[AAJACOB]

High time these miscreants were booked>>>>>>>>>

 

[AAJACOB]

Sudheesh ,

They are not anti socials ......They are a bunch of silver spoonies merely trying to show off.....I know many of those goodies (one is the son of a famous gold merchant & another is the son of a specialist doctor) nd even they have made a club(unofficial) by the name "dare devils" .I wont say all are show buzzies .....some are really mad abt bikes nd racing ......No body is against their crazy hobbies unless they pose danger to the poor pedestrians on the foot path.

 

[AAJACOB]

^^ - There is no doubt that the remittances from the diaspora prop up the local economy, but how much real investment has there been? Very little, if any. Buying a bunch of flats and villas and either leaving them vacant or renting them out has little positive impact on the wider economy.

Kerala is as investment friendly as any State, once you take the trouble to find out the details. We have the best law and order situation in the country, the best social infrastructure and the best human resources. Yet, how much inbound investment has there been into Kerala?

One of the primary reasons that States like Gujarat, AP, Maharastra, TN and WB get investments is due to their diaspora. The figures are very clear on this. It is not that Modi is the only one who conducts GIMs, it is that there is a clear and continuous interest to support from the expats.

No one expects NRKs to abandon their interests and flood the State with money. That is nonsense. But the bare minimum that can be done is to provide effective representation of Kerala abraod.

Amid the storm of "star nites" and "award functions", how many events to educate the world-wide investor community have been held? Let's ask ourselves, whether the last time someone asked us about whether to invest in Kerala, we replied with a confident "Yes" or with a tirade of how bad the Government is? If we don't market our State, who will....the Gujarathis?

Case in point. Despite getting nearly 300 Cm of rain a year, only a few areas of Trivandrum flood during torrential showers. Perhaps less than 1% of the city area, that too for a few hours at most. Most of Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Patna flood annually in much smaller showers. Yet, our media raise such a hue and cry that one would think the whole city went under. Yes, the area in question includes the main transportation hubs but the situation has surely improved over the past 3 years. And I am sure that the situation will improve even more when the proposed flood control measures are completed.

We seem to have started comparing Trivandrum and Kerala with the standards set abroad. Let's not forget that this state is part of India and not an extension of the US of A or the Emirates. We should be rooted in developing world reality and not in developed world utopia when we comment about the progress that we see. As I always say, leaping forward for step changes usually lands us on our faces.

No offence meant to anyone, but I am sure all of us agree that it is easy to sit back and criticise, but it is tough to go out and make a change. Tough but very rewarding.

Comparisons should be made if there is parity . It sounds unfair when a comparison is made between Gujarat, AP, Maharastra, TN Vs Kerala in terms of investment friendliness. Even i feel sad saying this . But realities are always bitter .While working in Kerala i always thought why Veli industrial estate turned out to be a grave yard of sick industries inspite of having such a prestigious institution like VSSC nearby. A massive complex of small scale industries can survive on the orders from VSSC , this itself shows how favourable is our position.

Unlike Gujarathis / Marathis especially Parsis from Mumbai who comprise of businessmen , Malayali diaspora abroad consists of mainly working class rather than a business community. Apart from the real estate boom thats created with NRI money malayalis are investing in the sunrise sectors of Kerala , mainly in hospitality sector ....For eg : LE Meridien Cochin , Upcoming Intercontinental hotel at cochin - Holiday Inn by Indroyal - capital retreat @ Tvm - Poovar island resort @ Tvm - 5 star resort @ thevally Kollam plus soo many self financing professional colleges which have come up with NRI money / TVm international School / ASB. Can anybody ignore the fact that CIAL , the first private airport in India is made with NRI funds.Can anybody forget the fact that the so called big purchasing power of Keralites is not beacause of any funda back home .It's this NRI money which complemented this malayali magic of not producing anything home and still be rich . & it's not the NRIS but the local media which highlights the infamous " Thampanoor Flooding":lol:

 

[AAJACOB]

'Producing need not be goods alone, it can be services.

