad followed. The cultural extravaganza saw the staging of a wide variety of genres of Indian dance including Odissi, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi.

In the subsequent days, the festival had performances of Rashmi Menon (Mohiniyattam), Christopher Gurusamy, Aditya PV (Bharatanatyam), Vyjayanthi Kashi (Kuchipudi), Manjushree Panda (Odissi), T Reddi Lakshi

(Kuchipudi), Sudip Kumar Ghosh& group (Manipuri), Namrrata Raai (Kathak), Nrutya Naivedya troupe (Gottipuva) Raminder Khurana (Odissi) and Monisa Nayak & group (Kathak). The festival also featured a Bharatanatyam performance by transgender artist Dr Narthaki Nataraj, in tune with the state

government’s policy of promoting aspirations of artists without any gender bias.

The Nishagandhi Dance Festival, considered a premium tourism product, is being conducted with the support of sponsorships, minimising the outgo from the state exchequer.

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HERITAGE

KUTCH EMBROIDERY the HERITAGE of Gujarat

G

Padma Mohan Kumar

ujarat, which is known as the land of the epics, owes its heritage to its famous Kutch embroidery. The artisans of Kutch and Saurashtra create the most stunning embroidery designs. These artistes belong to the Rabari tribe, a nomadic community which had settled down in this area in the 16th and 17th centuries. They migrated to Gujarat from countries

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such as Afghanistan, Greece, Germany, Iran and Iraq.

According to another belief, the shoemakers, also known as mochis, were taught this form of art by a Muslim wanderer in Sindh which led to the birth of this tradition. The Sufi saints of Sindh also trained the cobblers in embroidery.

The women of Kutch too took to this art form in order to fulfil their

The motifs of Kutch embroidery were inspired

by Persian and Mughal art which depicted animal themes such as dancing peacocks.

wardrobe requirements as well as to earn an income. Festive occasions always provided an opportunity for them to display their skills. The art of embroidery was passed down from mother to daughter. The motifs of Kutch embroidery were inspired by Persian and Mughal art which depicted animal themes such as dancing peacocks. Needles, mirrors and sequins are among the essentials for this art form. Mirrors and beadwork are done on cotton and silk fabrics. Some of the main stitches used are known as Mochi Bharat, Shisha or Abhala mirror work, Heer Bharat, Soof, Kharek and Paako.

The Various Styles of Kutch Embroidery

There are various styles of this form of embroidery. They are known as Suf, Khaarek, Pakko, Rabari, Garasia Jat and Mutava.

Suf: This style is based on a

triangular theme called the Suf. The stitch is worked on the warp and weft of the fabric from the back. The Suf designs consist of symmetrical patterns with tiny triangles.

Khaarek: In this geometric style the artisans work out an outline of black squares and the spaces are filled with bands of satin stitches all along the fabric from the front.

This form of embroidery fills the entire fabric. It is practiced by the Sodha, Rajput and Megwar people.

Pakko - Pakko is a tight square with chain and double buttonhole stitch embroidery, with the outline in black slanted satin stitch. Floral themes are depicted in the Pakko style of embroidery. These motifs, which are arranged in regular uniform patterns, are first drawn in mud with needles.

Rabari: Mirrors are used in this February 2019

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form of embroidery. Rabari involves the working of diverse patterns in chain stitch in strong colours. Bakhiya which is a decorative back stitch is used to embellish kediya or jackets for men and the seams of women’s blouses.

Jat: This form of embroidery is practiced by the Garasia Jats who came from outside of Kutch. They are followers of Islam and are pastoralists.

The women use cross stitch on fabric studded with minute mirrors. Their work is based on geometric patterns.

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Mutava: The Mutavas are also Muslim herders who form a small group. Their technique is highly refined and is based on the Jat, Pakko and Khareek styles.

There are diverse subgroups among the various communities of Kutch who have their distinct styles of embroidery. It forms a source of income for the women. Kutch embroidery on leather and applique are also unique aspects of this heritage. Gujarat owes its rich legacy to this skill of the people of Kutch.

SERVICES

KARUNYA COMMUNITY PHARMACY

A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL KERALA MODEL

Dr.Dileep Kumar, General Manager of the State owned Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited, who also holds additional charge of its Managing Director spoke at length to Sri.N.Vijayagopalan, Executive Editor, Metro Mart magazine, on the Karunya Community Pharmacy set-up run and controlled by the company.

