KOCHI: Ernakulam’s tryst with drugs continues unabated as it maintains its top position in narcotics cases registered by the Excise department across Kerala in 2022.  

According to Excise officials, the inflow of drugs into the district is seen growing year-on-year due to the increasing demand, and cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases are also seen increasing rapidly.

According to the data presented in the Assembly by Excise Minister M B  Rajesh, there were 6,610 NDPS cases registered by Excise in the entire Kerala during the year, with 876 cases registered in Ernakulam district alone. In 2021 too, Ernakulam District topped the list with 540 NDPS cases registered.

The district is followed by Thrissur (646), Idukki (586), Kannur (557), Alappuzha (527), and Thiruvananthapuram (524). “The data shows that drug flow to Ernakulam district, especially to Kochi city is rising every year. The most concerning factor is that there were around 260 youngsters under the age of 25 booked by Excise alone in narcotic cases in Ernakulam district. It is mostly, youngsters who are caught peddling synthetic drugs like  MDMA, Meth, and LSD. While brown sugar is mostly found in possession of migrant workers who are also involved in peddling,” a senior Excise official in Ernakulam district said.

This increase in NDPS cases registered by Excise in 2022 is significant compared to the 2021 and 2020 years that were hit by Covid-19. 

There were 3,922  cases in 2021 and 3,667 cases in 2020, whereas before Covid-19, there were 7,583 NDPS cases registered in 2018 and 7,099 cases registered in 2019.

The excise department under the Vimukthi programme is operating de-addiction centres in all 14 districts of the state. As per the details presented in the state assembly, the government has  spent Rs 78.34 crore since 2016-17 when the Vimukthi programme was launched.

ALSO READ |  21 drug case accused to be placed in preventive custody

KOCHI: After exploring the Biennale and other art exhibitions in Mattancherry, I stop at little ‘art rooms’ at a creative space called Cube. Each room has marvellous works by various artists. One such room, however, leaves me agitated. 

Though not displayed as a typical exhibition, the scattered, desolate imagery and themes in the works here make me pause, disconcerted. “Writing is not my language, nor is speaking. So I thought why not use a medium I know to speak out,” says artist R C Prakash, whose works rail against animal cruelty.  

His surreal, sometimes abstract, paintings with striking splashes of colours are grim. They unsettle one; some gory frames trigger revulsion. And that exactly is the artist’s intention. He wants his paintings to make the viewer uncomfortable. 

Prakash says cruelty against animals — and the terrifying truths about the meat industry — moved him, and compelled him to pick the painting brush up. “I have found that this is the right way to communicate the pain,” says the Kollam native, who is based in Thiruvananthapuram. 

“People feel more after seeing a painting, rather than reading about how animals are tortured.” Prakash often juxtaposes human imagery in the macabre scenes he creates. “What if we go through the same things? What if we are locked up, skinned, forced to give birth, killed?” he asks. “From school, we study that the cow gives us milk, the hen gives us eggs... But how are we treating the beings that feed us?”
In one of his larger works, titled ‘Red Milk’, industrial machines squeeze out blood from human-like breasts into a milk vessel. A bovine head looms above the imagery. 

“In industrial animal farms, cows are injected with hormones to generate milk. They are forced to give birth constantly. Just after one pregnancy ends, the other one starts,” notes Prakash.  “And once the cow is past the age, she is killed for meat. A life spent just getting tortured, nothing else. Not even a moment of respite.” 

Another agonising work here is Prakah’s version of Vincent van Gogh’s ‘A Pair of Shoes’. Unlike van Gogh’s painting, Prakash’s shoes are in blood red – provoking thoughts on what goes on within the leather industry.

 Prakash adds he turned vegan several years ago after visiting a dairy farm, watching documentaries and reading articles. He, however, believes there is no point in coaxing others to follow his way of life. “Do it only if you want to” is the 45-year-old’s motto.

Prakash’s concern for animal welfare is not limited to his art. Along with a few friends, he runs a centre for rescued animals in Thiruvananthapuram. “We now have hundreds of animals there. Cows, buffaloes, hens, ducks, goats and so on. The animals that not many people would be very keen to save or adopt,” says Prakash, who has just returned from Bengaluru after participating in a march to create awareness about animal rights.

“Human beings are evolved creatures. We can think, understand and empathise. Yet, why do we still continue this torture?” Prakash says, he knows not many would buy his works. That doesn’t bother him. “They are not pleasant to look at. Not many would feel like displaying it in their living or dining rooms. They have to face it every day,” he says. 

“But I will keep making them, and communicate what I have to.”

KOCHI: Following the spurt in narcotic cases, Ernakulam rural police will initiate preventive detention against 21 persons under provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act.

A special team, headed by Ernakulam rural district police chief Vivek Kumar, submitted the proposal to the home department. Those involved in narcotics cases will be in preventive detention for as long as 12 months, as per the act. 

Four persons were placed behind the bars during the past year as per provisions of the act. The latest of this was Idukki native Kunju Moidheen aka Nizar, 40, who lives in Muvattupuzha, an alleged repeat offender. He is an accused in the case linked to the seizure of 103.870kg of ganja in Angamaly in November 2020 and in the case registered with the Kothamangalam excise range office for the seizure of 1.223kg of ganja in June 2022. 

Anas, 46, of Perumbavoor; Prasannan, 44, of Kalamassery; and Abid of Thaliparambu were previously detained by rural police. 

