Kollam | Life | Culture l Events | Panorama

[Reghu]

The colonial enclave of Tangasseri in Kollam city is no known area for farming. But Fr. George Ribeiro, parish priest of the enclave's Infant Jesus Cathedral, intends to change that. Along with the Word of God, he now spreads the message of farming among his parishioners.

Fr. Ribeiro is one who sees farming from God's perspective. The Bible, he says, has some of the most beautiful verses on farming. A rich harvest is blessing in abundance from God. “Only a person who obeys the commandments of God can become a successful farmer,” he says.

The parochial house where he stays is also a farmhouse. Its courtyard and backyard have crops which can tempt even the laziest among the laity to try farming. A good number of the nearly 800 families in the parish have already taken to the vocation with religious enthusiasm. Many grow vegetables on their courtyard and backyards. “They are making their own contributions to the government's food security programme,” says the priest.

Fr. Ribeiro provides high quality seeds free of cost. If tended well, the yield is high. From the 40 tomato plants in his courtyard he has already harvested more than 150 kg of tomatoes. He also has a spread of turnip, beans, brussels sprouts, papaya, capsicum, and tapioca crops. Organic farming is the medium employed.

A popular ‘lady'

The one plant from his farm that has become highly popular among the parishioners is the red lady papaya from Taiwan. Almost every house in Tangasseri now has a ‘red lady' with a good portion of the trunk covered with fruits, says Fr. Ribeiro. It earns its name from the red hue of the flesh when ripe. He also shares his harvest with the parishioners.

Fr. Ribeiro says that one vegetable or the other is grown in a majority of houses under the parish. “Tending to the crops after performing the sacerdotal responsibilities giving me a spiritual bliss,” he says.

[Reghu]

KOLLAM: India's unity and integrity were essentially rooted in its spirituality and culture that had uninterruptedly flourished through centuries, eminent writer and veteran politician M P Veerendra Kumar said today.

"India exists not on its military strength. It has survived through the centuries by drawing strength and inspiration from its spiritually-oriented culture," Kumar said after receiving the Amrita Keerthi literary award instituted by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math.

The award was presented to Kumar by Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan in the presence of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi at the Amritapuri Ashram near here. Union Ministers Vilas Rao Deshmukh and K C Venugopal were also present.

Hundreds of devotees from different parts of the world turned up at the function, organised on the occasion of the 58th birthday of Amritanandamayi Devi, known worldwide as "Amma" or Mother.

Lauding the services of Amma, Kumar said through her spiritual guidance and acts of charity transcending national borders she helped humanity experience love, mercy and grace in a world of hard realities.

Kumar, CMD of Mathrubhumi media group and Chairman of Press Trust of India, was chosen for the honour for his widely-acclaimed work 'Haimavathabhoovil', which narrates the author's journey along the Himalayan ranges and reflects the Indian thought and vision.

The award consists of Rs 1,23,456, a memento and citation.

[Reghu]

KOLLAM: Compassionate hearts are disappearing before our eyes and if we can awaken it even in hearts long closed, the entire world can be transformed into heaven, Mata Amritanandamayi said in her birthday message at Amritapuri on Tuesday.

Addressing lakhs of devotees and guests, on the occasion of her 58th birthday celebrations, Mata said that at a time when the mindless activities of human beings were seeing the extinction of birds and animals, drying up of rivers and disappearance of forests, the ‘extinction of compassionate people’ was even more dangerous.

Amma said that even while she was taking part in the birthday celebrations with her devotees, her heart was weeping for the state of the world today. Referring to the cruelties meted out to women and children, suicides, fatal accidents, terrorism and greed for money, all of which are on the increase in Kerala, she said: “If Kerala is to save itself from the present situation, it must free itself from the three Ls- Liquor, Lust and Love for money. These are three forms of madness.”

She said that incidents in Kerala testimonies that men were no longer protectors of women, but were only hungry for their flesh. “They are more focused on serving liquor,” she said referring to how people destroy themselves and lead the families into misery due to alcoholism.

“Incidents rarely heard in the west, take place here every day. Should we, who are supposed to be so intelligent and educated, fall so low?” she asked the devotees.

HUMANITARIAN WORKS LAUNCHED

The highlight of the celebrations was the launch of numerous humanitarian initiatives in the areas of health, education and social welfare. Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan inaugurated ‘Amrita Santhwanam Home Nursing Training Programme.’

He said that the project envisages the training 10,000 home nurses, who would provide care to the old and sick left alone by their children. He said that it was unique and a testimony to the love of Mata towards humanity.

