6 Jun 2009
PUNE: Elamaram Kareem, the industries minister of Kerala, said here on Thursday that Kerala is emerging as an attractive investment destination among the south Indian states, with focus on investments in services and manufacturing sectors. He said an extensive campaign is being undertaken across the country to bring about a change in the old perspective that Kerala is a difficult destination for investment.
Kareem said that the government has come up with major projects for the development of the tourism sector. This sector contributes to a major section of activities in the state. Some of these projects include a campaign called responsible tourism and exploration of new destinations and developing Kerala as an international tourist hub. This will attract more number of foreign tourists, Kareem said. "Things have changed in the last decade. With the significant development in infrastructure and education, and with the reforms in labour policies, Kerala is no more a difficult state for investment. The state has registered a significant growth in GDP, which is even more than the country's growth."
Reacting to the criticism that industry in Kerala often face problems due to strong labour unions, Kareem said the government has brought considerable reforms in the labour sector. The number of man-days lost in Kerala due to strikes nowadays are much lower than the national average. It was brought almost to nil last year, Kareem said.
The minister was in the city to address a programme, Investment opportunities in Kerala,' organised by the World Malayalee Council, Pune province, in association with the Kerala government. "Similar events will be undertaken in different cities across the country. These programmes will help establish a communication network between the Kerala government and investors keen on investing in Kerala, Kareem said.
Earlier, T Balakrishnan, principal secretary for industries and commerce, Kerala, said that the Kerala government is focusing on cluster formation for IT and SMB sectors. The government is also following a policy to being growth with social equality and employment generation.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Karunakaran to meet Cong leadership in Delhi
6 June 2009
Thiruvananthapuram, June 6: Veteran Congress leader K. Karunakaran will be in New Delhi Sunday to meet the party's national leadership to discuss his grievances, party leaders here said.
A top Congress leader said Karunakaran, 90, wanted to tell the party high command about his grievances.
"I am not very sure if he is particularly keen on a governor's post as was reported in the media here. His supporters after his return to the Congress party in December 2007 are slowly being accommodated by the present state Congress leadership. He wants to speed up things in this regard," the Congress leader told IANS on condition of anonymity.
Karunakaran has held every political position from that of a legislator - he was elected seven consecutive times from the Mala constituency from 1967 to 1991, minister, leader of opposition on three occasions, chief minister for four terms, Rajya Sabha member for three terms and Lok Sabha member twice.
The only post he has not held in his long political career so far is that of a governor.
Karunakaran is likely to press for a candidate of his choice in the Ernakulam assembly constituency, which has been vacated by K.V. Thomas who has become minister of state for agriculture.
Sources close to him point out that he is worried about the political future of his only son K. Muraleedharan, who was the state Congress president 2001-04.
In 2005, the father-son duo had quit the Congress and formed the Democratic Indira Congress, which they merged with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) the next year.
While Karunakaran returned to the Congress, his son is state NCP chief but is perceived as a political non-entity. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, he lost in the Wayanad constituency, finishing third with less than 100,000 votes.
Karunakaran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal, who recently returned to the Congress after her shock defeat in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, also hopes he will get her a larger role in the party.
Thiruvananthapuram, June 6: Veteran Congress leader K. Karunakaran will be in New Delhi Sunday to meet the party's national leadership to discuss his grievances, party leaders here said.
A top Congress leader said Karunakaran, 90, wanted to tell the party high command about his grievances.
"I am not very sure if he is particularly keen on a governor's post as was reported in the media here. His supporters after his return to the Congress party in December 2007 are slowly being accommodated by the present state Congress leadership. He wants to speed up things in this regard," the Congress leader told IANS on condition of anonymity.
Karunakaran has held every political position from that of a legislator - he was elected seven consecutive times from the Mala constituency from 1967 to 1991, minister, leader of opposition on three occasions, chief minister for four terms, Rajya Sabha member for three terms and Lok Sabha member twice.
The only post he has not held in his long political career so far is that of a governor.
Karunakaran is likely to press for a candidate of his choice in the Ernakulam assembly constituency, which has been vacated by K.V. Thomas who has become minister of state for agriculture.
Sources close to him point out that he is worried about the political future of his only son K. Muraleedharan, who was the state Congress president 2001-04.
In 2005, the father-son duo had quit the Congress and formed the Democratic Indira Congress, which they merged with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) the next year.
While Karunakaran returned to the Congress, his son is state NCP chief but is perceived as a political non-entity. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, he lost in the Wayanad constituency, finishing third with less than 100,000 votes.