Anas is accused in the case of 225kg of ganja seized in Karukutti, Angamaly, in 2021. There are about five cases pending against him. Prasannan is an accused in the case of the seizure of 2kg of ganja from Oorakkad, Kizhakkambalam. He was involved in around 20 cases. 

KOCHI: When the Roll-on-Roll-off (Ro-Ro) service from Vypeen to Fort Kochi was launched in 2018, it was seen as a godsend a cheap and easy means of commuting for the islanders. Now, however, they are vexed, thanks to the shoddy service run by the corporation. 

At least one of the two Ro-Ro vessels Sethusagar 1 and 2  going out of service due to technical glitches has become a regular affair say residents. On Monday, notably, the passenger association staged a protest at the Vypeen jetty.

“Sethusagar-1 was withdrawn in November last year; it’s been four months. This has resulted in a huge rush for the other vessel, especially during the peak hours,” says 54-year-old labour contractor, Roshi E J, of Vypeen.   

Though Sethusagar-2 is in service, regular passengers complain that the ro-ro service is usually halted for two to three hours after a couple of trips. “Earlier, when both the vessels were in service, it would take just 15 mins, including boarding time, to reach the other side. Now, there is a long wait at the jetty. At times, there is a kilometre-long queue of vehicles,” says Vypeen Janakeeya Koottayma convener Johny Vypeen.  

Commuters highlight that Sethusagar 2, too, went out of service due to technical issues from March 14 to 18. 

‘Huge demand’

The road distance from Vypeen to Fort Kochi is about 18km and takes about an hour to travel. The water route, meanwhile, is just 600m long and takes only 10 minutes to cover.  “Ro-Ro service was launched in 2018. It was touted as a floating bridge between Vypeen and Fort Kochi,” says Koottayma president Majnu Komath. 

“Suspension of services has dented the bridge. Knowing that the demand for ro-ro service would only increase, we had requested former mayor Soumini Jain for a third vessel. Our demand was not considered. When the present mayor, M Anilkumar, came to power, we met him and put forward the same request.” 

Public demand for a third vessel became louder, as the existing ones started developing glitches. “Hence, in the 2022–23 budget, the state government earmarked `10 crore for a third ro-ro vessel. However, there is no update and the issues remain,” adds Majnu.

He also points out that the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) owns two container-carrying ro-ro vessels, double the size of Sethusagar. “Of the two – C V Raman and Adi Shakara – one acts as a standby. We have been requesting for a standby vessel for the Sethu Sagar 1 and 2 since the time when the ro-ro service plan was initially mooted,” says Majnu. 

He adds that proposals to deploy IWAI’s Adi Shakara on the Vypeen-Fort Kochi route did not take off as the Cochin Port Trust had constructed mooring dolphins – structures to which vessels are fastened – away from the shore, obstructing the entry of large vessels.   

“In Fort Kochi, the mooring dolphin, which acts like a stationary anchor in the water, is near the shore, in a corner. In Vypeen, it is some distance away from the shore. Hence, Adi Shakara operated between Fort Kochi and Bolgatty,” says Majnu.

“Due to low demand on the route, the service was stopped. If the authorities make the required arrangements at Vypeen for bigger vessels like Adi Shakara to operate, the problem will be solved. Sadly, they are not paying any attention to the sufferings of Vypeen islanders.”  

‘No funds’

Opposition councillor Antony Kureethara alleges the corporation has no immediate plans to send Sethu Sagar 2 for repair at Cochin Shipyard. “The maintenance cost would come to about Rs 2 crore. The corporation has no funds,” he says. Mayor M Anilkumar was not available to comment on the issue. 
Meanwhile, a corporation insider says the civic body already owes Rs 1 crore to Cochin Shipyard for the repair works carried out on the vessel last year.

“Unless the pending amount is paid, the dry docking for maintenance cannot be done,” he says. 

Majnu, meanwhile, says the corporation should hand over the ownership and management of the ro-ro vessels to Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), which currently operates the service. 

MLA submits petition to minister 

Vypeen MLA K N Unnikrishnan has submitted a petition to Local Self Government Minister 
M B Rajesh, highlighting the plight of Vypeen residents. “Four months have passed since Sethusagar-1 stopped service. The repair work would cost over Rs 83 lakh,” he says.

In the petition submitted on Monday, Unnikrishnan notes that a KSINC report had also sought urgent repair of the vessel, which is currently in service. Requesting the minister’s intervention, he notes in the petition: “Passengers are agitated. The first ro-ro vessel’s repair work has not been done, and, if the second one is also taken for dry docking, the travel woes of Vypeen islander will aggravate.” 

Suspense continues 

Officials continue to remain tight-lipped regarding the launch of water metro services. The Cochin Shipyard delivered seven ferries to Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) earlier this year. Trial runs had begun in December and are going on even now. As per the plan, the first route is to be launched between High Court Terminal to the Vypeen terminal, and the second one between Vytilla and Kakkanad.

“The works on four terminals have been completed. Services will be launched soon,” maintains a KMRL source.

KOCHI: Junahi RattanN doesn’t believe in the constraints of being a practitioner of a classical art form. The Odissi danseuse from Delhi believes in experimentation in every aspect of the art form.
Recently, she was in Kerala, as part of an Odissi workshop and also performed at the Kerala Arts And Craft Village, Kovalam. Share and learn, is the mantra the young dancer follows to spread the beauty of her repertoire.

