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HEALING RAMACHANDRA BABU CARICATURE: TOUCH KK SHAILAJA BECOMES THE EMBODIMENT OF KERALA’S PRIDE IN HER RELENTLESS CRUSADE AGAINST KIA TO CONQUER THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC WITH SONET

FOUNDER EDITOR Thomas Kuthiravattam, Former MP, Rajya Sabha EDITORIAL EDITOR B Balachandran +91 9947013377 BUSINESS HEAD V Uday Kumar +91 9447023135 DESIGN EDITOR Gopakumar Krishnan ON A RESILIENT MODE +91 6282707937 ONLINE EDITOR Lakshmi P S +91 8921751317 s the curtains fall on a year of fear and losses, an analytical DIRECTOR, EDITORIAL J S Indukumar +91 9947031177 introspection into the most challenging phase humanity DIRECTOR, MARKETING Mujeeb Shamsudeen +91 9846298362 has ever witnessed would be a futile exercise. Across DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS P Shyam Kumar theA universe, human life came to a standstill with businesses +91 9947093377 crumbling, productions shut and people confining themselves SUB EDITOR Anu Joseph +91 9947491177 to the four walls of their homes. A sudden arousal from this CAMERAMAN Nishad H +91 9947429977 unprecedented fall would be an unthinkable proposition. Though CIRCULATION K Sreekumaran the governments across the world acted swiftly to soften the pain +91 99474 81177 OFFICE IN-CHARGE Noufia J R of its citizens, we have a long way to go till the world regains its +91 8606179157 lost glory and prosperity from this disaster. RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVES In Kerala, the Covid 19 triggered a never before transformation United Kingdom Thekkumuri Haridas London. 0044 7775833754 in the health care sector which witnessed major changes in all its Canada Swapna Joy routine operations. Telemedicine, online consultations and door Toronto. 001 4372376272 step nursing became the new normal. As routine hospital visits for United States of Mini Nair America Atlanta. 001 6304003885 checkups became a thing of the past, most of the private hospitals Australia Sudhesh Kumar R Sydney. 0061 406476361 were hardly hit with revenues dropping to alarming levels. Kerala UAE Sarju Mathew would have stooped down to a disastrous stage but for the robust Dubai. 00971 502501379 public healthcare system which acted as the saving grace at this Qatar Pradeep Menon Doha. 00974 30055715 juncture. The entire machinery led by the Health Minister K K Kuwait Girish Ottappalam 00965 66523613 Shailaja herself showcased an unprecedented team work which Bahrain Boby Theveril literally saved the God’s Own Country from a colossal health Muscat. 00973 39627155 disaster. INDIA Mumbai Renjini Liza Varghese The complex social challenges posed by this pandemic would 091 8883666372 have a far reaching consequence on the entire social fabric of Bengaluru Saghin 091 9060858567 the State. Jobless expatriates, struggling tradesmen, labourers Renjith Menon K 091 7411219181 without wages and a whole community engulfed in the fear of the Chennai Biju Thomas deadly virus pose a big challenge for the Government machinery. 091 9944562027 The Government though has taken a pro active role in ensuring ADVISORY BOARD Adv. A Santhosh Kumar (Legal) a decent life for its people in these trying times, much more CA. M Ramesh Kumar (Finance) concrete and result oriented plans should be chalked out at the REGISTERED OFFICE Kerala Life, Kuthiravattam House, Kallissery, earliest to lift the morale of the common man and bring him back Chengannur - 689124, Alappuzha, Kerala RNI No. KERBIL00262, Reg. 19950/1970 to normalcy. EDITORIAL OFFICE As we bid goodbye to this odious year, let’s be assured that TC 16/1746, ULRA 55A, DPI Jn., Jagathy, Thycaud P O there is light at the end of the tunnel and work towards a better Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - 695014 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without tomorrow that can bring back the lost fortunes and freedom of our the written permission of the publisher of KERALA LIFE All rights reserved. Copyright @2020 countrymen. Owned by Thomas Kuthiravattom, Kuthiravattom House, Kallissery, Chengannur - 689124, Alappuzha, Kerala, India Printed and published by INTUS MEDIA PVT LTD, TC 16/1746, ULRA 55A, DPI Jn., Jagathy, Thycaud P O Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - 695014 B.Balachandran on behalf of Thomas Kuthiravattom Editor Printed at Orange Printers Pvt Ltd Thiruvananthapuram for Tara Offset Printers, Chengannur – 68912, Alappuzha, Kerala

Editor: B Balachandran, December 2020 | Vol. 50 | Issue 12 THE COMPLETE BUSINESS AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 | VOL. 50 | ISSUE. 12 PRICE ₹100

HEALING TOUCH KK SHAILAJA BECOMES THE EMBODIMENT OF KERALA’S PRIDE IN HER RELENTLESS CRUSADE AGAINST KIA TO CONQUER THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC WITH SONET 6 CIRCULATED TEAM SPIRIT IS THE KEY, INSIDE BATTLE STILL ON COUNTRIES Shailaja Teacher’s relentless efforts to reign in the 12 deadly virus won her laurels from across the seas with IN international media harping accolades on the Kerala model of crisis management. She attributes the achievements to the selfless service of her team which stood behind her all through the trying times and the unconditional support and trust showered on her by the general public. DECEMBER 2020 ECONOMICS. 18 12 RECOVERY WILL NEED THE DELHI MODEL OF A NON-PARTISAN EFFORT CONTAINMENT LIFE. 22 As the Covid 19 pandemic A GLIMMER OF HOPE gripped the capital city in IN THE SEA OF DARKNESS a big way, Chief Minister Aravind Kejrival stepped PROFILE. 32 out to fore front and led a PM @ 70 relentless battle AGRICULTURE. 34 THE FARM ACTS TO WHOSE BENEFIT? 24 LIFE HAS BECOME BIOSCOPE. 38 GREENER THE ONE AND ONLY OOMMEN CHANDY The air quality index used to be around 200 which sometimes BUSINESS. 42 rose even to 900 and beyond KFC RECORDS HIGHEST EVER LOAN DISBURSALS TOURISM. 44 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM ART. 48 28 ASHAN'S SKETCHES OF LIFE FROM CHALK & TALK TO DIGITAL CHALK CINEMA. 51 TALK: PANDEMIC & SOORARAI POTTRU, LUDO PEDAGOGY STEAL THE SHOW Online teaching has become the new normal PERSONALITY. 56 LIVING SOUND

COVER STORY TEAM SPIRIT IS THE KEY, BATTLE STILL ON

Shailaja Teacher’s relentless efforts to reign in the deadly virus won her laurels from across the seas with international media harping accolades on the Kerala model of crisis management. She attributes the achievements to the selfless service of her team which stood behind her all through the trying times and the unconditional support and trust showered on her by the general public.

ealth Minister K K Shailaja Kerala , as you know, was the first Teacher in a chat with Kerala State in the country to act swiftly and H Life Editor B. Balachandran, scientifically to contain the spread elaborates on Kerala’s relentless battle of this pandemic. We were the first to against the novel Corona Virus and impose a lockdown and this strategy how the State managed to reign in the actually helped us a lot in curbing mortality rate to a minimal level. the spread in the initial days. All this could be achieved by the meticulous Kerala has set an ideal example and democratic planning procedures before the world in the initial adopted by the Government. We days of the pandemic. How do you ensured the participation of the evaluate the situation now.? people through local self government

6 7 COVER STORY

bodies and voluntary organisations, zone, we cannot in any case loosen the State in containing the spread of the Also we ensured that proper and highly caution. We could actually tide over the disease? professional training is imparted to the second spike we had in the previous frontline workers who worked in the months and minimize the fatality rate As you know, we were the first state forefront for contact tracing and other due to this extreme caution. So my in the country to experiment the activities. The commissioning of the appeal to the people is to carry on with potentials of a lockdown. Initially, there FLTCs ( first line treatment centers) the stipulated safety measures till we were scepticism from some quarters has actually helped us a lot in ensuring completely get free from this pandemic. regarding the viability of a complete proper treatment and monitoring of shutdown, but later this was accepted Covid patients. Kerala was the only Kerala’s internationally acclaimed as the only solution for curbing the State in the country which provided health care system has contributed spread of the disease across the nation. free treatment for all Covid patients at in a big way in fighting this We could successfully employ the entire our centres. Right now, we can be at pandemic. How do you evaluate government mechanism to ensure relief since we could bring down the the work done by the Health that the sufferings of the people were test positivity rate to below 10 and the Department and the other frontline minimised during this period. The mortality rate to below 1 percent. But workers? Police department deserves utmost still it s not the time to switch over to mention here since the their work in relaxed mode and all precautions and First of all, I would like to thank the contact tracing and ensuring that protocols related to Covid should be entire Health department for putting people adhered to the Covid protocols strictly adhered to. in a relentless and exemplary work such as social distancing in public during this period. Whatever we places had a far reaching impact Now that the TPR is on a satisfactory could achieve was the result of an on curbing the spread . Moreover, I decline in State, what all measures unparalleled team work put in by the express my gratitude to the people of are the government planning to put entire department. Irrespective of the this State for completely supporting in place a professional mechanism posts they hold, doctors, nurses, officers the government initiatives amidst the to curb another spike. ? and other frontline works worked 24x7 hardships they faced during this period. as a single unit barring all the risks and The government is closely monitoring challenges encountered by them . Right Now , the Health Department is the current situation after the series from contact tracing, fixing treatment focussing on post Covid conditions of relaxations came into being. In modules, patient monitoring or of the patients who have recovered the beginning itself we had set Plan anything related to Covid management, from the disease. What are the A, Plan B and Plan C. In Plan A, we the results we could achieve was initiatives being taken by the identified a medical college, district nothing but the success of this team Department in this front?. or general hospital, of which a major spirit. We also roped in the services of portion would be allotted for COVID-19 the experts to ensure a professional Yes, this actually is also the first of its treatment. That is how we got more than training mechanism for frontline kind in the country. International 300 beds in medical colleges. In Plan B, workers and other paramedical staff studies have pointed that most patients we included Taluk hospitals and non- who were in the fore front of this who have recovered from Covid have functioning private hospitals. In Plan C, endeavour which actually helped us shown signs of moderate to severe the idea is to convert most private and a lot in achieving the desired targets illness. Among this, almost five percent government institutions into COVID-19 and datas at the right time. Moreover, have shown severe sickness after hospitals. Kerala, even with our robust we could judiciously make use of the getting cured. So, it is imperative for health care system, is a vulnerable services of other streams of medicine the Health Department to address this state given the large size of our old like Ayurveda, homoeo and Sidha issue which resulted in the setting up age population and the higher rate of in ensuring an effective preventive of post Covid clinics named `Revive’ in lifestyle diseases which can complicate mechanism. all districts. The telemedicine platforms the infection.. So we always planned our will be used extensively at primary level treatment and containment protocols Kerala was the first State to come for obtaining specialist consultations keeping this in mind. Currently, though out with a lock down. How far the from referral centres. A new trained we can say that we are rather in a safe lock down management helped the team has been constituted for this and 8 festive season. With the local body polls getting over, we can expect another possibility of a spike in cases. How do you asses this situation?

