Metro Mart August 2015

August 2015www.metromartdaily.com
`40Volume 5 Issue 1 August 2015
METROmartT H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M
CelebratetheTrueSpiritof
Onam
A Brand New Destination is
Born In ‘God’s Own Country’
Mascot Hotel – 50 years & beyond
Setting New Benchmarks
for Designer Boutiques

METROAugust 20152 T H I R U VA N A N T H A P U R A M
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surprise them to an Onam the way they love it.
WITH THE KING,
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Foreword
SijiNair
ManagingEditor&Director
Hi Readers,
Malayalees are waiting to welcome yet another Onam. The
entire land irrespective of class and creed is in a festive
mood to celebrate and proclaim the message of oneness and
brotherhood. Every Onam brings in more hope in life and
abundant memories to cherish. Onam gives colour and spreads
fragrance in the lives of people like Athapookkalam (which is
the arrangement of flowers on the floor in an elaborate and
colourful way on Atham day).
The Onam market is active with innumerable varieties of
products which make the celebrations and purchases more
clourful and enjoyable. Every business establishment is trying
to spread their wings to every town by opening outlets and
reaching out to the consumers with attractive offers and
schemes. This is an opportunity for everyone to choose
the desired products according to their tastes and likes.
Various venues in the capital city will come alive in a cultural
extravaganza of music, dance, painting and martial arts
programmes in the modern, traditional, folk and classical genres
of Kerala. The celebrations will see the participation of 5,000
performing artistes, and will be hosted at 29 venues
Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala has been consistently in
the progressive path in ensuring better living standards for the
citizens. Now yet again Trivandrum has been honoured and
recognized as the second best city in the country that ensures
better living standards. Trivandrum has been selected and
esteemed as the second best cleanest capital city in the country.
This is indeed an exceptional recognition to the people of Kerala
for their health and environment consciousness.
The official announcement of Vizhinjam International Seaport
project is an additional gift to the people of the state during this
Onam season. Let us hope that Vizhinjam International Seaport
Project brings in faster progress and prosperity
to the entire state.
It’s Onam! So celebrate the spirit of the harvest festival in all
its splendor. Decorate your house with Pookalams, listen to the
melodious Onappattus and enjoy the festivities...
Wish you a Happy Onam!

mart
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Volume 5 Issue 1 August 2015
www.metromartdaily.com
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Publisher Hari Shanker
hari@martinfotech.in

Managing Editor & Director Siji Nair
sijicn@gmail.com
Sub Editor V. Viswanath
Editorial Assistant Ampili Nair
Creative Assistant Sayan Chaudhuri
Arnab Chowdhury
GM Sales Sibu Nair
GeneralManager-Marketing Binoy K S
BusinessDevelopmentManager Ratheesh Kumar
Baiju Jayakumar
Ganesh Damodaran
CONTENTS
16
24
Kerala Tourism’s Onam
Week celebrations from
Aug 25 to 31
Achievements Welcome
Mahabali this Onam
A Brand New
Destination is Born In
‘God’s Own Country’
28Mascot Hotel 50 years &
beyond
46
56
Published, Edited and Printed by Hari Shanker A G and Owned by Haritha Media Pvt Ltd and Printed by him at SB Press
Private Limited, Statue, Trivandrum 695001 and Published from Tharangam, Kodunganoor Post, Trivandrum 695013
Metro Mart is a monthly journal published from Trivandrum. Views and opinions expressed in the journal are not
necessarily those of the Publishers.
Metro Mart reserves the right to use the information published here in any manner whatsoever. While every effort
has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published in this edition, neither the Publisher no any of its
employees accept any responsibilities for any errors or omissions.
© All Rights Reserved RNI No: KERENG/2011/40037
Mothers Veg Plaza brings
Sadya 365 Days to the City
‘Arteria’ to transform
dull city walls into spaces
of artistry
Celebrate the True Spirit
of Onam
12
For Designer Boutiques
Metro Update
32
34
38

30 & 31 October

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COVER STORY
Onam is here again…….
A new beginning is in the
offing ….…After the rain
that played havoc for
the past few months the
nature is afresh with new
sprouts. The drizzle and
the gentle breeze that
waft you speak of the
impending glorious time.
Celebrate the True
Spirit of Onam

The Sadya is the
traditional
vegetarian feast
of Kerala. Usually
served as lunch,
it consists of
par boiled pink
rice, side dishes,
savouries, pickles
and desserts
spread out on
a plantain leaf.
Tradition insists that
the tapering end of
the plantain leaf should
point to the left of the
seated guest. Rice is served
on the lower half of the
leaf. The Onasadhya refers
to the Sadya served on the
Thiruvonam day, the most
auspicious of the four days
during the festival.
In a Sadya rice is served
only after all the side
dishes and savouries have
been served.
Avial, an unavoidable
side-dish is a blend of
vegetables, coconut paste
and green chillies. It is
seasoned with a spoonful
of fresh coconut oil and
some raw curry leaves
stirred immediately after
the dish is taken off the
stove.
Some of the other
important side-dishes
include Thoran and Olan.
Thoran can be minced
string beans, cabbage,
radish or grams, mixed with
grated coconut and sautèed
with a dash of red chillies
and turmeric powder. Then,
there is Olan, which is a
bland dish of pumpkin and
red grams cooked in thin
gravy of coconut milk.
The savouries include
Upperi, Pappadam, Puli
Inji, Pachadi and Kichadi.
Upperi is deep-fried banana
chips. Pappadams are fried
creamy, sun-dried wafer of
black gram flour. The Puli
Inji is a rich brown, hot and
sweet chutney, while the
Kichadi consists of sliced
and sautèed cucumber
or ladies finger in curd,
seasoned with mustard,
red chillies and curry leaves
in coconut oil. Pickles are
usually mango and lime.
Once the rice and side-
dishes have been served,

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the serving of Parippu, a
liquid curry made of small
gram and ghee marks the
beginning of the feast.
The second course starts
with Sambar, the famous
south Indian vegetable
stew in which any available
combination of vegetables
are boiled in a gravy of
crushed lentils, onions,
chillies, coriander, turmeric
and with a pinch of
asafoetida.
Desserts are served mid-
way through the meal. The
Payasam is a thick fluid dish
of sweet brown molasses,
coconut milk and spices,
garnished with cashew nuts
and raisins. There could
be successive servings
of Payasams such as the
Paalada Pradhaman and
Parippu Pradhaman.
Pazham, a ripe golden
yellow plantain, is usually
taken along with the
Payasams. After the
Payasams, rice is served
once more with the
Pulisseri, which is seasoned
buttermilk with turmeric
powder and green chillies.
This is followed by spicy
Rasam, which is a mixture
of chilli and peppercorn
powders, boiled in diluted
tamarind juice. The feast
ends with plain sour
buttermilk that comes with
chopped green chillies and
ginger and salt to taste.
Onasadhya is more than
just a feast. The whole
feast has been designed
in a scientific way by the
ancestors. It is a complete,
balanced and nutritious
meal and also ensures
proper digestion and
optimum absorption of
nutrients by the body.
This Onam, come relish a
feast of delicacies in God’s
Own Country.