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he launch of Karunya Community Pharmacy (KCP) by the Kerala Government in February 2012 marked the beginning of a silent revolution in the sale of drugs and pharmaceuticals in the State. “The initiative was launched with the main objectives of ensuring that drugs are available to the general public at much reduced rates and acting as an effective check on

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escalation of prices of drugs as per the whims and fancies of traders and manufacturers�, said Dr.Dileep Kumar. The pharmacies are run and controlled by Kerala Medical Services Corporation Limited (KMSCL).KCP outlets are set up only in State government owned hospitals including medical college hospitals, district hospitals, taluk hospitals and primary health centres across the State.

All branded prescription drugs required by the common public ailing from various diseases are sold through KCP outlets at a hefty discount in the range of 20-65%. The first outlet of the Karunya pharmacy was opened at the Medical College Hospital premises in Thiruvananthapuram. At present there are about 70 KCP outlets in Kerala and KMSCL is planning to have a total of 140 outlets covering all Assembly constituencies of the State within two years. A majority of the outlets are working round the clock on all days of the week.

Apart from all kinds of drugs, medical and surgical equipments are also sold through these community pharmacies at highly discounted rates. “Not only the patients of the hospitals, but also the general public can go to KCP outlets and purchase the medicines if they have a genuine medical prescription”, said Dr.Dileep Kumar. He pointed out that “the heavy discount allowed by KCP outlets makes a high impact on the price at which high value drugs like certain cancer drugs are available to the public”. All the medicines prescribed by Doctors, conforming to the same molecule and the same brand, which are available outside, are available in KCP counters also, at much reduced prices. All medicines are available at uniform rates in all KCP counters across the State. All the drugs sold through the counters of Karunya are branded generics and purchased directly from established companies. KMSCL is the official empanelled agency for the various schemes of the State and central governments.

The main advantages of these pharmacy outlets include availability

of all essential and speciality drugs at all times, discounted prices, assured quality and branded items. Speciality drugs used for the treatment of renal diseases (nephrology and urology), cancer, hypertension, infertility treatment etc., are available in all these pharmacies from the beginning.

KMSCL has an innovative scheme by name Family Medicine Card which is designed to provide more value and customized service, specially targeting the pensioners and elderly patients. It guarantees home delivery of medicines at the same sales rate prevailing at KCP outlets with an additional 2% discount, 1% as live discount in the bill and 1% as loyalty points. When the loyalty point reaches 250, an amount of Rs 200 will automatically be redeemed in the next bill. The applicants have to initially deposit an amount of Rs.2500/- or more which can be refilled in multiples of thousand.

The applicant should submit original prescription along with the application form.

“A mobile app having multiple utility, which facilitates ordering medicines and payment of the amount is also on the anvil, which is expected to be a great convenience February 2019

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tool for frequent buyers of medicine.

A Virtual Queue system is also being evolved for the convenience and ease of purchasing medicines through KCP outlets”, said Dr.Dileep Kumar.

The success of Kerala’s Karunya Community Pharmacy model owes much to the truly professional style of functioning of KMSCL, which gives a well balanced attention to key areas like human resources development, customer satisfaction, cost reduction etc.“We have a highly transparent centralized procurement system.

We maintain transparency in tender, and in payment. KMSCL is managed through a multi-dimensional approach. And all decisions are taken through a committee approach for ensuring maximum transparency”, said Dr.Dileep Kumar.

A robust financial planning strategy based on a pre-set margin has also contributed in a greater measure to the sustenance of the Karunya model.

Centralised procurement of medicines is made basing on a professional assessment of the demand across the State. The overheads management system is meticulous. Since the KCPs are functioning in the premises owned by the hospitals, rent expenses are obviated.

A meticulous complaint redressal system centrally managed by KMSCL is another major hallmark of Karunya model. Customer complaints are promptly dealt with in a serious manner with strict action.

The role played by Karunya Pharmacies in women empowerment is highly commendable. “Every Karunya outlet is managed exclusively by ladies, as a gesture on the part of the State Government towards 34

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more women getting employed in the organized sector and becoming financially secure. Karunya outlets are efficiently run by the lady pharmacists. On our part we make it a point to give adequate training to them periodically on areas like relationship management, organizational development and customer service. Three batches of 50 pharmacists each were given training by deputing them to IIM, Kozhikode”, said Dr.Dileep Kumar.

All these aspects have contributed in a great measure in making Kerala’s Karunya Pharmacy outlets a unique successful business model. “With increasing number of customers, our major concern is how to minimize the waiting time at Karunya counters.