We had actually foreseen a spike in cases soon after the poll process and the entire government machinery had taken the adequate precautions regarding this even before the elections. Various campaigns stressing the need for strictly adhering to the Covid protocols like wearing of masks, avoiding unnecessary house visits were issued even in the ground levels to ensure that the campaign process is done in a safety mode. But still we cannot expect all to strictly follow the rules and this might trigger a spike in cases in the coming days. But the Health Department is fully equipped and is already on an alert mode to handle any sort of emergencies.

The vaccine for Covid has now become a reality and the entire nation is eagerly waiting for this. What will be the modus operandi of the Health Dept to streamline an effective mechanism for the distribution of vaccines?

Its a welcome news that the Vaccine is ready and the entire world is looking hopefully at this. The State Government PAINTING: DIVYA KONOTH, DOT DESIGN has already taken the necessary steps in this connection and we are awaiting a comprehensive post Covid registry I express my gratitude the detailed guidelines from ICMR will be maintained for this. An online to the people of this regarding the mode of distribution training module has been prepared by State for completely and other procedures. The registration the experts for use by these clinics. The procedures health workers enrolled field staff and Asha workers will have supporting the for receiving the vaccine is in the the responsibility to mobilise patients government initiatives final stages. District level registration to these clinics and they will also record amidst the hardships of health workers in all government the health status of patients who don’t they faced during this institutions and a majority of private visit the clinics. period. institutes have been completed. We know that Kerala went for a How do you assess the support from second spike soon after the Onam K K SHAILAJA political parties and other voluntary 9 COVER STORY

organisations for the effective sector. The primary aim to take the crusade against this pandemic. ? health care to the rural folk, who were more or less deprived of a quality As a Health Minster, I cannot help health care, has yielded results in a expressing my angst and displeasure great way. We could take up various over the strange stands taken by projects under the Ardram Mission. The certain opposition parties towards the enhancement of PHCs to family health government’s initiatives in handling centres was the major revolution in the this pandemic. We all know that the health sector. The rural folk who always situation we encountered was a never had to rely on private hospitals and before one and the Government in its clinics can now come to the respective full capacity did all it could and our family centres for quality treatment. I entire system’s primary focus was to know that only half the work has been curb the spread of the disease in the completed and we have a long way to initial days. It is quite obvious that go for achieving our goals. My major certain lapses might have occurred at contentment is the team spirit we could some points given the magnanimity build in the Health Department which and challenge of the work undertaken actually has helped us a lot in the fight by the Health Department. But against Covid. We function as a family unfortunately, certain opposition by sharing our challenges and concerns leaders took advantage of this and whenever a problem arises we solve situation and went on with a malicious it within us without allowing it to spill campaign against the government. over. Moreover, I feel that all these could This, I feel, was purposefully done be achieved only because of the strong to reap a political mileage out of the and unconditional support from our situation. Such kinds of activities are Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He has highly deplorable in such a situation. been there for any kind of support or The government is open to any sort advice and got actively involved in the of constructive criticism and we have challenging tasks we undertook at these been open to suggestions and advices trying times. from all quarters regarding an effective containment strategy in our fight Lastly, how do you assess the against this deadly virus. unconditional support you get from your family and loved ones which You got the privilege to be featured has fuelled your enthusiastic and in many of the international media energetic work pattern? for the work undertaken by you in the fight against Covid. How do you Definitely, my family has been the pillar feel about it.? of strength for me at these trying times. Though we don’t meet quite often, I Yes, I feel very happy about it. Its always set aside a specific time, normally late a privilege to know that the world in the night, to interact with them. My over is monitoring us and evaluating In general, how do you evaluate the husband, Bhaskaran Mash, who also is us and I consider it as a token of work done by this Government in active in public life, always empower acknowledgment for the work done sprucing up the Health sector of the me to do more and more things which by our team. Many of them took my State ? actually keeps me glued to the work number and called me directly to speak undertaken by me. My sons and on the current situation in Kerala and I am extremely contended that this daughter in law are always there for any the work done by the State in combating Government could carry out a slew of kind of help and advice. They actually Covid. people friendly reforms in the health act as a stress buster for me. 10 PANDEMIC DAYS As the entire universe grapples under the sufferings and fear triggered by the worst ever pandemic witnessed by us, Kerala Life, in this issue, attempts to highlight the impact of this pandemic on humanity as a whole and tries to explore the possibilities of an imminent resurrection which could instill a ray of hope among the commercial, social, educational and other affected sectors. IN CONVERSATION THE DELHI MODEL OF CONTAINMENT As the Covid 19 pandemic gripped the national capital in a big way creating a panic situation for the whole country, Chief Minister Aravind Kejrival stepped out to fore front and led a relentless battle against the deadly virus by taking active support from various stakeholders and interest groups. The Delhi Model of containment is now being followed and practiced by many states across the country

elhi was once called the Corona years and also ensured zero deaths capital of the country. But we due to dengue last year due to a D never lost hope . What gave collective campaign. The Chief me confidence is the collective ability Minister opens up more on his battle of the two crore people of Delhi. We and reveals the strategies adopted have achieved big things in the past. against the worst even pandemic in this Delhi’s people managed to bring down interview given to the Mathrubhumi CISSY JACOB pollution by 25 percent in the last five Daily.

12 Voters of Delhi brought you back to power in February after a tough poll. Within months, you were destined to fight the most rapidly transmitting virus. If we were to ask you to define the Delhi Model to fight Covid – what is it? Till the end of May, the situation in Delhi was under control. We had anticipated a rise in the number of Corona cases with the opening of the lockdown in Delhi, but the surge was more than expected. Now, two months later, there has been a complete turnaround. We have only around 11,000 active cases - 16th highest in the country from a point where we were second highest. Our recovery rate is 90% which is the highest in the country. 75% of our hospital beds are vacant. This was possible because of three key principles that constitute the Delhi Model. The first principle and foundation of the Delhi Model is teamwork. The government cannot fight the pandemic without support from various stakeholders and interest groups. So we reached out to everyone and asked for their cooperation. We reached out to the Central government, various non- The first principle and us towards the right direction. governmental organizations, Resident foundation of the Delhi The third principle is that no matter Welfare associations, health workers Model is teamwork. how bad the situation gets, you as a and of course the two crore people of government cannot give up. Recently, Delhi. Everyone came together to fight The government cannot the health minister from Karnataka COVID-19, successfully. fight the pandemic said: ‘Now only God can save us’. I can The second principle of the Delhi without support from understand the anxiety and helplessness Model was acknowledging, appreciating various stakeholders and of that minister. But as a government, and encouraging constructive criticism interest groups. So we you cannot give up – because if you give from stakeholders and responding reached out to everyone up, then you cannot imagine the number to these by working towards fixing of deaths that will lead you to. the problems highlighted by others. and asked for their For instance, in early June, we started cooperation. The migrant workers suffered the receiving a lot of complaints of the Lok most by the pandemic. Now they are Nayak hospital, Delhi government’s ARVIND KEJRIWAL returning back. What measures is largest COVID hospital with 2000 your government taking to ensure beds. Rather than clashing with those they find their livelihoods back? highlighting the issues, we understood them and fixed all those issues one by Migrant workers are the backbone of one. The media was particularly helpful Delhi’s economy. Due to the imposition in mediating the concerns and pointing of a sudden lockdown, many of them 13 IN CONVERSATION

were stuck with no food and shelter similarly from several countries around economy and drive the country back in Delhi. At that time, we responded the world. on the recovery path? fast and set up over 1100 hunger relief centers that were, at their peak, feeding Was there a point in this fight when First, we will need to remove the fear 10 lakh people two meals every day. We the numbers worried you? What was of Corona from people’s minds, while also set up over 500 night shelters in that single factor that gave you the ensuring they remain careful of social the city. After the Central government confidence to fight on? distancing, maintaining hand hygiene allowed travel of migrant workers and wearing masks. This will start through special trains, we arranged their Yes, the situation in June was a bit happening when we manage to control travel and paid the cost so that these worrying when the numbers started the spread of Corona in state after workers can reach their home safely. increasing suddenly. We did not expect state. Only then can businesses start Now we are seeing large scale that. Delhi was being called the Corona opening up and consumers will start migration of migrant workers back to capital of the country. But we never spending freely. We are beginning to see Delhi and their biggest need at this lost hope. What gave me confidence is this happen in Delhi, since the Covid time is jobs. Interestingly, at the same faith in the collective ability of the two situation in Delhi has substantially time, many businesses who have crore people of Delhi. We have achieved improved. started opening up are complaining that they are facing difficulty in finding What steps are you taking to revive labour. To facilitate both employers and Kerala had the advantage Delhi’s economy? workers impacted by lockdown, we have of successfully battling launched a jobs portal called “Rozgar We have been taking many decisions to Bazaar” at jobs.delhi.gov.in where both epidemics in the help revive Delhi’s economy. In the last employers and job-seekers can register past, and has a very month, we reduced the VAT on Diesel by through smartphone and find each effective decentralized Rs 8.38 per litre, allowed street vendors other. The response we have received is mechanism for contact and weekly markets to start operating, overwhelming. In just one month, over tracing and isolating de-linked hotels and banquet halls 10 lakh job-seekers have registered while patients. linked to our Covid hospitals so that 9200 companies have registered over they can start functioning normally and 9 lakh jobs. This will go a long way in launched the Rozgar Bazaar jobs portal solving the employment problem. ARVIND KEJRIWAL to connect employers and job-seekers, which has received an overwhelming You have a cordial relationship response. We are identifying specific with the Kerala govt. Kerala was big things in the past. Delhi’s people sectors to give a push to where there is successful in containing the virus in managed to bring down pollution by potential to create new jobs, just like the beginning. Now there is fear of 25% in last five years and also ensured we did by launching Delhi’s Electric community spread. How did Kerala zero deaths due to dengue last year due Vehicle policy and announcing our experience help in your fight against to a collective campaign. That is when vision of making Delhi the Electric Covid? What can Kerala adopt from we decided to reach out and Vehicle capital of India. In addition, I am Delhi’s case? seek everybody’s help to deal with holding regular meetings with traders, the Covid situation in Delhi - Central industrial associations, and businesses We learnt from everyone’s experiences in government, private hospitals, hotels, and listening to their suggestions so that our fight against Coronavirus. Kerala had resident welfare associations, NGOs together we can get Delhi’s economy the advantage of successfully battling and religious organisations, and they back on track, just like the entire city epidemics in the past, and has a very all responded positively. That is why came together to deal with Corona. effective decentralized mechanism for teamwork is the main pillar of Delhi contact tracing and isolating patients. model. Once you said in an interview, AAP Pinarayi ji and Health Minister Shailaji has given birth to a new ideology, ji have been doing some very good There is a scenario of all-round what is that ideology? What is work. We also saw and learnt from the lethargy and gloom. What should its relevance for the future of the containment strategy of Dharavi and India need to re-start engines of country?

