WHERE THE mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
...............................
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action-
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
കുട്ടികളുടെ ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് വായനയും ധാരണയും ലോകജ്ഞാനവും മെച്ചപ്പെടുത്താൻ സഹകരിക്കാം .
ഇന്നത്തെ വാർത്താ ക്വിസ് -രക്ഷിതാക്കൾക്ക് മക്കളോട് ചോദിക്കാൻ
1 .ഇന്നത്തെ വാർത്തകൾ ഇംഗ്ലീഷിൽ താഴെ നൽകിയത് കുട്ടികളോട് 2 തവണ ഉറക്കെ വായിക്കാൻപറയുക .അതിൽ ഏതെങ്കിലും ഒരു വായന ഓഡിയോ റിക്കാർഡ് ചെയ്തു 9447739033 എന്ന നമ്പറിൽ രക്ഷിതാവിന്റെ മൊബൈലിൽ നിന്നു ഇന്നുതന്നെ അയക്കുക . നല്ല വായനയാണെങ്കിൽ ഒരു സമ്മാനം തരാം . തെറ്റായ വായനയാണെങ്കിൽ അത് നന്നാക്കാനുള്ള നിർദ്ദേശങ്ങൾ രക്ഷിതാവിന് അയച്ചു തരും .
2 . .ഇന്നത്തെ വാർത്തകൾ ഇംഗ്ലീഷിൽ നൽകിയത് വായിച്ച ശേഷം താഴെക്കൊടുത്ത വാക്യങ്ങൾ പൂരിപ്പിക്കാൻ കുട്ടിയോട് ആവശ്യപ്പെടുക . പൂരിപ്പിച്ച ഉത്തരങ്ങൾ മലയാളത്തിൽ ( വിട്ടു പോയ ഭാഗം മാത്രം മതി) ഒരു പേപ്പറിൽ നമ്പറിട്ടു എഴുതി (ടൈപ്പിങ് പോരാ ) അതിന്റെ ഫോട്ടോ 9447739033 എന്ന നമ്പറിൽ രക്ഷിതാവിന്റെ മൊബൈലിൽ നിന്നു മാത്രം ഇന്ന് തന്നെ അയക്കുക . എല്ലാം ശരിയാണെങ്കിൽ നാളെ ( 20 11 2022 )ഒരു സമ്മാനം തരാം . .
( ഏതു പ്രായത്തിലുള്ള സ്‌കൂൾ / കോളേജ് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികൾക്കും പങ്കെടുക്കാം.ഓഡിയൊ അയക്കൽ ,വാർത്താചോദ്യത്തിന്റെ ഉത്തരം അയക്കൽ ഇവ രണ്ടും ചെയ്തവർക്ക് മാത്രമേ ശരി ഉത്തരങ്ങളുടെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ സമ്മാനമുള്ളൂ .)
സമ്മാനം - കുട്ടിക്ക് ആവശ്യമുള്ള ഒരു പഠന ഉപകരണം .
ഇന്നത്തെ വാർത്താവാക്യ ചോദ്യങ്ങൾ 19.11.2022 : RESPONSES ACCEPTED TILL 11PM TODAY
1 .നടപടിക്രമങ്ങൾ പാലിച്ചാണ്നിയമനം നടന്നത് ; ഹൈക്കോടതി വിധിക്ക് എതിരേ ...................................... - കണ്ണൂർ വി സി
HeadLines 19.11.2022#1188, Saturday : ( ഇത് ഹയർ സെക്കന്ററി അദ്ധ്യാപകരുടെ ഒരു കൂട്ടായ്മ കഴിഞ്ഞ 3 വർഷമായി ക്ളസ്സ്മുറികളിലും സ്റ്റുഡന്റ് ഗ്രൂപ്പുകളിലും ഉപയോഗിക്കാനായി ദിവസേന തയ്യാറാക്കി അയക്കുന്നതാണ് .)
ഒരു പത്രം മാത്രം വായിച്ചാൽ പോരാ .ഒരു ചാനൽ മാത്രം കണ്ടാൽ പോരാ .വിശദ വാർത്തകൾക്കായി എന്നും പല പത്രങ്ങൾ വായിച്ചു ,പല ചാനലുകൾ കണ്ടും ചിന്തിച്ചും സ്വന്തമായ നിഗമനങ്ങളിലെ ത്തുക .-രാധാകൃഷ്ണൻ സി കെ
( IS THIS WORK USEFUL ? PLS COMMENT .ഇത് ചെയ്യാൻ എനിക്ക് 2 മണിക്കൂർ വേണ്ടിവന്നു . നിങ്ങളുടെ പ്രതികരണങ്ങളാണ് എനിക്കുള്ള പ്രതിഫലം . അതുകൊണ്ട് പ്രതികരണങ്ങൾ അയക്കുക )
1.CREATVE- NISHAD ABDUL KAREEM, HSST ,......19.11.2022
He used to live in Calcutta.He used to be a great speaker.