Karunakaran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal, who recently returned to the Congress after her shock defeat in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, also hopes he will get her a larger role in the party.
Adoor makes serials, not film: T.V. Chandran
6 June 2009
Thiruvananthapuram: Renowned film maker T V Chandran has opined that the quality of the movie that won Adoor Gopalakrishnan the state award for best director equals a tele-serial. His comments came close on the heels of the announcement of state awards for Malayalam films.
He alleged that the state public relations department and the government are gripped by fear when Adoor's film competes for state awards.
The noted film director also stated that Adoor's stand of praising the jury when he gets award and criticising it when he dosen't, is not right.
It's not the job of the director to evaluate a jury, it's the jury that should be judging a movie, he said.
T.V. Chandran also said that Gireesh Kasaravalli, who headed the jury which announced the awards, cannot even think of movie like Bhoomi Malayalam, which was directed by him.
Adoor Gopalakrisnan declined to comment on T.V. Chandran's remarks. He had won the state award for best director for his movie; 'Oru Pennum Randanum.'
Thiruvananthapuram: Renowned film maker T V Chandran has opined that the quality of the movie that won Adoor Gopalakrishnan the state award for best director equals a tele-serial. His comments came close on the heels of the announcement of state awards for Malayalam films.
He alleged that the state public relations department and the government are gripped by fear when Adoor's film competes for state awards.
The noted film director also stated that Adoor's stand of praising the jury when he gets award and criticising it when he dosen't, is not right.
It's not the job of the director to evaluate a jury, it's the jury that should be judging a movie, he said.
T.V. Chandran also said that Gireesh Kasaravalli, who headed the jury which announced the awards, cannot even think of movie like Bhoomi Malayalam, which was directed by him.
Adoor Gopalakrisnan declined to comment on T.V. Chandran's remarks. He had won the state award for best director for his movie; 'Oru Pennum Randanum.'
Monday, June 1, 2009
SmartCity: Tecom wants Govt's assurance
1 June 2009
Kochi: Dubai-based developers Tecom, whose IT project in Kochi - SmartCity - has run into rough weather over land issues, Monday demanded an assurance from the Kerala government that it would get freehold status for 39 acres of land by December this year.
"We are not asking for the freehold today or in six months time. We want a re-assurance from the government that the project would be entitled to the freehold status on the 39 acres, SmartCity CEO Fareed Abdulrahman said.
"The government has to assure us that whenever the masterplan is ready, we will get the freehold," he said.
Tecom has been demanding freehold states for 39 acres of the total 246 acres of land allotted to the Rs 1,500-crore project which envisages a potential to create 90,000 jobs.
Abdulrahman said they were insisting on freehold status as lots of foreign direct investment would be coming once the project gets going and they were only asking for a re-assurance from the government in this regard.
He said as of now they had no plans to shift the project to any other state. "We are very eager to start the project. We want to bring the IT infrastructure, create more jobs and bring business to the city and boost Kerala's economy," he said. "The phase I of the Kochi project is on hold until there are positive signs," he said.
Kochi: Dubai-based developers Tecom, whose IT project in Kochi - SmartCity - has run into rough weather over land issues, Monday demanded an assurance from the Kerala government that it would get freehold status for 39 acres of land by December this year.
"We are not asking for the freehold today or in six months time. We want a re-assurance from the government that the project would be entitled to the freehold status on the 39 acres, SmartCity CEO Fareed Abdulrahman said.
"The government has to assure us that whenever the masterplan is ready, we will get the freehold," he said.
Tecom has been demanding freehold states for 39 acres of the total 246 acres of land allotted to the Rs 1,500-crore project which envisages a potential to create 90,000 jobs.
Abdulrahman said they were insisting on freehold status as lots of foreign direct investment would be coming once the project gets going and they were only asking for a re-assurance from the government in this regard.
He said as of now they had no plans to shift the project to any other state. "We are very eager to start the project. We want to bring the IT infrastructure, create more jobs and bring business to the city and boost Kerala's economy," he said. "The phase I of the Kochi project is on hold until there are positive signs," he said.
Schools reopen in Kerala
1 June 2009
Thiruvananthapuram: Schools reopened in Kerala Monday but the monsoon rains kept away and the children escaped the usual drenching. Around five lakh children took their first steps to 6,802 schools in the state.
Monsoon breaks when schools open in the state, almost possibly on June 1, but this time though it set in earlier, the rains kept away.
The Directorate of Public Instruction, however, said that the number of students enrolling was declining every year. Around 47 lakh of students enrolled themselves from first to tenth standard, they said.
As part of reformation in the syllabus, IT education was extended to 'upper primary' schools, the sources said.