14 “Kaam ki rajneeti” is the essence of the revolution happening in Delhi’s is one example where we knew that we AAP’s ideology and the Delhi model government schools, about our Mohalla needed everyone’s support, including of governance. Today politics in this clinics and how we have fought Covid Centre, to marshall all the resources to country has become synonymous with successfully. We have managed to do this save people’s lives. If at that time I had fighting over religious and caste issues, by working together with the two crore brought my ego and fought with BJP- and in constant buying and selling of people of Delhi. ruled Centre, who would lose? At the MLAs. Nobody seems to care about same time, we have repeatedly raised what is happening to the country, its Some say there could be room for our concerns on the manner in which people. We believe in collective effort someone like you at the national Delhi Police, which reports to the Central and ensuring dignity of life for every stage. But what we see is a clear government, has been investigating the common man. Every person, rich or distinction between Arvind Kejriwal Delhi riots cases, as pointed out by the poor, should have the right to quality of 2013 to 2015 and now as far as Delhi High Court too. When the Central education, health, water, electricity and relations between Delhi and Centre government canceled Delhi’s successful all such basic facilities. I believe that our are concerned. Earlier, it was a home isolation program, we fought to country can truly become no. 1 in the confrontational relationship. Now it have it reinstated and managed to do so world if we invest in our people first. We is far more accommodating and less eventually. have the smartest people in the world, so confrontational. Why so? many CEOs of top global firms are from Your view is that India should take India, yet we are a developing country. My allegiance is with the people of a hard stand on China. What all are No country has become a developed Delhi and as their Chief Minister, I am the strategies in your mind to teach country without investing in the health ready to go to any extent to ensure their China a lesson? Will an economic and education of its people, yet we failed well-being. If that means I have to go boycott have any impact on that to do so for the last 70 years. We have and plead for help with the BJP-ruled country’s approach to us? done that in Delhi. Today, the entire Central government, I will do so. This country and the world are talking about entire episode of surge in Covid cases China has captured our land. The 15 IN CONVERSATION

country and we are with the Central Why is it so? What are your plans to government and the Army, but we want take off as a national party? to get our land back. Nothing less is acceptable. Twenty of our soldiers were We are a young party and it takes time to martyred. Any inability to get the land expand all over India. We have formed back would not be tolerated by the the government thrice in Delhi and are country and it would also be an insult to the main opposition in Punjab. No other the martyrdom of our soldiers. For the party has managed to do that in such past so many years we have been trying a short span of time. We want to take to befriend China. India should extend our form of politics and governance to the hand of friendship while being all parts of India, so we will definitely cautious. We should be ready for every expand into other states when the time is move of China. We should not be caught right. We have recently declared that we off guard. Regardless of what action the will fight all the seats in the Uttarakhand government takes, people want out land elections. back. The government is required to take all steps for this. Secondly, the standoff In Kerala, the initial enthusiasm is also a big economic opportunity. towards AAP almost subsides India’s dependence in terms of imports now. What are your plans in from China is not healthy. Even our Kerala? toys are coming from China. This is not good. It would be understandable if we First of all, I wish all the Malayalis in were importing advanced technology Kerala, Delhi and anywhere in the world from there. Instead, we are importing We are a young party reading this a very Happy New Year. even goods for our daily needs which and it takes time to These are unprecedented times but on is affecting local production and jobs. expand all over India. this festive occasion, I wish them and I believe this is the opportunity when We have formed the their families all the happiness and the central government should on a war prosperity. We are grateful for the love footing create huge production facilities. government thrice in and affection that people of Kerala have A sector-wise list of our dependence Delhi and are the main towards AAP. Malayalis have also made should be prepared and industrialists opposition in Punjab. No immense contribution to the economy should be invited. They should be given other party has managed and culture of the national capital. AAP all facilities. It will end our dependence to do that in such a short is a young party but with a zeal to serve on China, create jobs and boost our span of time. the nation in all possible ways. Currently, economy. AAP volunteers in Kerala are assisting the people in screening for symptoms You came to politics as an advocate ARVIND KEJRIWAL of Corona. Low oxygen levels is the of Jan Lokpal Bill. Both Jan Lokpal most dangerous symptom of Corona, and Swaraj Bills figure at the top of something that can go unnoticed until AAP’s manifesto. How achievable are patients get very serious. AAP volunteers these initiatives? A total of 19 such bills passed by Delhi are setting up “Oxygen Jaanch Kendras” Assembly are pending with the Central in as many villages and mohallas of In our last term, we got elected in government and we hope they will all be Kerala as possible and will be going door February 2015 and in December, the cleared soon. to door to check people’s oxygen levels Delhi Assembly passed the Jan Lokpal using Oximeters. I urge all the people of Bill. Since Delhi is only a half-state, each AAP’s website claims that it is India’s Kerala to come forward and volunteer in bill has to be approved by the the Central fastest growing party. But it is still this campaign. government, before it can take effect. confined mostly in Delhi. Yes, you Unfortunately, the Jan Lokpal bill is still did well in Punjab. Apart from a few Author is Sub-Editor, Mathrubhumi pending with the Central government. states, AAP is still in a nascent stage. Daily. 16

ECONOMICS RECOVERY WILL NEED A NON-PARTISAN EFFORT

This is perhaps for the first time in independent India’s history when such a divergence has been noticed.The last major contraction or negative growth of the economy was in 1978-79 but Agriculture too had shown ADIKESAVAN S a negative growth then

ne of the silver linings in the the overall GDP has contracted by -23% ominous black clouds hovering year on year. This is perhaps for the O over our economy has been first time in independent India’s history the growth in the Agriculture and allied when such a divergence has been sector during the current financial year, noticed.The last major contraction or in spite of the disruption caused by the negative growth of the economy was in COVID-19. 1978-79 but Agriculture too had shown The area under cultivation during the a negative growth then. Kharif (monsoon) season has touched This data actually points to pockets an all time high of about 110 million of robustness in our economy and is hectares as sowing is about to close further validated by supporting data. across the country, by September-end. Let’s look at some of these positive Even last year, the acreage under numbers. cultivation was only 103 million Tractor manufacturers have hectares. reported sales this year which The country has also are at least 15% higher than recorded a positive growth the previous year. A top in Agriculture during the executive of Mahindra & April-June 2020 quarter Mahindra, the largest of about 4% though tractor manufacturer in 18 the country with a market share of 55% Government design proper support for told me there is more demand than sustaining this extra-ordinary bounce. they can meet through production and In my view, there are three main distribution this year! reasons why the rural/agricultural Similarly, the Non Banking Finance sector is continuing to do well in Companies who are active in Light contrast to the “gloom and doom” Commercial Vehicle sales (second- scenario in urban India. hand) like Shriram Transport Finance As per data submitted Co, (loan book size of more than Rs The country has also in Parliament by the 1 lakh crore) say that there is good Ministry of Labour,more demand for loans for LCVs. Fertiliser recorded a positive than 1.06 crore migrant sales too has been brisk. National growth in Agriculture workers, returned to Fertilizers Ltd, a Mini Ratna government their home State, company, recorded total sale of 23.81 during the April-June during the peak Lakh MT in April-August’20, a growth of 2020 quarter of about lockdown 16% compared to the same period last period. year. 4% though the overall It seems that rural India powered GDP has contracted by by the Agriculture sector may lead Many of them would the recovery from the depths -23% year on year. have contributed to of the Covid contraction agriculture and farming if policy-makers and the operations back in the villages boosting activity on the fields. Above normal rainfall at 108% of the Long Period Average aided the sowing activities Under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana cash transfers of at least around 42 crore poor people received financial assistance of Rs 68,820 crore. Farmers received Rs 4000 in two tranches of Rs 2000 each and women account-holders received Rs 1500. Along with free distribution of rice, wheat and pulses through ration shops, this has provided liquidity for farming operations at the margins, at least. The Covid infection rate has been

19 ECONOMICS

lower in interior India so far. Even among the cities it is concentrated in a few. India has more than 725 districts out of which only 60 are the hotspots. In these districts too, villages where density of population is low, lives have not been lost as much as in the cities. But does this mean that India will return to the growth path soon ? Not likely. Economists are of the unanimous view that this will be a wash-out year for us. The GDP is likely to contract by at least 9 to 10% and the Government’s borrowing is going to increase. India’s fiscal deficit reached about Rs 8 lakh

As per data submitted in Parliament by the Ministry of Labour,more than 1.06 crore migrant workers, returned to their home State, during the peak lockdown period.

crores (103% of budget estimate)1 in Apr-Jul ‘20 while GST collections dipped 12% in Aug ‘20. Direct tax collections have also been lower as most private businesses have reduced salaries. What can be done to meet this crisis and provide the ballast for the economy to revive overall? I have no doubt that given the resilience and the fighting spirit of the ordinary people, if honest and sincere leadership is provided, our economy will be back on the growth path in 20212-22. Getting back to growth itself will be a major achievement. The vaccines look like being available at least by early next year and as lives will be protected, livelihood support will have 20 to be front-loaded by the Government. cum monitoring team consisting of or cess which should be escrowed and I am no believer in the sacredness veterans like E. Sreedharan, Ratan Tata, utilised only for designated purposes. of the 3% fiscal deficit theory. This is retiring SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar This means that if there is a cess on, derived from the consensus figure and a couple of serving bureaucrats of say Agriculture infrastructure, that arrived at during the time of the impeccable integrity like our own Sri money should go towards a designated European Union and the launch of the V.J. Kurian IAS, which will act on these account and should be spent only for Euro in 1999. There are certain times recommendations. that purpose with the highest level of in history when the text-books will be The Government will have to do the scrutiny by specialised committees. of no help and the whole effort has heavy-lifting required to provide the India cannot retrieve its growth to be based on “morale”, “optimism” growth impulses. This can come out of without sacrifices. That sacrifice will and a “can-do” spirit combined with a Government-led investment spree in have to come from people like us who demonstrable action on the ground. The the infrastructure space. Now is the time have more or less assured incomes Government will have to spend. to build roads and improve highway through additional payouts of taxes/ connectivity, additional railway lines, surcharges/cess. Three suggestions. water supply schemes, etc., wherever I also believe that in the current Immediately form a national economic possible. We need not worry about the Prime Minister, Sri Narendra Modi, advisory council having representatives deficit being increased as long as the we have a leader with great political from all major political parties and additional borrowing goes towards will and energy. All I would plead for is including seasoned economists like these infrastructure “without an iota of for creation of space for multi-polar Dr. Manmohan Singh, Dr Y. V . Reddy, corruption”.This will stimulate demand advisory support for him in designing of Dr. Bimal Jalan and Dr. R. Rangarajan. and provide jobs. policies and execution for the nation’s The ruling party can have its own The salaried class and the organised continued progress. nominees and the committee can make labour and those with steady incomes consensus recommendations. Along will have to be prepared to shell out Author is Chief General Manager, State with this, form an implementation additional taxes by way of surcharges Bank of India 21 LIFE