Kerala is a big in services, perhaps due to the high consumption pattern due to specific reasons. Banking, Insurance, Telecom, Tourism etc does very good business here. And I do not know how many of you know that the percapita GDP of Kerala is higher than TN OR Karnataka. And this doesnot include remittances from abroad.

I think you differ in perspective of the issue . The issue was about NRK contribution to Kerala economy.

Even the consumption pattern as you said is czz of the purchasing power of the people --- mostly by means of the petro currencies from abroad----- i believe that even the potential of Kerala to be a great software hub & Tourism hotspot is the contribution of NRK's .
So many airports in Kerala were made with an eye on the NRI traffic , and now it's complementing other sectors too , as air connectivity is the back bone of tourism & IT. See the tier 2 cities in Tn and karnataka are struggling czz of this reason.

 

[AAJACOB]

. how many of you know that the percapita GDP of Kerala is higher than TN OR Karnataka And this doesnot include remittances from abroad.

This sounds funny . What do you mean to say ?? Is it the GDP or the per capita that you are referring to .If it's GDP then you are wrong

2005 report

Rank State/Union Territory GSDP
(Rs. Millions)
1 Maharashtra - 4,324,130
2 Uttar Pradesh - 2,737,850
3 Andhra Pradesh - 2,691,730
4 Tamil Nadu - 2,462,660
5 West Bengal - 2,360,440
6 Gujarat - 2,166,510
7 Karnataka - 1,750,930
8 Kerala - 1,327,390

 

[AAJACOB]

^^Man, you read first clearly..the word 'percapita' is there..

And only a fool will compare on basis of 'Gross Domestic Product' of a tiny state like Kerala with other states which are much bigger.

Then better delete that GDP and plz let that "per capita" stay alone ....it's percapita income.......if thats the fact think how a state with less GDP can have a higher Percapita . It's definitely not the domestic product but non-resident money that makes surplus.

 

[AAJACOB]

And for your information, NRI money is not accounted for calculation of domestic product by the Govt. Please go through the pages of 'Indian Economy Thread'. Somewhere Sun had posted the abstract numbers.

Finally there is a term called 'Per Capita GDP'.

I know that Gross Domestic product means the one which is domestically produced . In terms of GDP kerala lags behind so many other states . But
for Per capita income part if it's (Gross Development State Product - NRI remittance) /the population of Kerala. then i would bet Kerala would fall way back .

 

[AAJACOB]

^^It seems that you are not much knowledgeable about the macro economics of the country or terms like GDP/percapita GDP etc. A thing does not become true if you repeat it many times.

I reiterate, for these calculations, NRI remittances are not taken in to account.

GDP is defined as the total cost of all finished goods and services produced within the country in a stipulated period of time

GDP = consumption + gross investment + government spending + (exports − imports)

GDP percpita is obtained when it is divided by the population.

For the year 2006-07, the percapita state domestic product under constant prices were

Kerala: Rs. 27284
TN: Rs. 25898
Punjab: Rs.30158
Karnataka: Rs. 23028.

Nowhere here do the NRI remittances are taken in to account. Hope you know that NRIs are free from taxation, whereas more than 30% of the earnings of professionals like us are taken by the Govt.

And one more thing, Kerala is now left behind by States like TN and Andhra as far as migration of people is concerned, including the middle east.

Seems you lag in practical know how of economics rather than some bookish stuff .

Your textual formulas like this are right

GDP = consumption + gross investment + government spending + (exports − imports)

i understand that NRI money is not directly added for considering GDP. But dont people understand the fact that a chunk of this " unworthy" NRI money is being spent on a large scale as far as the "consumption" factor that you said i s concerned. and for your kind info this consumption part contributes the most to the GDSP of kerala as we all know the "big volume " of investments flowing to the state & the taxes and levies collected by the government as a result of this consumption is a part of this govt spending.

 

[AAJACOB]

^^I had asked you to read my first post clearly. I had mentioned about 'consumption' there. A main chunk could be from NRIs too.

And it is the same for other states like TN & Andhra. My point is to counter your argument that if NRI money is not there, Kerala would be much behind other states.