“I have plans to organise more training classes in Kerala if I get an opportunity,” says the 33-year-old danseuse. However, the initial response to Odissi's teaching in Kerala disappointed the artist. “Many have told me that people are not open to new dance forms in Kerala, which was visible during the workshop. There were only a few registrations,” she says.

However, she is ready to take on the challenge.  “As a dancer, we should be open to learning, understanding and exploring other classical dance forms too as they will give more versatility and gracefulness to the body,” says Junahi, who owns the Mudraangan Performing Arts Company in Delhi.

“Learning something new is not wrong as you are not leaving one for the other. Being an Odissi dancer I explore Kathak too as it will widen my art knowledge too. Moreover, you become capable of choreographing and performing fusions.”

Junahi has been learning and performing under the tutelage of veterans like Guru Manoranjan Nayak and Raseswari Nayak in Delhi. “I was inspired by the unique form and grammar of Odissi. And that made me want to learn more and more about it. The torso movements, complex patterns, lyrical gestures and music stirred me to take it as my tapasya,” she says.

Working as an Odissi dance facilitator at Shiv Nadar School, Noida, she focuses on organising more workshops and performances across the globe. And what makes her stand apart is her love for experimentation. Junahi does not restrict herself to showcasing rigorous traditional pieces. 

“We learn the traditional structures, including body conditioning, gestures and footwork. Odissi is unique for its pelvic movements including ‘tribhangi’ where you have to make three bents in the body. As I am a teacher and engage in other performing arts including theatre, my repertoire has expanded over time.”
And she loves to explore fusion music and new storylines of mythological characters. Her solo Odissi ballet production, Urvashi Pururava Aakyan performed in the Indian International Crafts Awards ceremony in 2019, in Delhi, is an example.

“It was a love story between celestial nymph Urvashi and mortal king Arjuna. Another experimental performance was ‘Dancing In Madness’ where I performed to Anoushka Shankar’s sitar music at Craft Village in Delhi. I was taking the classical dance form, strictly performed on indoor stages to outdoor”.
Her latest project is an experiment with western music. 

“On April 16, at Kiran Nadar Museum in Delhi, I will perform Odissi narrating the love story of Radha and Krishna to the percussion melody rendered by western musical instruments — piano, saxophone and drums. It is a new fusion experiment to explore possibilities of the classical art form,” Junahi concludes.

The sun mellowed on the pages of Early Indian Poetry in English: An Anthology (1829-1947), edited by Eunice de Souza. I leaned against the wall of the State Central Library, Thiruvananthapuram, and ran my fingers down the ‘Contents’ page. Among poets from several states, including Gujarat, West Bengal and Karnataka, I could not spot the name of any bard from Kerala. This piqued my curiosity. 

No one from my state wrote English poetry before 1947. Did not any Malayali share the same vein of nationalism and romanticism, as their contemporaries in the other parts of the country?

My preliminary enquiry yielded nothing but disappointment. My immediate poet-friends could not recollect any known English poet from Kerala before Kamala Das. Then, former editor at Sahitya Akademi, A J Thomas, threw me the first bait — the name of a poet from the 1930s, Manjeri S Isvaran. 

Manjeri S Isvaran

Trained in English literature from various colleges in Kerala, I felt ashamed that I had never heard of him during my student days.  My probe led me to a study on Isvaran’s stories by N Gopalakrishnan Nair, former Principal of NSS College, Pandalam. I found out that he was a great admirer of Isvaran’s stories and poems. 

“I met Isvaran’s wife, Annapoorna Isvaran, in New Delhi,” says Gopalakrishnan. “From her, I got enough material for my research thesis on his short stories. During those days, before email and WhatsApp, it was difficult to get primary research material otherwise.”

Gopalakrishnan has treasured worn-out copies of Isvaran’s poetry collections in his personal library. He wishes that someone trustworthy would edit the collections, and bring out an anthology of Isvaran’s poems.

Isvaran was born in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu, in 1910. But, genealogically, he can be traced to Manjeri, Kerala. He completed his BA from Madras University, and was later appointed as the secretary and principal administrative officer of the National Book Trust in New Delhi. He resigned from the post two years before passing away in 1966. 

Isvaran knew English, Malayalam, Tamil and Sanskrit. He, however, always wrote in English, as it came more naturally to him. He published 10 collections of poetry, including Saffron and Gold and Other Poems (1932), Altar of Flowers (1934), Brief Orisons (1942), The Fourth Avatar (1946), Oblivion (1954), The Neem is a Lady and Other Poems (1957), and Sinning Heaven and Other Poems (1984). 
His poems glide from religious overtones and romantic sensibilities of his very early writings to overtly political and social themes in the later period. Many of those critiqued the caste system, the plight of Brahmin widows, and feudalism. 

Isvaran’s poems reveal that he believed poets should not get contained in the ivory tower. In The Poet and his Public, he writes: “Of what use is a poem that is wrought like a lock/and its key/ cast into the middle of the sea?”

The imagery, and the flow and tempo of the lines, match the mood of his poems. In The Wait, for instance, he sketches domestic images that suggest the longing of a beloved.  

“I sit by the hour, and mope and moon and mooch about,/till everything I see doubles, trebles/ and multiplies beyond number… Your comb, do you remember dear,/ With four of its teeth on its thicker half missing…Your razor lies impatient in its silver-case, Active every morn it bemoans its idle fate; (the unused sword in its scabbard it rusts) - your watch has stopped; I would my heart it stoppeth too;/ his order neat, this museum of your things/ so close to you, so much a part of you,/ clamour for your touch, cry for disarray.”