A GLIMMER OF HOPE IN THE SEA OF DARKNESS

22 have been so quickly carried out by the nature itself. It is astonishing to see how much the environment benefits when men stays at home! The challenging times we are going through now has also brought out DR DANISH SALIM another benefit, the wildlife that had retreated from the cities have now come to venture out on roads. There have A few months of lockdown have definitely been multiple sightings of wild animals costed man a lot on his economic front, and birds that are now freely roaming but it surely has worked wonders on earth the earth again, thanks to all the less interruption from humans. On another note, people have finally slowed down. The most popular phrase nprecedented” is the word “fast-paced world” has currently come '' that is now used almost every to a sudden brake. So now, in this U day by everyone as nobody in “locked-in” phase, men have come their living memory has experienced closer to nature. More and more people something of this magnitude. Pandemics are investing in their own sustainable have come and gone, but in the era of farming and gardening and nurturing high-end technology and closely knit their surroundings. The view of work, global community, COVID19 is what we home and sleep has been revolutionized. can call - a sudden blackout. COVID19 With more time at hands people are has transformed lives and our way of coming up with marvelous innovations thinking beyond repair. The question is – to reconnect with nature and improvise CO2 – has fallen by nearly for better or for worse? in their current situation. Sars-COV2 or the novel Coronavirus A few months of lockdown has is well known as the invisible world definitely costed man a lot on his war 3 that the entire world is fighting – 40% economic front, but it surely has worked with extremely limited resources and wonders on earth. COVID 19 is healing exhaustible man-power. But during down about 18% between early February the world and sickening the people – an these dark times, a different side of the and mid-March – a cut of 250m tonnes, irony for what was happening before. world has awoken. Nature and humanity equivalent to more than half the UK’s Perhaps this is nature’s way of telling us have come to the fore ground. After annual output. Europe is forecast to to stop and think before indulging in decades of people demanding a rapid see a reduction of around 390m tonnes. our selfish desires. The crisis has taken response to protect the environment, Significant falls can also be expected in up too many precious lives, but this too Nature itself has decided to take this the US, where passenger vehicle traffic shall pass. And once it passes, the earth matter into its own hands. It has fought – its major source of CO2 – has fallen by might be left behind as a much safer and back and rightly shown that IT can bring nearly 40%. “ beautiful place to live in for many more back all its glory and might and put every Another effect is the vast fall in waste centuries, like a phoenix that rises from human being in a cage with a single tiny production due to reduced production its ashes. To all those who feel trapped, invisible virus! and factory output owing to the world- it is a reminder that the nature has hit To begin with, the global carbon wide lockdowns. Our rivers and oceans the reboot button – although it feels like emission has dropped so drastically are starting to become clearer and purer. the system is shutting down – remember that most metro cities are now having Venice canals have become clear after this only the start of something new… a safe and non polluted air that was decades. The holy rivers in India have something miraculous! never to be seen in years. According to become so pure that there is debate that The Gaurdian, ““In China, the world’s water is close to drinkable quality. This Author is HOD & Academic Director, PRS biggest source of carbon, emissions were feat that couldn’t be done by humans Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram 23 NATURE LIFE HAS BECOME GREENER The air quality index used to be around 200 which sometimes rose even to 900 and beyond

24 food. We, with nostalgia, remember the days when grandma cooked delicious dishes from jackfruit. We recollect those days when we ate all the raw and ripe mangoes, fruits and nuts, the names we did not know, from all homesteads in the neighbourhood with our friends. DR P INDIRA DEVI We wonder why we did not remember to cook those dishes from each part of banana and plantains all these years… ven worst things have a positive why we never noticed those fruits and side… True for COVID 19 too. vegetables like rose apple, E Life has become greener. . safe bread fruit, different types and calm. Now the pandemic days have of tubers, green leafy made all of the human kind to sit inside, vegetables etc. The lock look into ourselves and contemplate, down days made us go and realise that, life is worth it, only back to those traditional when your minds are green, only when food habits, sourcing you get the care from the mother nature, food from our and only when you love and nurture her back. Now there are reports that the air is clean, rivers are blue, birds are Mother nature is chirping and the greenery is back. embrazing you with Our capital city, New Delhi has been there in the news for its high levels of love and care, which air pollution and was ranked as the she wanted always. most polluted city in the world. The air quality index used to be around We feel calm, safe and 200 which sometimes rose even to 900 and beyond. According to WHO joyous in mothers lap standards it is much above the safe limits. Now, with the vehicles off the road, constructions and industrial activities halted, the air quality index is as low as 20 and the children can neighbourhood, which certainly ensure breath easily. The Himalayas can be safe, nutritious and healthy living. seen from the balcony of Chandigarh We were waiting for the call and homes, western ghats can be watched support from the Government to from Thiruvananthapuram city. The air start farming. Now, from children to is warm and clear. The piercing sounds grandma, are on to farming. We are from the engines and horns of vehicles sharing the news of our vegetable is now replaced with the chirping of growth from the courtyard/terrace birds and lullaby of breeze. Mother of our house with our neighbour, nature is embrazing you with love and observing the social distancing. Your care, which she wanted always. We feel children watch the plants growing calm, safe and joyous in mothers lap. and learn to observe the nature. Their Sitting in the safety of our home in minds are turning green. This renowned Kerala, We have started looking around enthusiasm in farming, will surely the homestead and delighted to see the sustain, sailing our state towards, not diverse plants that offer rich choices for only food self sufficiency, but also 25 NATURE

a healthier society, ready to share, environment gained, there are areas recovery. Reports of the US lowering understand and accommodate. This of concern also. The responses to vehicle emission standards is also is perhaps the social change that can COVID 19 has slowed down some there. The surveillance in Amazon Rain ensure a better, safer world. of the international actions towards forests is scaled down by the Brazil, it is Fresh water availability has been climate change management as well reported. The long term damages these the major point of concern during the as triggered some actions that harm cause, is a matter of concern for the days of climate change. Most of the the environmental safety. For instance, whole world. predictions forewarn tough days ahead, there are reports that China, as it Moreover some of the International especially in countries like India. While reopens its economy, would suspend discussions and plans for collective being proud about high rainfall and environmental standards, though actions towards environmental large number of rivers and water bodies, temporarily, for small businesses, safety are postponed. This include even the green Kerala is facing acute in order to accelerate economic the discussions on implementation drinking water scarcity during summer. of Paris Agreement, conduct of Most of our water sources are polluted World Conservation Congress, either from domestic waste or industrial The surveillance in biodiversity convention and Summit waste. Now there are reports of on Sustainable Development Goals, critically endangered, South Asian River Amazon Rain forests to cite a few. Further, it is yet to be Dolphins (Ganges Dolphins)as seen in is scaled down by the seen, to what extent the post COVID Ganga, after 30 years! The Uttarakhand stimulus packages for economy revival, Pollution Control Board testifies ganga Brazil, it is reported. accommodate environmental safety water in Haridwar as ‘fit for drinking The long term aspects. It is also a matter of concern after chlorination’, for the first time that the revival package mostly focus in decades. The major pollutant was damages these cause, is on polluting industries. The COVID -19 industries, along the shores of river a matter of concern for has also multiplied the challenges on Ganga. The water bodies are becoming management of plastic waste, as the clearer… But, the story of Periyar in the whole world. safe disposal of Personal Protection Kerala is not the same. Equipments pause a new challenge. While these are instances where Further, the financial support to non profit organisations who work in environment management, will be reduced substantially. The COVID 19 outbreak once again remind us the importance of clean air and water, for healthy living. Areas where air pollution levels were high, witnessed higher risks of premature death due to the pandemic. While hand washing is main preventive strategy, access to clean water assumes utmost importance. We have realised that ensuring the quality of ecosystem services from mother nature is the best prevention for future pandemics. Let us protect and nurture our mother nature… Let the local individual actions lead to a cleaner safer world.

Author is Professor &Director of Research (Rtd), Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur. Kerala. [email protected] 26

EDUCATION

is an increased need for ‘job-ready workforce’ across continents. Hence, there is a high demand for short skill FROM CHALK enhancement courses to remain light- footed and adaptive, as many are at the risk of losing jobs. To broaden their skillsets, a large & TALK TO number of professionals are getting enrolled for part-time learning programmes. The ‘one-size-fits-all DIGITAL classrooms’ have become a run-of-the- mill practice of the bygone days. On the other hand, customised learning with a critical emphasis on learner CHALK TALK: autonomy and self-pacing strategies rule the roost in the days of the PANDEMIC & PEDAGOGY pandemic. The snackable e-bites have metamorphosed the learning patterns The impact of the present emergency is far more of yesteryears. At the same time, online learning extensive than any war in human history. Around is not a new kid on the block. It has 2 million learners across the planet are affected been an alternate platform for more by the pandemic as per UNESCO surveys. than a decade in leading mainstream institutions. For sure, there is greater thrust, or perhaps it is the primary mode of learning in the current circumstances. It has directly hit the online platform market in India to reach approximately $ 2 billion by mid-2021. Governments worldwide are making efforts to alleviate the impact of the unexpected DR ASWATHY ARAVINDAKSHAN alteration in the learning modes and encourage public-private partnership to deliver remote learning, especially joint statement from UNESCO learning in less than a week around the for vulnerable and underprivileged and UNICEF recently states same time and for the same reasons. communities and remote regions that A that in the crisis of pandemic Unapproachability of real classrooms, are yet to have a digital footprint. In it is teachers who have shown by all means, is accelerating virtual India, All India Council for Technical outstanding leadership and innovation traffic. Will this pay off a lasting impact Education launched a portal ELIS that guaranteeing that “learning never stops on the trajectory of e-learning in the sources content from foremost ‘edutech’ and that no learner is left behind.” The post-COVID scenario? It is the bullseye companies. Adaptive self-paced impact of the present emergency is far of didactic deliberations these days. e-learning uses artificial intelligence (AI) more extensive than any war in human Virtuality has changed the nature of for tailor-made personalised learning history. Not even the World Wars have jobs, as many have turned redundant. experiences that induce intrinsic physically closed down educational More than knowledge, ‘upskilling’ has motivation. institutions around the world as by become the new mantra that companies A sudden shift in the mode of COVID 19. Around 2 million learners look at for employment. The learners transaction, quick delivery requirements across the planet are affected by the at higher education are turning ‘post- and inevitable objective assessment pandemic as per UNESCO surveys. traditional’ to be competent with the tools has resulted in high demand It completely changed the mode of altered e-commercial status quo. There for uncompromising infrastructure 28 29 EDUCATION

improvisations in pre-primary to higher e-platforms. For sure, the traditional education rostrums globally. Parents are struggling modes of knowledge transaction will There is an undeniable darker side to facilitate ‘home not be superseded by a pandemic, to this illuminated online space. It and technology, not once an absolute has resulted in disturbances that e-learning’ as they are alternative. Despite sundry challenges worsen the already existing disparities unrehearsed and new that call abrupt solutions, one could within the system. The advantages expect a blend of offline and online are disproportionate, particularly for to the method with design in the post-COVID setting when underprivileged learners who tend to limited tech know-how the institutions recommence academics have fewer learning prospects beyond with social distancing models. It is the physical school. In third-world and resources. indeed a challenge to ensure that countries, many children rely on free students return and stay at all levels of meals provided by schools and the same academics when institutions reopen is compromised without a solution. as economic shocks have placed Parents are struggling to facilitate ‘home chaotic, exasperating and taxing for pressure on learners to compensate e-learning’ as they are unrehearsed and teachers too. for fiscal distress in respective families. new to the method with limited tech No mode is all-inclusive. So, to what The physical classrooms, with all its know-how and resources. Working extent STEM subjects and Liberal Arts limitations, without a doubt, will remain parents have to leave children home could effectively be taught by entirely a place where paradise could be created alone with unrestricted access to e- ceasing F2F (face-to-face) strategies with greater possibilities. world, without a choice. It again leads and by using virtual tools alone have to a risk of dicey behaviours in children to be sorted out. There is already a Author is Assistant Professor at in their formative years of development. pertinent cry on the inability to assess NSS College for Women, Swift transition to distance mode is learning outcomes flawlessly by Thiruvanathapuram 30