We are exploring the possibilities of resorting to technology upgradation to address this issue,” said Dr.Dileep Kumar.

At present the share of the 70 KCP outlets in Kerala market is about 10% and the annual growth rate is 1530%.

KMSCL the apex authority for Karunya Pharmacies is a fully owned State Government company, which acts as the central procurement agency for all essential drugs and equipments for all public healthcare institutions under the Department of Health & Family Welfare. It provides best in class healthcare infrastructure services to over 1300 healthcare institutions in Kerala. KMSCL sets up and runs all kinds of modern medical and para medical facilities like hospitals, pathological labs, diagnostic centres, x-ray/scanning centres etc. Karunya pharmacies are the only trading channels of KMSCL.

SEMINAR

NATIONAL SEMINAR IN

Economics

Prof. Bhagwati Prakash Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Gautam Buddha University, Noida addressing Gyaan Sangamam.

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National Seminar by name Gyaan Sangamam in Economics was organized under the joint auspices of Prajna Pravah, a national umbrella that stimulates, trains and synthesizes individuals to recognize the inherent strength of Bharath with academic vigor directed towards decolonizing Indian minds from Eurocentric impact, and the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) under the Ministry of Human Resources Development at Bhaskareeyam Convention Centre, Ernakulam on 15-16th January, 2019. Several renowned experts, resource persons, research scholars

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and students of Economics and dignitaries participated in the two day seminar, which had lecture sessions and paper presentations on various segments of economics with special focus on Indian economy.

The main theme of the seminar was how the gems of knowledge and wisdom embedded in India’s ancient treatises on statecraft and economic policy, the Vedas, the Smritis etc. and India’s rich heritage contributed to the prosperity of the world and the world economy over many centuries and how the Indian economy can tremendously benefit by making use of that knowledge and wisdom to the full extent.

The subjects deliberated in the Seminar included Contemporary and Emerging Economic Challenges, Inclusive Economic Policies and Affirmative Actions, India’s Ancient Prosperity and Economic Wisdom, Colonial Exploitation, Institutional Innovations for Co-operative Federalism, Successful Indian Models of Development, Kerala’s Disaster Management Issues etc.

The main hallmarks of the Seminar were the wide range of topics selected, their high relevance to the contemporary Indian economy and the scholarly lectures and papers presented. The speakers included Dr. V.K. Malhotra, Member Sectretary, ICSSR; Dr. Tulsi Tawari, CEO & Chief Strategist, Alternative Approaches; Dr. Raj Nehru, Vice Chancellor, Haryana Viswakarma Skill University; Dr. Mohanlal Chippa, former Vice Chancellor, MDS University, Ajmeer; Dr. PNS Pillai, Professor, Mannam Memorial College; Dr. B.Ramaswamy, Member-Advisor, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Govet. Of India; Sri. Bhagwati Parakash Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Sri. Buddha University, Noida; Dr. Amita Singh, Professor, Dr. Priyesh, Asst. Professor, University

The seminar in session.

College, Trivandrum; Sri. V.P. Midhun, Asst. Professor, Govt. Law College, Trivandrum; Dr. Omprakash Mittal, former President, Laghu Udyog; Dr. Kanaka Sabhapathi, Professor, Sasthra University and Dr. Amita Singh, Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Functionaries of Bharateeya Vicharakendram namely Sri. P. Parameswaran (Director), Dr. M. Mohandas (President), Sri. R. Sanjayan (Joint Director), and Sri. Sudheer Babu (General Sectretary) and Sri. J. Nandakumar, National Co-ordinator, Prajna Pravah also participated in the Seminar.

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RECIPE

Iyer ATTHU CHAKARAI PONGAL

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hough many varieties of Pongal are made these days, Sarkkarai Pongal (sweet) and Venpongal (savoury) are the top hits. In the olden days, (may be even these days in some households) Pongal was made in a Vengalapanai, which is made of bronze and is a very thick deep vessel with a slightly narrower neck (top). It was customary to gift a few Vengalapanais to the daughter at the time of her marriage. The Iyer households used these vessels for regular cooking of rice, boiling milk and preparation of curds before the advent of cooking gas and pressure cookers in rural areas of Kerala. The main source of heat those days used

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to be firewood.

On Pongal day, raw turmeric roots and green mango leaves and flowers were strung in a thread and tied around the Vengalapanai and milk was boiled in it. It was customary to greet each other with “Pal Pongitha� (have you boiled the milk?). To the boiling milk was added the fried green Gram Dal and rice and Pongal was made. The Pongal prepared in the Vengalapanai tasted delicious. It was a tedious process though. One had to keep stirring it constantly so that it would not get burnt, nor would it boil over.

