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CM assures protection to Orissa people
Friday, 31 October, 2008
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30: Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said the Government would give protection to those who migrated to the state following attacks from fundamentalists in Orissa. Talking to the 55-member group, who fled Orissa, Mr Achuthanandan said the Government would provide accommodation to them in the rescue-homes under the Social Welfare Department. It would also provide food, treatment and education to the affected people, he added. The 55-member group, including women and children, visited the Chief Minister with the help of human right activists and submitted a memorandum to him. The members alleged that they were facing attacks during the past one year and all their belongings and houses were destroyed and many of their relatives were missing. They were living in forests, as they could not return to their native place because of fear, a release said here.
Kerala on terror trail
Thursday, 30 October, 2008
Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan after the cabinet meeting he said ''Those believed to have terror links are being taken into custody and questioned under DIG Vinod Kumar''. 'It is known that all the four terrorists from Kerala who were killed in Kashmir and others arrested here have criminal background. Earlier also there were certain doubts about certain organisations. They recruit youngsters in the age group of 16 to 18 to their organisation,'' he added. He also stated that the religious education should not encourage the youth to take route of terrorism, was not aimed at any particular religion he said ''I had said that religious education should not go against secularism of the country. But certain religious leaders, including those in the Muslim League, said that I had targeted a particular community.'' meanwhile In kannur, Faisal, an accused of having recruited local hands, including the two slain terrorists for a Kashmir-based outfit, was placed under the custody of the police team probing the links of persons from Kerala with terrorist outfits, till November 4. The 24-year-old, arrested here on October 25, was handed over to the Special Investigating Squad officials by a court in Thalassery, as police expect to get vital clues regarding links of people from the southern state with a Kashmir-based terrorist outfit. "Faisal could be one among the many working against the nation and a detailed inquiry alone will throw more light on the links of terror suspects from Kerala," Superintendent of Police S Sreejith said.
Aussies already discovering Kerala
Incredible India is showcasing Kerala in Sydney and Melbourne this week, and highlighting the fact that Australians are already discovering this destination renowned for its wellness and nature travel. With over 14,000 Australians recorded in Kerala in 2007, Australia is the destination's seventh largest source market, and one of the fastest growing averaging 20% a year, and jumping a whopping 160% in 2007 when compared to 2002. So to teach agents how to better sell the destination a contingent of 13 tourism delegates have come down to Australia on the third Kerala tradeshow in Sydney, and its first ever showing in Melbourne. "We offer unique experiences, we are also driven by small businesses and we constantly innovate to put new products on the market," said Vasudevan Venu, Government of Kerala Secretary for Tourism. "If you ask me about the number of hotels in Kerala which have more than 100 rooms, I can count them on the fingers of one hand, the Kerala experience as far as hotels are concerned is about boutique, small operators. "Unique offerings like houseboats have become iconic to the Kerala visitor experience... we have a business model firmly rooted in the native culture," he adds. Speaking to e-Travel Blackboard, he adds that for Kerala a growth of less than 20% this year in Australia visitors will be seen as a failure. "Anything less than 20% growth from the Australian market [17,000 to 18,000 arrivals] should be taken as failure. We have very high standards... But having said that, there's a caveat there, and that's the economy," says Dr Venu. "If it's not as bleak as everyone's predicting, we should reach those numbers," he continues. "The Australian visitor also stays for a week, and combines a Kerala visit with another region close." "Australians see Kerala as a leisure destination– there to relax, as it's not a very activity orientated destination which is also why the market tends to be older... our wellness sector is carving a niche for itself, and we're discovering that this market is quite resilient as well." The roadshow partners with Singapore Airlines to also highlight the ease of travelling to Kerala, with a transit in Singapore Australians can fly direct to three airports in the Kerala state.
"Singapore Airlines see Kerala as a soft entry point for India, what we find is that most India programs concentrate on the north... and our intuition tells us that north India is a lot harder to access, because of a lack of infrastructure, roads are busy, and there's more poverty," says Dale Woodhouse, Singapore Airlines Manager Passenger Marketing Australia, to e-Travel Blackboard. "Kerala is more akin to an experience that most people have had in South East Asia... so it's a softer point of entry for people to go in and experience that beautiful part of India and then think 'well wouldn't it be nice to expand from here?'" So confident is Singapore Airlines about the India experience for Australian travellers, Mr Woodhouse revealed that they are currently working actively with wholesalers in Australia who launched dedicated India brochures to really push wholesale leisure traffic to India. Offering very special fares to these wholesalers who sign up, there will then be a joint marketing fund to promote travel together. This initiative is set to be launched officially shortly. "We have already had some wholesalers come on board," he comments. "And we're in talks with others."
At the end of the event, one lucky winner won a five night holiday for two to Kerala flying with Singapore airlines.