The distribution of the revised text books was in progress. The state-level inauguration (of revised text books) was held at Peerumedu in Idukki district
Thiruvananthapuram: Schools reopened in Kerala Monday but the monsoon rains kept away and the children escaped the usual drenching. Around five lakh children took their first steps to 6,802 schools in the state.
Monsoon breaks when schools open in the state, almost possibly on June 1, but this time though it set in earlier, the rains kept away.
The Directorate of Public Instruction, however, said that the number of students enrolling was declining every year. Around 47 lakh of students enrolled themselves from first to tenth standard, they said.
As part of reformation in the syllabus, IT education was extended to 'upper primary' schools, the sources said.
The distribution of the revised text books was in progress. The state-level inauguration (of revised text books) was held at Peerumedu in Idukki district
Tharoor prefers traditional dress of Kerala
1 June 2009
Tharoor arrives for the opening session of the 15th Lok Sabha
New Delhi: Diplomat-turned politician and now Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor is more comfortable in the traditional dress of Kerala than in a suit and tie given the simmering Delhi summers.
"For the summer of Delhi, the Kerala dress is good. The tie was not that comfortable for the neck," Tharoor told reporters outside Parliament House.
Asked how he felt as a politician after his high-profile career in the United Nations, Tharoor said his main objective was to serve the people. "I wanted to serve the people of Thiruvananthapuram who have elected me and raised their voice. Now, I have got new responsibility and challenges," Tharoor said, adding that he will discharge his duty with sincerity.
He described becoming a member of Parliament as "humbling experience" as it was a historical place.
Asked about the situation in Australia following the attack on Indian students and their demonstration, the minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already talked to his Australian counterpart on the issue. "We are concerned as it is a serious matter," Tharoor said.
Tharoor arrives for the opening session of the 15th Lok Sabha
New Delhi: Diplomat-turned politician and now Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor is more comfortable in the traditional dress of Kerala than in a suit and tie given the simmering Delhi summers.
"For the summer of Delhi, the Kerala dress is good. The tie was not that comfortable for the neck," Tharoor told reporters outside Parliament House.
Asked how he felt as a politician after his high-profile career in the United Nations, Tharoor said his main objective was to serve the people. "I wanted to serve the people of Thiruvananthapuram who have elected me and raised their voice. Now, I have got new responsibility and challenges," Tharoor said, adding that he will discharge his duty with sincerity.
He described becoming a member of Parliament as "humbling experience" as it was a historical place.
Asked about the situation in Australia following the attack on Indian students and their demonstration, the minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already talked to his Australian counterpart on the issue. "We are concerned as it is a serious matter," Tharoor said.
Kerala pays tributes to Kamala Surayya
Kochi (PTI): People from all walks of life, including poets, writers and political leaders, on Monday paid homage to well-known poetess Kamala Surayya, who carved a niche for herself in both English and Malayalam literature with her bold writings.
The body of the writer, who passed away yesterday at Pune, was brought to this morning to her home state Kerala. A large number of people, including well-known names in the state's cultural and literary circuit, paid homage when the body was taken to Thrissur, Alapuzha and Kollam en route Thiruvananthapuram.
Special prayers were held by Muslim clerics at the airport soon after her body was brought from Pune.
State ministers Thomas Issac, K P Rajendran, P K Gurudasan, S Sharma, Benoy Vishwam paid tributes to the writer, who took the literary world by storm with her book My Story.
The body was taken to Thrissur, Kerala's cultural capital, first and kept at the Sahitya Akademi hall for the people to pay homage. Noted writers, including Sara Joseph,offered their tributes. In Kochi, which was Ms. Surayya's alias Madhavi Kutty's home for several years, a huge crowd had gathered to pay their last respects.
The body of the writer, who passed away yesterday at Pune, was brought to this morning to her home state Kerala. A large number of people, including well-known names in the state's cultural and literary circuit, paid homage when the body was taken to Thrissur, Alapuzha and Kollam en route Thiruvananthapuram.
Special prayers were held by Muslim clerics at the airport soon after her body was brought from Pune.
State ministers Thomas Issac, K P Rajendran, P K Gurudasan, S Sharma, Benoy Vishwam paid tributes to the writer, who took the literary world by storm with her book My Story.
The body was taken to Thrissur, Kerala's cultural capital, first and kept at the Sahitya Akademi hall for the people to pay homage. Noted writers, including Sara Joseph,offered their tributes. In Kochi, which was Ms. Surayya's alias Madhavi Kutty's home for several years, a huge crowd had gathered to pay their last respects.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)