His Who cares for a Child’s Grief is another example of how an ordinary sight can convey extraordinary thoughts to a poetic soul. A child builds a sand castle and decorates it with sea shells. “Greater than all the works of skill profound,/was this,/a child’s fancy had erected”.... 

But then, a grown-up carelessly kicks it down, unmoved by the child’s ‘heartbroken cry’. The setting of the seashore and the image of darkness looming in as the adult, intruding on the child’s space, metaphorically speaks volumes about the child-to-adult transition of humans.

A couple of weeks after exploring Isvaran’s poems, I visited the Ayyappa Paniker Foundation in Thiruvananthapuram. 

I found the volumes of Kerala Writers in English, edited by Ayyappa Paniker and published by Macmillan in 1983. Almost all the writers in the anthology wrote mostly fiction or non-fiction, except for Isvaran and Kamala Das, who had penned down many poems. 

That would have been the end of it. But a few days later I stumbled upon Living Poetry: English Poetry from Kerala (Seven Contemporary Poets) edited by Gopikrishnan Kottoor, with a foreword by poet 
K Satchidanandan. 

The anthology included poems by Kamala Das, Anna Sujatha Mathai, Meena Alexander, C P Surendran, Jeet Thayil, Vijay Nambisan and Gopi Kottoor. I wondered if there would be a predecessor to the eminent names here. 

An email from Gopi confirmed that there was hope. He introduced me to Govinda Krishna Chettur’s poems. G K Chettur was a Kerala poet who wrote in English at the beginning of the 20th century. 

G K Chettur

A few of his poems are available online, and his name is one of the 15 bards in Indian English Poetry Before Independence (A Study of Fifteen Indo-English Poets before 1947) edited by Krishna Kant Singh. 

While tracing his biography, I came across a poem by his brother Sankara Krishna Chettur, too. To my delight, I found all three together in one book. A few poems of G K Chettur, S K Chettur and Isvaran are featured in one of the often-referred to anthology of pioneers in Indian English poetry titled The Golden Treasure of Indo-Anglian Poetry 1828-1965 edited by Vinayak Krishna Gokak, published by Sahitya Akademi.

G K Chettur was born on 24 April, 1898, at Mankara in Kerala. He completed BA from Madras Christian College and MA from Oxford. After returning to India, he entered the Indian Educational Service in 1922 as the principal of the Government College, Mangalore. 

He married Subhadra, daughter of Appu Nedungadi, who had penned Kundalatha and was the chief editor of Kerala Pathrika.  At Oxford, G K Chettur was associated with poets, including W B Yeats, Arthur Symons and John Masefield. 

He had also met Rabindranath Tagore and Sarojini Naidu and led the Oxford Majlis. He published his first collection of poems in 1921, which was dedicated to Yeats. His poetry collections include Sounds and Images (1921), Gumatarya and Other Sonnets For All Moods (1932), The Temple Tank and other Poems (1932), The Triumph of Love (1932), and The Shadow of God (1934).

G K Chettur’s themes centred on nature, beauty, love, and God. His love for nature and its philosophy are vivid in verses like this one in Sounds and Images: “Who gives a thought to them/ Beside the bold new blooms,/The flowers of yesterday?/ Bright as the rainbow’s gold/ They shone, but Yesterday” 
His poems capture the pain and bliss of love. Sample these lines from The Triumph of Love: “We that have passioned sweetly for this thing/ Shall know no fear, knowing proud Death that seems/ So fierce, shall pale before the undying fire/ Of love made holy by our suffering.” 

His grand-nephew, Anand Chettur, a businessman based in Bengaluru, helps me connect with the family. A relative named Parvathy Chettur says that even when G K was on treatment for cancer, he continued writing. “He spent many days at Coonoor, where his brother, Colonel R K Chettur, was an Army surgeon. Even then, G K never stopped writing,” she says.

“He was cent per cent Indian at heart”. Notably, in 2020, as an honour to his service of 14 years, Government College, Mangalore, brought out a collection of his poems titled A Journey: The selected writings of Govinda Krishna Chettur: Excerpts from Government College Miscellany, edited by N K Rajalakshmi. Its foreword was written by writer and critic Prof C N Ramachandran.

S K Chettur

The next bard, S K Chettur, was born in 1905. He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1939, and later served as chief secretary of Madras. A collection of his poems penned before and after Independence was published in 1967, titled Golden Stairs and Other Poems. He passed away in 1972.

His niece, Dr Lakshmi Chettur, says: “My uncle was outspoken. He was compassionate… he loved nature and animals. After work, he would go for a short walk, sit on the sands of Marina Beach and watch the sea for a long time. He used to say that the waves represented the universe and eternity. He liked to swim.

“He loved to watch kites circle the sky. Some days after work, he would rush upstairs and sit there writing. He would shoo away anyone who stepped into the room while he was writing. He used to write in Shankar’s Weekly and The Mail.” 

One of S K Chettur’s poems recorded in Gokak’s The Golden Treasury is titled Red Lotus. It ends with a call for peace and non-violence: “Red Lotus in the pool, /Standing inviolate, / O lay thy petals cool/Upon the spears of hate, /And let thy travail from the mud/ Repeal the lust of men for blood.” 

I am still thrilled over getting to meet these three poets posthumously, through their writings. Poetry flowed in their veins, and made them visionaries, critics and seekers of justice and peace. I hope posterity finds inspiration from such souls. Meanwhile, my search for legends continues.