PROFILE

PM RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR M P

s PM Modi turned 70, all of us in the BJP celebrated Seva Week A – most appropriate gift for a @ 70 leader who has firmly transformed Indian politics from power grabbing to one of Narendra Modi is a doer, and has shown a Seva and Public service. willingness to take ownership of challenges In 2014, as an Independent MP I wrote and a commitment to governance, development endorsing Narendra Modi for PM of India – “I endorse Modi as a leader who and security with equal opportunities to all has both the ability and determination to citizens — regardless of caste, religion or gender take India out of the current morass with clear, decisive policies and governance action. Narendra Modi is a doer, and has shown a willingness to take ownership of challenges and a commitment to governance, development and security with equal opportunities to all citizens — regardless of caste, religion or gender.” Today PM Modi is India’s most successful political leader - because he delivered on those expectations of transforming India, that people had from him in 2014. I am often asked what value of our PM is most liked and respected? I think its his relentless commitment to IndiaFirst and TransformingIndia. Its because of this, that he has built an unassailable level of trust amongst most Indians and people around the world about his leadership. Polls show that repeatedly. That trust didn’t happen overnight. 6 years of work and results have created that trust. Hard work, Performance, Trust and Integrity that had long ago vanished from parlance of Government have returned and hammered into place as permanent expectations of Indians from their Governments. It is this unshakeable trust of people in him that helped India confront the worst Health and Economic 32 crisis it has ever faced in history. It is his Indians, PM Modis relentless work has commitment to IndiaFirst that people done much to make us believe in and trust even when a rogue China tries its being proud of being Indian. expansionist tactics on our borders. The world is responding to this rise I met NarendraModi first as CM of India – The renaming of Asia-Pacific Gujarat in 2012. His quiet determination region to Indo-Pacific , the formation to fix even the toughest problems and of the quad with India, US, Australia transformation was evident even then Even his staunchest and Japan, Showing the world how and remains stronger than ever. I was to be resolute and firm with Chinas then a hyper-active Independent MP political opponent expansionism – all point to PM Modi’s and was fighting various issues being will admit to his firm resolve and determination to seek first MP to raise the issue of Spectrum out and shape Indias place in the world Scams, Concentration of Bank loans to a dogged determination and unambiguous clarity on National few families, Looting of Banks and rising to solve the problems integrity - replacing decades of a NPAs. Also loudly fighting against Govts geopolitical diffidence and ambiguity efforts to change Internet Governance and that face India. and a doctrine of “strategic restraint”. for National War memorial and OROP for Its very difficult for Pakistan or China or veterans etc. And it seemed to me then anyone to succeed in blocking or slowing that I was destined to be a failed fighter of the rise of India – because Narendra causes because no one saw it necessary out today. Modi has triggered aspirations of over a to fix these. But from that first meeting billion Indians of a new strong future for with PM Modi, I started believing that my Man of determination themselves and India with his vision of fate and indeed the nations fate could and One specific example stands out AtmaNirbharBharat. would be different. even today – when the RERA bill was Narendra Modi strode into Delhi Fast forward to 6 years later – PM introduced, I recall the major pressure 6 years ago amidst a background of Modi has delivered on transformation mounted on Govt, MPs and Media by the total capture of Government by various on these and many more. Even his powerful real estate lobbies in a desperate cabals. Some rue it – those that had their staunchest political opponent will admit effort to dilute the rights to consumers. I cozy nexuses smashed. But most Indians to his dogged determination to solve the was on the Select committee of Parliament celebrate that day, as the start of this road problems that face India. He has cleaned that was scrutinizing the bill. The cynic to NewIndia. up the corruption in Banks, allocation of in me was sure that bill would be watered Despite the significant progress made, natural resources and Crony capitalism; down due to “interests”. But PM Narendra the Covid Health Pandemic and the Created the strongest and cleanest Modi did not allow the dilution - setting serious Economic impact caused by it, financial sector ever in the history of the tone for trend of Individual citizen has been a setback and pose a serious Independent India. The chalta hai culture rights in many other legislations. challenge. But PM Modi is focussed on in Delhi has significantly become far With AtmaNirbharBharat, he has now the new world order on the other side of more responsive and accountable. The opened up the discourse to Economic and this pandemic – with Tectonic changes Economy no longer depends on a few development models that are not bland in the Global order impacting future families who could corner 90-95% of imitations of Western economic Model. of Economy, trade, Technology and Bank credit – but is more diversified His words “policies For and In India” Security that could be an unprecedented on the powerful and beautiful idea of reflect PM Modi’s IndiaFirst economic opportunity for India. And so today, I Entrepreneurship flourishing across thinking that is global and poised for a add my grateful thanks for his leadership the nation and from top to bottom major Economic power role for India in and best wishes, to that of over a Billion of Economic Pyramid. On Internet coming decade. Indians for his leadership and service and Governance, he immediately shut down As an entrepreneur and then as an MP, as he leads us through these challenging the UPA govt plan to partner with China to I have always believed in the greatness times to his goal of a NewIndia with have UN regulate the Internet and instead of India and our culture and heritage. prosperity for all. retained the free, open nature of the For decades, except for the period of 6 Internet. A prescient decision as Chinas years of Atalji, there was hardly anything Author is Member of Rajya Sabha and Executive misdeeds on the Internet come tumbling to be proud about our Politics. For most Chairman of Asianet News Network 33 AGRICULTURE

THE FARM ACTS TO WHOSE BENEFIT? Government claims the s the three agriculture market Acts have the following detailed names. reforms Acts, passed in the reforms are Historic & I Parliament, actually beneficial The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Revolutionary. to the farm sector as claimed? If so, Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Farmers don’t think so!! why are most farmer organisations Act, 2020 protesting against it ? Are these the reforms that the agriculture sector so The Essential Commodities badly needs to improve productivity (Amendment) Act, 2020 and farmer’s income? Will this achieve the “Doubling Farmer’s Income” goal of The Farmers (Empowerment and the Narendra Modi government? Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 The Three Acts The three acts that were hurriedly Economist and Associate Professor brought out as ordinances on June at the IGIDR, Dr Sudha Narayanan says 5th 2020, finally became law in the the Acts should actually be called SRIDHAR RADHAKRISHNAN Parliament session in September. The 1. The “APMC Bypass” Act 34 2. The “Freedom of Food Stocking by outside, and force them to sell at prices Agribusiness” Act Farmers feel new dictated by the traders, which for all 3. The “Contract farming” Act. law will remove all reasons are below Minimum Support Price. Understandably, these names better regulations for traders The Act is a serious blow to the age describe the intent of the Act. Let’s look and market cartels, old system that guaranteed prices, briefly at each of them, their intention either by regulated auctions or by and what could be the consequences. and the only trade Government procurements. Moreover The first of the Acts is supposed system where farmers the new regulations do not guarantee to liberalise agriculture marketing, that these open private markets will which as stated is to “create an got remunerative ensure remunerative prices on par with ecosystem where farmers and prices for their produce the Minimum Support Price. This is the traders enjoy freedom of choice”, foremost demand from the farmers. facilitate “remunerative prices will be dismantled. As per the Santhakumar Committee through competitive alternative report on reforming Food Corporation trading channels”, promote “efficient, of India(FCI), MSP assured through transparent and barrier-free inter-State and intra-State trade and commerce... outside the physical premises of markets or deemed markets notified under various State agricultural produce market legislations” and facilitate a “framework for electronic trading”. This surely is reformist from the point of view of policy makers, who see the regulated market system, namely Mandi’s and the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees, and Government procurement with Minimum Support Price(MSP) for the Food Corporation of India(FCI) to feed 60% of India’s hungry “Below Poverty Line” population, as a burden to the Government’s finances. So, this Act would usher in free and open trade in agriculture, and bypass the conventional regulated markets, and farmers will be allowed to directly sell produce anywhere in the country. This itself is a wrong claim because even now not more than 50% of produce even for Rice and Wheat is procured through FCI, and rest is already in the open market. Farmers feel this will remove all regulations for traders and market cartels, and the only trade system where farmers got remunerative prices for their produce will be dismantled. They also fear that the traders and commission agents will move out of the present system, set up supply chains 35 AGRICULTURE

86% of the 14 crore farmer households are small and marginal ones and own less than 2 ha