Thanks my friend . Here ends the issue

I reiterate my stand , even in the present circumstances NRI money & legacy is driving Kerala .Hope you read about the importance of airports to IT & Tourism . even leading states likes karnataka & TN are facing hurdles for their Tier 2 level expansions on grounds of connectivity. All these airports in Kerala sustained & still sustain czz of this NRI traffic and not from the domestic revenues .& comparing the negligible percentage of NRI's from Andhra & Tamil Nadu in terms of the population of these respective states Vs Kerala
where more than 10% of the total population are Non residents is like an -- unfortunate mistake . Also unlike TN & Andhra where majority of expatriates are scattered across gulf -US - Singapore etc etc - The volume of their remittance back home would be poor
VS keralites where a vast majority of NRI's are concentrated in the middle east , who have no other option other than to send money home.

 

[AAJACOB]

And I disagree with the view that all NRKs speak only positives about Kerala, I have personally come across many "holier-than-thou" loudmouths who only have complaints and no solutions. Which is why I said you gentlemen here are among the section which is an asset to Kerala and not a PR disaster. Thanks a bunch for that, folks!

I retreat guys........ with these comments --- You are right Ajay..As in any other population even there may be people among NRI's who have tounges aroun their neck . They might blabber & exaggerate the situation. But the contributions of NRK's within their limitations outsmart these odds.politely how many of us can say that what happens back in our nadu is cent percent right . we would excuse it by saying it's democracy unlike other places . We fail to denounce the negative attitude of a bunch of people (say trade unions ) czz they are organized. I dont think NRK's abroad are doing more crime towards development by their mere words than the handful of trade unions do to our state.The matter of fact is that we are taking undue advantage of the privileges provided home .I am sure if the trade union zindabad & hartal attitude had not been there then NRK's would have invested atleast 100 fold more in key business areas in Kerala.Thanks

 

[AAJACOB]

First of all Kerala should have a image make over , then only we can expect something fruitful to happen . Investment happens only if there is a conducive industrial climate.

Instead of blaming expat malayalis plz think (isn't it a section of the resident population-- Trade Unions/ Political "stalwarts" & some vested interests who creates the mess)

lets think why even the big business houses in india dont make considerable investments in Kerala as they once did (Tata group/Birlas/Appollo / Binani / Thakurs )other than in some selective sectors like IT / Hospitality /Retailetc etc where even NRK's are also investing heavily .


Whether it be the matter of resorts /star hotels/ Hospitals/ Television channels/self financing educational institutions etc where the success rate is more , you will find many NRK's making investments.

Then why not in any other sector.......So it's not the problem of NRK 's deliberately not investing....there should be something wrong in the system......... it's the issue of the state's image in terms of industrial friendliness. .I also see people restraining themselves from blaming the negative factors that inhibits our aim of being an industry friendly state. May be it's because those negative forces are too high beyond reach than our poor NRK's .


I think the supportive attitude of the state towards IT & Tourism - which is bearing fruits now,need to be extended to other sectors also .

 

[AAJACOB]

Paranjillengile albhutham ollu.........engane parayathe irikkum

First of all Kerala should have a image make over , then only we can expect something fruitful to happen . Investment happens only if there is a conducive industrial climate.

Instead of blaming expat malayalis plz think (isn't it a section of the resident population-- Trade Unions/ Political "stalwarts" & some vested interests who creates the mess)

See who instigates the issues.................NRK's // residents

Dispute over unloading of cement

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Work on the apron, taxiways and shoulders of the new terminal complex of the airport here has been suspended.

The private company entrusted with the work decided to do so following a dispute with head-load workers over unloading cement brought in bulk to the project site on Friday and the subsequent events. The company is alleging lack of security and assault of employees by the head-load workers.

“We had given a letter to all concerned about the stoppage of the work and informing [them] that we will resume [the work] only after a solution is found to the issue,” said C.N. Sathisha, project manager, Vishal Infrastructure Ltd.

An Airports Authority of India (AAI) official told The Hindu that the firm stopped the work after giving the letter.