The writer is a poet, translator and asst professor of English at BCM College, Kottayam.

KOCHI:  Ernakulam Central police have registered a case against UDF councillor M G Aristotil for manhandling Kochi Corporation officials to obtain documents related to the Brahmapuram plant.

The case was registered based on a complaint filed by the corporate secretary to the city police commissioner on Sunday. The related incident took place on March 10 when the UDF councillors were protesting against the pollution caused by the Brahmapuram plant.  

As per the FIR, Aristotil took photocopies of the documents related to the plant in the possession of the corporation without permission. He threatened the section clerk at the corporation’s engineering wing. A case was registered under IPC sections 353 and 384 (Manhandling public servants and extortion). The corporation authorities also handed over the CCTV footage of heated arguments between Aristotil and the officials to the police.

However, Aristotil said the move is an attempt to silence people who raise their voices against the failure of the corporation in handling the Brahmapuram issue. “The copies of documents related to Brahmapuram were taken with the consent of the corporation secretary.,” Aristotil said. I will fight the false case legally, he said.

KOCHI: The Biennale reflects the voice of the marginalised sections of society, said CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday. 

“Artworks which bring new revelations deliver new enlightenment. The progressive change that has come in the outlook of artists deserves special mention and praise. The alienation and isolation from social life during the lockdown days gave rise to a more realistic view. The displays at the Biennale prove that such themes are getting strongly reflected in art,” he said. 

“The names Kochi and Muziris highlighted in the Biennale reveal its historical importance. This mega fest of arts gives a fresh vigour to mind, thoughts, and intellect,” he said. Sitaram Yechury who arrived at Fort Kochi Aspinwall House was received by Biennale Foundation president Bose Krishnamachari and Trustee Bonny Thomas. 

KOCHI: Ignoring the directive from Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath, around 200 priests from different parts of the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly celebrated Holy Mass at Moozhikkulam church on Monday. This was in direct defiance of the missive issued by the archbishop, cautioning the priests against celebrating the Holy Qurbana without the permission of the newly appointed parish vicar Fr Antony Poothavelil. 

The priests offered Qurbana facing the laity, calling it the right of God’s people. They vowed to not allow anyone to snatch the right of the faithful to offer Holy Mass as they deem fit. 

Earlier on Monday, Mar Andrews Thazhath had sent a directive to the priests opposing the appointment of Fr Antony Poothavelil as the parish priest of Moozhikkulam church, cautioning them against their move to conduct the Holy Mass without the vicar’s permission.

In the missive to the priests, the archbishop said: “It has been reported that you are organising priests from different parts of the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly to celebrate Holy Qurbana at the Moozhikkulam parish to protest against the decisions of ecclesiastical authorities, especially against the appointment of Fr Antony Poothavelil. It has been also reported that you are planning the action in protest against the Synodal decision on the uniform mode of celebration of Holy Qurbana endorsed by the Holy Father Pope Francis.”

Mar Thazhath cautioned that such a move will be considered an act of disobedience and protest against ecclesiastical authorities.

KOCHI: Mayor M Anilkumar and commissioner K Sethuraman organised a meeting of various organisations to discuss the new decentralised waste management system in Kochi. The meeting was held at the CMFRI conference hall on Monday. 

The apex council of residents’ associations, the chamber of commerce, the Rotary Club, the merchants’ chamber, merchant associations, and service providers in the field of waste management, including Credai, besides flat owners, participated. Over 300 representatives from various service providers and organisations were also part of the meeting. The mayor presented the idea of a decentralised and scientific waste management plan to be implemented by the local body.  

“The corporation is not taking punitive measures, but considering the necessity of the current situation, we intend to implement a scientific and decentralised waste management system in the city in cooperation with everyone,” the mayor said. It was also decided that a similar meeting will be held once every month to review the process. 
 

KOCHI: This year’s World Oral Health Day advocates the slogan ‘be proud of your mouth’ reiterating the need to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Amid a plethora of misinformation, people are often confused about the ideal protocol for better oral health.

Let’s discuss 10 hacks to keep to mouth healthy  

• Frequently check the changes in the oral cavity: Inspect daily during brushing for any signs of red or white patches or unhealed ulcers. This will help diagnose many precancerous lesions in the budding stage itself   
• Avoid DIY dentistry: Often people fall prey to fantabulous advertisements and start treating themselves without proper guidance from a dentist. Lots of uncertified aligners and tooth-shaping devices are now available with false promises. Think twice before trying all these              
• Choose mouthwashes wisely: Always use sugar-free and non-alcoholic mouthwashes. Use at least 30 minutes after brushing to avoid interaction with fluoride in the toothpaste        
• Be receptive to warning signs: Sometimes the key to a chronic headache, neck and shoulder pain or back pain that remains unresolved might be your oral cavity. Understand that sleep apnea and related tooth grinding can induce chronic pain in these areas. A proper evaluation of facial muscles associated with jaw joints and solving the disparities could help alleviate the pain    
• Watch out for your Vitamin D levels: If you miss out on sun exposure during your daily chores, keep a check on your scores. Vitamin D deficiency affects your overall health, including gum. Exercise more and include a Vitamin-D-rich diet    
• Avoid inserting foreign bodies such as a toothpick or safety pin to take out food wastes trapped in between teeth. Instead, use flosses, interdental brushes and more convenient water flossers         
• Check persisting habits in babies like thumb sucking, breathing through the mouth, frequent nail biting, etc. as this may affect the facial form and teeth alignment. As soon as you see such habits try to intervene with the help of a pediatric dentist  
• Too much cooking will spoil the broth: This is true with vigorous brushing too. Keep the 3-3-3-3 rule. With a soft toothbrush brush three teeth at a time for three seconds each. The total duration should be three minutes. Don’t forget to change toothbrushes every three months or when the bristles get frayed  
• Don’t entertain snacking between meals, especially in children. Always give them water bottles with a broader orifice rather than the sip version. This will cleanse food remnants that stay locked in pits and fissures                  
• Avoid self-medication for tooth or gum aches. Antibiotic resistance is a serious problem, and you don’t require antibiotics every now and then to treat a dental issue. Consult a doctor before you go overboard