Government procurements benefit only farms as possible. Ultimately with this at MSP. “Then why not put it into the 6% of Indian farmers. The rest of the Act, the Government in one stroke law?”, asks farmers unions. Making MSP 94% do not get it because Governments has destroyed the regulated market a legal right is only a natural, logical never expanded the regulated market system, eliminated the guaranteed step forward towards ensuring price system as demanded by the farmers and price mechanism of MSP, and facilitated realisation, irrespective of the supply the private buyers never guaranteed private buyers to dictate prices. This chain, as this is not expected to increase MSP payments. If this system is will be a blow to the “Doubling Farmer’s the subsidy burden of the Government. also dismantled then they not only Income” dream of the Government lose MSP, they will also lose the only itself. In States like Kerala, which does Hoarding legalised! mechanism that kept the prices from not have regulated markets for essential The second Act is an amendment to falling down. Moreover, in India 86% commodities, the impact would be the original Essential Commodities of the 14 crore farmer households are felt when MSP system is gradually Act 1955, and removes all restrictions small and marginal ones and own less eliminated. imposed by the 1955 Act for than 2 ha, and there are tenant and The suggestion that farmers have maintaining stocks for procurement landless farmers as well. Clearly none now put up is to make MSP a legal right, and processing companies. The of them would have the wherewithal to either with a “4thBill” or incorporate restrictions in the original act were go and sell “anywhere in the country”, the same in the present Acts. The intended to curtail hoarding of as expected by the Government, and PM categorically states that “MSP essential commodities. But with this they will need government or private will continue”. The big agri-market amendment the Government has established markets, as near to their corporates also claim that they will buy allowed the stocking of “ all food stuffs, 36 through the State Governments go on chemical use,price, standards of produce an overdrive to crack down on hoarders etc. Moreover, contracting firms prefer and stockists and to release stocks into medium and large farmers and not the market. That regime ends. This is the majority small and marginal, who also clearly a decimation of the federal actually are the most challenged ones. nature of regulatory systems of sectors While the Act does encourage farmers to that have concurrent status. get into contracts, fixing prices is left to States like Kerala, a consumer state the contracting parties and the dispute is already facing the sudden increase mechanisms involve routine government in prices of onions, and the regulation officers. that could bring down prices has been weakened. Kerala also has raised serious “1991 moment” in agriculture! objections to the Act stripping off the The proponents of these Acts even call it the “1991 moment” in agriculture, reminding us of the year Indian economy started the liberalisation “1991 moment” process. We should not forget that the also led to the worst “1991 moment” also led to the worst ever agrarian crisis, increasing farm debts, ever agrarian crisis, taking the lives of 3.64 lakh farmers by increasing farm debts, suicide till date, and forcing at least 70 million agricultural refugees to leave taking the lives of 3.64 their villages and end up in urban slums lakh farmers by suicide and squalor. The “1991 moment” is nothing to celebrate in the agrarian till date sector. Even during the worst economic situation, blamed on to Covid and God, of the three sectors, the Agriculture sector that stands on India’s 60% including cereals, pulses, potato, powers of the State to intervene on farming population withstood the onions, edible oil seeds and oils”. The hoarding, when prices go up. crash, produced bumper crops and kept stocking of the commodities would now the economy ticking. It is against this be regulated only if the retail prices Contract Farming last straw that the Modi Government double in the case of horticultural The last of the Acts, which we shall call has unleashed their big ticket reform, produce and go up by 50% in the case the “Contract Farming Act” has the after Demonetisation and GST. The of non-perishables in this list. This objective of facilitating contract farming Government looks like it’s not able to regulation has also been done away and encourage farmers to directly engage understand neither the ground realities for major processing companies and with prospective firms on a contract of the Indian agrarian system nor the exporters, whose limit to stock is the basis. This is one Act that hasn’t seen nature of crisis they need to address. For capacity of their processing unit or the much opposition. Informal contracting them, bringing in the big agri-market demand for exports! Simply translated, systems already exist in India, which are middle men is the only solution. This is a the big procurement and processing mostly unwritten and mostly for seeds, Surgical strike and it’s the farmers at the companies have been fully allowed to floriculture, commodities like sugarcane receiving end. hoard as much as they can! Hoarding and high-value products like potatoes of agriculture produce and unregulated for chips making. In such contracts, Author writes and comments on agriculture, food and environment policy and is a steering exports have always been the major farmers are the weaker player, and can committee member of the national forum Al- reason for food inflation in the country. be easily forced to accept the terms of liance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture Everytime there is food inflation in the contracting firm, in matters such (ASHA)-Kisan Swaraj. He can be reached at: India, the Central Finance Minister as kind of crops, farming practices, [email protected] 37 BIOSCOPE THE ONE AND ONLY OOMMEN CHANDY OmmenChandy’s ne would never come across Secretary P S Sreekumar and Special journey of life has not O the news that leaps of files Private Secretary Rajendra Prasad. As been a bed of roses. are lying unattended at the sleep creeps in, the CM would stand up office of OommenChandy.The files keep from the chair and carry on with the Social commitment, on moving timelessly and swiftly late process in the standing position, and determination and in the night or early in the morning. when it deepens further, he will take sheer hardwork were The Chief ministers tryst with files a walk in the office and continue with the only assets he had normally begin late in the night after the job. This process will continue until the hectic day schedule packed with the markings on the files fall in wrong while choosing the road officialmeetings, discussions and usual places. Now, the secretaries know that to public service rush in the office by people visiting the sleep has completely conquered the Chief Minister seeking solutions for Chief and thus ends the file inspection their pressing problems. Accompanying process for the day. It will be around 2 the CM in the process will be Private O clock midnight, every drop of energy would be exhausted, and the CM retires to the cot. `Never lie down for a sleep. One should not lie down and wait for the sleep to come to you; instead, you should lie down with the sleep… That’s P T CHACKO OommenChandy’s theory of sleep!

OmmenChandy’s journey of life has not been a bed of roses. Social commitment, determination and sheer hardwork were the only assets he had while choosing the road to public service. With limited means, he travelled in newspaper vans, boats and local buses to fulfill the social commitments and emerged as an acceptable leader through the student outfits and other social organizations. He used to sleep in DCC offices, railway stations, and bus stands. The young leader had no qualms about his sleep, food and other rest times. The routine was to have food when available and take a nap

38 when it is possible, and the idea of Mariamma always party leader to accompany him. On taking rest was not all in his scheme the way, he exchanged his shirt with of things. After becoming an MLA, his laments that he would the co-traveller and participated in the room at MLA quarters got transformed have looked at least function in a tidy attire! On another into a shelter home for party workers. occasion, while leaving to the Assembly, His wardrobe would usually have only ten years younger if Chandy realized that the laundryman two pairs of khadar dress and at times he paid little more had not delivered his dress. Without when additional pairs occupied the any further thought, he borrowed a pair wardrobe, his party colleagues would attention to the look of dress from Kerala Congress leader happily take claim to them. Such was and feel. K M Geroge’s son, who had a pretty the style of life he led, and even today, big posture, and was his immediate nothing much has changed in this neighbour in MLA quarters This actually pattern. evoked a burst of laughter in the House It is interesting to recall an incident when Chandy was spotted in a shirt while OommenChandy was the Finance too big for him and extending up to his Minister. As a Minister, he had to he was wearing was completely soiled knee!. participate at the Independence Day and was not presentable for an august This casual attitude to can be seen celebration at Pathanamthitta as the function and he was not having a spare in his general looks and presentation. chief guest. As he was about to leave dress with him. Without panicking, he Combing of hair happens only after the from Puthupally, he found that the dress started the journey and asked his fellow morning bath, and the rest of the day 39 BIOSCOPE

and as the cameraman clicked two or three shots, before zeroing in on the final click, our hero left the studio and rushed to the next destination. The cameraman ran behind him to the car and tried to convince him that it was a trial click, but OC was not ready to budge and drove away. Dejected, the poor photographer transferred his clicks to a computer fearing that his efforts would go in vain. Fortunately, his trial click had materialized into a good photograph. And that remains as the only professional photograph of OommenChandy ever taken in a studio. Moreover, this photograph is still being widely used across the State for various functions. Travel is a sort of intoxication for OommenChandy, and there won’t be any leader in the State who has travelled so extensively. He used to drive himself in a jeep owned by the party while he would leave the long hair to behave serving as the president of the Kottayam itself. The sideburns would climb down Travel is a sort of District Committee. Running the party uninterrupted, and when it almost intoxication for mechanism was not that easy at those reaches the chin, wife Mariamma times. With limited funds at disposal; would intervene with scissors. But that OommenChandy, he once pledged his ring to meet the grooming session too may be left half and there won’t be fuel expenses for this vehicle. Later, he attended as the leader has no time or shifted his travel to an Ambassador car. botheration for such silly stuff! It was in any leader in the State The joke about it is that Hindustan recent times that a barber was deputed who has travelled so Motors, the makers of this car, was in his house for routine haircuts. surprised and perplexed to note that He would never allow any makeup extensively. this car could accommodate such a big even for Television interviews. number of passengers! Mariamma always laments that he OmmenChandy’s mental makeup would have looked at least ten years and the struggles he went through younger if he paid little more attention transformed this man of the masses into to the look and feel. But these concerns into limbo, Oommen Chandy finally a mature and composed leader. That often fall on deaf ears. agreed to go to a studio in Kottayam may be the reason why he traversed The Delhi based Konark Publications for taking a professional photograph. unshakingly even while deposing before had decided published a book on As usual, though a little bit late, he the Solar Commission continuously for OommenChandy in 2011.Everything rushed to the studio in his typical 14 hours, while heading the People’s regarding the book was ready, except style. The camera assistants and the interactive programmes for 16 to 18 for the cover photo. The publisher crew ran to him with the makeup kit hours in fourteen districts, and took had rejected all the available photos and other accessories, but that was in a calm and sedate stand while being sent to them. What they needed was a vain, as the leader politely refused for attacked physically at Kannur. Kerala photo at par with international quality. it and sat for the photograph combing has never seen such a leader who The imbroglio continued, and when the flowing and unplaced hair with dedicated his entire life for the people the publishing of the book itself came his fingers. The photoshoot began, and loved to live among them. 40 CONNECT WITH KERALALIFE keralalifeonline.com Keralalife online, the multilingual comprehensive portal, strives to carve out an innovative space in the online platform by adhering to a highly professional and interventional approach in the factual transmission of news, current affairs and infotainment. Get on the spot updates on News as it breaks and other happenings across the globe with supportive analytical and informative articles and videos on business, entertainment, healthcare, food, travel automobile, education and a lot more... BUSINESS KFC RECORDS HIGHEST EVER LOAN DISBURSALS The performance of KFC is quite remarkable as other financial institutions are reluctant to lend due to the covid crisis.

he Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC) disbursed T Rs 1,048.63 crore in September alone, including 355 loans sanctioned under the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Development Plan. This is the highest amount in the history of the corporation. This performance of KFC is quite remarkable as other financial institutions are reluctant to lend due to the covid crisis. The first phase of the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship Deavelopment Plan, announced on July 27, was licensed on

The loans, which range from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50 lakh, are subsidized by the government at 7 per cent interest.