Delay anticipated


“The concreting work on the apron, taxiway and the shoulders was scheduled for completion by February and it [suspension of the work] will affect the commissioning of the terminal complex by May,” the official said.
An area of over 50,000 sq.m has to concreted to a depth of 45 cm. Over 5,000 bags of cement are needed daily.

The shortage of cement bags following the recent lorry strike made the firm get cement transported in bulkers from the cement factory. “It was an exceptional case and only once before cement was transported in bulkers to the project site,” the AAI official said.

He said there was no dispute over unloading of cement bags, which was being done under an agreement by paying Rs.5.50 a bag to the head-load worker.

“As the Rs.245.58-crore work of the terminal complex is being taken up under a MoU [memorandum of understanding] and is a prestigious project of the AAI, we are under tremendous pressure to find a solution and get the work resumed,” the official said.

Mr. Sathisha said it was not a labour dispute as stated by the Labour Department, but strong-arm tactics of the trade unions.

“The crew of the bulkers that arrived on the site were attacked and threatened by the head-load workers. Our engineers were threatened. The bulkers were forcibly taken from the site and two bulkers are lying on the bypass near Chakka since Friday,” he said.

“The crew from Tamil Nadu are refusing to go to the police station as they have been threatened that they will be killed and the vehicles torched if they approach the police,” Mr. Sathisha said.
He said the authority did not intervene despite taking up the matter with its officials. The police refused to register a case despite a complaint.

“Bulkers move around the city with concrete mix from the plants housed in the capital … and there is no objection to it. Why is it being objected to when we bring them when there is a shortage of cement bags? If it is not permitted, it should be stopped at the check-post itself,” he said.

A top AAI official said the authority had asked the company officials to register a complaint with the police on the assault of the employees and the crew of the bulkers and to attend the meeting convened by the Central Assistant Labour Commissioner. “But they had not bothered to do so,” he said. hno:

 

[AAJACOB]

Even in this era of globalization when we claim to be so investor friendly see wass happening .If such a high profile work can be hurdled this way , imagine the fate of a poor Keralite/for that matter a business man / an NRK with no political or bureaucratic back up setting up a business here...............Now tell me who need to change:nuts:

 

[AAJACOB]

Ajay,

Wish you the very best in your endeavors . Hopefully - see you in a very influencial position where you could turn around things
@ a much faster pace.

 

[AAJACOB]

You still have to negotiate towns like Kollam and Alleppey which don't have bypasses.

My point is that the expressway is a must to achieve the two-hour Tvm- Cochin goal which our planners are speaking about.:cheers:

Scorpio ,

You are right - kollam & Alleppey are bottle necks. I was under the impression that this project covers the bypasses too. (Apologies if my ignorance is hard for anybody to bear ). Once both the bypasses materialize we can easily cover this distace in 2 hrs , isn't it???

 

[AAJACOB]

But i 'm sceptical of Sasi ji's victory citing the political culture of Kerala.

 

[AAJACOB]

But the general perception goes against Sasi Annan

 

[AAJACOB]

^^ general perception means?? Dont tell me the general ' perception' of the commies, the bulk of the apolitical neutral voters did believe in Tharoor.

But the apolitical , neutral ,independent voters of Trivandrum Corporation area didnt turn up for voting . Pathetic.

 

[AAJACOB]

The final turnout in Trivandrum Lok Sabha constituency is now estimated at around 68% which is pretty much the same as 2004, and hence we should be happy that the intelligent, urban voters of Trivandrum did not get swayed by the sectarian waves which rolled across middle and north Kerala.

In that sense, and in that the most cosmopolitan candidate in the fray from Kerala specifically chose Trivandrum, we are have every right to be happy.

Please read this report to understand the facts . Inspite of having an international figure in the fray the voter turnout from the corporation
ward which is supposed to be "most urban" is the lowest.