Here is the easiest and quickest way of preparing Sarkkarai Pongal in a pressure cooker.

Ingredients: Rice: 1 cup Roasted green gram Dal: ½ cup Jaggery: 2 cups Milk: 1 cup Ghee: 4 tbsp or more Cashew nuts: a few Raisins: a few Saffron: 2 or 3 strands Cardamom powder: 1 tsp Cloves: 2 nos.

Jaiphal or Jathikkai or nutmeg: 1 no.

Pachakarpooram or edible camphor (Cinnamomum Camphora): a pinch

Method: Boil the milk with 3 cups of water in a pressure cooker. (For Sarkkarai Pongal always use the regualr south Indian cooking raw rice like Ponni or Sona Masoori or Nellore, don’t use Basmati). When the milk and water boil, reduce heat and add the washed rice and green Gram Dal into it. Close with the lid. When steam starts escaping through the vent place the weight valve and cook on low heat for 15 – 20 minutes (This is for people using gas stoves. After 2nd whistle remove from the gas.

In the meantime, melt the Jaggery in 1 cup of water and strain to remove any impurities (In the olden days, Jaggery was crushed and added to the cooking rice and Dal mixture, I would always recommend to melt and strain the Jaggery as it will always have some fine sand particles).

Dissolve the saffron strands in a tbsp. of boiled milk and keep aside.

Lightly roast the cloves. Powder

Raja Gopaal Iyer

Chief Executive Officer

Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Resort & Spa, Trivandrum

it with 1/8 of the nutmeg. Open the pressure cooker and mash the contents well with a metallic spatula. Pour the strained Jaggery syrup into the cooked rice and Dal mixture and heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture becomes homogenous and is of a dropping consistency. (Care should be taken to see that all the moisture doesn’t evaporate and the Pongal becomes dry). It should be in a loose but not running consistency.

Add 2 tbsp or more ghee and mix well. Add the saffron mixture.

Remove from fire.

Heat the remaining ghee and add the raisins and broken cashews.

When they turn golden brown, pour into the Pongal. Add the pachakarpooram and cardamom powder and cloves and nutmeg powder. Pour one more tbsp of ghee. Sarkkarai Pongal is ready.

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CUISINE

UDS HOTELS CREATED HISTORY BY MAKING

LARGEST DESERT PUDDING

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ll the chef buddies of UDS Hotels made a world record on February 14th, the Valentine’s day by making “A miscellaneous desert pudding” and of crumbs from sandwich cookies and puddings in combination with other ingredients.

The team made an amazing global village with desert pudding having garden, water body, parks, power station, stadium, mountains, cattle field, and houses.etc.

UDS hotels made the pudding with 1610 kgs measuring 20ft x 20ft size of miscellaneous food materials converted into a pudding, and gave a message to the hotel and restaurant industry that if they can carefully plan and deliver the food production they can transform our

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food system and help the needy and poor section of the society.

Normally all hotels are throwing away the miscellaneous part of the dessert which actually tasty as the main desert. The real message out of this attempt is “Everything is not waste actually” if this mindset changes.

The Chefs of UDS hotels took the pledge to support Zero Hunger and to transform our food systems to recreate and of course carefully plan and deliver the food production. “We realize the importance and we will not waste the Food” The Judging committee of the “Universal Records Forum” declared the Certificates and the medal for the meeting the parameters and successful event.

SHOPPING

Lumiere Store in Thiruvananthapuram

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our quest for healthy, organic lifestyle can now be realised at the Thiruvananthapuram Lumiere Organic Home Store. The pioneers in organic food and fresh produce opened their first branch in Thiruvananthapuram at M.P. Appan Road, Vazhuthacaud to the applaud of all. Lumiere store expanded itself from its wide network across Bangalore to reach out to its fellow Keralites at the capital city on the 20th of April, 2018, and founders Ambrose Kooliyath and Manjunath

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Panackaparambil are beaming with pride at opening their second outlet in their native state.

At a time when every item on the market comes laced with pesticides, ripening agents, and preservatives, organically produced goods are a boon. It is almost shameful to see products called “vegetable wash� and cleaners are kept beside rows of fresh food, simply because it is known by the producers as well as the consumers that goods have toxic additives in them.