There used to be a temple here.
I used to live nearby.
My health is not what it used to be.
Also ‘used to’ expresses the contrast between the past and the present. ‘Would’ refers only to habitual past action.”
“Who is a gate crasher, sir?”
“A gate crasher is ‘an uninvited intruder at a party’. He crashes into the party without any invitation. Gate crashers also try to force their way into athletic and similar events without payment. The term ‘gate crasher’ was originally applied to those who tried to get into concerts or sports events by smashing down barriers. To ‘gate crash’ means ‘to engage in gate crashing’.
He gate crashed into the wedding.
He is a professional gate crasher.”
“What is the meaning of ‘He drove home the point effectively’, sir?”
“ ‘To drive home something’ means ‘to cause something to be understood fully’.
He drove home the message that the company wasn’t doing well.
He drove home the point that she was thoroughly inefficient.
He drove home the fact that he was thoroughly unpopular.”
“What is the meaning of ‘advisedly’, sir?”
“ ‘Advisedly’ means ‘intentionally’ or ‘deliberately’. ‘He did it advisedly’ means that he did it deliberately. It does not mean that he did it after taking or seeking advice.”
“How do you pronounce ‘exist’, sir?”
“It is pronounced ‘igzist’. The ‘e’ in the word is pronounced like the I in ‘bit’ and X is pronounced ‘gz’ and the ‘g’ is pronounced like the ‘g’ in ‘give’. So the pronunciation is ‘igzist’. The stress is on the second syllable ‘zist’. Well, let’s call it a day. Goodbye.”
Oldest Muslim woman in Malabar to get English education
Mariyumma Mayanali of Maliyekkal House at Thalassery, perhaps the oldest Muslim woman in the Malabar region to have received an English education, passed away at the age of 98 here on Friday evening.
Born in 1927, she was the daughter of the late Vazhail O.V. Abdullah and Mayunma. Abdulla, who realised the importance of education, secured an admission for Mariyumma at Sacred Hearts Medium Convent in 1930. In her pursuit of education, she is known to have braved criticism and lack of support from several quarters at that time.
Her father, who could not tolerate the harassment from the conservatives, arranged facilities for prayer and food in the school itself for his daughter. This encouraged her to continue her education.
After she completed her fifth form (today’s SSLC), she got married to V.R. Mayanali, who also encouraged her to continue her studies.
Recalling his interaction with Mariyumma, CPI(M) leader P. Jayarajan said: “She was of the view that there should be no discrimination between male and female and she stood for equality and rights of all.”
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the demise. In his message, Mr. Vijayan said the State has lost someone who had left her footprints along with the history of Thalassery. “She was a guide for others. She worked for the upliftment of women and their educational rights,” he said.(CREDITS TO THE HINDU 6/08/2022)
Let me announce with immense pleasure that ANJALI B NAIR completed 2 years of news reading in English without any break today , the 2nd August 2022. It was on 3.8.2020 she sent me the first audio which was shared to the student fraternity through this blog and through our whats app groups .Anjali of HSS KOTTARAKKARA has been doing this( reading the news aloud and recoring it, listening to the audio for self verification , and sending it to us ) everyday as part of her morning routine without break ,even on her exam days, though she has been busy as an industrious student of higher secondary.She has passed her high secondary exams with distinction and is planning to continue her studies doing B Com . Let us thank her for the ardent love shown towards our favourite language , English.Congrats for this great effort , Anjali and thank you once again.
8. France’s Macron talks energy with Saudi Crown Prince MBS in Paris.
9. Ireland targets 25% cut in agriculture emissions but farmers voice anger
Headlines Vocab
1. NEP -National Education Policy
2.Trade (verb) /treɪd/ to exchange something that you have for something that somebody else has. "Cabinet colleagues traded insults over the future of the rupee."