The writer is a consultant periodontist at Government Urban Dental Clinic, Thiruvananthapuram

Mind & body 
Got health concerns you want to share with a doctor? Are you looking for credible answers regarding symptoms, medicines or lifestyle disorders? Write to us at cityexpresskoc@newindianexpress.com, and we will get healthcare professionals to answer them.

KOCHI: Kerala got its first transgender lawyer when Padma Lakshmi got enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of the state the other day. It was a momentous occasion for the young lawyer, who did her three-year LLB course at the Ernakulam Government Law College. But what was the secret behind her achievement? Positivity and tonnes of it.

"I never let any negative comments or incidents dampen my spirit. I always had positive thoughts and that helped me achieve my goal," said Padma Lakshmi. And the goal? "It has been always said that law and justice are for the powerful and the wealthy. So what about the poor and the marginalised? I am talking about the Madhus (tribal youth Madhu who was beaten to death in Palakkad in 2018) of the world. My aim is to help these people find and get their voices heard. Help them get justice. Of course, there are people fighting for these people. I want to become one such person," said the young lawyer.

Padma Lakshmi did her graduation in Physics at Bharat Matha College at Thrikakkara in Ernakulam. "I am native of Ernakulam. I live with my parents at my house ner Changampuzha Park in Edapally," said Padma who has two elder sisters. "Throughout my academic journey and gender transition, my parents have been my strong supporters and backers. They have been my pillar of strength. Then there are various people who helped me all the way," she said.

Padma presently has no plans to pursue higher studies in law. "This is a budding stage in my career. I want to learn about the cases, how to present them and get knowledge of the court proceedings. After that, I am planning to appear for the judicial examination. For now, I would be working alongside Bhadrakumari madam," said Padma who began transitioning as a woman in 2019.

"I wanted to have a job or a career to support myself once I complete my transition. I didn't want to burden or become a source of worry for my parents. They had early knowledge of my inclination and stood with me. My father retired as a staff of Cochin Shipyard and my mother is a clerk at an advocate's office. Also, I earned the money needed for my medical expenses (incurred for the transition process) by doing part-time jobs," said Padma who wants to be an inspiration for others. If you have the desire, you will be able to achieve your goals, she added.

Padma Lakshmi was one of the around 1,500 law graduates who were enrolled at an event organised by the Bar Council of India on Sunday. Meanwhile, Industries Minister P Rajeeve congratulated the young lawyer via a Facebook post. "I congratulate Padma Lakshmi who overcame all the adversities thrown her way by life to enrol as Kerala's first transgender lawyer. To be the first person to achieve something in history is not an easy task. There are no precedents or leaders to show you the way. However, you will get to meet people who would try to silence or pester you with negative thoughts with the aim to turn you back from your path. Padma Lakshmi has been able to make history by overcoming all these adversities," said the minister.

He expressed hope that Padma's achievement would act as an inspiration for others from the transgender community to work towards their goals. 
 

KOCHI:  Kochi Corporation has announced plans to construct a new windrow compost plant at Brahmapuram with a capacity of 150 tonnes per day. The government approved the project in January of this year.

“We had informed the government that it will take years to complete the waste-to-energy plant project, and therefore a new windrow compost plant is necessary,” said Kochi Mayor M Anilkumar at a press conference held on Saturday.

The detailed project report for the same has been sent for technical sanction to Kerala Solid Waste Management Project(KSWMP). “Once we receive the sanction from KSWMP and approval from the council, we will call for a tender. The windrow compost plant will follow a similar model to Pune Municipal Corporation’s composting system,” said a senior official of Kochi Corporation.

To reduce the volume of waste sent to Brahmapuram, the corporation plans to treat waste at the source. The corporation aims to reduce the daily waste sent to Brahmapuram to 150 tonnes, with  80 tonnes from within the Kochi Corporation limit and the rest from other municipalities and panchayats. 

“To achieve this, the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Associations will need to associate with private waste collection agencies. These agencies will collect waste from designated points and either treat it in their plants or transport it to pig or poultry farms. Kochi Corporation will monitor the process,” the official said.
For gated communities and flats, agencies like CREDAI can help build ferrocement-based composting units or fibre composting bins. 

From April 1, 2023, the Haritha Karma Sena will collect segregated waste from households and take it to collection points. Plastic waste will be handed over to the Clean Kerala Company, and bio-waste will be taken to Brahmapuram. The corporation plans to install 450 CCTV  cameras across its limits to fine those who dump waste on roads.

Bio-waste management unit in Edappally

The city’s first ward-level bio-waste management unit has started functioning in Edappally. CPIM district secretary C N Mohan inaugurated the unit on Sunday. Four Thumboormuzhi-model aerobic composts have been installed in Edappally Kunnumpuram Division.