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AchievementsWelcome
Mahabali this Onam
COVER FEATURE
This Onam it will be a happy homecoming for
Mahabali, since the Thiruvananthapuram City has
witnessed several drastic changes since last Onam.
The city has achieved a number of projects which
would have a positive influence for the public in
the long run.
V Viswanath
The city roads are changing colour. The walls of the
capital city and public buildings would be adorned
with paintings by renowned artists. This innovative
initiative is launched by the State Tourism
Department. University stadium and the walls and
buildings from LMS Junction to Palayam are painted
and made colourful in the first phase of project
Arteria. There are plans to extend the project to
other parts of the city as well. All in all, Mahabali
would see not just the colourful flower carpets but
also the colourful road stretches. Kanakakunnu
Palace is seeing a recapture of its the glory, legacy

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and beauty through a Rs.
3.05-crore renovation
and beautification project
along with the Nishagandhi
Auditorium. The location
may not be a new one for
Mahabali, however, the
facilities and revamp of the
area might be.
Of course, to travel around
he can hop into State-
owned Kerala State Road
Transport Corporation
(KSRTC) if needed.
Thiruvananthapuram
Central and City Depots
would be equipping over
200 buses with GPS. He
would find that the GPS
system is assisting KSRTC in
streamlining of services and
ultimately assisting it to tide
over its financial crisis.
It would be better off for
him to visit Vizhinjam
this year since he may
not recognise it in the
coming years. Vizhinjam
International Deepwater
Multipurpose Seaport is
to be one of the world’s
largest mega transshipment
container terminals. The
project is estimated to
be completed in a record
1000 days. The entire area
is bound to see a lot of
development activities.
Railway lines, widening
of roads, etc. is a must to
facilitate movement for
the incoming boom in
population and traffic.
The King can be relaxed
in knowing the city and

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its administrators have
woken up to the dangers
of Smoking. Pictorial ‘No
Smoking’ signages are to
be displayed in all public
vehicles at a prominent
place. No direct and
indirect advertisements,
sponsorship of tobacco
products on public
conveyances would be
allowed. State water and
road transports have strictly
prohibited sale of tobacco-
products in their buses,
boats and stations.
Mahabali can also take
note that the city is going
to get Light Metro from
Karamana to Technocity
via Technopark. On the
Railways front, there would
be a few Onam Special
trains. The stations under
Thiruvananthapuram
division would have
passenger carts to assist the
needy.
He is bound to see a lot
happening right at the heart
of the city – what with the
Operation Anantha project
and all. The erstwhile
canals are being reclaimed,
widened and cleaned, so
as water-logging is a thing
of the past. He would see
that the Thakaraparambu
Bridge is completed. His
journey from Karamana
to Kaliyikkavila he
would find that the road
widening has reached up
to Pravachambalam and
continuing further.
Surely he will have to
become net savvy in the
future. ‘Bridging the Digital
Divide– Vision 2020’ is
going to transform Kerala
in to a digital knowledge
society. This is aimed
to achieve sustainable
economic growth, making
accessible the digital
infrastructure to all at
affordable cost, attracting
more investments and
promoting the IT export of
the state. If Mahabali needs
any e-services offered by
the government he can just
log in and check the various
government portals.
While on the fashion front,
there is a lot less traditional
Onam Yellow Mundu seen
in the city nowadays. A
wide variety of colours has
taken its place including
Black. Just a plain dhoti
and black shirt makes the
youngsters feel like a star.
There is a chance that

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Mahabali might think that
the number of youngsters
visiting Sabarimala this
year has increased. We will
have to tell him it is the
after-effects of a successful
cinema which was released
some months back. Well
if he wants to watch a film
in the city, he can go in to
AriesPlex SL Cinemas and
experience the magic of 4K
projection and 64 channel
Dolby Atmos. Seating and
interior with imported
fabric would give him a
luxurious feeling.
Mahabali can also take
heart that the youngsters
are not just in to fashion
– Youngsters are getting
more and more involved in
social causes. They attempt
to provide solutions for
the problems that are
faced by the common
man. 45 Adivasi families
and 22 indigent families
from the far-fledged areas
of Amboori and Brymore
were given Onam kits by
Technopark employees.
A 36-hour non-stop road
safety hackathon was
conducted by 200-odd
youngsters in Technopark
which brought out several
ideas and products aimed
at bringing down road
accidents.
The King can be assured
that Thiruvananthapuram
City is not lagging behind in
development any more. The
City is changing its outlook.
While youngsters are
growing up with fashion,
they are also considerate of
others. The administration
has taken several initiatives
which would bring the city
and its great rewards over
the course of time.
King! Be assured the City is
in safe hands (its people).

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“The celebrations will see
the participation of 5,000
performing artistes, and will
be hosted at 29 venues,”
said Shri Anilkumar.
“Though the government is
facing an economic crunch,
we are spending Rs 3 crore
to put up an impressive
show that lakhs of people
can enjoy.”
Shri Oommen Chandy will
inaugurate the state-level
celebrations at Nishagandhi
Auditorium on August 25
by honouring artistes of
renown. The Chief Minister
will also take a tour of the
renovation work completed
at Kannakakunnu grounds,
as scheduled in time for the
start of the celebrations.
Programme committee
chairman Palode Ravi MLA
made an announcement
of the key events of the
State Tourism department’s
Onam Week celebrations
from August 25 to 31.
The Onam Week
celebrations venues
include the Nishagandhi
Auditorium, the Central
Stadium, Poojapura ground,
Museum Hall and Vyloppilly
Samskrithi Bhavan.
Shankhumukham is also a
key new venue this year.
The inaugural function
at the main venue,
Nishagandhi, is a
‘Magical Melodies’ music
performance by a team led
by K S Chithra and Sudeep,
which will be followed by a
tourism theme-song dance
performance, and a dance
performance by Rajasree
Kerala Tourism’s Onam Week Celebrations
From Aug 25 to 31
METROEVENT
Various venues in the capital city will come alive in a cultural
extravaganza of music, dance, painting and martial arts programmes
in the modern, traditional, folk and classical genres of Kerala, said
Tourism Minister Shri A P Anilkumar at a function.

Warrier.
A festive procession,
jointly organized by the
Tourism Department and
the Kerala Sports Council,
will march through the city
on Thursday as a prelude
to the Onam celebrations.
Home Minister Shri Ramesh
Chennithala will unfurl
the Onam ‘flag’ at the
programme presided by
Tourism Minister Shri A
P Anilkumar, followed by
Health Minister Shri V S
Sivakumar switching on
the city illumination, when
the procession reaches
Kanakakunnu Palace.
Other progammes include
‘Journey of Rhythm’ by
percussionist Sivamani and
Karunamoorthy, a musical
night by playback singer
Swetha Mohan and Bennet
and Band, ‘Ishal Raavukal’
by playback singer Afsal and
group, ‘Dance Dhamaka’
performance by Neerav
Bavlecha of the small
screen’s D-for dance fame,
‘Ragarasam’ by Mattannur
Sankarankutty Marar
(chenda) and Prakash Ulleri
(keyboard) and drama raga
by dancer Methil Devika
and cine artist Mukesh.
The Central Stadium will
host mega shows starting
on August 26 with a musical
performance by Venugopal,
Anil Bajpai, Rajalakshmi,
and Jassie Gift, followed
by magic by Gopinath
Muthukad and a dance
show by Kiran master
and Green Shadows. The
next day’s show includes
key performances with
singer Afsal, and actor
and presenter Nadir Shah,
followed by cinematic
dance and comedy show.
Janaki and Najim Arshad
will perform with a team of
singers at the musical show
on August 28, which will
be followed by a comedy
show and a fire dance
performance. Playback
singer Naresh Iyer and
his band’s performance
will lead to cinema
choreographer Sajna
Najam and team’s dance
show on August 29. The
penultimate day musical
show is by Stephen Devassy
and band, Vidhu Prathap
and Sayonara, and dance
by Ramzan Muhammad.
Director, actor, playback
singer Vineeth Sreenivasan
will lead the musical show
on August 31.
The entry gate at
Kanakakkunnu Palace
will stage chenda recitals
(melam and thayambaka),
while classical music
concerts will be held inside
at the palace auditorium.
This will also be the site
of a painting exhibition
and a press photography
exhibition. The Museum
Hall will host an exhibition
of traditional percussions.
VJT Hall shows starting at
4 pm will feature poetry
sessions followed by
professional drama, while
plays will also be staged at
the Institute of Engineers
Hall.
Shankhumukham beach
gets more festive fun this
year with programmes by
women and children. At
7:15 pm every day, the
area gets buzzing with big-
name artistes; Mannargudi
Vasudevan, Giridhar Udupa,
Guruprasanna, Kalpathy