While the food industry is only

slowly shifting its focus to organic alternatives, Lumiere was incubated in the minds and farms of organic farmer Ambrose Kooliyath and ex-software employee Manjunath Panackaparambil way back in 2002.

Braving the financial oddities, the two met up and ventured out to practice the “seed-to-table Organic” concept in 2002 based in Bangalore, prioritising healthy, organic and toxin-free fruits, vegetables, and grains. Lumiere spread its wings to cover bakery, toiletries, condiments and spices over time, taking care of pretty much everything a small household needs. Despite the financial strains that come from adhering to the ethics of producing authentic fresh goods, they keep an unwavering stand when it comes to quality and trust. The founders maintain that it is when the customers recognise the quality of the products they offer that their venture is truly deemed a success.

Lumiere Organic Home Store in Thiruvananthapuram is the rewarding story of how being steadfast with ethics can earn you the loyalty and love of all. The residents of the capital city can now enjoy healthy and clean food, knowing exactly what is being put on their plate and where it has come from. At a time when people are advised to clean and wash market produce to remove the pesticides and ripening agents before consumption, people of Thiruvananthapuram can now take home lovely farm fresh produce for your household as well enjoy

GET

ORGANIC

the nutritious, organic food in the adjoining restaurant.

Its first outlets in Bangalore gave residents an opportunity at relishing the glory of organic produce at its best, and there has been no looking back ever since. The seed-to-table concept employed by the brains behind the venture ensure that the food that meets you on the table is purely organic and produced via sustainable methods in every step of the production. Lumiere is indeed a ray of light in a world dimmed and polluted by toxic food production methods.

The principle employed behind the idea of Lumiere is inspiring and heartwarming. Unlike traditional ways of business, they showed that the “seed-to-table Organic” business model is sustainable as well as feasible. Their vision is to honour and regain the dignity deserved of farmers and create a safer and healthier world for the coming generations. They have deconstructed the traditional notions of organizational hierarchy and roles, creating more engaging spheres of work where everyone is involved directly in production.

Be it farming, rearing, composting, irrigating or manuring, everybody gets down to work and get soiled.

It is their belief that human beings have no monopoly over earth’s February 2019

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resources, rather a responsibility for leaving things better than they were for posterity as well as other living beings. Lumiere wishes to perpetuate this vision; they believe in creating networks of trust and mutual respect for making a larger system of an organic lifestyle. The team openly says how they reach out to other similar establishments and create systems of support and interdependence. This system of respect and trust is the numero uno lesson Mother Nature teaches us.

The Lumiere team sources its produce from the organic farms from the hills of Kanthalloore, Munnar, rice from Palakkad, pulses and grains from Jaipur and Dehradun, apples from Shimla and Kashmir, oranges from Nagpur and so on. All the farms are visited and testified by the team as following the organic way of farming. The team procures most of its perishable goods from its own farms while partner farms provide the rest. Their range of spices and condiments are sourced from tribal cooperatives

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while ready to eat packaged food is from certified organic suppliers.

Lumiere also produces cookware made from traditional mud potteries.

Lumiere has expanded its reach from food produces to all basic needs of a household, ranging from cosmetics to toiletries.

The Lumiere label produces noodles, pasta, pickles, jams, fruit concentrates, condiments, cookies and bread, and savouries. Their bakery produce is also devoid of all the refined ingredients such as a sugar, refined flour and hydrogenated oils. The label proudly presents its goods which have zero preservatives and additives. You will be surprised if you think healthy meant bland and unappetizing. Lumiere has some of the best pickles and jams that are refreshingly lip-smacking. Founder Manjunath says how his jams can perish if not refrigerated and bread turning mouldy in two days, another testimony to the authenticity of its ingredients, emphasising its priority of an organic lifestyle.

FEATURE

PHILANTHROPISM OF BHAGAWAN SRI

S

SATHYA SAI BABA

Dr. K.S. Supriya

ri Sathya Sai Baba was born on 23rd November, 1926 in Puttaparthi, a remote South Indian Village in Andhra Pradesh. He is regarded as the Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent god by his devotees.

The rationalist admits him as noblest philanthropist who provides

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the drinking water, medicines, treatment and education free of cost to the needy. He never wanted to establish a new religion. Instead he wanted a Hindu to be a better Hindu, Christian a better Christian and a Muslim a better Muslim. He exhorted his followers to help ever and hurt never.