42 CMEDP Loans Loans to the suppliers of The Loan to Kerala General Loans Kerala State Civil Supplies State Electricity Corporation Limited Board Limited ₹44.21cr ₹410.16cr ₹500cr ₹94.26cr

Monday. 45 crore has been sanctioned under 356 loans under the scheme. We started the CM’s The loans, which range from Rs 40,000 entrepreneurship project to Rs 50 lakh, are subsidized by the by allocating a small government at 7 per cent interest. amount of Rs 75,000 to Apart from this `110 crore has been start a beauty parlour. sanctioned to the suppliers of Kerala An amount of `500 crore State Civil Supplies Corporation,` 500 crore to Kerala State Electricity Board was sanctioned to KSEB Limited and `95 crore as other loans. within 48 hours. This year, the corporation has disbursed Rs 230 crore to 390 units of Kovid TOMIN J THACHANKARI assistance to customers. CMD, KFC With this, the corporation has come a long way in its half-year loan approval. 1450 crore has been sanctioned so far this year. This rate is much better than of 1000 entrepreneurs will be completed a small amount of Rs 75,000 to start previous years. The situation is similar this year. If so, the decision is to give a beauty parlour. An amount of `500 in the Chief Minister’s Entrepreneurship 1000 more entrepreneurs next year crore was sanctioned to KSEB within Development Plan. The scheme, which this year.” Minister of Finance Dr. TM 48 hours. The Corporation is ready to started with a target of 1,000 units per Thomas Isaac informed. provide all types of industrial loans in annum, has disbursed 356 loans in a “We started the CM’s Kerala, both large and small, ”said KFC matter of days. “In 100 days, the quota entrepreneurship project by allocating CMD Tomin J Thachankari, IPS. 43 TOURISM KERALA SETS MODEL IN RESPONSIBLE

TOURISMInspite of the crisis induced by the pandemic, Kerala Tourism showed positive signs of resilience through a variety of activities focused on responsible tourism.

44 he moto of the World Tourism added food products etc, RT drivers, Day this year is Tourism and local tour operators and related services T Rural development. As the which are linked directly or indirectly to world discusses the possibilities of the tourism sector. The revenue earned rural development by exploiting the locally from these initiatives between tourism potential, we in Kerala have August 2017 and September 2020 was done a major leap in this front by pegged at Rs 32.12 crore. showing extraordinary results and have The tour packages designed by set a model for the world. As a part RT Mission focus on showcasing the of imbibing responsible tourism as a serenity and beauty of the villages of policy, the Government constituted the the State. The idea is to give hands Responsible Tourism Mission, which on experience of the rustic village was inaugurated by Chief Minister life of Kerala to the visiting travellers Pinarayi Vijayan in 2017. Within a time from various countries. Now, we have span of three years the Mission could go around 140 tour packages spread a long way in accomplishing lot many across the State in the experiential tour initiatives in this front. KADAKAMPALLY SURENDRAN package category which is linked to There has been a time when common MINISTER FOR TOURISM almost 850 families..Special packages folks had no role to play in any sort highlighting various festivities and of tourism related activities. The Govt cultural performances clubbed with an initiative to put in place the Responsible RT Mission could spread the message experience of the village night life are Tourism Mission and Pepper (People’s of responsible tourism across the State also getting good response from the participation for Participatory by creating almost 18600 productive tourists. Planning and Empowerment through units specialising in cultural activities, The major significance of the Responsible Tourism) and model handicrafts making, paper and cloth responsible tourism mission of Kerala is Tourism Village were part of the bold bag making, organic farming, value the stress it gives to the empowerment steps in this regard. These projects were linked to the tourism development of a particular place and were directly put under the development plans of the local bodies of that region. Various tourism related training programmes for the local people are also being implemented as part of this initiative.

Within a time span of three years the Responsible Tourism Mission could go a long way in accomplishing lot many initiatives in this front

45 TOURISM

of women. Thousands of women earn a decent revenue from the various activities connected to the Mission .Out of the 18600 units under the mission, 14132 are controlled by women. 90 percent of those who availed training under the mission and a major chunk of the community tour leaders are women. The performances at various resorts in the State are done by the cultural groups constituted by women. Responsible Tourism Mission gives utmost importance to the environment conservation activities. As part of this, the mission has joined hands with the Kerala Travel Mart to constitute a special scheme `Clean Kerala Initiative’. After its inception in 2017, the Responsible Tourism Mission was honoured with four international and three national awards for the various Travel Association Award For Women various initiatives under the RT mission initiatives taken up by it.WTM’s Empowerment (2019) are some among clubbed with the innovative and result Highly Commended Award in 2017, them. oriented schemes being implemented Gold Award for Best in Responsible As the world discusses the idea of by the government for developing a Tourism category in 2018,Best for rural empowerment through tourism, new tourism culture which can fuel a Managing Success –World Responsible we in Kerala have travelled a long positive growth in the tourism sector of Tourism Award (2018), Pacific Asia way in attaining this goal through the the State. 46

ART

ASHAN'S SKETCHES OF LIFE Vishnu Madhav alias Pencilashan is a cartoonist who mainly moves his pencil on current affairs and politics making the viewer laugh and thinks at the same time.

he name Vishnu Madhav Who is pencilasan? also there was reactions and campaign may not ring any bells to to report my page and cartoons. In T the tech-savvy generation I am a caricaturist and a cartoonist; it’s social media surviving between memes of Kerala. His screen name in been only two years since the birth of and trolls is a bit difficult. There are Insta, Pencilasan interestingly has the name Pencilasan. I am a socially times when I will get an idea and draw thousands of followers a definite hit responsible person who loves cartoons, it into a cartoon but by then the same among people. His cartoons have and I use it as a medium to address idea will be trending as a meme in social a wide reach among people and the concerns in society. I wanted to media. Meme creators are cartoonists widely shared. combine my cartoons under a name with thought-provoking ideas thoughts He is a cartoonist who mainly moves that’s how the name pecilashan was and humor sense. The best thing in his pencil on current affairs and born. social media is the acceptance and politics making the viewer laugh respect towards art and the artist. and thinks at the same time. Born In this digital era of memes and The social media always accepts their and brought up in Iritti in Kannur cartoons what makes you bring back talents. The viewers have the heart to Vishnu has a Bachelor degree in cartoons to the people and how is encourage the artist by liking or sharing Painting from the renowned Kala the reach for the cartoons? the post. Bhavana, Vishwabharati, Shanti Niketan in Kolkatta. He has a full- I don’t think there is a need to bring What role do digital platforms play time job as a visual designer and back cartoons; the cartoon has its own when it comes to cartoons? started his social media journey a space now and then. A cartoon can few years back. In conversation with evoke what 1ooo words cannot, that is It is easier to reach the audience in the pencilasan. why my cartoons are being shared and digital era not only cartoons any form 48 of creative work in that matter. In those which is beyond the laugh of the I think it because of the atmosphere times we used to wait for our works to readers. Now with the digital era, the I was growing up in, as students, be published in magazines or papers audience reactions reach directly to we used to talk about politics while now we are the editor and publisher. the cartoonists so for us it gets easier traveling back from school. As a kid, When it is in print you get paid for that, to foresee how the readers will take it there were discussions and opinions and in digital, the reward is the likes and and would be the reaction. and talks on politics and policies shares you garner. I would personally wherever I went, school, home even like to see my works in printed paper Your cartoons mainly revolve barbershop. My first political cartoon and I want to smell and feel the around politics, why? was in my school days for the cartoon ink and paper just like any other competition, after my 10th std, I cartoonist. started to take cartoons seriously and I would personally like started to draw regularly. There were ASHAN'S How are the times different now to see my works in a huge support and influence from that than of the golden times of printed paper and I want both my parents. I remember my cartoons? to smell and feel the ink family would gather in the kitchen and paper just like any over tea and discuss the socio-political SKETCHES My father still talks about P.K other cartoonist. situations. My mother was active in Manthri’s cartoons in the70’s, how politics, besides like every Malayali much the cartoonists were criticized I’m a keen observer of politics. People and for his cartoons and losing their PENCILASAN of Kerala have a very clear and solid OF LIFE jobs because of that. It’s amazing how etched those cartoons stay in a common man’s heart, I think that is because those cartoons had such fierce force to influence the human mind those times. I don’t think in these times its possible to make that kind of works which stays in people’s minds forever. There are a few reasons for that, unlike the old times we see a lot of pictures around us and the world is more colorful now. It is a bit difficult to create cartoons which will stay in the mind of the audience forever. However, some cartoonists influence the world with their powerful ideas and with a sharp and fierce style. I do feel Cartoonists now try to reduce the sharpness of their work due to various reasons. In India, we saw cartoonists going to jail for his work, and in 2015 two terrorists made their way to a newspaper office and killed 12 people in Charlie Hebdo France because of the cartoon. That might be reasons for cartoonists to reduce the sharpness in their work, and we can’t blame them. I believe that if the reactions are more then the cartoon has served its purpose and has hit the target, 49 ART

stand on politics, and I have seen that As a cartoonist, I choose society due to the popularity of Visual they are very strong in their political to talk against the Media. Many have told me that they reactions. If we look at the troll pages we inequality and injustice are looking for an appropriate picture will understand how much politics play or cartoon to express their view on a role in the lives of an average Malayali. in society, as an artist the current issues. When being able to Kerala has its cartoonists working in that is my responsibility make a common man think with my many other languages. If you check the to talk about those. cartoons that is when I feel happy and comments below my cartoons you will satisfied with my work. As a cartoonist, understand how updated and politically I also try to appreciate and encourage PENCILASHAN aware they are. After my studies, I was things which need to be, through the confused between paintings and reactions I get from the audiences I cartoons as a profession. Cartoons are realize what kind of an impact I’m able something which makes me happy cartoons positively and also helping to make. and as a socially responsible person, anyone with a creative side. If I didn’t I wanted to give back something to have this digital platform I will find How much do you think the society that’s why I started to take fulfillment by stacking up the cartoons cartoons have changed over time? cartoons seriously. As a cartoonist, I in my home and they may not ever choose to talk against the inequality see the light of the day. Maybe I will The cartoon has not changed but the and injustice in society, as an artist be able to reach and influence very platforms may have changed; now that is my responsibility to talk about few people who are close to me. Social cartoons can be digitally shared or those. media inflates the number of people I commented on or liked. In those days can reach and influence, here I’m able cavemen drew about their daily life as Does cartoon has an impact on to express and share my work to the cartoons inside the dim-lit caves. A people like old times? people and they also have the freedom cartoon is a platform to express and to accept or reject my work that is communicate ideas and cartoons still The cartoon influences people like possible mainly because of the digital stay as a powerful platform to strike old times and still it is influencing platforms. Nowadays cartoonists and that chord or tickle a funny bone in people. The digital era has helped the cartoons have a high influence on you. 50 CINEMA

SOORARAI POTTRU, LUDO STEAL THE SHOW The act of expressing the art without a hindrance or censorship equips the directors to roll up their sleeves and capture the frames at its purest form

he year 2020 has been a the OTT platforms recently. Both the different jaunt for movie movies pave a different route apart T makers in India as they got from star worship and made-up action the never before opportunity to exploit sequences that are usually picturised in the possibilities of OTT platforms Tamil and Hindi movies as the question and premiere their tales through of jamming up the talkies is no more the personal cubes of folks. Soorarai an issue for the filmmakers. The act of VAISHNAV B MENON Pottru (Tamil) and Ludo (Hindi) are expressing the art without a hindrance the major motion pictures that hit or censorship equips the directors to 51 CINEMA

roll up their sleeves and capture the frames at its purest form. SOORARAI POTTRU Inspired from Aviation legend Captain G R Gopinath’s “Simply fly”, Soorarai Pottru, directed by Sudha Kongara, unleashes the chronicle of a struggling man whose dreams nest above the sky. Sudha narrates this rustic storyline of Nedumaaran Rajangam who flies from a small village to National Defense Academy and boots up for his last resort of being an entrepreneur but as the frame recites, he ends up in a vicious circle. The latter describes the conflict of him going down in flames and fueling up for his mission as he