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fairs and exhibitions
will be conducted at
Suryakanthi ground
with the participation
of Kudumbasree and
government units, along
with a food festival. A
temporary amusement park
for children will be set up at
Kanakakkunu.
There will be a special
programme for NRKs on
August 27.
The celebrations will get
a mega closing with a
procession, exhibiting art
forms from Kerala and
other states, that starts at
Vellayambalam and goes up
to East Fort on August 31.
Kerala Tourism Director,
Shri P I Sheikh Pareeth,
Additional Director(
General) Smt T V Anupama
were present at the press
conference today, where
the ‘Onam theme’ song
and Onam programmes
brochure were launched.
Balakrishnan, Anantha R
Krishnan, Embar S Kannan,
Palakkad Sriram, Sushant
and Ebby Michael come
together for a classical
fusion on August 26; Zia
Ul Haq, Janardhanan
Puthusherry and Attukal
Balasubramaniam perform
a fusion the next day, while
August 28 has a magic
show by Magician Samraj,
‘Sarga Keralam’ special
choreography by Malayalam
Theatrical and Heritage Arts
on August 29 and finally a
melody night by Devadas
and Lela Joseph onAugust
30.
The Government Women’s
College auditorium will
conduct Athapookalam
competition for
press club members,
while the Vyloppilly
Samskrithi Bhavan will
have Thiruvathirakali
competitions for Higher
Secondary schools and
colleges. The open-air
venue and Koothambalam
at Samskrithi Bhavan will
also stage classical group
dance.
Public Office vicinity,
Poojapura Maidan and
Bharath Bhavan will be
venues for musical shows.
The fun carries on with
magic and comedy shows
(Sathyan Memorial
Hall), Kathaprasangam
(Gandhi Park),
Kalaripayattu (Museum),
Kathakali, Koodiyattom,
Akshrashlokam and Koothu
(Theerthapada Mandapam),
besides folk arts in
Sopanam, Sooryakanthi
Mini Stage, Thiruvarangu
and Nattarangu.
Other programme venues
are Bapuji Library at
Peroorkada, Sreevaraham
auditorium, Veli tourist
village, Nedumangad
Koyikkal Palace,
Madavoorpara Boat Club
premises.
Additionally, trade

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This heritage business
hotel of Kerala Tourism
Development Corporation
(KTDC Hotels & Resorts)
is situated in the heart
of the capital city,
Thiruvananthapuram. The
hotel pioneered Kerala’s
first international service-
class luxury hotel. Since
then, the hotel has been
serving the needs of
business travellers, key
management executives,
political leaders,
international guests, players
and their families, as well
as young and independent
travellers from across
the globe. Today, it has
achieved a brand image in
Kerala’s tourism sector.
With the work ethic that
emphasizes hotel & service
excellence, Mascot Hotel
stays true to their core
values of being customer-
oriented. Mascot Hotel has
been winning guests with
its innovative initiatives.
This five-star hotel
encourages every employee
to put in extra efforts, and
develops in them the zeal
and enthusiasm to serve
each and every guests
to their hotel with total
commitment. The company
is proud that many visitors
in Kerala, especially to
HOSPITALITY
Mascot Hotel has come a long way from a small luxury
hotel establishment to Kerala’s largest service lifestyle
and a star-rated hotel company.
Mascot Hotel 50 years & beyond

Mascot Hotel offers a stay in the heart of
Kerala’s diplomatic, financial and business city
Thiruvananthapuram.
Thiruvananthapuram today
choose only Mascot Hotel
as their ‘Preferred Home -
away from Home’.
2015 marks Mascot Hotel
crossing diamond jubilee
year. It has an established
track record among star-
hotel brands which enjoy
recognition worldwide. It
is a pride moment for not
just Kerala, but the whole
country. Only a very few
hotels have achieved such
recognition.
Mascot Hotel offers
a stay in the heart of
Kerala’s diplomatic,
financial and business
city Thiruvananthapuram.
Guests can take a
stroll through various
restaurants, shopping
arcades and establishments
located along the avenue.
Alighting at the airport,
one can just hop in a cab
and just in a straight drive
of 3 kilometres reach
this location. The hotel
executives will guide you
on various particulars of
the city. The staffs are
adequately trained to
answer all queries and
provide tips regarding
travel. Mascot Hotel –
through its charm and
quality service – grows
on you as the perfect
accommodation for you in
Kerala. Every guest would
experience that special feel
which makes this a Perfect
hotel.
The original complex was
built by engineers of the
British Royal Army during
the First World War. The
old building is a classical
example of colonial era
architecture. Wood and
granite had been used to
build the old building.
Ali Asgar Pasha
Managing Director, KTDC
Vijayan Thomas
KTDC Chairman

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Mascot‘s achievements
have today received several
accolades and global
recognition. Originally built
to house the officers of the
Royal British Army during
the World War I, Mascot
hotel was the residence
of Peter Lakshmanan,
Sergeant General of the
erstwhile Travancore, In the
1940s. Later, it was taken
over by Spencer & Co to run
it as a hotel. Pauline Gross
was the first manageress of
the hotel when it was run
by Spencer & Co. The hotel
was also run by a private
group ‘Menons’ headed by
K.R.G. Menon for one year
from 1950. It was under the
control of the State Guests
Department till 1956.
Today, it offers the
travellers the perfect blend
of heritage, luxury and
business in the heart of
Thiruvananthapuram city
– wonderfully furnished
rooms, elegantly designed
surroundings and a quiet
environment in a sprawling
landscape amidst the
city make us feel relaxed.
It is a favourite retreat
for travellers. It is the
only heritage hotel in
Thiruvananthapuram. By
staying here, one can have
a look at the other historic
and significant moments
in its history.
Mascot Hotel is an ideal
accommodation which
features 68 rooms – 1
royal suite, 4 suites, 36
premiums, 11 deluxe
rooms, 7 heritage Classes
and 7 Heritage Grand with
balcony, banquet and
conference halls, coffee
shop, health club, parking
facilities, fitness & wellness
centre, restaurants, a café ,
a bar and other recreation
facilities amidst a landscape
garden with pedestrian
facilities. Be it leisure or
business, the resort is the
perfect accommodation
for food and stay in
Thiruvananthapuram.
Mascot Hotel (KTDC)
Thiruvananthapuram - 695
033, Kerala, India
Phone: +91-471-2318990,
2316105
Fax: +91-471-2317745
Email: mascothotel@
ktdc.com
Dilip K P
General Manager Mascot Hotel
G.S.Rajmohan
Marketing Manager, KTDC