Millions of people from different countries flow to Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of peace, established

by Baba. Thousands of books have been written depicting the philosophy, miracles and teachings of Baba. The most important thing is the transformation happening in the character of the follower after knowing him. Baba tells his devotees to adhere to Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-violence.

Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust was established by Sri Sathya Sai Baba, as a public charitable Trust in 1972. The Trust is responsible for the running of the spiritual centres (called ashrams) of Prasanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh, India and Bridavan at the outskirts of the city of Bangalore, India. The

Trust following the guidelines of Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s philosophy of ‘Love All, Serve All’ has been running many service projects in the fields of health and education since its inception. Towards the beginning the century the Trust, on the directions of Sai Baba, took up the project for supplying safe drinking water to rural areas. All the services of the Trust are provided completely free of charge. The major among the various noble tasks, activities and initiatives started by Baba are given below.

EDUCATION

The Sathya Sai Trust runs schools and institutes of higher learning. There are four campuses associated with the education wing of the Trust, viz;, Puttaparthi campus for men, Anantapur campus for women, Brindavan campus Bangalore for men and Muddenahalli campus near Bangalore for men. All education is provided completely free of cost to all the students.

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SRI SATHYA SAI INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR SPORTS Sri Sathya Sai International Centre for Sports is a state-of-the-art Olympic standard multi discipline indoor stadium with facilities for Basket ball, Volley ball, Tennis, Squash, Table tennis, Badminton, Gymnastics and Yoga/Aerobics. This stadium admeasuring 100 metres by 60 metres on a 4.8 acre site is amongst the largest open frame space domes in the country. Built to Olympic specifications it can host international tournaments. Revered

Chancellor has always championed the pursuit for excellence and has created a facility that will prepare sportspersons from all over the country to achieve great heights at the Global Sports Events.

HEALTH CARE Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has established hospitals that offer world-class healthcare facilities to all totally free of charge. They are testimony to the power of love. They include Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Puttaparthi and Prashanthigrama, Sri Sathya Sai Mobile Hospital at Prashanthi Nilayam, Sri Sathya Sai General Hospitals at Prasanthi Nilayam and Whitefield.

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Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital, Put

SRI SATHYA SAI SPACE THEATRE (PLANETARIUM) IN PUTTAPARTHI This popular planetarium in Puttaparthi which has a capacity of about 200 people focuses on spreading knowledge about physics, astronomy, mathematics and other subjects.

The planetarium is situated on the

ttaparthi, A.P., India

campus of Sri Sathya Sai Vidyagiri.

One can visit it on Thursday as the planetarium organizes a space show in English and Hindi language. Night sky stimulation of this planetarium uses amazing Spitz Space-512.

Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore

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Time

5.10 a.m.

5.40 a.m.

6.30 a.m. - 07.30 a.m.

8.00 a.m. - 9.00 a.m.

9.00 a.m. - 9.30 a.m.

9.30 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.

4.30 p.m. - 5.15 p.m.

5.15 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.

6.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m.

6.00 p.m. - 6.10 p.m

Activity

Aumkar, Meditation and Suprabhatham Veda Chanting and Nagar Sankeertan (Circumambulating the Mandir) Pooja inside the Bhajan Hall (Entry for Devotees will start at 06.25 a.m.)

Veda Chanting Bhajans Darshan of Bhagawan’s Mahasamadhi and Prayer Hall Veda Chanting Bhajans Darshan of Bhagawan’s Mahasamadhi Meditation for Overseas Devotees in Prayer Hall

SANATHANA SAMSKRUTHI SPIRITUAL MUSEUM

This Museum in Puttaparthi is situated beside University administrative block. It is an astounding structure. The museum showcases teachings of Sai Baba, artifacts related to unity and religion, and many other items. This museum was built in Shikhara architectural style. The inauguration of this temple was done by Bhagawan in year 1990.

Chaitanya Jyoti Museum

If there is righteousness in the heart, There will be beauty in the character.

If there is beauty in the character, There will be harmony in the home.

If there is harmony in the home, There will be order in the nations.

If there is order in the nations, there will be peace in the world.

Compiled by: Jayaprakash R.P. 50

February 2019

-Sri Sathya Sai Baba

HOSPITALITY

TWENTY14 HOLDINGS MARKS ENTRY INTO

SWITZERLAND

T

wenty14 Holdings (T14H), the hospitality investment arm of Abu Dhabi-based LuLu Group International, has entered into a forward purchase contract with Swiss real estate developer Necron AG for the upcoming IntercityHotel Zurich Airport in RĂźmlang, Switzerland.