3. CWG -Commonwealth Games
Extracted from the following news portals,Manorama Matrubhoomi TNIE The Hindu Telegraph India BBC Al-Jazeera CNN
It was Sophia teacher who began reading the news headlines aloud ,recording and publishing the audio.Soon Lalji Sir and I also joined in and both the audios were published everyday with the script of the headlines in the blog and in our in our whatsapp groups "SPEP" and " Speak English Everyday since March 2020.
TWO YEARS AGO , On 1.8.2020 we began the campaign "AUDIOFEST AUGUST "(https://ckrenglishclass.blogspot.com/2020/08/audio-august-campaign-to-make-you-read.html) for encouraging the student community to start reading the headlines aloud.THIS was the post we published which compelled many student readers to read the headlines and send the audio to our blog. The first audio we received was from ADARSH AK , GHSS VENGAD published next day .Then the next day on 3 .8.2020 came the audio from ANJALI B NAIR which was published the same day on the blog and in our whatsapp groups "SPEP" and " Speak English Everyday .I am glad to note that our stunet reader , ANJALI ,has been reading the headlnes since then without break for even a day.I would also like to point out that many students, parents and teachers have found this project valuable. Students of even 4th std to 12th std ,and those of the universities ,from various schools and colleges across Kerala and from some institutions outside the state , and even a few srudents from students outside our country used to send their audios and videos based on the news headlines every day. The work done by the teacher JIJI KURIAKOSE and the high school students of GHSS KARTHIKAPURAM based on the headlines is also highly commendable .These audios and videos were shared through our whatsapp groups and the blog , ckrenglishclass .blogsot.com.Thus the project Headlines continues to be very meaningful and effective programme to improve our English, the way we speak and read English as well as our GK.
English Teachers can confidently make use of this blessing as I would like to call this carefully prepared resource which is unbiased and meticulously prepared - in the beginning of every class to make the students interested in the language ,to improve their vocabulary and get them acquianted with the day to day events happening around the world .
Let me congratulate Dr. Nishad, Lalji Sir and Sophia teacher along with ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT on the tremendous achievement of 1000 days of publishing the Headlines and I would like to add a suggestion that a few news items on sports achievemnets must be made a compulsory part of the collection every day.
classroom implications .
English Teachers can confidently make use of this package every day in their classrooms - I would like to call this carefully prepared resource which is unbiased and meticulously prepared, a blessing for every teacher - in the beginning of every class to make the students interested in the language ,to improve their vocabulary and get them acquianted with the day to day events happening all around the world .
1.This can be shown on screen in the class using the high tech facilities and a few students could be encouraged to read a few items .and the new words could be explained.
2.Students may be given these headlines in the student whatsapp groups and asked to read aloud , record and send them to the teacher.The teacher can suggest some topical corrections if required.Audios and videos of student newsreading can be shared with the student community through social media .
3. A copy of the headlines may be taken in print and posted on the news bullettin board in the class / reading corner in the school varandah.
4.Headlines may be read by a student in the school assembly every day /through the announcemt system/school radio after the prayer every day.
5.Weekly GK QUIZZES BASED ON THE HEADLINES may be conducted by the English clubs
Thus this package we get everyday can be used in many ways to learn english and enrich our wisdom.I wish the headlines team all the best and hope that the project goes on without any hiccups anymore.
The best teachers use effective drama techniques to recreate the magic of a concept and leave telling to the books : Generations of students remember two professors from Pune for their teaching. Both are gone, but students have commemorated them and their teaching styles.
Hoshang Moogat used to teach Math at Nowrosjee Wadia College in 1964. Though young, he commanded attention and taught his students the subject he was a master of, with passion and enthusiasm. He sang formulae while writing them on the board to enable easy recall. The students sang in a chorus. His explanations were simple. He introduced permutations and combinations using the example of pairs of socks, kerchiefs, and shirts arranged in a drawer.
The other professor was the Head of the English Department at what was then called Poona University. Prof. S. Nagarajan had a formidable reputation as a researcher and teacher. He had a Ph.D. from Harvard. His most memorable classes were his reading of Shakespeare’s King Lear. He read the heartbreaking scene of Cordelia’s death, pouring his heart and soul into it as if it was his story. He would modulate his voice like a Shakespearean actor, whispering and whimpering, as if he were the grief-stricken 88-year-old mad king, carrying the body of his beloved daughter, tottering over the heath, raging wildly against human nature.
Professor Moogat and Professor Nagarajan taught, motivated, engaged and inspired their students to study their subjects. One was a comic genius and the other, a giant among scholars.