Speaking at the function Union Minister for Science and Technology, Vilasrao Deshmukh, lauded the efforts of Amritanandamayi during the time of disasters and to improve the lot of farmers. He launched the Amrita University’s online education programme, “Free All Indian Tuition Programme,” supported by the Ministry of Human Resources Development.

The ‘Vidyamritam’ scholarships started by Mata, in the wake of increasing farmer suicides, a few years ago was extended to benefit 5,000 students more. The extension of the scholarship, which covers around 32,000 students in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, was announced by Deshmukh.

Union Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal presented the cheques and scholarships to the beneficiaries of ‘Amrita Suraksha’ insurance programme.

Sankaranarayanan presented the ‘Amrita keerti Puraskar’ to M P Veerendrakumar, Managing Director of Mathrubhumi on the occasion. Kollam MP, N Peethambara Kurup distributed the ‘Amrita Nidhi’ lifetime pension to new beneficiaries.

Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostum released the book ‘Amma’s Advice’ and the first copy was received by MP from Andaman Islands, Vishnupada Ray.

[Reghu]

Originally Posted by Reghu

District Collector P.G. Thomas said that efforts would be taken to make Kollam district plastic-free by 2012. He was addressing a meeting convened to discuss the month-long total sanitation programme starting from October 2.

Larvae-eating fish

Fisheries Deputy Director K.G. Prasanna Kumar told the meeting that fish species that fed on mosquito larvae was being sold by the department at the rate of Rs.1 a fish.

Fish seed hatchery as part of the government's efforts to control and prevent mosquito realated spread of epidemic diseases

As part of the government's mosquito control efforts to prevent the spread of epidemic diseases, the Fisheries Department has started a larvivorous fish seed hatchery at Thevally in the city. From the hatchery six species of fish that feed on mosquito larvae can be purchased for Re.1 each.

Deputy Director of the department, K.G. Prasanna Kumar said that this method of mosquito eradication could contribute towards bringing down the use of harmful pesticides. They could be introduced into water bodies and wells where mosquitoes breed.

The fish species are Aplocheilus panchax, locally called Manathukanni; Gambusia, Guppi, Plati, Molie and Barbus conchonius, locally called Paral. All are freshwater fishes. They thrive in any climatic conditions and also in both deep and shallow water bodies.

Mr. Prasanna Kumar said the species could also thrive even in polluted water bodies. He wanted this environment-friendly mosquito eradication method to be introduced wherever possible.

[Reghu]

The Kollam Public Forum has announced a month-long campaign from October 2 to highlight the city's garbage problem and the urgent need on the part of the local body authorities to find a solution to it. Forum convener K. Bhaskaran said the campaign, to be undertaken on holidays, would cover all the 55 divisions of the city.

It would be inaugurated by poet Kureepuzha Sreekumar on October 2 at Mamoottilkadavu here. The campaign would cover six divisions on that day.

The day's concluding function would be at the Kaval junction, to be presided over by local councillor Udaya Sukumaran. The message to be conveyed through the campaign would be “clean green Kollam city.”

On November 1, the leaders of the campaign would march to the Corporation headquarters and submit a charter of demands to the Mayor and the councillors.

[Reghu]

The Chathanoor Grama Panchayath officer Pradeep Kumar has created a blog with the help of MS Excel. The blog provides all details about the panchayath and the panchayath adminstarators and employees. It also provides links to other local body websites which people need to access for their queries and information. The panchayath has not spent a single penny for the development of this blog when Kerala government is spending crores of rupees for IT infrastructure of local bodies.

http://chathannoorgp.blogspot.com/


Source - Mathrubhoomi

[Reghu]

The international exhibition "Winner's Expo" will be held at the CSI convention centre near Craven's School in the city today. There will be around 50 stalls exhibiting plenty of foreign and ingenious products. Apart from home appliances, handi craft products, handloom products, bedsheets and all that a home requires will be available in the exhibition.

Mayor Prasanna Earnest will inaugrate the exhibition which is organized by the the Wisemen club of Kollam Green City. The exhibition will conclude on October 9.

The exhibition time will be from morning 11 AM to night 9 PM daily.

[Reghu]

The Kollam Fest 2011 Exibition stalls/Pavillion construction at Ashramam Maidan will be inaugrated today at 4 PM. Mayor Prasanna Earnest told that A A Aziz MLA will install the first post as part of inaugrating the construction. Around 57 acres of the gigantic Ashramam maidan will be used for the international festival. Around 15 acres of land will be used only for Parking.

Kollam Fest 2011 will be inaugrated by the Vice President of India on November 1st and will culminate on Novemeber 30th.