The movie is a sure inspirational takeoff excluding the jerk between the romance and his dreams as it adds up to a slight turbulence throughout the film.

had no plans to hit the sack. Sudha Kongara has beautifully shelved the film between a melodramatic biopic and a mass masala flick. The pillar of the movie is neither the director nor the story line but the unforgettable performance of Suriya who showered Nedumaaran as right as rain. He simply stole the show through his outstanding masking of Nedumaaran as his emotions sprinkled passionately through his eyes. Soorarai Pottru is effectively Suriya’s best excursion 52 in quite a while. It’s a charming The film has a the foggiest idea where they will be flight regardless of whether there’s taken. His breathtaking storyboard and some disturbance en route. Aparna wonderful mix of the an amazingly splendid content keep us Balamurali effortlessly lifts up Bommi as relative multitude of stuck to the screen. The exchanges have a bold independent woman who shares been very elegantly composed and the a fruitful chemistry with her husband potential feelings that cinematography is colorful. Maaran. Apart from the stereotypical can be ascended in the The film has a wonderful mix of the housewives portrayed in Tamil movies, relative multitude of potential feelings Bommi is a woman who has her own time allocated. that can be ascended in the time identity and has a firm foot of her own allocated. The show stealer is of course in all the endeavors they climb up to. Pankaj Tripathi as Sattu Bhaiya. He plays Niketh Bommi Reddy’s passionate the part of a criminal who is conceivably frames along with Prakash Kumar’s rolling the dice and carrying each other crackling musical add spice to the plot. cast. Anurag Basu is back again with his character to its summit. Abhishek The movie is a sure inspirational strong point of depicting the characters Bachchan and Rajkumar Rao hit a home takeoff excluding the jerk between in the most practical and unobtrusive run through their versatile characters. the romance and his dreams as it way. With regards to collection, films This colorful ride has been groomed adds up to a slight turbulence he is the show stealer and great to see well by the editor Ajay Sharma as the throughout the film. him back with a blast after Jagga Jassoos jump between stories is seamless which too was an extraordinary film along with Pritam’s joyful tracks. Pearle LUDO however maybe comparatively radical Maaney, the girl form our town, has Ludo is by a wide margin the best and hard for the crowd to acknowledge done a decent job through her debut Bollywood film of 2020 with a it as it failed miserably at the box office. tryst with Bollywood. Buckle up your hypnotized content, fresh altering and The story is certainly very unusual and seats for Ludo for an oasis amidst the with terrific exhibitions from the outfit again the players themselves don’t have dry rustic life during COVID 19. 53 AUTO KIA TO CONQUER WITH SONET After the success run of Seltos, Kia shocks the mini SUV market with Sonet, which offers a host of first-in-class features

uilt for Indian market Kia sonet far as I’m considered, this is the most automatic climate control buttons. is subcompact cross over 5 energetic and the youthful-looking sub- Kia Sonet is fitted with a 10.25-inch B seater SUV which is available compact SUV in the segment today. infotainment screen. Now this is a touch in indian market by 18 September 2020. The cabin of the Kia Sonet, it is screen and it’s got a simple interface. The Named as a mini seltos it is giving major truly a very welcoming place, it’s got a touch response is fluid so no problems goals to all the rivals alike. Sonet is all set very unique overall dashboard layout with that it also have good visibility. to compete with Venue,Nexon, XUV 300, and what stands out is the fact it’s got There’s an electric sunroof Eco Sport and Brezza. The Sonet offers vertically integrated air conditioning on offer and you get a wide variety of engine options, you vents and these are adjoining the segment-first have four options to choose from. There is a 1.2-litre petrol engine and, 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine and there is a 1.5-litre diesel engine of which there are two variants. Behind the wheel, the Sonet is comfortable to drive around in the city. Owing to its compact dimensions and light controls, manoeuvring it around town is a breeze. It also helps when you have to park it in tight spaces. The Kia sonet is an eye grabber with aggressive design and sharp designs the Sonet will grab second glances. The front face is energetic, muscular, its fitted with the tiger-nose grill, which you would find on all Kia vehicles now. Beyond that, there are the sleek headlamps, neatly integrated LED DRLs and the belligerent bumper in the GT Line you get sporty red inserts all around the body. Along with this, there are sporty roof rails and the rear is something that has been integrated very well with the rest of the design, especially the C-pillar. Hence, the Kia Sonet has got good proportions, a balanced road stance and overall, as 54 ventilated seats only for the front Kia uses high strength seat is decent. two passengers. There’s also the UVO Kia uses high strength steel structure app, which means the Kia Sonet is a steel structure for the for the manufacturing of Sonet body connected car, comes with its own manufacturing of that adds comprehensive safety and embedded SIM and that means you get helps in reducing the impact of severe access to a lot of features that you can Sonet body that adds accidents. Some of its safety features do remotely with your smartphone, comprehensive safety include six airbags, electronic stability which adds to the convenience and control, anti-lock braking system, hill safety of your vehicle. Moving to the rear and helps in reducing start assistance control, vehicle stability seat the Sonet continues to offer a good the impact of severe management system, speed alert system, experience. If you’re looking at the Sonet electronic traction control, braking for a small family, or if you want to seat accidents. assistance, driver’s seat belts given with four adults in this vehicle, it shouldn’t be pre-tensioners and parking sensors at a problem because the space in the rear front and back

55 PERSONALITY

LIVING SOUND

Ajeesh Omanakkuttan, the versatile sync-sound engineer, elaborates on the changing patterns and techniques of the silver screen

jeesh Omanakuttan is Santhosh Vishwanath which is releasing a sync-sound engineer April this year. A who extensively works in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi, Why did you choose sync sound as a Telugu, English, Bengali and English profession? What are the challenges movies. A two-times national and state when you started your career and award nominee with a great passion how much it has improved now? ANU JOSEPH for sync sound or live sound recording. Having worked with acclaimed As a kid, I remember going for plays directors such as Jayaraj (Bhayanakam), in the local theatres and temple Unnikrishnan Avala (Udalazham) and festivals and wondering how the actors Bijoy Nambiar (Flip) his next venture remembered the entire dialogues is Mammotty starer “One” crafted by and how perfectly without losing the 56 essence delivered it in front of hundreds Old Malayalam Sync sound is not a new method when of people. For my higher studies in movies were the silent era of movies moved to Sound Engineering I moved to Chennai. sync sound movies the sound cinema they used sync sound Initially, it wasn’t much interesting but equipment used those devices to capture the sound. Old we all had a common interest which was Malayalam movies were sync sound the cinema and that became a platform times were different movies the equipment used those to explore cinema. That love for cinema though. times were different though. Dubbing which drove me to continue my journey. is called ADR which is Automated I think sync sound movies have a AJEESH OMANAKUTTAN Dialogue Replacement it is used it in different feel attached to it, unlike the post-production to do corrections and dubbed movies. Now the situations have correct the mistakes. Eventually, the improved with the digital platforms cinema moved out of the studios and lot of commercial and independent filmmakers prefer sync sound, there are platforms like Netflix and other online portals where more content is available and that are new opportunities. I think the digital boom is good not only for the sound department but in general all creative content makers.

There is a constant increase in the usage of sync sound in the Malayalam cinema. How do u look upon that? What are the factors u think is the reason for that.

Realism is gripping the Malayalam cinema now that is taking movies to a different level. There was a time when only actors were discussed, that is changing now. Sync sound plays a vital role in the overall experience of the movies. Actors prefer sync sound because it’s less time-consuming. Sync sound elevates the emotion of the scene and overall movie that is the main reason people prefer sync sound. It’s better to capture that moment where an actor feels and acts the scene whereas in dubbing u may not get that emotion. If you observe close enough u can very well understand a dubbed and sync sound movie.

How is sync sound different from traditional dubbing? Advantage/ disadvantage?

57 PERSONALITY

went from black and white to color are festivals where they don’t accept the While working with veterans how cinema. Also for other language actors entry if it’s dubbed one. With the internet do they react to sync sound? dubbing was convenient and easier than and globalization, everybody are of sync sound. In sync-sound production aware of cinema, film making and the It differs from person to person, most time and cost will be more and we techniques used in that, and changes are veterans in our industry have come from need to have a controlled environment. happening now. In Indian film making a theatre background so they take it For the actor, the modulation, too, people are becoming more and positively as they not only act with their pronunciation, and emotions have more experimental and willing to take it face and body with their sound too most to be correct and prompting can’t be as a challenge. veterans take it positively. For some done. For another language actor, they actors, it is a bit difficult for the first time may not understand the emotion in Mammookka was so because dubbing is what they are used the language or pronunciation won’t be easy to work with; I to, but once they get a hang of it they do correct those are some comparisons of loved working with it easily too. dubbing and sync sound. In dubbing, him because he was every word is corrected like it’s too so comfortable to work ’One’ starring Mammootty, is perfect to be real. When we have an with. He knows about a sync-sound movie? How was actual conversation there are ups and the experience working with downs in your breathing and low and the equipment and the Mammootty sir? And experience highs in your voice these small details mike placement. in the movie in the aspect of using are captured in a sync-sound and this sync sound? gives an elevated emotion for the entire AJEESH OMANAKUTTAN scene and the movie. It was nothing like I expected to be honest! I was so excited and I didn’t What are the major challenges you know what to expect while working with face during the shoot? How do you a star like Mammokka. Mammookka overcome that? was so easy to work with; I loved working with him because he was so comfortable It’s very important to see the location to work with. He knows about the before the shoot if its sync-sound movie, equipment and the mike placement. I its important to make sure there is no was amused by the way how much he excessive noise there and the location understood and supported sound. He can be controlled. But sometimes the would learn everyone’s dialogue if it’s a location important and we cannot combination sequence and even help find an alternative location it becomes them out to put their best out there. challenging for the sound department. It was super thrilling to work with Weather is another factor sometimes him. I was a bit experimental on there will be wind or thunder in one this movie I used two recorders shot and next shot, there won’t be any. and synced and used more That is a nightmare situation for a sound than 20 microphones. One is engineer; he has to wait for the storm to a political thriller and there pass. were a large number of actors involved that was challenging Internationally sync sound is what for me. We shot inside Kerala is preferred in movies, why do you Legislative assembly that was think it is not popular in Indian a wonderful experience. We cinema making? are eagerly waiting for the movie as it is one of the very Like I mentioned before sync sound different experiences not was there from the time when cinema only in the aspect of sound moved on was used in the cinema. There and another department. 58

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