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Mothers Veg plaza, Located
at Bakery Junction at
Thiruvananthapuram offers
365 days Sadya in the city.
Rice is the essential
ingredient of this nine
course Strictly vegetarian
meals Same as traditional
sadya,It is served in Banana
leafs. Following the way
of placing the leaf and an
order of serving the dishes.
Rice is the main course.
With rice, various kinds
of dishes are served...
different curries, ‘upperies’
(things fried in oil),
‘pappadams’ (round crisp
flour paste cakes of peculiar
make), ‘achars’ (pickles of
various kinds),aviyal,thoran,
koottucury,thiyal,parippu,sa
mbar,pulissery,rasam,moru
and ‘prathamans’ (Desserts-
Wheat Pyasam,Pazham
Payasam,Rice Payasam
and Avil Payasam). Four
varieties of achars and
four types of kichedi is
serving with every meal.
Seating capacity is +100
with central air-conditioned
facilities
All together there are 11
essential dishes which have
to prepared for Sadya.
Kerala traditional Sadya is
considered to be the most
elaborate and grand meal
prepared by any civilisation
or cultures in the world.
It’s a feast which if enjoyed
once is relished for years.
Apart from sadya Mothers
Veg Plaza offers world’s
widest menu in Dosa with
100 varieties! Serving
delicious and yummy
variations of Dosas for their
guests. Mothers Veg Plaza
is having facility to deliver
the traditional Onasadya
right to your doorstep every
day as per order in advance.
K S Sanal is the Director,
Mothers Veg Plaza and his
wife Jaya K R, daughter
Sajina J S,Son in law Neeni G
Govind are handling day to
day operations.
Join the passionate Mothers
Veg Plaza team that has
absorbed the company’s
goal of ensuring customer
satisfaction in all its
endeavors.
Mothers Veg Plaza
Bakery Jn.Trivandrum
Call 0471
4012255/9020333658
Mothers Veg Plaza brings
Sadya 365 Days to the City
DINING
It’s time to tingle and tantalize your taste buds at Mothers Veg Plaza with
a lip smacking treat. Sadya is considered to be one of Kerala’s signature
contributions to the world of vegetarian cuisine.The all day dining restaurant
in Mothers Veg Plaza offering a unique dining experience with traditional
kerala sadya.

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“The concept of turning
city walls into canvases for
artistic expressions mainly
aims at the beautification
of city and to improve the
attitude of public towards
contemporary art and
paintings,” said Tourism
Minister Shri A P Anil
Kumar.
He also noted that
attracting the public eye to
art works of this dimension
facilitates their participation
in a new artistic culture
that assumes greater
significance considering
the fact that ‘our public’s
exposure to contemporary
art is limited.’
The project, implemented
by District Tourism
Promotion Council (DTPC)
in coordination with the
district administration,
has already received a
sum of Rs 15 lakhs for its
initial phase by the state
government.
“The project will be
expanded further
depending on sponsorship
availability,” said Planning
Officer at Tourism
Department, Shri A
Udayakumar. “We have
‘Arteria’ to transform dull city walls
into spaces of artistry
METROFOCUS
More colours will be splashed this year to embrace the festive mood of Onam
in the city, as project Arteria, a Tourism Department initiative, seeks to
render the city walls with paintings by renowned artists.

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already started
receiving sponsorship
interests from different
organizations,” he
added.
Arteria has gained
momentum with the
walls of University
Stadium being painted
with colourful images
of artistic eloquence,
which will be unveiled
for the public during the
official beginning of Onam
celebrations in the city.
The first phase of project
aims to cover the walls
and available buildings
stretching from LMS
junction to Palayam.
Shri Udayakumar informed
that spaces would be
allotted to students of Fine
Arts College for exhibiting
their work as part of their
curriculum.
A team of 20 artistes,
including renowned Kanayi
Kunhiraman, Kattoor
Naryana Pillai, B D Dethan
and NN Rimzon Tensing
Joseph, will participate in
the first phase of this art
project. Other than the
involvement of established
artists, Arteria also provides
scope for aspiring artistes
and students who can
send their sample works
of art enabling a public
participation for this
project.
Art work samples are
invited for the project
which will be examined
by a committee headed
by District Collector Biju
Prabhakar, curator Dr.
Ajithkumar G, and other
veteran artists.
“The plan to invite artworks
from lesser known artists
and art students is an effort
to bring promising talents
to limelight and let the
world know about their
talents,” said Kerala Tourism
Secretary Shri G. Kamala
Vardhana Rao.

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A Brand New
Destination is Born In
‘God’s Own Country’
The district of Pathanamthitta will soon have an elevated status in Kerala
tourism map with the Adavi Boat Festival and Gajavijnanolsavam to be held at
Konni, a hilly town in the district.
Pathanamthitta District emerging as an ecotourism destination
Adavi and Konni to have face-lift with boat race, rafting, camping
and tree-top cottages
DESTINATION

A picturesque forest patch, 10 km from Konni and 17 kilometers
from Pathanamthitta, Adavi is situated on the banks of
river Kallar, with nearly 5-km river frontage. The Konni
Forest Development Agency, in collaboration with
District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) and
Pathanamthitta District Administration will host
the events at advent of this year’s Onam
celebrations.
Shri A P Anil Kumar, Minister for
Tourism will inaugurate the
Adavi boat festival on
August 21st, aiming at
branding the town as
a unique tourism
destination
and
introducing Coracle riding as a first of its kind tourism
product in Kerala.
“With an abundance of nature’s blessings in its forests and
aquatic life, Adavi is suited to be a top eco-friendly destination in
Kerala,” said Kerala Forest Minister Shri Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
“The natural, man-made and eco-friendly attractions of Adavi are certain to
draw visitors from within India and abroad in the coming days,” said the local MLA

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and Minister for Revenue
and Coir, Shri Adoor
Prakash.
The occasion will
also witness a Gaja
Vijnanolsavam, an elephant
festival at Konni elephant
camp.
Adavi, which is just
five kilometers from
Mundommoozhy on the
proposed Achencoil-Chittar
hill highway is a weekend
getaway, especially for the
people coming from Cochin
and Thiruvananthapuram
thanks to its proximity. It
is also an easily accessible
destination for foreign
tourists who can chose
Adavi for a day trip from
places like Munnar and
Thekkady. Coracle rafting
in the Kallar river is an
innovative venture, which
promises a never-before
experience to travellers.
An Eco-Tourism Centre
with river rafts, Coracle
rafting, adventure trekking,
accommodation options on
tree-top cottages, tenting
options and walkways are
the attractions coming up in
Adavi. Bamboo huts, which
will be coming up in Adavi
in a month, will also be
another attractive camping
option for the tourists. The
Eco-Tourism Centre also has
a refreshment area, public
convenience areas and
ample parking space for
tourists and their vehicles.
The boat festival will be
a three-day event with a
common daily activity plan
targeting different tourist
attractions each day. This
includes a familiarisation
trip for the media and
inaugural guests, treasure
hunt for general public, a
cultural programme and
a ‘Know the Elephant’
programme at the Konni
Elephant camp.
The Gaja Vijanolsavam
was first conducted in
September last year with
the support of Minister
for Revenue and Coir, Shri
Adoor Prakash, under the
auspices of Konni Forest
Development Agency. The
programme had helped in
raising the profile of Konni-
Adavi eco-tourism apart
from imparting awareness
about forest and wildlife
conservation among school
children and general public.
The five-day festival this
year, which starts on August
20, aims at imparting
awareness about forest
and elephant conservation
among school children and
general public, to ensure
public participation in
the development of the
eco-tourism destination
and enhancing income-
generating opportunities
for the local community
through increased tourist
arrivals.
“There are lots of untapped
tourism potentials in
Pathanamthitta. Besides
the heritage tourism
products in the district like
the Arunmula Kannadi,
Aranmula boat race, Konni
and Adavi will further raise
the status of Kerala on the
global tourism map,” said
Pathanamthitta District
Collector, Shri S Harikishore.