The addition of the IntercityHotel marks Twenty14 Holdings entry into mainland Europe and joins a portfolio of $750m worth of luxury property across the UK, the Middle East, and India.

The purpose-built, 260-room, 4-star hotel will be located close to the RĂźmlang station, A1 motorway and offers fantastic transport links, including access to Zurich International Airport in ten minutes,

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while the city centre is just 15 minutes away. The property will include meeting and event spaces, a restaurant, an indoor fitness centre, and spa area as well as underground and outdoor parking facilities. The property is scheduled to open in 2020.

The hotel will be operated by Deutsche Hospitality (Steigenberger Hotels AG) under a 20-year lease contract. The design of the property will be based on the new Intercity Hotels Matteo Thun design standards, and keeping in mind business travellers and tourists, the property will feature modern guestrooms and public spaces.

The hotel is the first of many development projects planned by

Necron AG’s in cooperation with Deutsche Hospitality. HVS Hodges Ward Elliott acted as exclusive advisers to Necron.

Commenting on the acquisition, Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, T14H said, “We are excited to mark our entry into mainland Europe with our first property in Zurich. It is an important milestone in our group’s portfolio as we work towards becoming a billion-dollar investment firm by 2020.”

“This is an exciting hotel development and we are delighted to be working in partnership with both Twenty14 Holdings and Deutsche Hospitality. We very much hope this is the start of a successful long-term partnership with both,” said Gerard van Liempt, CEO, Necron AG. “The IntercityHotel Zurich Airport launches our brand in Switzerland and adds a highly attractive location to the portfolio,” said Thomas Willms, CEO, Deutsche Hospitality.

“This hotel is symbolic of our growing international presence at strategically important locations and we are delighted to have such a reliable partner as the Twenty14 Holdings on our side.”

This is Twenty14 Holdings’ second property to be operated by Deutsche Hospitality. The German hospitality firm currently operates T14H’s Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay in Dubai, UAE. International law firms Trowers & Hamlins, and Thouvenin Rechtsanwälte acted as legal counsel for Twenty14 Holdings with ADB as their Swiss tax counsel.

About Twenty14 Holdings Twenty14 Holdings is the hospitality investment arm of LuLu Group International, founded in 2014 to capitalize on the growth in the global hospitality industry. The company currently has assets worth more than $750m spread across Europe, Middle East, and India. In Europe, the group owns the historic Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian in Scotland and has also made a £110m agreement with property developer Galliard Homes to create a luxurious five-star hotel at 1-5 Great Scotland Yard, the former headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police. The firm coowns the landmark Sheraton Oman Hotel in Muscat, a 230 room fivestar architectural marvel, which was re-opened in 2016. The company also owns the Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay in Dubai and three properties in India.

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TOURISM

Kerala features in CNN Travel’s 19 places to visit in 2019 •From backwaters to beaches, from prawn curry to Kathakali, from culture to wildlife, Kerala has everything for global tourists

I

n a huge affirmation of its alluring tourism credentials, Kerala has been featured in the exalted list of 19 places across the globe that CNN Travel has recommended for a visit in 2019, with the travel portal paying glowing tributes to God’s Own Country, its stunning backwaters, sumptuous cuisines, and life moving at a relaxing pace.

“This area of India has it all: sun, sea, sand, good food, houseboats, culture and wildlife. Its spectacular natural landscapes -- think palm trees and sprawling backwaters -- lend the region the nickname God’s Own Country,” noted CNN Travel, making the state a must-visit destination for international travellers in the ongoing year.

It also said severe floods during the summer of 2018 wreaked havoc across this southwestern state, but many of its top tourist destinations escaped

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unscathed.

Kerala’s backwaters are not only an idyllic place to stay on a houseboat, but it also gives an opportunity to see India at a relaxing pace, it said.

“Kerala’s backwaters are famous for a reason: a nexus of waterways linking the region’s villages and best explored via kettuvallam -- a traditional wooden houseboat. It’s worth spending anywhere from a single afternoon to a week on one of the many rental houseboats on offer, enjoying the sights and sounds drifting by,” it said.

The coastal state is also great for beaches, particularly in the southern part of the state. “Postcard-perfect Kovalam is a surfing hotspot, while Varkala is good for just relaxing,” it pointed out.

In particular, the travel portal lavished praise on Kerala’s cuisines -- from the spice shops of Munnar

to the coconut, which is everywhere in Kerala and used to make one of the state’s signature dishes: Kerala prawn curry.