Making a difference
Both teachers came to mind during my first workshop on effective teaching for Computer Science professors from across the country. The coordinator, a senior professor at IIT-Bombay, received a complaint that I expected teachers to become actors. I invited him to join the next session, where I asked, “Who said you are not actors as teachers? We are all actors who have to make our students experience a subject, not just teach it. Do you think your students like your class when you wear deadpan faces, playing the part of teachers, meaning someone superior?”
They got my point when I showed them the difference between teaching through class-friendly body language, and without body movement.
“Positive body language in a classroom setting has the ability to motivate, inspire and engage,” says Brittany Williamson in her article, The importance of body language in teaching’. “It can not only give you the confidence you need to teach but can also reassure your students that you actually know what you’re talking about.”
When a teacher uses body language effectively, students feel safe and eager to take part in the lessons. Teachers need to shed the fear that students will not respect them if they are dramatic in the classroom. Actually, they become more effective. Why? Because, they recreate the magic of the concept and leave the telling to the books.
Effective steps
Simple changes in using body language can help teach a subject in a lively manner. Here are a few suggestions:
Make eye contact: Look at the students one by one, with a small smile, and converse with them about the subject and watch them understand it.
Stand upright: Don’t slump or stand against the wall or table. A good posture makes you look confident and alert.
Make gestures: Gesture with your hands periodically, as we do in real-life situations, for, they can lend extra meaning to a word when you use it.
Voice modulation: Use your voice to emphasise certain expressions so that the meaning is communicated. It is surprising how students associate a concept with a well-modulated voice.
Enunciate: Do not mumble, speak too fast or slow. Students might miss some words if you speak fast, or fall asleep if you speak too slowly.
Can dramatic teachers complete their syllabus? Yes, ours did. Any teacher can, if they teach the most important concepts and inspire the students to read the rest on their own. Students love the challenge and respect you for having trusted them.
[ The writer is a former professor of English, IIT-Bombay. ceogiit@gmail.com]-(FROM THE HINDU)
ALAKODE , JUNE 5 ; The Clean Kottayad Kavala Project was inaugurated by Sali James, the grama panchayath member in a brief function held at Kottayadu Kavala today morning.The member offered a whole hearted support to the project .Suresh P N, the secretary of Mathrika Swayamsahaya Sangham welcomed the gathering and George Joseph, the president chaired the meeting .After the meeting cleaning of the streets and beautification measures followed .
Kottayad kavala is a small township sandwiched between Karuvanchal and Alkode close to film city buildings on the high range high way.The members of the trade unions of auto drivers , those of the merchants association and the members of the local family group named Mathrika Swayamsahaya Sangham ( the model ) joined hands to clean the streets and the premises of the shops and the bottle booth installed by the Alakode Gramapanchayath including two bus shelters in the junction and planted about 20 garden plants on both sides of the streets as part of the street beautification drive .
The action began at 10 AM and lasted for about 3 hours.The project envisages regular cleaning , waste management measures and planting of at leat 100 plants and trees through sponsorship ensuring the beautification of the township.It should be realised that a collective measure of these kinds in all small townships around Alakode town with monitoring by local people at its core will surely help the gramapanchayath to become a carbon neutral zone .
DEAR FRIENDS,IF YOU HAVE A REPORT OF AN ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITY IN YOUR VILLAGE CONDUCTED RECENTLY , SEND IT WITH A PHOTO OF THE ACTIVITY TO US TO WIN VARIOUS PRIZES ON OR BEFOR 15 -06-2022.THE MATTER SHOULD BE NEATLY HANDWRITTEN IN ENGLISH BY YOU . TAKE A PHOTO COPY AND SEND IT TO seakeyare@gmail.com.STUDENTS OF CLASS 1-12 CAN PARTICIPATE.-BLOGGER
ALAKODE ,JUNE 5 : ലോക പരിസ്ഥിതി ദിനത്തിൽ മാതൃക സ്വയം സഹായ സംഘത്തിന്റെ നേതൃത്വത്തിൽ ക്ലീൻ കൊട്ടയാടു കവല പ്രോജക്ട് ഉൽഘാടനം ചെയ്യപ്പെട്ടു . ആലക്കോട് ഗ്രാമപഞ്ചായത്തിൽപെട്ട കൊട്ടയാടു കവല കരുവഞ്ചാലിനും ആലക്കോടിനും ഇടയ്ക്കു ഫിലിം സിറ്റി സ്റ്റോപ്പ് കഴിഞ്ഞ ഉടൻ കാണുന്ന ചെറിയ ഒരു നഗരഭാഗമാണ് .........