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Also known as Kerala
State Handloom Weavers
Co-operative Society Ltd.,
Hantex is Kerala’s only Apex
Co-operative Society of
Handloom weavers’ that is
a protective umbrella of the
Weavers in the state.
Set up in 2001, the core
business of Hantex is to
promote textiles such as
saree, lungi, set mundu,
double mundu, shirts,
bedsheet, dress materials,
table linen and wall
hangings.
Hantex has over 440
production centres and
116 sales outlets-cum-
showrooms yielding an
annual turnover of INR
300 millions. These are
located at prime places
in Kerala and serve as the
prime source of livelihood
of lacs of weavers in Kerala
who bring about creativity
in handloom fabrics
using coarse or fine yarn.
Masterpieces are thus
created in handlooms that
meet the expectations of
Indian and global audience.
All these outlets are
equipped with modern
infrastructure that enables
the production of hand
crafted fabrics, furnishings,
garments, sarees, made-
ups, traditional wears.
Almost all the products are
made in harmony with eco
friendly norms for both
internal and export market.
In order to get the
Keralites to discover the
tradition of contemporary
Deepika Dewan
Celebrating the Tradition of
Handloom This Onam
SHOPPING
Kerala, the land of tourism, cuisine, Ayurveda and backwaters is always
in the news for bringing up new tastes and achievements. One such
accomplishment which is wooing the hearts of the fashion-conscious
consumer in Kerala is Hantex.

fashionable apparels in
the state, Hantex has now
come up with fancy rebate
schemes. The idea is to
get the customers indulge
in shopping, particularly
during the upcoming Onam
festival this year.
Kerala State Handloom
Weavers Co- Operative
Society Limited (HANTEX)
is the central society of
the primary handloom co
operative societies in the
state. About 520 primary
handloom societies are
the members in HANTEX.
The high quality handloom
goods produced by the
workers of the primary
handloom societies are
collected through the
member societies and sold
through the 120 HANTEX
showrooms spread across
the state. HANTEX is
playing a very crucial role in
providing job opportunities
to the handloom workers
in the state as well as
bettering their lifestyle.
Various projects are being
implemented by both
the central and the state
governments by targeting
the overall development
of the handloom industry
and to ensure the job
opportunities for the
handloom workers.
HANTEX conducts many
programmes for providing
employment opportunities
to the handloom workers
with the help of the above
developmental schemes
of the Central and State
governments. Handloom
goods produced based on
the likes and tastes of the
consumers are being made
available in the market
by using the modern
technology. Boundless
co-operation is being
extended to HANTEX and
its’ accomplishments by the
people of Kerala who loves
handloom, the symbol of
pride and tradition. HANTEX
is always grateful to the
esteemed consumers and
the government who leads
them in the right path.
All the HANTEX showrooms
are ready for the Onam
celebrations 2015. The
long-lasting, colourful and
high-quality handloom
dress items are made
available through-out all
the HANTEX showrooms.
Installment payment

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handloom products such as
saris and dhotis to fashion
accessories such as bags
and cushions.
Hantex also has plans to set
up a shopping complex near
the State Secretariat in the
capital’s city Trivandrum.
The idea is to display and
sell its handloom products
under a common platform
in the form of a handloom
‘haveli’.
Celebrate Onam this
year by shopping for
saris, mundus and textile
accessories at Hantex retail
outlets and let the whole
world know your taste for
the fine things in life.
schemes are available
for the government
employees for purchasing
handloom cloths. HANTEX
happily announces the
commencement of its’
online business for the
Onam 2015 which is
operated through Amazon.
in online shopping. All the
necessary arrangements
are being made to make
the handloom cloths of
their choice available to the
consumers.
Minister for Industry and
IT Sri P K Kunhalikkutty
has graciously inaugurated
the state level handloom
products sales with an aim
to achieve the HANTEX
Onam seasonal sales 2015.
HANTEX reiterates its’
commitment to be with
the people of Kerala always
and earnestly requests all
the respected patrons to be
with HANTEX to strengthen
its’ endeavour to provide
to the handloom workers.
HANTEX wishes a happy
and prosperous Onam to all
the people of Kerala.
The centre point of
attraction this Onam would
be traditional and modern
handloom products. Hantex
stores would be displaying
the wonderful gallery of

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MetroVisionary
For Designer Boutiques
Born as
the eldest
daughter of
veteran RSP
leader, Baby
John, Sheila
grew up in
a privileged
and affluent
household.
Her father
was a hard
core politician,
MLA of
Chavara,
Kollam, for 40
years, and a
minister for
17 ½ years.
The children
were insulated
from politics by their mother, Annamma Baby
John, alias Omana, a bright school teacher, from
Mallappally, settled at Aranmulla. She was a strict
disciplinarian who imparted family values, ensured a
good education, and laid the foundation for her children
to succeed.
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Sheila has two younger
brothers Shaji and Shibu,
both engineers. Her
father, though busy, would
always find time for the
family. His late marriage
to a school teacher was a
good decision, and being
a good manager, he left
the affairs of the family to
her mother, a very capable
person. Sheila remembers
the last year of her father’s
life and how well her
mother took care of him.
Her mother was always her
source of strength.
Sheila studied in the
Mt. Carmel Anglo Indian
School, Tangasseri, an
Anglo Indian school of
repute, under her mother’s
tutelage. She loved
painting and stitching and
used to design her own
clothes. She even attended
tailoring classes which
she enjoyed. Her mother
chose chemistry, for her
degree in All Saint’s College,
Thiruvananthapuram, and
she got married at 17,
while on the second year
in college. She had her
first child, Shalini, while in
college and her father had
organized an ammavan
and fiat car to take her to
college and back. In spite
of her confinement, she
managed to complete her
degree, and join for M.A
in English, in the College
for Women, Trivandrum.
Her husband was then the
Asst. Accountant General,
IAAS, so Sheila enjoyed
the double privilege of
being daughter and wife of
two respected men in top
positions.
Their first posting outside
Kerala was in Calcutta,
later Hyderabad and then
Cochin. Her interest in
designing clothes was
fuelled by her exposure
to the numerous cloth
bazaars and embroideries
while at these cities. She
experimented with various
fabrics, threads and other
accessories, so plentiful
in the north, and then
made and kept sketches
of her designs, purely as
a passion. After a gap of 5
years, they had a second
child, Tharun. Being the
eldest child of the family,
Sheila was well supported
by a super efficient mother
who helped out with child
care, provided housemaids
and other support in
homemaking so she was
able to pursue her passion
for designing.
From there, they moved
to Chennai, and when her
youngest child went to
school, Sheila began to feel
pangs of boredom. She had
by then a rich collection of
her sketched designs. She

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would frequent a boutique
called Panchali, owned
by actress Shanadha, and
managed by Mrs. Nair, with
whom she became very
close friends. She met a
tailor at this boutique so
she bought block printed
handloom cottons, mix
and match salwaar kameez
materials, and got the tailor
to make salwaars to her
design specifications. Happy
with the result, a highly
excited Sheila showed the
salwaars to Mrs. Nair, who
persuaded her to put them
up for sale at the boutique.
The salwaars sold out
quickly and Sheila knew
her designs worked. Mrs.
Nair showed her how to
calculate the cost and add
a percentage as profit, and
then there was no looking
back, for her designs were
already in demand.
She was soon in active
business, supplying first
to Panchali, and later on
to other boutiques. Thus
Sheila became a wholesaler,
from the garage of her two
storied house in Kilpauk.
That was 1986 and there
was no looking back.
As a child, her father had
taught her to drive so
she got a car, scoured the
interiors and outskirts of
Chennai, seeking artisans,
craftsmen and tailors to
make her designs come
to life. There was so much
demand for her designs
that she had over 30 people
working in her garage.
The first few years were
tough on her. The purchase,
design and delivery in
Nungambakkom, was
done in between picking
up and dropping children
to school. Her husband
was supportive as long as
family matters were taken
care of, so she had to single
handedly balance parenting
and her passion for design.
Being in Chennai, she
enjoyed the anonymity a
big city provides and could
focus more on her work
without distractions. It was
a demanding period but she
persevered.
Then the family moved
from the Kilpauk house
to a newly allotted official
residence. That was when
she rented a place and
moved her workplace. Now
it was more difficult juggling
children and the business.
Her husband was too busy
so she was single-handedly
managing the chaos of
bringing up children while
running a tailoring unit. She
was fortunate to have good
housemaids so she was
saved from the drudgery of
daily cooking.
Her work was an
experiment in the play of
colours on Kanchi cotton
and Mangalgiri cottons that
showcased intricate designs
and patterns. Chennai was
Sheila’s boot camp; she
was independent and her
discovery of wholesalers
like Grieto and Company
was a learning experience.
She was a quick learner