The waste turned to compost will be utilised as fertiliser in the nearby farmlands.The amount of waste dumped in the Brahmapuram windrow compost plant can be reduced if such compost units start functioning in every division of the Kochi Corporation.  

Councillor Ambika Sudarshanan took the initiative to install the compost in the division within 100 hours. Also, many councillors have come forward to set up similar composts in various divisions of the city. 

Key points

• It will be set up at Brahmapuram and will have a capacity of 150 tonnes per day
• A DPR has been sent for technical sanction to Kerala Solid Waste Management Project
• The plant will follow the same model as Pune municipal corporation’s system
• Corporation also plans to install 450 CCTV camera across its limits

KOCHI:  The long-pending demand of Vypeen residents of starting a bus service to the city remains a distant dream. After prolonged protests that saw the participation of several public figures, the state government assured the people to resolve their travel woes. However, there is hardly any change in the situation.

“It has been three months and nothing concrete has been done so far,” said MP Hibi Eden, who led an agitation. According to him, it is possible only if the state government issues a GO cancelling the nationalisation of the routes. “This is not the KSRTC’s job. Only if the nationalised status of the routes is removed will it be possible for private buses to conduct services to and from Vypeen islands and the city,” he said.

However, KSRTC and its union are not agreeing to the cancellation of the notification. “Why does KSRTC go around nationalising the routes on which it won’t be plying buses? Because of its actions, other parties can’t come in, and in the end, it is the people who are left in a lurch. If the Vypeen islands get a direct bus to the city, they don’t have to suffer the vagaries of nature while travelling,” said former transport commissioner B J Antony.

According to the Greater Cochin Development Watch (GCDW), Kochi is the only city in the state that has a metro service. “Hence, it should be seen as a special case and the state government needs to come up with a special transport policy or modify or cancel conditions in the notification in the MVD rules,” said the GCDW. 

Meanwhile, Hibi alleged that every time there is a protest, the ministers or the authorities concerned silence it by flagging off a bus. “And that’s it! This has been happening for so long,” he said. 
GCDW said, “The state government should deploy at least 20 buses from the Goshree islands to the nearest metro station and allow the same number of city buses to conduct service to the islands.”

Questioning the necessity of holding a meeting with the KSRTC, the Vypeen MLA, MVD officials, and the GCDW, the MP said, “It is all an eye-wash. During the meeting held on March 15, the MVD was removed from the responsibilities of initiating follow-up measures while the KSRTC, which is against the very idea of allowing private buses on the route, was assigned the job of finding a solution. This in itself is controversial.”

This was a ‘wait-and-watch period’ for me, said the MP. “But since things are not going in the right direction, I will be planning another set of agitation very soon and to take up the issue in the Parliament too,” he said.

KOCHI: The state-level launch of the holistic sports curriculum aligning with the National Education Policy 2020 was held at Pragati Academy at Perumbavoor. Union Minister of  Sports and  Youth Affairs Anurag Singh Thakur launched the curriculum in the presence of Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman. 
Speaking on the occasion, the Union  Minister said incorporating sports in the curriculum is essential for a well-rounded education. 

“Sports can help students improve their overall physical health and fitness. Regular exercise through sports can help reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, and other health issues,” he said. Thakur said Prime Minister  Narendra Modi has always been keen to make India a sporting powerhouse and his commitment is evident, whether it is motivating our athletes or meeting them before or after the various championships. 

“Under PM’s leadership, India’s ‘sports culture’ has found momentum, sports infrastructure has been scaled up and all efforts are being made to nurture athletes from the playfield to the podium. With the support of every stakeholder, the government will create a sports ecosystem and nobody can stop India from becoming a sports superpower,” he added. 

ALSO READ | Kerala CM hungry for power, using it for personal gains: Anurag Thakur

According to him, the Centre is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the availability of sports facilities in every part of the country, as well providing a fit future for the youth and children. The Union Minister said success in sports cannot be achieved by a  country from the top level of society.  “We need to invest in students at the grassroots level, scout and nurture talent and increase the pool of talented athletes who can play for India,” he said. 

Promising to boost the sporting activities in the state, Sports Minister V Abdurahiman said, “The state government will work towards  conducting a sporting event for the students studying in the CBSE, ICSE, and the international schools in the foreign countries.”  He said, “The students who win at this  sporting event will then be invited to participate in the national sporting event that will be held in the state.”

KOCHI:  Police on Saturday night arrested four youngsters with hashish oil, MDMA and ganja at Toshiba Junction in Kalamassery. The arrested are Saran Santhosh, 25, of Chavara, Kollam; Joan Jojo, 25, of Maria Nagar, Edappally; Ashik Jithu, 27, of Vazhuthakkad, Thiruvananthapuram and Nandhu Unnikrishnan, 28, of Thrikodithanam, Changanassery. 

The night patrolling unit found the gang’s car parked on the roadside around 10.30pm. Though the youngsters tried to flee from the spot, they were blocked by a parked police vehicle in front. When the officials inquired, they told that they were doctors.

However, suspicious of their behaviour, the police officials checked the car and found the contraband. A total of 2.16g of hashish oil, 0.48g of MDMA and 3.38g of ganja were recovered. After recording their arrest, the youngsters were taken to the Kalamassery police station.

KOCHI: Minister for Law, Industries and Coir P Rajeeve on Saturday released a book that traced the 50-year history of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat). Titled ‘A Journey Towards Excellence: 50 years of CUSAT’, the 260-page book with 25 chapters is a tribute to all who played an instrumental role in shaping an institution's par excellence.