Dr UPV Sudha is a research associate at Aeronautical Development Agency in Bengaluru functioning under the Ministry of Defence. She was a chief contri...
Dr G Satheesh Reddy congratulates Dr Rajalakshmi Menon Outstanding Scientist of DRDO, for being honoured with Outstanding Woman Scientist of the year Award during the 70th Annual General Meeting of The Aeronautical Society of India held on 21 – 22 February, 2020 at Chennai.
Dr G Satheesh Reddy also congratulates Mrs Sunita Devi Jena of DRDO for Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award, Dr Sudha UPV of ADA Bengaluru for Dr Biren Roy Trust Award and Shri Shashank Mishra of DRDO for Indigenisation of Aeronautical Equipment Award during the AGM.
...... Dr. Sudha U P V is working as an Aerospace scientist in Aeronautical Development Agency, which is a part of DRDO (Defence Research & Development Organisation) , Under Ministry of Defence. Nonetheless she being from Civil Engineering background she switched over her career from civil engineering to Aerospace Engineering by doing PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Indian institute of Science Bangalore. Dr.Sudha UPV did not just be a part of the function but encouraged and inspired the students by delivering a wonderful speech on her involvement and experience in Chandrayan project. She also spoke about the challenges that she had faced in her career and enlightened the students on never to give up in their life to be the best in what they do. Her speech created an aura of positive energy among students to gait up in their career with confidence. She helped the students to boost their self-confidence.Her life story is absolutely motivating and uplifting one.The students were impressed with her extensive knowledge and experience. Dr. Sudha u p v excites audiences with her innovative speech, passion, and her practical advice on how to get things done.......
സ്ത്രീകളുടേയും കുട്ടികളുടേയും ശാക്തീകരണം പ്രജ്വല ഡോ. സുനിതാ കൃഷ്ണനും വിദ്യാഭ്യാസ മേഖലയിലും ശാസ്ത്ര സാങ്കേതിക മേഖലയിലും വ്യക്തിമുദ്ര പതിപ്പിച്ച വനിത കണ്ണൂര്‍ തളിപ്പറമ്പ് തൃച്ചമ്പലം ഡോ. യു.പി.വി. സുധയും സ്വന്തമാക്കി. മാര്‍ച്ച് 8 വൈകുന്നേരം 5 മണിക്ക് പുരസ്‌കാരങ്ങള്‍ കൈമാറും. തിരുവനന്തപുരം നിശാഗന്ധി ആഡിറ്റോറിയത്തിലാണ് ചടങ്ങുകൾ സംഘടിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര വനിത ദിനാഘോഷം സംസ്ഥാന തല ഉദ്ഘാടനത്തോടനുബന്ധിച്ച് മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി പിണറായി വിജയന്‍ പുരസ്‌കാരങ്ങള്‍ വിതരണം ചെയ്യും. ഒരു ലക്ഷം രൂപയും ശില്‍പവും പ്രശസ്തി പത്രവുമടങ്ങുന്നതാണ് പുരസ്‌കാരം.
ശാന്താ ജോസ്
തിരുവനന്തപുരം ആര്‍.സി.സി.യിലെ രോഗികള്‍ക്ക് സഹായകമായി ആശ്രയ എന്ന സംഘടന രൂപീകരിച്ച് 25 വര്‍ഷങ്ങളായി സേവനം നല്‍കി വരുന്നു. ആര്‍.സി.സി.യിലെ രോഗികള്‍ക്ക് ഒറ്റയ്ക്കല്ല എന്ന തോന്നല്‍ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നതിനപ്പുറം ക്യാന്‍സര്‍ രോഗികള്‍ക്ക് നിലവിലുള്ള സ്‌കീമുകളേയും പദ്ധതികളേയും സംബന്ധിച്ച് അവബോധം നല്‍കുന്നു. മാത്രമല്ല അവിടെ എത്തുന്ന രോഗികള്‍ക്ക് അവരുടെ ആവശ്യം അറിഞ്ഞ് സാമ്പത്തികം ഉള്‍പ്പെടെയുള്ള പലവിധ സഹായങ്ങള്‍ നല്‍കി വരുന്ന വ്യക്തിയാണ് ശാന്താ ജോസ്.
