New Terminal of Cochin International Airport to Be Opened to Public from Feb. 3-10

The construction of Terminal 3 of Cochin International Airport, which began in February, 2014 by the UDF government, will be completed in March. CIAL authorities have decided to open up the new terminal for public visits. The general public can visit the terminal from 3rd to 10th February between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors have been asked to carry an ID proof with them.

The new terminal spreads over an expanse of 15 lakh sq ft and was constructed at a cost of less than Rs. 1,000 crore, with about 30 agencies being engaged to get the work done at the fastest pace. It was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister Oomen Chandy in February, 2016, making it a golden feather in the UDF government’s cap.

The new terminal, which is estimated to double the capacity of CIAL, will have a total of 80 immigration counters, which will significantly reduce long queues for international travelers.

Daily

January 29, 2017

When a Convicted Businessman Attends a Presidential Banquet

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces as the honoured Chief Guest at India’s 68^th Republic Day celebrations has played a pivotal role in cementing friendly relations between India and UAE. This is the second successive State Visit by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed to India. The first one was in February 2016. This is also a clear indication that he and the people of UAE have a special place for Indians in their heart.

As a part of the visit, President Shri Pranab Mukherjee had hosted a banquet dinner in honour of the Crown Prince, which was preceded by official discussions. The Prince also met Vice-President Shri Mohammed Hamid Ansari and had delegation-level discussions with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who also hosted a banquet lunch in honour of the visiting dignitary. Many dignified personalities from various sectors like business, media, finance etc. were present at the dinner. The meet also included NRI businessman Galfar Muhammadali, who was sentenced to 15 years by an Omani court for bribing a government official to get an extension of a contract granted by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO). The criminal court in Muscat had in March 2014 sentenced him to 15 years in jail and slapped a fine of Rs 27 crore.

Controversial guest?

Corruption, Economy, Politics

By Vidya Nair

January 27, 2017

Socially Relevant Street Plays to be Staged in Kochi This Weekend

The Brij Mohan Anand Foundation and Jana Natya Manch have joined hands to organise a weekend of street plays, a derivative of the exhibition Dissent and Discourse: the Art and Politics of Rebel Artist Brij Mohan Anand (1928-1986), on the many faces of dissent and its significance in public discourse, creativity, and progress. Two plays focusing on the rights of the workers and violence on women are scheduled to be enacted in Subhash Park, Marine Drive and various parts of Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, which include some of the venues of the ongoing edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.

The exhibition that is running as a collateral project to the Kochi-Muziris Biennale comprises artworks of Brij Mohan, a rebellious modern painter and illustrator. His works depicted his protest on capitalism, neo-imperialism and nuclear warfare, the commercialisation of art and culture, sexual inequality, etc.

Jan Natya Manch, popularly known as Janam, is one of the oldest street theatre groups in Delhi. Janam is considered to be a pioneer of the street theatre movement in India and is known particularly for its artistic and political innovation along with close collaborations with grassroots organisations including trade unions, women’s support groups, and student organisations. Two plays, Yeh Bhi Hinsa Hai (The Faces of Violence) and, Yeh Hum Kyun Sahein (Enough is Enough), both in Hindi will be played on January 28-29 at six different venues in eight slots.

Art, Entertainment

By Vidya Nair

January 25, 2017

Kerala’s Meenangadi Panchayat Hopes to Become Carbon-Neutral by 2020

When saving the environment has become the need of the hour and representatives throughout the world are getting conscious about bringing down the pollution level, carbon emission and plastic waste, Meenangadi, a panchayat in Wayanad district of Kerala, has already started its efforts to emerge as India’s first carbon-neutral panchayat.

Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to having achieved a state in which the net amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere is reduced to zero because it is balanced by actions to reduce or offset these emissions.

This initiative by the inhabitants of Meenangadi, under the leadership of the panchayat representatives and a group of scientists, aims at propagating a sustainable environment. The project is also being supported and supervised by Thanal, a renowned organisation working for environment, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation’s Community Agro-Biodiversity Centre, and Kannur University’s zoology department.

Environment

By Vidya Nair

January 22, 2017

FEM@Mobile – the New Notebook for Farmers

Farming has been one of the most popular occupations of Indians since ages, mainly because of the favourable climate, fertile land and the predominant belief of cultivating one’s own food. This is one of the reasons why each and every development activity in India includes upliftment of the agricultural sector as well.