It was written by a team of retired and service staff of the university and charts its journey, touching upon major milestones, interesting anecdotes and various perspectives. This is the first time that a university has released a book on its prestigious history.

Cusat was established in 1971 as the University of Cochin and had a strength of 500 students. Now, with over 8,000 students from 26 countries, around 500 faculty members, and 30 teaching departments on three campuses, Cusat is one of the best 1,500 universities in the world.

Minister P Rajeeve, while launching the book, said that universities should work in such a way that it reflects the changes in society. “It is important that universities take up challenges in society and find solutions,” the minister said.

KOCHI: It took a major fire outbreak at a waste yard for the residents of Kochi to realise just how crucial it is to treat garbage at the source. Though many have realised the importance of the process, a few are still reluctant to come to terms with it.

It is in this context that the Ravipuram division of Kochi corporation stands out. It has been handling biowaste at its source with the aid of bio bins, and that was too much before the Brahmapuram incident. With the support of the district Suchitwa Mission and the Haritha Kerala Mission, councillor S Sasikala launched the drive immediately after she was elected to represent the division.

She realised the importance of waste disposal at the source when she attended a meeting organised by former finance minister Thomas Issac. “I had been taken in by the HEAL project of the corporation. But, after the meeting, I started a door-to-door campaign to promote the importance of source-level waste treatment. However, the response was abject, as around 100 people came forward to back my idea. But I was not ready to give up,” she said.

Sasikala’s continued efforts finally convinced some people to start using bio bins, which generated biowaste from the division. But, even she has been accused of looting money from the public by distributing waste bins.

“Some notices were issued against me when I decided to stick with the project. However, I was not ready to give up. I approached the Central Cooperative Society and Rotary Club to sponsor the bio bins. Nearly half of the families living in the division will soon get their bio bins. We now plan to make the division waste-free,” the councillor said.

ALSO READ | Tribunal did not hear us out, will appeal fine: Mayor

She said people have realised the importance of her efforts over the last year. “Nearly 1,100 families live in my division. By April 1, bio bins will be distributed to all households. There are some houses and colonies where this will not be possible. Arrangements will be made to collect the waste from those locations,” she said.

The councillor has also approached the corporation to allot an abandoned house in the division to convert it into a material collection facility (MCF) centre. “Suchitwa Mission has agreed to provide funds for setting up the centre. Members of the Haritha Karma Sena will collect the waste, which will then be handed over to the Clean Kerala Co,” the councillor said.

KOCHI:  It was a memorable day at the Government Law College, Ernakulam, on Saturday. Excitement and enthusiasm were evident among the students, teachers, and alumni in the college’s legislative assembly hall.

One of the oldest law colleges in India, it had two reasons to celebrate - the convocation of the five- and three-year LLB graduates, and being the first law college in the country to live stream the proceedings of the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Kerala.

The live streaming of the courts’ proceedings on campus is a milestone in the pursuit of engaging technology to augment the quality and delivery of the output of legal education. TNIE on March 16 exclusively reported that the Government Law College, Ernakulam, will start live streaming the Supreme Court and Kerala High Court proceedings, becoming the first law college in the country to do so.

The facility was inaugurated by Justice Shaji P Chaly, the Judge of Kerala High Court, who said, “It gives me immense pleasure to return here. Whenever friends from my batch come to Ernakulam, we visit the college in the evening and enjoy some time here.” Reiterating the points from Prof. Nabisa Ummal’s speech, Justice Shaji said that the college was strategically located – facing the backwaters and the Arabian Sea and flanked by St Teresa’s College on the right side and Maharaja’s College on the left.

He took the opportunity to congratulate the students who received certificates. He said, “Even if one is studying in a government institution if there is hard work and determination, you can reach your desired positions.” 

Justice Shaji P Chaly also recalled his days in college, attending the first moot court, which was the first moot court at the college. “Compared to our time, today’s students get many opportunities.”

“The lawyer community is most powerful. You must always be concerned about the people and committed to society. Above 60 per cent of our population is below the poverty level. Even if you go high in your profession or make money, you always bear in mind that we have a community that is striving hard to solve legal problems. You should also be in public service,” Justice Shaji said. The function concluded with the convocation ceremony and merit day celebration.

A memorable day
1. Government Law College, Ernakulam, becomes the first law college in the country to live stream the proceedings of the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Kerala
2. Facility was inaugurated by Justice Shaji P Chaly, the Judge of the Kerala High Court
3. The college held the convocation ceremony of the five-year and three-year LLB graduates and a merit day celebration

KOCHI: Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court has directed Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to conduct a re-investigation into the alleged benami bank accounts of ADGP S Sreejith. The reprobe was ordered following a petition filed by Ramesh Nambiar of Kottoor, Kaviyoor, now residing at Jaya Nagar in Bengaluru. 

The VACB Thiruvananthapuram unit registered a case against Sreejith in 2010 following a petition filed by the complainant before the vigilance court in Thrissur. Later, the investigation team filed a closure report at the court stating that allegations against Sreejith were proven false in the probe. 

However, last year, Ramesh approached the Muvattupuzha vigilance court against the closure of the case. The court on examining the investigation report found that the investigation team did not conduct a proper probe into nine bank accounts claimed to be owned by benamis of Sreejith.

The court on February 28 ordered VACB to conduct a re-investigation into the bank accounts cited by the complainant and file a report.