വൈക്കം വിജയലക്ഷ്മി പ്രതികൂല സാഹചര്യങ്ങളെ അതിജീവിച്ച് വിജയം നേടിയ ശ്രദ്ധേയയായ പിന്നണി ഗായികയാണ് വൈക്കം വിജയലക്ഷ്മി. ജന്മനാ കാഴ്ചപരിമിതിയുള്ള വിജയ ലക്ഷ്മി കുട്ടിക്കാലം മുതല്‍ തന്നെ സംഗീതത്തില്‍ പ്രത്യേക താത്പര്യം കാണിച്ചിരുന്നു. സംസ്ഥാന സ്‌കൂള്‍ യുവജനോത്സവത്തില്‍ ശാസ്ത്രീയ സംഗീതത്തിന് ഒന്നാം സ്ഥാനം കരസ്ഥമാക്കിയിരുന്നു. ശാസ്ത്രീയ സംഗീതജ്ഞ, ചലച്ചിത്ര ഗായിക, ഗായത്രീവീണ വായനക്കാരി എന്നീ നിലകളിലും പ്രശസ്തയാണ് വൈക്കം വിജയലക്ഷ്മി.
ഡോ. സുനിതാ കൃഷ്ണന്‍
ഇന്ത്യയിലെ പ്രമുഖ മനുഷ്യാവകാശ പ്രവര്‍ത്തകയാണ് പാലക്കാട്കാരിയായ ഡോ. സുനിതാ കൃഷ്ണന്‍. മദ്യക്കടത്തിനും ലൈംഗിക ചൂഷണങ്ങള്‍ക്കുമെതിരെ ആന്ധ്രാപ്രദേശിലെ ഹൈദരാബാദ് കേന്ദ്രമായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്ന പ്രജ്വല എന്ന സന്നദ്ധ സംഘടനയുടെ സാരഥിയാണ്. മനുഷ്യാവകാശ പ്രവര്‍ത്തന മേഖലയിലെ മികവിനുള്ള രാജ്യാന്തര അവാര്‍ഡ് ഉള്‍പ്പെടെയുള്ള പുരസ്‌കാരങ്ങള്‍ നേടിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. 2016ല്‍ പത്മശ്രീ പുരസ്‌കാരം നേടിയിരുന്നു. ഡോ. യു.പി.വി. സുധ-(oneindia malayalam)
Studied Political Science (Graduated 2017)Updated 3y
NOTE:
I am expecting a better answer than mine. Let someone from Kerala write it. But, here let me make an attempt from what I know about Kerala.
Kerala:
For decades now, Kerala has become a favourite state for students of development studies. Kerala stands ahead of all the states in the country on several criteria of Human development Index. Kerala is identified with a set of high material quality-of-life indicators, spread almost equally across the entire state.
It is also identified with high levels of political participation and activism with Congress and the Communists sharing power almost alternatively, which is also responsible for the development of the state, as each tries to better the other in implementing various development programmes. This shows a healthy version of electoral politics. Incidentally, Kerala was the first state to elect a non-Congress government in independent India. In 1957 the CPI defeated Congress in legislative assembly elections and E.M.S. Namboodiripad became the Chief Minister. In spite of being a multi-religious state, religion has been seldom used for electoral gains.
Health Indicators- Kerala & India −2009
In the state, the doctor-patient ratio of 1:700 is on par with most of the European countries.
Literacy Rate of Kerala from 1951 to 2011
Literacy Rate of Kerala from 1951 to 2011
Year ————-Literacy —————Male —————-Female
1951 ————--47.18 ———————58.35 —————36.43
1961 —————55.08 ———————64.89 ————-45.56
1971 —————69.75 ———————77.13 —————-62.53
1981 —————78.85 ———————84.56 —————-73.36
1991 —————-89.81 ———————93.62—————- 86.17
2001 —————-90.92 ———————94.20 —————87.86
2011 —————-94.59 ———————-97.10 —————92.12
The above table shows the literacy rate of Kerala from 1951 to 2011, measured every decade. The table reveals that Kerala made a steady progress over the decades and became the centre of attraction for development discourses in the 1990s.
In a nutshell:
Education
Political awareness
Better politics
People’s participation in development.
Women at 60 are ready to learn operate machines, take loans, do farming
Progressive thinking
For details, read the following examples. Let me assure you that these are the examples unique to Kerala, which give an insight to development in Kerala.
Reforms in Religion:
A number of frauds take place in the name of religion. Common people are duped by thugs in the name of gurus, or babas or priests. Kerala’s home minister, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, has vowed to “book them all”. The state minister in charge of the administration of temples, G. Sudhakaran, reportedly believes that 90 percent of the gurus “are all thieves and they are all fit to go to jails”.[1] Santosh Madhavan alias Amrita Chaitanya, a temple priest and astrologer, was arrested on charges of molesting minor girls and fraud in 2008.