Originally Posted by Reghu

Programs

Kollam Fest is destined to be the signature event in Kollam for year 2011 as well as the years to come.

National Exhibition

National Exhibition will have participation from different industry domains, Defence aero Space ministries and Tourism departments. International cultural programs and dazzling shows like live statue will be the highlight.

Cultural Programs

A platform for the countries foremost artists coming together to showcase their talents.

Big ticket Star Nites

Star studded event with participation from Bollywood, Sandalwood, Tollywood, Collywood & Mollywood

Traditional-Ethnic Arts Festival

Organize arts festival with a estranged national art forms by having folk lore fest, presenting ethnic other art forms

Seminars

Hosted and participated by News makers in the country and across the globe.

Entertainment and amusement

National / International programs, high voltage amusement kiosk for the kids and for the youth.

Magic Fest

The best of India’s screen magicians together with the magicians of international reputes will present their master pieces.

Film Fest

World famous movies will be premiered along with Molly-wood’s best. A green carpet ceremony for the Who is who of the film industry is the highlight.

Drama Fest

The fest aims to constitute an award in the name of the late Renowned actor O.Madhavan for the best professional theatre group in Kerala.

Book Fest

Book releases, book reading and signing session with celebrity authors. Showcases national/international publication houses.

Art Gallery

Eminent Indian painters will brush and color their works in the festivals zone. The works will be curated and exhibited in the fest art gallery.

Photo gallery

Page 3 Shutterbugs, professionals, men of crafts, come together and bloating up the beauty of Kollam.

400 pavilions @ the gigantic Ashramam Maidan

The event would have 400 AC and non AC stalls and pavilions. Many public sector undertakings and departments of the Central and State governments would put up stalls.

Ship journey from Kollam Port, Horse Riding, Boating, Seminars on IT and lots of fun are in the agenda.

Seminars on environment, industry, education, health, media, women empowerment, and information technology.

Kollam Fest Website - http://www.kollamfest.com

[Reghu]

The 21st Swadeshi Science Congress (SSC) will be held at the Cashew Bhavan here on November 7 and 8. The annual programme is being organised by the Swadeshi Science Movement in association with the Laboratory and Technical Division of the Cashew Export Promotion Council of India.

Chairman of the SSC organising committee V.P. Potty said the focal theme for this year was “green technology for safe future”. As a prelude to the programme, the organising committee is conducting an essay competition for higher secondary and high school students in the district on October 8. Topics for the competition will be related to forestry. The competition will be held at Fatima Mata National College here. Students will have to report at the venue by 9.30 a.m. on that day. For details, contact 9495974828.

Source - The Hindu

[Reghu]

Hari Sri Vidya Nidhi School, Thrissur, with 53 points, emerged overall champions in the one-day 28th State-level ICSE and ISC Schools Literary and Cultural Festival held at Tangasseri Infant Jesus Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School here on Friday.

The Thrissur school won the first position in both the ICSE and the ISC categories.

In the ICSE category, Hari Sri Vidya Nidhi School scored 25 points and in the ISC category, it scored 28 points.

In the ICSE category, St. Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram, came second with 22.5 points and in the ISC category, Holy Angels ISC School, Thiruvananthapuram, was second with 25 points. There were 15 events in the ICSE category, 11 events in the ISC category, and one common event.

Earlier, delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function of the festival, State police chief Jacob Punnoose said being associated with culture was one of the best forms of knowledge and to be a true citizen of a State, one should be a part of the cultural traditions of that State. “Therefore, students have to take part in extra-curricular activities.”

He said it was from the concept of true citizenship that modern education evolved.

“We suffer from a long list of human-inflicted evils. But in a large measure, true education is a solution to all these evils.

Four generations ago, Kerala was a State where we practised atrocities. But the State got rid of those practices and transformed itself through the process of education. In fact, education has instilled in us the vital ability to solve problems.”

He said that successful citizenship was a long-forgotten concept.

Parents and teachers told students to study well, get a good job, and earn a lot of money.

Hardly anyone spoke of the need to be a true citizen. But one must be interested in the welfare of others.

Students should not only be interested in their studies but also in facilitating others to study. One should be able to live in harmony with others, Mr. Punnoose said.

Inaugurating the festival, Kollam Bishop Stanley Roman said such a festival gave students challenges in life. Without challenges, one could become a slave to laziness.

Beyond the competition aspect, what one required was love and respect for the other.

Addressing the function, All Kerala Association of ICSE and ISC Schools president Abraham Philip said education should aim at producing successful citizens.