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and built up sufficient
goodwill and repute within
two years, while balancing
the pressures of running
a family and business
simultaneously.
In 1988, her husband
was transferred to
Thiruvananthapuram, his
home town. Sheila was in
a quandary, both families
wanted her to move but
leaving Chennai would
mean giving up her passion
and the goodwill she’d
built by then. She tried her
best to get the family to
continue in Chennai. The
opposition was stiff, for
nobody understood her
passion, and with a sinking
heart, she realized she
would have to close shop.
She also learned there was
a certain resentment of her
success and was shocked
that her work at the
boutique was seen only as a
money making venture.
The good rapport she
had with her tailors
paid off and 10 of them
agreed to move with her
to Thiruvananthapuram.
Her family pitched in and
helped out by building a
tailoring unit at a shed
in PTP Nagar, on their
family property. Sheila
is beautiful, dignified
and sophisticated but
underneath all this lies a
steel core of determination
and grit that has carried
her through thick and
thin. The move to Kerala
was a turning point on
the business front, for she
had to cut off the Chennai
connections and close down
her wholesale business.
She started with a 300
sq.feet exclusive boutique
in Sasthamangalam. The
only time, she used her
father’s influence was
when she got the film star,
Mammootty, to inaugurate
Body Tunes. Bridal saree
orders dominated the sales
and the business slowly
picked up momentum.
Then she moved on to
specializing in sarees, and in
2000, Czarina was born. Her
talented eldest daughter,
Shalini, who was also
interested and keen, helped
her to name the large
spacious showroom. Now
they have two shops on the
second floor of the Catholic
Centre near General
Hospital junction. Body
Tunes, which continues
mainly as an outlet for
Mantra kurtis, her eldest
daughter, Shalini’s brand.
Shalini is also a successful
young business woman
with her brand Mantra
selling in all main shopping
malls of Cochin.
Sheila also paints which is
not unusual considering
her natural talent for
design. Her paintings have
been in two exhibitions, in
Thiruvananthapuram, and
were widely appreciated.
She did a life-size portrait
of her father, a snapshot
of which hangs above her
desk.
Sheila is indeed a role
model for independent
women seeking to balance
a successful career and

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family life, against all odds.
She successfully built up her
business and established
a sound reputation in
garment design. Now
the business has grown,
and she has matured
gracefully through the
wealth of her experience
and determination. She
continues to work late, till 8
pm, and she still makes it a
point to travel and visit her
artisans at least once a year.
Talking to Sheila, I am
impressed by her steadfast
dedication and hard work.
She is not overtly ambitious
but continues to rise at a
steady pace, in all walks of
life. What impressed me
most was how she achieved
all this single-handedly, as
a young, married woman
in the 1980s, a time when
Indian women were
only emerging from the
drudgery and boredom of
housework.
Sheila is a widely travelled
person and the exposure
she’s had to different
cultures has broadened
her outlook and helped
her greatly in charting the
route of her life and career.
She uses text messages on
mobile phones, and social
media for marketing her
products in a focused and
contemporary way.
Czarina is located in a
quite neighborhood with
ample car parking, giving
customers the peace and
quiet to choose what they
want.
Sheila cannot imagine
life without her shop.
She admits, however, the
best things in life are her
beautiful children but her
real baby, the boutique,
gave her an identity,
purpose and fulfillment that
nobody quite understood
till now.

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The frightening level of
waste mismanagement
Just before one year from
now Thiruvananthapuram
has witnessed a series
of strikes related to the
garbage management
issues and the tussle with
the residents of the city
suburb Vilappilsaala which
has become a serious
law-and-order problem
for the government. 2011
was a terrible year for the
city when the one and only
Garbage disposal plant
had to be closed due to
the protests and out-cries
from the society because
of the mismanagement of
the plant. The city started
stinking, the garbage heaps
are seen everywhere
and the citizens had no
other choice but to throw
garbage on to the streets.
Even people started
throwing garbage into
others compound as part of
their frustration and certain
cases of personal rivalry.
Criticisms from the public
The worst ever
mismanagement in the
segment has invited
severe criticisms from
the citizens and people
from different walks of
life. Thiruvananthapuram
corporation authorities
were in a real time trauma
during the period of
protests and the inability
to dispose the garbage
anywhere in the city or in
the suburbs.
The initiatives of
Thiruvananthapuram
Corporation
Gaining strength from
the toughest ever
situations, the Corporation
authorities have initiated
a ‘Decentralized Waste
Management system’. The
program was massive in
Thiruvananthapuram: The Swatch City
The Second Cleanest In The Country
METROUPDATE
Overcoming from the garbage management crisis, once a stinking
city is now has become the second cleanest capital city in India after
Bangalore city. As part of the Swatch Bharat Abhiyaan or Clean
India Mission launched last year by the Prime Minister of India, the
Union Government have made the evaluation and announced the
results. The appraisal was done based on the effectiveness of waste
management in the cities as well as the success in bringing control
on throwing garbage outside.

nature as 2500 people
including NGO workers
and volunteers took up the
door-to-door campaign
in educating the best
waste management
practices to the citizens.
One of the methodologies
adapted by the team
is that encouraging
people to segregate the
biodegradable litter from
the waste and reuse at their
own homes as compost.
The system has been
successfully implemented
in the city which resulted in
ensuring effective garbage
management system
at source. Challenges
are still ahead for the
administration as there is
still resistance from the
public in accepting the
concept.
A strong statement
Kochi also has been
mentioned as the
4th cleanest city
in India along with
ThiruvananthapuramThis
is one of the strongest
statements a state could
make in response to
the call by the Prime
Minister for a Swatch
Bharat Abhiyaan. Out of
476 cities in the country,
Thiruvananthapuram and
Kochi stood in the top 10
and Kozhikode figuring 5th
among other major cities.

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Kochi-based Intersight
Tours and Travels took the
award for the Best Inbound
Tour Operator to Kerala, as
the 2013-14 State Tourism
Awards were announced
today.
The winners for Best Three
Star, Four Star and Five
Star Hotels are Alappuzha’s
Marari Beach, Kovalam-
based Uday Samudra
Leisure Beach Hotel and Spa
and the Kumarakom Lake
Resort respectively. The
Raviz Hotel’s Leela Kovalam
is the Best Five Start Deluxe
Hotel. Coconut Lagoon in
Kumarakom won for Best
Heritage Hotel.
The winners, for the 27
awards in three categories,
were selected by a jury
chaired by the Tourism
Secretary from a short list
drawn up by an expert
committee.
Somatheeram Ayurvedic
Beach Resort bagged the
Best Approved & Classified
Ayurvedic Centre title. The
House Boat Operator is
Rainbow Cruises, while the
Homestay is Coconut Creek
Farm and Homestay in
Kumarakom and the Best
Approved & Classified
Serviced Villa is Munnar’s
British County.
Kovalam Vivanta by Taj’s
Kerala State Tourism Awards
METROUPDATE
Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel took the award for the Best Four
Star and The Raviz Hotel’s Leela Kovalam is the Best Five Star Deluxe.