Lowest voter turnout in Thiruvananthapuram


Lowest voter turnout in Thiruvananthapuram


Special Correspondent

Parassala records highest among Assembly segments


THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The two Lok Sabha constituencies in Thiruvananthapuram district registered polling percentage of 65.99, according to figures provided by the Chief Electoral Officer on Friday.
The Thiruvananthapuram constituency recorded a voter turnout of 65.73 per cent, the lowest among the 20 constituencies in the State that went to the polls in the first phase of elections to the 15th Lok Sabha on Thursday. The corresponding figure in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections was 68.65 per cent.
A total of 7,34,924 voters out of the electorate of 11,18,086 exercised their franchise. This included 3,68,164 women and 3,66,760 men.
The Thiruvananthapuram Assembly segment, which largely represents the Corporation wards, recorded the lowest voter turnout of 59.68 per cent, among the seven Assembly segments in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency.
Five major political parties — United Democratic Front, Left Democratic Front, Bharatiya Janata Party, Nationalist Congress Party and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party — are in the fray in the constituency.
Of the seven Assembly segments, Parassala registered the highest turnout at 69.88 per cent. The voter turnout in the remaining segments are as follows: Kazhakkuttom - 64.24 per cent; Vattiyoorkavu - 63.43 per cent; Nemom - 64.38 per cent; Kovalam - 68.14 per cent; and Neyyattinkara - 69.4 per cent.
In the Attingal constituency, 7,20,700 voters out of a total of 10,87,821 cast their votes, registering a turnout of 66.25 per cent. The Aruvikkara Assembly segment recorded the highest percentage of 68.09, while Varkala (63.96%) recorded the lowest turnout. The following is the turnout in the other segments: Vamanapuram - 67.3%; Kattakada - 66.44%; Attingal - 66.42%; Nedumangad - 66.3%; and Chirayinkeezh - 64.68%.
Election officials on Friday carried out a scrutiny of the polling in booths that had registered a minimum 15 per cent deviation from the average turnout in the Assembly segments in the district. District Collector Sanjay Kaul, election officials and representatives of the candidates were present.

 

[AAJACOB]

^^ - Arun, it seems you are labouring to prove a point here. As I said, the new "Trivandrum" constituency is drawn mostly from the old "Trivandrum West" constituency. The latter polled only 51% in 2006 and 54% in 2001. So the 60% recorded in 2009 is a significant increase.

The city area is spread out over multiple constituencies. The old West constituency covers a lot of the city's CBD and its Western suburbs. A lot of voters here are professionals who work in the public, private and service sectors, many of them may have taken a short vacation. This is a trend common to many metropolitan areas.

The primary reason why Trivandrum continued its usual voter turnout as opposed to the middle and north Kerala constituencies is because the minority voters who surged out in response to religious calls elsewhere were more level headed in Trivandrum or form a lesser portion of the population. As I said before, Trivandrum is not bound to the Church or the Mosque and votes with its brains and not its heart. That is the most important reason Dr. Tharoor chose to stand here and not anywhere else in Kerala, even though Trivandrum is not a safe UDF constituency.

The comparison of 2001 & 2006 assembly elections Vs Lok Sabha Election is absurd.The % of votes polled in Trivandrum lok sabha constituency for 2004 elections was 68.46 % . This means that inspite of having Shashi Tharoor in the fray the turnout was just 65 %.
This turnout is very disappointing when compared with the previous year.

Even though not related to the topic since you have made a statement of the middle and north kerala being sectarian i think i need to respond - Ajay, please understand that sectarian people are everywhere. Even the a major chunk of electorate of trivandrum still vote on caste basis .


Just wait till they officially declare results & see how many votes our Neelan is gonna get inspite of his "esteemed image" & fielded by a party which doesnt have any roots in Kerala . So is it on the basis of merit that people cast vote in Trivandrum?? Apart from that Trivandrum is considered to be a place where no person other than a person from Nadar / Nair / Latin Catholic community has any scope to win .& you know why BJP gets so many votes from Trivandrum - it's definitely czz of the hardcore hindu votes.You need any more proof to prove right my views .To the contrary in a place like Kottayam which is in Central Kerala where their is a Christian majority , Mr. Suresh Kurup was able to hold the constituency for nearly a decade.So is it the central kerala / Trivandrum which is sectarian ?

The vacation excuse that you said is indeed an excuse for an excuse .