It should produce civic conscious citizens who respect the law of the land. Association secretary A.C. George and Congress leader P. Jermias spoke.

Principal of the host school Fr. Silvie Antony welcomed the gathering.

City Commissioner of Police T.J. Jose gave away prizes to the winners at the valedictory function.

[Reghu]

Chief Information Commissioner, Kerala, Siby Mathews will inaugurate a two-day national-level seminar on Right to information and good governance' here on October 20.

[Reghu]

Originally Posted by Reghu

Kallada is in festive mood as this years boat race will be held on October 6th. Preparations are in full swing and in fianl stages. The registration for the boats will end today evening at 5 PM. Till now, 13 snake boats have registered.

The draw of lots for the tracks will be held at the DTPC office near to Kollam city boat terminal at 5 PM on 30th September.

Source -Mathrubhoomi

[Reghu]

Originally Posted by Reghu

The 42nd Kallada Jalotsavam was won by Sree Ganesh chundan while Anari chundan came second and Payipadan chundan came third.

Link - Mathrubhoomi

[Reghu]

The youth festival of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools under the Venad Sahodaya Complex (VSC) will be held on the Thazhuthala National Public School campus here from October 13 to 16.

The VSC is an association of 25 CBSE schools in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts.

VSC president V.K. Jayakumar and secretary Anila Sarosh said that the festival has been christened Venadutsav-2011.

Competitions will be held in 120 events and guidelines in this connection have been sent to the schools.

The prize winners will be given due credit in the grading system.

Link - Hindu

[Reghu]

Harvesting of the potted basmati-rice crop grown by students of the Anchalumoodu Government Higher Secondary School, near here, will be inaugurated by Agriculture Minister K.P. Mohanan at a function on October 10.

The project was undertaken by the students with the support of the agriculture office at Anchalumoodu and the environment club of the school. The pots had to be irrigated thrice a day. The ripe basmati panicles (‘kathir') have become a major attraction, said Headmaster K. Prassad and PTA president P.J. Unnikrishnan.

They said at a time when the younger generation was losing interest in farming, the project had served to instil an affinity for agriculture among the students.

Environment club convener G. Biju will be honoured by the Minister at the function on Monday.

Originally Posted by Reghu

Students cultivate Basmati rice in pots

While the concept of campus farms promoted by the Agriculture Department as part of the food security programme is gaining popularity all over the State, students and teachers of the Anchalumoodu Government Higher Secondary School near Kollam thought of trying a hand with basmati rice cultivation in pots.

Their attempts did not go waste. The potted basmati stalks are steadily changing from green to gold in colour and the sheaves have started drooping indicating that they are getting ready to be harvested. Renu C. Nair, Agriculture Officer of Thrikkadavur said that the harvest will be during the first week of October.

Ms. Nair said that Thrikkadavur is a panchayat with just two paddy fields and hardly any paddy farmers. In fact the student community of the area is largely ignorant about paddy cultivation. In such a situation when they came forward with the idea of basmati rice cultivation, it was warmly welcomed and supported by the Agriculture Department, she said.

Though it all began on an experimental basis, the spirit of a farmer was witnessed in the students. The paddy seedlings were transplanted on June 17 into fifty pots. The pots were spread out on the courtyard of the school. Though rainfall was copious, the crop did not get the measure of sunlight it requires.

This caused slight delay in the crop getting mature for harvest, said C.O. Hemalatha, Principal Agriculture Officer. “Had there been proper sunlight the crop could have been harvested in 90 days”. Organic farming was the medium used by the students. The school is preparing to conduct the harvest as a festival.

The programme has not only created awareness on paddy farming among the students but has also given confidence that basmati can promoted for upland paddy cultivation. The students also realized the fact that rice is an unusual and fun plant to grow in one’s garden.

Source - The Hindu

[Reghu]

The Government SNDP Upper Primary School at Pattathanam in the city has been selected for this year's International School Award (ISA) of the British Council. The ISA is an accreditation scheme of the British Council for curriculum-based international work in schools.

The award has been given for projects under the ‘Connecting Classrooms' scheme of the British Council during the 2010-2011 academic year. Sixteen schools from Kollam and Kundara education sub-districts joined the scheme to exchange project ideas with 16 schools in the United Kingdom through the Internet.

Each school had to undertake seven projects. The projects undertaken by the Government SNDP Upper Primary School were rivers, save the trees, great personalities, tourism, currencies of the world, dresses and identities of nations.

Project manager of British Council Ramesh Veluchamy visited the school as part of the project.