Off late, with new topics like organic produce and sustainable farming ruling the market, more and more people are getting inclined to these methods. However, not many farmers are updated about new crops, new techniques, less harmful fertilizers and pesticides, and other such farming related matters. Apart from these few positive factors, there is a whole lot of issues that can have negative impact on farming, which the farmers may not know yet should mandatorily have knowledge about.

It is this thought that persuaded a group of scientists at the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), working at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Malappuram, to develop a new mobile application named ‘Farm Extension Manager @Mobile’ that provides information about hundred crops listed by the KAU. Dr. Sunil V. G, Assistant Professor, KVK, Malappuram, who is one of the brains that worked behind this project says,

Environment

By Vidya Nair

January 21, 2017

Kerala Sets the Bar High with a First-Of-Its-Kind Gender-Neutral Football League

Yuvasamithi, a group of youngsters working for socially relevant campaigns like gender equality, education, etc., under the leadership of Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP), is organising a Gender-Neutral Football League as part of its SCRIBES science-cultural fest, which brings together youth from all over the State and includes discussions, film screenings, and performances.

The flag-off for the league-level tournament, the first of its kind, was at the Government High School Grounds at Pilicode in Kasaragod district on January 15, where teams comprising men, women and transgenders played against each other, upholding the true sportsman spirit.

People, Sports

By Vidya Nair

January 20, 2017

Banning Pets in Apartment Complexes Is Illegal. What Is a Possible Solution?

With apartment complexes becoming the new housing means and more people opting to live in flats for many reasons like security, lack of space to build individual houses, etc. one of the most important matters of concern is the permissibility of pets in these complexes, which are not private property and are inhabited by many. It also becomes important for pet owners to understand their rights and responsibilities, for the welfare of their pets as well as their neighbours.

Most of the time residents are provided a letter on behalf of the Apartment Association stating pets are banned and that owners must either vacate or abandon their pets. The All-Kerala Apartment Owner’s Association has also come up with a verbal norm that pets should be either abandoned or looked after well by their owners so that nobody else in the society complaints about the same. The association has also made it clear that if anyone has any complaint with even one of the residents having a pet, it would be better not to bring them in the apartment complex.

V.S. Somanathan, general secretary of the association, says, “We completely acknowledge the fact that there is no law existing in our country that says pets are banned from apartment complexes. However, we have come up with the announcement in light of the insecurities other residents are having if any one resident in the housing society has a pet. Hygiene is one of the major concerns. The owners have no right to make these pets poop near the children’s play area. We are not against people having pets, provided they should strictly follow the guidelines that are mandatory while having one.”

Daily

By Vidya Nair

January 18, 2017

As Carcinogens Get Sold in the Name of Cosmetics, Results Are ‘Fair’ but Not ‘Lovely’

Makeup and using cosmetics are becoming an inevitable part of beauty these days. Irrespective of gender, people are trying out many cosmetic items in order to make themselves look more attractive and stand out in a crowd.

Makeup and women have an unbreakable relationship since ages. This could probably be the reason why the number of cosmetic products being dumped in the market is drastically increasing day by day, so much so that people can never get enough from a single trusted brand and try using whatever they get in the market. Malayalees, who usually do not even buy a detergent that is expired, are happily buying cosmetics that do not belong to any particular brand, and even if are branded contain carcinogens.

There is an even more crucial and serious dimension to the cosmetic story. For all those out there who say that one should only rely on branded cosmetic and makeup products as they maintain quality, 90 per cent of these “branded items” like L’Oreal, Maybelline, Lakme, ColorBar, Chambor, etc. that are sold in the posh shops could be duplicates. MAC, which is one of the world’s best professional range of makeup products and is used by runway models, is being sold even at the local ladies stores in cities. These are undoubtedly duplicates.

Beauty

By Vidya Nair

January 17, 2017

Is It Fair to Leave the Service Charge at a Restaurant to the Customer’s Discretion?

With the effects of demonetisation still being experienced in the country, the New Year came with what seems to be good news. The hangover from the celebrations was still strong when The Department of Consumer Affairs came up with an announcement that the ‘service charge’, which restaurants include in addition to taxes, is actually optional and not mandatory.

