Daily Archives: March 11, 2019

Women metro commuters honoured

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Travel, World Opinion

Swapna Augustine, a differently-abled painter, handing over her work to KMRL during the Women’s Day observance in Kochi on Friday.   | Photo Credit: jinson abraham / jinsonabraham.coo

KMRL felicitates 5 women who travelled the most in metro

Five women who travelled the most in Kochi metro since its inception in June 2017 were honoured as part of the International Women’s Day observance here on Friday.

Swapna Augustine, a differently-abled painter, who participated as the chief guest at the function, handed over a painting drawn by her to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL). It will be kept at the Edappally metro station where the function was organised. KMRL chose Dr. Anusha George, a resident of Aluva, who made 1,880 trips in the metro as the ‘most travelled woman commuter’. It also honoured Golda Jose of Edappally, Reeba Suresh of Aluva, Shini Lukose Umesh of Aluva, and Jayasree T.R., a BSNL employee and native of Ambattukavu.

“The Kochi metro is the safest and best mode of transport in the Greater-Kochi area. The high number of trips undertaken by women of Kochi city denotes how safe the system of mass rapid transport is,” said Thiruman Archunan, director (projects), KMRL. He also delivered the Women’s Day message.

KMRL director (systems) D.K. Sinha handed over gift vouchers to the chosen commuters. Apart from metro officials, students of SCMS College and the general public attended the event.

Event at Custom House

A slew of programmes marked the International Women’s Day observance at Custom House here. Commissioner of Customs Sumit Kumar inaugurated a toilet complex at Government Higher Secondary School which was refurbished by the Custom House. He also handed over sanitary napkin vending machine, incinerator, books, and other school supplies to 10 students of the school.

The observance with the theme ‘Think equal, build smart and innovate for change’ was inaugurated by Pullela Nageswara Rao, Chief Commissioner of Central Tax, Excise and Customs. It was followed by a seminar for officials.

Customs Group dance team, which won the first prize at the All India Revenue Cultural Meet 2018-19 held in Kolkata, was felicitated, and a ladies rest room at Custom House was inaugurated by the senior-most lady officer, G. Susheela.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – March 09th, 2019

ClimateLaunchpad: A platform to grow sustainable ideas

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives & Environment, Nature, World Opinion

Present in more than 45 countries, including India from 2018, ClimateLaunchpad is part of the entrepreneurship offerings of EIT Climate-KIC,  a European knowledge and innovation community.

Thiruvananthapuram :

Providing an opportunity to budding entrepreneurs in the state, SUSTERA foundation, ATREE-CERC and Climate Studio are collaborating with ClimateLaunchpad to create a platform for green-tech innovators from Kerala.

ClimateLaunchpad is the world’s largest competition for green business ideas. Present in more than 45 countries, including India from 2018, ClimateLaunchpad is part of the entrepreneurship offerings of EIT Climate-KIC, a European knowledge and innovation community, working to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy.

Climate change needs to be tackled by innovative solutions. The programme is for those with an idea that can have a fast scalable impact to a sustainable future. “This competition encourages green ideas as solutions towards climate change. We encourage change-makers in Kerala to participate in the programme. The best idea will be made into a reality,” said Sanju Soman, Global School ambassador, UNSDSN.

The competition will focus on innovations in renewable energy, energy efficiency, food and agriculture, water, transportation and industrial technology. The opportunity will provide fast-track mentorship and resources to make the idea viable. A network of climate/clean-tech mentors and entrepreneurs will coach the participants intensively, making sure they have a quality business pitch ready.It has been launched in 13 states across India to scout clean-tech talent and help them develop their sustainable ideas into global businesses.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / March 07th, 2019

Rekha Karthikeyan, the lone Indian woman actively engaged in deep-sea fishing

Agriculture, Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives & Environment, Leaders, Records, All

From the deep sea-fishing Rekha Karthikeyan near Chettuva to mussel farming Praseela Shaji at Moothakunnam, there is in these women a spirit of determination and readiness to take on the challenges of life in their battle for survival. If you thought fishing came easy to these women entrepreneurs living close to the sea and backwaters, it is not true.

“It was so frightening initially,” says Ms. Karthikeyan, about her first venture into deep-sea fishing. “But the fright did go away. I was never intimidated,” she adds.

She has been recognised by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute as the lone woman in the country actively engaged in deep-sea fishing.

She and her husband Karthikeyan use their boat for fishing ventures on a daily basis.

The couple with four children, routinely take to the seas to feed the family.

Undeterred by deluge

For Ms. Shaji, the mid-August 2018 flood was a life-changer. It threatened to derail her life. The floodwaters washed away the mussel farming ventures of dozens of women entrepreneurs like her. While some of them gave up, she did not. Ms. Shaji her friends have put the pieces together and is now fast on the road to achieving normality in mussel production.

The major fishery based micro-enterprises being taken care of by women self-help groups include bivalve farming (mussel and edible oyster culture), seaweed culture, ornamental fish culture, cage culture, Chinese dip-net units, fish amino acid units, fish fertilizer units, clam processing, fish drying, fish pickling, ready-to cook and eat fish products, aqua-tourism, seafood kitchen units, dry fish procuring, fish vending, prawn culture, crab processing, aquaponics and fish feed production, says a CMFRI scientist.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Kochi / by Special Correspondent / Kochi – March 08th, 2019

Anayatha Kanal: Thiruvananthapuram school children publishes short story collection

Arts,Culture & Entertainment, Education

In the generation of social media and gaming, here are eleven girls and two boys from Pattom St Mary’s Higher Secondary school who are making a difference.


The students during the launch of their book’ Anayatha Kanal’

Thiruvananthapuram :

In the generation of social media and gaming, here are eleven girls and two boys from Pattom St Mary’s Higher Secondary school who are making a difference. They have come up with a book titled ‘Anayatha Kanal’, a look at various emotions. According to Binny Sahiti, editor and teacher, the book is a reminder on the need for benevolence. “Through their book, the children are raising questions relating to society,” said Binny.

He says there are several promising writers among the new generation. “Such opportunities will prompt them to write more,” he said.  ‘Anayatha Kanal’ is a collection of 15 short stories written by 13 children studying from class VIII to XII. School Arts club secretary Shifana’s short story in ‘Anayatha Kanal’ revolves around mothers’ love. Divya’s ‘Adaratha Sowhridham’ and Jyothi’s ‘Varikkapalvu’ and Alex’s ‘Jeevanulla Mutthu’ addressing relevant issues.

According to school principal Fr CC John, the book is the result of initiatives by the school encouraging children to write. “Literature comes from imagination. It comes through voracious reading. ‘Anayatha Kanal’ is the fourth book being published by children from the school. ‘Kannikoythu’, ‘Jalamarmaram’ and ‘Otta Maram Natta Penkutty’ are the other books which were published by students of the school,” he said. 

The book is a result of the ‘Ezhuthukootam’ initiative commenced in the school two years ago encouraging children to write. The Round Table Conference organised by State Public Relations Department for the children was also held. “In the round table conference, the senior writers encouraged students to write poem and short stories. Their exposure to this project provided them with the inspiration to write the book” said John.

According to Binny, ‘Anayatha Kanal’ is written from the small experiences of the children but their opinions have surprised the teachers. The book was released on Feb 21 on International Mother Tongue Day and published by Sahithi Thiruvananthapuram.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / March 06th, 2019