The award will be presented to the school at a function in New Delhi on October 20. School headmaster R. Radhakrishnan and teachers in charge of the scheme D. Ammini and A. Gradison will receive the award.

The ISA helps schools to develop an international ethos with the majority of the students in the school impacted by and involved in international work.

It encourages curriculum links between India and the United Kingdom and building of a network of Indian schools with international links.

[Reghu]

The Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) will organise a workshop on ‘Integrated mangrove aquaculture farming' (silvofisheries) here on Tuesday.

The workshop will be inaugurated by Mayor Prasanna Earnest at a function to be presided over by CWRDM executive director K.V. Jayakumar.

More than 70 delegates representing various local self-government institutions, the Fisheries and Forest departments, and scientists from the CWRDM will participate in the workshop.

The workshop aims at promoting silvofisheries in the backwaters, mainly to increase shrimp production.

Other objectives include planting of mangrove saplings on the banks of aqua farms to decrease water pollution, and organising and helping self-help group members, especially women, to improve their lives by adopting shrimp culture with afforestation.

At the workshop, Dr. Jayakumar will present a paper on ‘CWRDM and water management.' The former joint director of Fisheries G. Rajendran will present a paper on ‘Scientific aquaculture in Kerala and the role of women self-help groups.' P.S. Harikumar from the CWRDM will talk on ‘Sustainable water quality management for wetlands.' CWRDM scientist N. Suvarna Kumari will talk on ‘Integrated silvofisheries at Munroethuruthu,' and Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad activist V.K. Madhusoodanan will talk on ‘Environmental management and mangroves.'

[Reghu]

V.K. Madhusoodanan of the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad has said that the mangroves forests make invaluable contributions in protecting the coastal environment and even developed countries look forward to mangrove forests to protect their coasts from threats from the sea.

He was presenting a paper on “environmental management and mangroves” at a workshop on “integrated mangrove aquaculture farming” organised by the Centre for Water Resource Development and Management (CWRDM) here on Tuesday. Executive Director of the CWRDM K.V. Jayakumar inaugurated the workshop.

Mr. Madhusoodanan said mangroves had the capacity to protect the coast not only from sea erosion and cyclones but also from tsunami. On the environmental side, the mangrove forests were valuable habitats for marine life. It acted as a protected nursery for fish larvae to grow into juveniles.

“In fact, more than 80 per cent of the marine fish and entire species of brackish water fish are dependent upon mangrove forests at some cycle of their life.”

He said 15 species of mangroves were thriving in the State. It was Mr. Madhusoodanan who rediscovered the Ceriops tagal species of mangrove in June this year. This mangrove species was long thought to have gone extinct in the State.

Presenting a paper on “sustainable water quality management for wetlands” at the workshop, scientist P.S. Harikumar, head of the water quality division of the CWRDM, said wetlands provided many services and commodities to humanity. Each wetland was ecologically unique.

Wetlands preserved water quality by removing nitrogen, phosphorous, heavy metals, and pesticides. Dr. Harikumar said the wetlands of the State were facing major problems. Due to dredging, reclamation, and sedimentation, there was a decline in biodiversity in the backwaters.

He pointed out that studies had revealed that eutrophication of Vembanad Lake was mainly phosphorus related. The lake was infested with phytoplankton, especially during the pre-monsoon months. The lake was also polluted in the southern, eastern, and western parts by agricultural and municipal effluents.

The water quality assessment of Ashtamudi Lake indicates the presence of phosphates, sulphide, nitrite, and coliform in significant concentration which may be due to the discharge of industrial effluents.

Source - The Hindu

[Reghu]

The Postgraduate and Research Department of Physics at S.N. College here, in association with the Academy of Chemistry Teachers, Kerala, will organise a national seminar on “Physical and biomedical applications in nanotechnology” from October 13 to 15.

The seminar, sponsored by the University Grants Commission and the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, will be inaugurated by A. Jayakrishnan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kerala.

The organisers said the seminar aimed at offering researchers and experts from diverse fields a common platform to discuss the recent achievements of nanotechnology and to update their knowledge leading to further research and investigation in the field.

The topics to be covered by the seminar included materials synthesis, characterisation of nano materials, device-based nanomaterials, sensor applications, nano-medicine, and drug design and drug delivery.

Source - The Hindu

[Reghu]

The city finals of the Aqua Regia Science Quiz conducted by the Triumphant Institute of Management Education (T.I.M.E.) will be held from 8.30 a.m. on Thursday at the Bharat Rajni parish hall, near Fatima Mata National College, here. According to a press release, more than 1,500 high school students will participate in the event.