A press release published by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, through the Press Information Bureau under the title ‘Consumer has discretion to pay ‘service charge’ or not: Department of Cons umer Affairs’, has stated that – “A number of complaints from consumers have been received that hotels and restaurants are following the practice of charging ‘service charge’ in the range of 5-20%, in lieu of tips, which a consumer is forced to pay irrespective of the kind of service provided to him. The Consumer Protection Act, 1986, provides that a trade practice which, for the purpose of promoting the sale, use or the supply of any goods or for the provision of any service, adopts any unfair method or deceptive practice, is to be treated as an unfair trade practice and that a consumer can make a complaint to the appropriate consumer forum established under the Act against such unfair trade practices. In this context, the Department of Consumer Affairs, Central Government, has called for clarification from the Hotel Association of India, which has replied that the service charge is completely discretionary and should a customer be dissatisfied with the dining experience he/she can have it waived off. Therefore, it is deemed to be accepted voluntarily.”

The Kochi Post contacted certain authorities, restaurant owners of various restaurants, and the customers to know their views.

Daily

By Vidya Nair

January 16, 2017

Train Derailments Still a Concern as Safety Measures are Implemented at a Slow Pace

As the Indian Railways is all set to undergo a major transformation with the preparation and implementation of a National Plan for Railway Development, the reasons and the causes of rail derailments remain unchecked. The probable reasons though are being cited as rail fractures, corrosion, etc. and probe into a majority of the derailment cases are still pending. Though according to the Indian Railways, the number of accidents in the year 2015-16 has come down to 107 when compared to 135 in the 2009-14, the pace at which safety measures need to be implemented is extremely slow. It was recorded that 47 per cent of the accidents during 2009-14 was due to derailment.

Last year’s Railway Budget had listed down a number of guidelines all which aimed to cater to the requirements of passengers. Some of these included expansion of network, revamp of organisational structure, tapping new sources of revenue, maximising use of Information and Communication Technology, ensuring transparency in award of project contracts, and introduction of bar coded tickets. These development attempts, according to the Railway Ministry, are to make the rail sector passenger-friendly, market-oriented, efficient and modern.

Introduction of a high-speed rail network with Japanese assistance was also one of the major highlights of the development process, which is reported to be accomplished through a 50-year loan credit with an interest rate of 0.1 per cent.

Daily

By Vidya Nair

January 16, 2017

The Story of the Struggle This Hearing-Impaired Model Went Through to Achieve Her Dreams

The Kochi Post had recently published a story on the hearing-impaired model Sophia M. Joe. Throughout her life, she has faced various constraints.

Sophia, according to her parents, has excelled in whatever she tried her hands at and the only drawback that keeps her away from being a normal individual is that she can’t hear. She is an athlete, a model, dancer and a painter. This talented girl has also represented India at the Miss World Deaf and Dumb Contest. She is also the first deaf and dumb person in our state to have a driving license. These achievements mean a lot to a person who has competed with other children to win various awards, who are of her same age, and do not have any constraints like Sophia.

However, while all media houses are projecting bright days ahead for Sophia, the truth is that Sophia is finding it very difficult to live in Kerala, because she feels that our society will never accept people like her. Mr. Francis has more than one experience to prove it, which he shares with us.

Fashion

By Vidya Nair

January 13, 2017

In Conversation with James Wilson on His Findings About Demonetisation

James Wilson, a civil engineer, is a member of the Mullaperiyar Special Cell for the Government of Kerala. His profession demands him to decipher figures and statistics of various happenings in a manner that is easily understood by anyone reading a report he has prepared. This could probably be the reason why Mr. Wilson started researching and digging deep into the current major issue in our country – the demonetisation of currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000. According to him, he did not find any article or news report convincing enough that would provide him complete and transparent details about demonetisation and its impacts on society. And so he decided to find it out for himself.

He is now posting his findings on his blog ‘Decipher the Demonetisation’ and conveying his thoughts through his Twitter handle @jamewils, which is in turn becoming popular.

In a conversation with The Kochi Post, Mr. Wilson shared his views on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision of demonetisation, its impact, and its pros and cons.

Politics

By Vidya Nair