It also mentioned Kochi International Airport, powered entirely by solar panels, and the ancient port city of Kochi, once occupied by the Portuguese, which is a multicultural hub offering plenty to do and see.

Kerala is a great place to check out traditional Kathakali dance, the storytelling dance form known for its colorful and intricate costumes and masks.

Other top trips include Munnar to see the tea plantations, and Periyar National Park, a wildlife haven offering guided jungle treks.

Tourism Minister Shri Kadakampally Surendran said, “It is a massive recognition for Kerala Tourism and will surely increase the footfalls in the state from across the globe. What is particularly heartening is the fact that CNN Travel has made it explicitly clear that most of the state’s tourism destinations escaped unscathed in

the aftermath of the severe floods of 2018.”

Expressing happiness, Tourism Secretary Smt. Rani George said it would give a huge fillip to Kerala’s touristy appeal. “It is going to be an authentic advertisement for God’s Own Country and its brand as an inescapable tourist destination,” she added.

“The endorsement of Kerala as a never-miss destination by CNN Travel has come at the most opportune time, which also recognises how quickly tourism in the state has bounced back after last year’s floods with the stakeholders and the government moving together”, State Director of Tourism, Shri P Bala Kiran, said.

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INDUSTRY

Kerala to implement oneof-its-kind online clearance mechanism for entrepreneurs

I

n a revolutionary initiative in the country, the Kerala Government will implement an online, single window clearance mechanism with unique features that would ease the procedures of launching new ventures and give a phenomenal push to entrepreneurship activities in the state.

To be launched at ASCEND 2019 at Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre (LBICC), Kochi, on February 11, the Single Window Interface for Fast and Transparent Clearance (KSWIFT) mechanism will bring together relevant departments for expediting approvals within the stipulated timeframe, reducing and simplifying procedures and substantially curtailing

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bureaucratic interventions.

ASCEND 2019 will showcase a string of sweeping administrative and policy reforms that have considerably improved ease of doing business in Kerala for the benefit of industry and trade members.

KSWIFT will be a pioneering integrating platform that supports entrepreneurs in obtaining their requisite clearances for setting up and running an enterprise in the state.

Having all the trappings of a landmark initiative, KSWIFT is designed to make governance more efficient, effective, transparent and user-friendly by leveraging the

information technology. It will be a platform for all future transactions with the government for granting licences and approvals in a timebound manner.

Presently, the services of 14 departments /agencies are being made available in KSWIFT, wherein all the applications can be submitted through a unified Common Application Form (CAF).

These departments are Directorate of Urban Affairs, Directorate of Panchayats, Dept. of Town and Country Planning, Factories and Boilers, Electrical Inspectorate, Mining and Geology, Forest and Wildlife, Labour, Fire and Rescue Services, Kerala State Pollution Control Board, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd., Kerala Water Authority, and Dept. of Ground Water.

KSWIFT has features like CAF; intelligent information wizard; unified payment mechanism; timebound clearances; digital approvals; online issue of clearances; and deemed approvals and composite licences. It will enable entrepreneurs to submit all their applications online along with provisions to upload the requisite supporting documents.

Further, dedicated dashboards provided for both project proponents and department officials pave the way for end-toend tracking and processing of the applications. In order to increase transparency, KSWIFT has also enabled the provision for third party verification of the entire clearance process.

It will be the next revolutionary

change in the clearances / legislative landscape of the state that would provide a thriving environment for enterprises. KSWIFT is expected to reduce the physical touch points in the entire clearance process, thereby making the entire process more efficient and effective.

As a means of improving the entrepreneur–government interface, the Kerala government has constituted Investment Promotion and Facilitation Cells (IPFC) at both the state and district-level.

The IPFC consists of officials of the departments / agencies that are involved in providing clearances for setting up and running enterprises in the state.

The mandate of the IPFC is to act as the single point of contact for investors and accord all the required approvals for setting up and operation of enterprises in Kerala.

It is envisaged to track the progress of applications submitted online, obtain regular feedback from the stakeholder departments / agencies, remove bottlenecks and ensure time-bound disposal of applications.

The IPFC will also provide handholding support to all entrepreneurs, who wish to make Kerala their preferred destination for starting and running an enterprise.

The IPFC at the state-level, with Managing Director, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (KSIDC) as its CEO, will be headquartered in KSIDC in the capital city. District Collectors will be the Chairpersons for the IPFC while General Manager, District Industries Centers, will be the Convenors in respective districts.

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