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Mathew C Thomas is
the Best Hotel Manager.
The Best Tourism/Hotel
Management Institute is
Oriental School of Hotel
Management, Wayanad.
Mathrubhumi Yathra’s
senior sub editor G Jyothilal
took the prize for the Best
Tourism Related Report
in print media, while
Mathrubhumi newspaper’s
senior news photographer
C Biju won for Best
Photography in the Tourism
Sector. Green Leaf was
selected as Best Tourism
Related Magazine.
The Waterworld Live
Museum at the Main Boat
Jetty in Ernakulam is the
Most Innovative Project
in Tourism, while the
Somatheeram Ayurveda
Group won for the Most
Innovative use of IT in
Tourism.
Ourland Island Backwater
Resort in Punnapra has
been recognised for Best
Practices in the field of
Responsible Tourism.
Kochi’s Kalypso Adventures
won for Best Adventure
Tourism Operator. Tirur’s
PPTMYHSS Cherur won
for Best Tourism Club,
while Abdul Hameed of
the same school won for
Best Teacher Coordinator
of Tourism Club. Danish C
from Malappuram’s MUA
College took the title of
Best Student Coordinator of
Tourism Club.
Sanal Kumar A G from
Paravur and Ganeshan S
from Alappuzha are Best
Tourism Police, while Virjin
S from Thiruvananthapuram
and Charlson P from Kannur
are Best Tourism Lifeguard.
Kannur’s Ajayakumar N R is
the Best Tourism Guide. The
Best Tourism Destination is
Wonder La in Kochi.
This year, a new certificate
of recognition for a new
initiative among service
providers was announced.
That went to Malappuram’s
Teak Town Serviced Villa.

Mathew Thomas joined
the Taj Group in 1980. A
hard core Taj loyalist, he
has tread many paths in
his illustrious career with
the group. He worked in
various hotels of the chain
including overseas hotels
like Taj Sheba in Yemen
and Airport Garden Hotel
in Colombo. A frequent
recipient of various awards
for his outstanding efforts
in the field of hospitality,
this recent award, for Best
Hotel Manager 2013-14
by Kerala State Tourism, is
another feather to his cap.
During his stint as General
Manager in The Gateway
Hotel in Vishakhapatanam
the hotel won the award
for Best 5 Star Hotels for
tourism promotion in
2003 by Chief Minister
Chandrababu Naidu. Later
when he moved as GM
of The Gateway Hotel in
Ernakulam, the hotel won
the Best 5 Star Hotel Award
for 2 consecutive years in
2005 and 2006. Last year,
Vivanta by Taj Green Cove
Kovalam won the Kerala
State Energy Conservation
Award-2014 in the Building
Category in appreciation
of the commendable
achievements towards
Energy Conservation and
Management. The globally
recognized hospitality
network, Trip Advisor which
had awarded Certificate of
Excellence to Vivanta by Taj
Green Cove Kovalam during
the last 3 consecutive years
had further recognized the
hotel by endowing it with
the Trip Advisor Hall of
Fame Award-2015. Thomas
has been a key member in
various forums which work
towards the betterment of
tourism in the state and the
hospitality industry at large.
He is a prominent member
of the Kerala Travel Mart as
Managing and Organizing
Committee member from
2011 onwards.”
Mathew Thomas wins the Best Hotel Manager
Award during Kerala State Tourism Awards

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Koliakkode Krishnan Nair,
the M L A has inaugurated
the programs in their
Trivandrum showroom. As
part of the celebrations, the
Managing Director Kallingal
Shafeeq has announced
various Onam purchase
offers to the customers.
During this Onam season,
the consumers who buy a
Bajaj Motor Cycle will get
a Helmet from Aerostar
worth rupees 650/- and for
those who but a Bajaj Auto
Rickshaw will get five years
free road tax and Free
insurance. Rupees 40,000/-
cash exchange offer will be
given to those who buy a
Tata Nano GenX. Apart from
the above, every purchaser
will be given a gold coin as
part of the Onam offer.
Kallingal Shafeeq- the
Managing Director, Sam
Devanandan- G. M Kallingal
Tata Service, Saju. R
Nair- Kallingal Showroom
Manager and Geevarghese-
Kallingal Business Manager
were present during
the function. For more
information: Mobile: +91
98473 14441.
Onam Celebration at
Kallingal Motors
METROUPDATE
Kallingal motors, one of the major Automobile dealers in
the state have commenced their Onam Proseprity Festival
programs 2015.

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In compliance with the
provisions of Indian tobacco
control law COTPA, 2003,
the Transport Commissioner
Smt R Sreelekha has issued
directions to all Deputy
Transport Commissioners,
Regional Transport
Officers and Joint Regional
Transport Officers to take
action against any instances
of smoking in public
conveyances, bus depots
and transport bus stands.
Officials including and
above Ticket Conductors
/Collectors have been
authorised under COTPA
to fine smokers in public
conveyances. Violations can
invite a fine of up to Rs 200.
Pictorial ‘No Smoking’
signages have to be
displayed in all public
vehicles at a prominent
place, as mandated by
Section 4 of the Act.
Inspections for vehicle
registration and fitness
certificate issuance will
check that the said pictorial
signages are exhibited in
the vehicle.
Similarly, directions have
been issued to ensure that
there are no direct and
indirect advertisements,
sponsorship of tobacco
products on public
conveyances, as mandated
by Section 5 of COTPA.
Transport Commissioner
has also ordered that
offences under COTPA –
violations of Section 4 and
5 – will form part of the
monthly checking report
of the Department. These
directions are binding on
all public conveyances
including autos, taxis, and
private buses.
Transport Services in Kerala to Become
Tobacco Smoke-Free and Cotpa Compliant
METROUPDATE
After becoming India’s first tobacco advertisement-free state, Kerala is
fast heading to be the first in the country to have its transport services
free from the noxious, carbon-monoxide laden tobacco smoke. A series
of far-reaching directions issued under the leadership of Hon’ble Kerala
Transport Minister Shri Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan by the surface
and water transport wings in the last couple of months are significant
in propelling Kerala to the forefront in public health.

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Kerala, India. Keeping the trends in the IT industry in mind, the
company has its focus on new-age web designing and
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@ Web Designining & Development
Graphics & Animation
Content Management System
E-Commerce Development
Social Media Optimisation (SMO)
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

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UTSAV, the flagship
event of the Infosys
Thiruvananthapuram
Development Center,
brings together over 4000
employees under the single
canopy of festivity and
unlimited entertainment.
Organized for the 11th year
in a row, the event started
off with the traditional
Shingari Melam in the
presence of employees and
senior leaders of the DC.
During the week
long fair, the Infosys
Thiruvananthapuram
Development Center will
organize an array of events
and competitions such as
Food mela, Athapookalam,
Uriyadi, Onappattu along
with customary sports like,
Archery and Tug of War.
Speaking of the
celebrations, Sunil
Jose – Development
Center Head, Infosys
Thiruvananthapuram, said:
“Beyond the competition
and festivities, the most
significant achievement
of UTSAV is that it brings
in a spirit of camaraderie
among the employees of
the Development Center.
The showcase of talent
and display of incredible
teamwork is a true sign of
success of such events.”
Infosys Thiruvananthapuram Celebrates Onam
Through its Annual Cultural Program, UTSAV
METROUPDATE
Infosys Thiruvananthapuram Development Center today inaugurated its
annual cultural program, UTSAV, to celebrate the spirit of Onam.