Pope suspends bishop for adopting woman
Friday, 24 October, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI Thursday suspended a Bishop of Kochi in the south Indian state of Kerala over the controversial "adoption" of a young woman and constituted a three-member panel to probe the charges against the bishop, media reports said. The order to suspend bishop John Thattunkal of Kochi was issued by Pope Benedict XVI and conveyed to Verapoly Arch Bishop Daniel Acharuparambil, who is the supreme head of the Latin Catholics in Kerala, and conveyed later this evening. "Verapoly Arch-Bishop Father Daniel Acharuparapbhil has received a papal decree on Thursday evening. He has been asked to give the charge to Verapoly Bishop immediately," Kerala Catholic Bishop Council spokesman Father Stephen Althara said in Kochi. This is the first time in the 2000-year old history of the Catholic church in India that a Bishop has been suspended, the sources said.
Rupee falls to record low of 50.15/$
MUMBAI: The rupee opened trade on Friday at a record low of 50.15 per dollar, weighed down by heavy losses in Asian stocks which raised worries of more outflows from the local share market. At 9 a.m., the partially convertible rupee was at 50.00/15 per dollar,
compared with 49.81/82 at close on Thursday. Asian stocks fell on Friday, led by a 4 percent drop in Japan's Nikkei, as
the global economic slowdown slashed earnings prospects for an array of
companies, forcing investors to look to safer government bonds.
ISRO in the limelight
Monday, 13 October, 2008
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is in the limelight again when the PLSV C-11 takes off to the skies from Sriharikotta, carrying Chandrayan-I Satelite at 0620 hrs on October 22. In a release here today, M C Dathan, Director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikotta told newspersons that the countdown for the historic launch would begin at 0400 hrs on October 20. Chandrayan-I weighing 1380 kg, would reach the lunar orbit on Novermber eight, he said, adding Chandrayan-11 mission of 2010 had been approved in principle by the ministry of space. Chandryan-I, costing approximately Rs 386 crore, would continue for a period of two years. The mission, apart from other investigations, was aimed at checking the presence of polar ice, wet soil and precious minerals on the lunar surface. The Satelite carrying eleven payloads, including six from abroad was expected to throw more light on hitherto unknown areas of the lunar surface. One of the important indigenous playloads of Chandryan, Moon impact Probe (MIP), would be depositing a plaque with the tri-colour on the Moon. The MIP payload would also capture visuals of the moon's surface through its video cameras, the release added.
Smartcity will not come under the SEZ
Wednesday, 8 October, 2008
The Rs 15 billion ($350 million) Smart City project, being worked jointly by the Kerala government and Dubai Internet City (DIC), will not come under the SEZ policies informed Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan.
Alleging a major foul play in exempting Smartcity project from policies of SEZ, the opposition today directly targeted the Chief Minister's close kin's role in the Smartcity project. After the United Democratic Front (UDF) high power committee meeting speaking to reporters UDF convenor PP Thankachan said the matter should brought under high level investigation he added "How can the state government have two different set of rules for SEZs. We demand that a probe be launched to find out the role". All labour laws prevailing in the state will also be applicable to these SEZs opposition said.
Speaking to reporters after weekly cabinet meeting Chief Minister said the new SEZ guidelines will not be applicable for Smart City. Instead, the rules and guidelines laid down in the agreement between DIC and the state government will be followed. Chief Minister underlined that there is no confusion existing now on this matter.
Kuttanad package to be implemented
The government will form the Kuttanad Prosperity Council to oversee the implementation of the package, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting held here. "This committee would be chaired by the chief minister, and would include state cabinet ministers, law makers from the area and officials," said Achuthanandan. The package, prepared by agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan, is expected to give a new lease of life to Kuttanad, often referred to as as the 'rice bowl of Kerala'.
New SEZ policy not applicable to Smart City: CM
Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today said the new Special Economic Zones (SEZs) policy, formulated by the state government with certain norms and regulations, would not be applicable to the Smart City Project in Kochi.
Replying to questions after weekly-cabinet briefing, VS said ''the new policy will not be applicable to the Smart City and other projects like Techno park, set up by the Government.''
Achuthanandan said since the Smart City and other similar projects were established with the initiatives by the government at the government land and already entered an agreement with the government, the subsequent norms or policies would not be applicable to any of these projects.
The state government had come out with a policy, setting the norms and regulations for establishing SEZs in the state recently, since there was some confusion as to how the SEZ policy could affect the Smart City project, which was approved on the basis of different criteria with regard to utilisation of land area.
Terrorism is not a question of one individual-PM
Wednesday, 1 October, 2008
Asked about the removal of Home Minister regarding his handling of terrorism, PM today said there are problems in the system to counter terrorism and "it is not a question of one individual". "I think we are dealing with a difficult situation. It is not a question of one individual, it is a question of the system and we have problems. We need to improve our various mechanisms which are in place to counter terrorism," he said. He also said that the government will put its "best foot forward" while dealing with terrorism and left wing extremismas it constituted a "serious threat" to the country's unity.
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