Another godman, Himaval Maheswarananda Bhadrananda was also arrested. Further, Heavenly Feast Evangelists Group, is being investigated by the income tax department; Matha Prasanna, who was arrested on charges of cheating and visa fraud; Ma Vishnumaya, whose husband was arrested on complaint of cheating; Sam Kuzhikala, against whom a non-bailable warrant was issued for fake cheques; Siddhan Kattachira, who was arrested on charges of cheating; Swami Sunil Das, whose wealth is being investigated; Pita Jyothirmayananda, who was arrested for issuing fake cheques; and Sheikh Yusuf Sultan, who is facing charges of cheating.[2]
Another instance where politics intervened in the religion was the case of Sauda. Sauda married in 1991 was divorced in 2004 and was left with her three children with no financial support. So, her lawyer Vinod Singh Cheriyan filed a case in the magistrate court in Kozhikode for 'future maintenance' of the children of Sauda. In 2005, the magistrate court granted Sauda Rs 360,000 including Rs 3,000 each for the three months during the iddat period, which was challenged by both the parties.
In the mean time, Sauda developed kidney problem and underwent dialysis which incurred her three lakh rupees over one and a half year. The lawyer further appealed for the medical expenses from the former husband. On July 25, 2015, Justice B Kamal Pasha of the Kerala high court ordered her former husband to pay Sauda's medical expenses and also her maintenance expenses for 10 years. Other than the alimony of Rs 360,000, Sauda's former husband Abbas should also pay Rs 231,000 for his divorced wife's medical expenses. This was a landmark judgement as divorced Muslim women were never given medical assistance by their former husbands. Further, this case brings back the memories of Shah Bano case.
"Our case should act as a warning," asserts Sauda. "It is high time change comes to society. This is not the way to treat a woman. I don't want any other woman to have a fate like mine and hope the judgment will pave the way for change."[3]
Some projects, initiatives and people’s participation
The ‘Naivedyam’, or food offering, made for Lord Krishna at the world famous Guruvayur temple in Thrissur district of Kerala, includes a rare variety of bananas called ‘Pooja Kadali’. The temple was dependent on Tamil Nadu for this special variety of bananas. But now, women are growing these bananas on 47 acres, under seven panchayats of Kodakara block, in Kerala.
This was possible due to the Kudumbashree’s collective farming and ‘Samagra’ projects, implemented with active participation from Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and supported by a farming subsidy.[4] The women here formed into Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) guidelines and availed agricultural loans. These women some of them around the age of 60, have learnt operating machines on their farms adding more profits to the groups.
“I am part of a five-member Joint Liability Group and we cultivate bananas, vegetables, and paddy on about 15 acres of land. We supply the fruit to the Labour Cooperative Society, which has a deal with the Guruvayur Devaswom Board, under the auspices of the State government’s ‘Kudumbashree’ programme. Around 750 women in 150 groups are cultivating bananas in our block, The excess bananas are then utilised for making ‘Rasayanam’, an ayurvedic preparation, in collaboration with an Ayurvedic pharmaceutical company. About 20,000 bottles of ‘Rasayanam’ are being made in our block every month,” says 54-year-old Shobhana Krishnamurthy of Muttathoor panchayat.[5]
“We have debunked the theory that agriculture is not profitable. Our group ‘Aishwarya’ took a bank loan of Rs. 60,000 for cultivating the ‘Nendran’ variety of bananas on seventy five cents of land, which had been lying bare. We paid off the loan in just six months. The subsidy was a big help. We made a profit of one lakh in one season,” says 39-year-old Bina Pradeep of Vallachira village.[6]
Political awareness:
Political awareness in Kerala is directly proportional to the literacy rate in the state. People of Plachimada in the Palakkad district of Kerala set another example of how common people can utilize their rights and challenge a global multi-national company. The company in question is the well known Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Atlanta based Coca-Cola Company. This company established a plant in Plachimada in 1999. It gained license from the Perumatty Village Council to start the production in 2000.
Complains about shortage of water through depletion of ground water levels and water pollution started increasing within two years. In 2003, women from the Vijayanagaram Colony in the village of Plachimada, protested that their wells had dried up because of the over exploitation of groundwater resources by the Coca-cola plant.[7] They also argued that the little which was left was undrinkable and when used for bathing the water burned their eyes and lead to skin complaints and also the depletion of groundwater resources also affected the ability of local residents to raise their crops of rice and coconuts[8].
Mayilamma, a common woman, was directly affected by Coca-Cola's operations in Plachimada, in Kerala's Palakkad district. The water in her well had been so heavily polluted by Coca-Cola's operations that it has been deemed unfit for human consumption. Mayilamma played a key role in the campaign to hold Coca-Cola accountable for water shortages and pollution in the area, and it was under her leadership that the community forced the Coca-Cola bottling plant to shut down in March 2004. She was the recipient of the Speak Out award by Outlookmagazine and the Sthree Shakthi Award. She passed away in 2007.
Initially, all the political parties, the Communist Party, the Janata Dal, BJP and Congress opposed the agitation. It was first the Panchayat which came in support of the people and as the movement intensified, all the political parties rendered their support.
In April 2003, the Perumatty Grama Panchayat (Village Council) refused renewal of Coca-Cola’s licence to operate on the grounds that it was not in the public interest to renew the licence stating: “…the excessive exploitation of ground water by the Coca-Cola Company in Plachimada is causing acute drinking water scarcity in Perumatty Panchayat and nearby places…”[9]
In December 2003, the Village Council’s decision was challenged in the High Court of Kerala State. The Court recognised the role of the State as a trustee and mentioned that it is bound by a legal duty to protect natural resources. It further elaborated that the natural resources are meant for public use and thus must not be transferred for private ownership.
The presiding judge, Justice K Balakrishnan Nair, asserted that the government had a duty to act to “protect against excessive groundwater exploitation and the inaction of the State in this regard was tantamount to infringement of the right to life of the people guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.”[10]
The High Court ordered the plant to stop drawing the groundwater within a month, ruling that the amount of water extracted by the plant was illegal. But at the same time, it ordered the Village Council to renew the licence and not interfere with the functioning of the Company as long as it was not extracting the prohibited ground water. Coca-Cola refuted the accusations of excessive exploitation and pollution and lodged an appeal.
In 2005, the divisional bench of the High Court granted permission for the company to extract 500,000 litres from the common ground water per day in the year 2005-2006. In August 2005, the plant was closed once again, this time by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board stating: “In the waste water treatment sludges we have found contents of Cadmium abnormally high. It goes up to 600 percent above the permissible limit. In the ground water the content of Cadmium is not that much. So, there is something which they are using in the raw materials.”
In October 2005, the State Government of Kerala announced it would support the Village Council local activists by challenging Coca Cola’s right to extract water from common groundwater resources in the Supreme Court of India. In an official press release, Health Minister K. K Ramachandran said: “the Government will stand by the people in whichever court the company goes. The right over water and air is the right to live. The Government will not allow stopping of these two lifelines of the people.” In November 2005, the Village Council files against the latest High Court order in the Supreme Court
On 4 January 2006, following decisions of the Kerala High Court, the Village Council renewed the Coca Cola company’s licence for three months but laid out thirteen conditions. The first of these was that the company shall not use groundwater from Perumatty Panchayat for industrial purposes, or for producing soft drinks, aerated carbonate beverages or fruit juice. The Village Council cited the 2004 Supreme Court decision of M C Mehta v Union of India and the notification by the Kerala State Groundwater Department that village is ‘over exploited’ with regard to groundwater.
Although the Coca Cola factory in Plachimada has remained closed since 2004, locals are not satisfied with simply closing the plant; they want justice for the damage caused to health and the environment. They are still fighting for the compensation. The role played by common people of a village is of great significance and stands as an example of a true democracy and fulfills the meaning of development
Calling a visit to Kerala an intellectual adventure, American journalist and environmentalist William Ernest Bill McKibbensums up what Kerala is.
“Kerala is a bizarre anomaly among developing nations, a place that offers real hope for the future of the Third World. Consider: This small state in India, though not much larger than Maryland, has a population as big as California's and a per capita annual income of less than $300. But its infant mortality rate is low, its literacy rate among the highest on Earth, and its birthrate below America's and falling faster. Kerala's citizens live nearly as long as Americans or Europeans. Though mostly a land of paddy-covered plains, statistically Kerala stands out as the Mount Everest of social development; there's truly no place like it.”[11]
[10] Blanco, Elena. and Razzaque, Jona. Globalisation and Natural Resources Law: Challenges, Key Issues and Perspectives. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011. p. 317.
[11] Bill, Mckibben, Kerala, India, National Geographic Traveller.
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