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The key objectives of
‘Bridging the Digital Divide
– Vision 2020’ include
transforming Kerala into a
digital knowledge society
to achieve sustainable
economic growth, making
accessible the digital
infrastructure to all at
affordable cost, attracting
more investments and
promoting the IT export
of the state.
Another major objective
of Vision 2020 is to
ensure that the various
e-services offered by the
government are availed
by the people and achieve
social harmony and high
quality of life for all, with
inclusion of disadvantaged
sections of society, said Mr
P K Kunhalikutty, Hon’ble
Minister for Industries
and IT.
“Vision 2020 has the
potential to ensure willful
participation of all sections
of the society which,
in turn, would prevent
the less privileged from
getting marginalized. It is
also aimed at promoting
entrepreneurship
and generating more
for the youth,” he pointed
out.
Mr. P H Kurian, Principal
Secretary, Industries and
IT, Government of Kerala,
said the four major pillars
that contributed to the
gradual evolution of Kerala
Kerala Plans ‘Vision 2020’ to
Bridge The Digital Divide
METROUPDATE
Leveraging the phenomenal initiatives aimed at making Kerala a ‘Digitally
Empowered’ society, the state government has now set in motion an ambitious
policy framework that aims to bridge the digital divide by 2020 and make it
the country’s first ‘digitally literate’ state.

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into a truly digital society
are Akshaya Project, IT@
School project, digital
infrastructure availability,
and State Data Centre and
allied applications.
The Akshaya Project,
launched in 2002, was
piloted in Malappuram with
the objective of opening
the doors of digital literacy
to at least one member
in each family.
Followed by its
t r e m e n d o u s
success, it was
later replicated in
all other districts
of the state.
“We are greatly
enthused by the success of
Akshaya project, which has
so far made e- literate 33
lakh out of nearly 75 Lakhs
households. Akshayas have
grown in stature, with more
than 2300 centres across
the State covering both
rural & urban areas, taking
e-governance to citizen’s
doorstep,” he said.
Likewise, the IT@School
initiative, also launched
in 2002, started with the
objective of making more
than four lakh students
graduating from schools
every year a computer
literate. The project has
so far turned more than
39 lakhs students spread
around 12,600 schools of
Kerala with the high level of
computer literacy.
In a major initiative to
revolutionize the school
education sector, Kerala
became the first state in
the country to introduce
Digital Collaborative Texts
(DCTs) under IT @ School.
The DCTs comprise of
information contributed by
persons around the globe
in audio or video formats,
besides the scanned copy
of normal textbooks.
Over 3.7 million students
and about more than
two lakh teachers in the
government-run schools are
to benefit from this project.
As for establishment of
digital infrastructure,
Kerala had roped in leading
telecom players during
the period 2001- 2010,
resulting in the state
occupying the pole position
in the country in terms
of its Optical Fibre Cable
(OFC) coverage – a vital
imperative for bridging the
digital divide.
Kerala has a vast OFC
network of which BSNL
had contributed majorly
covering 20,000 km,
followed by Reliance
(8500 km), and other
major players being Airtel,
Vodafone,
Idea and
Tata (nearly
3225 km put
together).
With rising
digital literacy
among people
and availability of digital
infrastructure, there was
a rising demand to deliver
services through Akshaya
Centres. To meet the
demand, the government
has now built more than 80
e-Governance applications
and established a State
Data Centre.
“We have now taken
our digital initiatives to
a qualitatively higher
level. Kerala has started
e-Governance in ‘Cloud’
SDC (2), becoming the
second cloud-enabled Data
Centre in the country,” he
pointed out.

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The Chief Minister was
speaking after inaugurating
the distribution of
Startup Boxes to the 50
young mobile application
developers as part of
the Youth Entrepreneurs
Scheme (YES) 2015, of
which the Kerala Startup
Mission (KSUM) is the
implementing agency.
Putting forward a
development strategy for
the state, the Chief Minister
said that the vibrant
business environment
created by the young
generation entrepreneurs
and experienced NRKs
can transform Kerala
to a developed state by
2030. “The top student
entrepreneurs, selected for
the startup boxes should
aim to become top startups
in India within one year”,
he said.
In an earlier function
held in the morning Shri
P K Kunhalikutty who
inaugurated the idea contest
said that “We will promote
all pragmatic ideas and the
theme of the state is “Yes
We Can”, in the context of
YES 2015. The Chief Minister
released the logo of the YES
2015 in the function.
Chief Secretary Shri Jiji
Thomson launched the
newly designed web portal
for KSUM, the nodal agency
Government Aims to Create Billion-Dollar
Campus Startups: CM
METROUPDATE
The state Government is working on a master plan to create
a billion dollar campus startups in the near future, said Chief
MinisterShriOommenChandy.

for several schemes and
programmes for young
enterprises in the state.
The new website will act
as a single online platform
that connects students-
entrepreneurs, mentors,
professionals and investors
across the world. Aimed
at accelerating the startup
boom, the portal will
also act as a gateway to
numerous initiatives for
schools, colleges and start-
up companies.
Kicking off with boxes for
mobile applications, the
Startup Boxes Project is
designed to distribute
startup kits to various
technology and industry
verticals. The boxes have
vital gadgets for mobile
application developers to
get started- a MacBook,
iPhone, Google Nexus,
Kindles, and Arduino starter
kit.
“Young entrepreneurs,
who have the spirit of
innovation, can change
Kerala’s dependent
economy to a productive
one,” said Shri P H Kurian.
Shri PH Kurian IAS,
Secretary to the
department of IT and
Industries; Shri Sanjay
Vijayakumar, Chairman,
Startup Village and Dr
Jayashankar Prasad, CEO,
Startup Mission were
present at the occasion.
The beneficiaries for the
Startup Boxes project
were selected through
Fintec program, which
was launched by the
startup village and Federal
Bank to develop banking
technologies.

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Kerala Chief Minister
Oommen Chandy today
announced a Rs. 997.65
crore comprehensive
development project to
assist the Technopark
and its satellite centres in
infrastructure development,
land acquisition and
marketing in the next five
years.
Speaking after inaugurating
the function held at
Technopark campus to
honour the visionaries
and the administrators
behind India’s first and the
largest IT Park, he said :
the project would cover
the Technopark’s phase-I,
phase-II and phase-III
campuses, Technocity and
the Kollam Technopark,
which is the satellite centre.
“The project will
be approved by the
government soon”, he said.
In this context, Mr Chandy
referred to the proposed
Rs 1500 crore investment
project by IT giant Taurus
in Technopark’s phase-
III campus, and said
it has been approved
by the Ministry and the
construction activities
would commence
immediately. “The huge
development scheme
combined with the large
scale investments will make
a big-leap in Kerala’s IT
industry”, he added.
Addressing the
concerns raised by
several stakeholders of
Technopark, Minister
for IT and Industries Shri
PK Kunhalikkutty, who
presided over the function,
announced the decision
to roll-back the rent-hike
in the Park. “Technopark’s
development model, which
is the biggest and the
brightest success story of
Kerala, could be replicated
and in several other fields”,
he added.
In his special address,
1000CroreWorthComprehensiveDevelopment
Scheme for Technopark
TECHMART
Chief Minister honours the visionaries
of TechnoPark

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Technopark founder CEO
Shri G Vijaya Raghavan,
who is also a member
of the state planning
board, went down the
memory lane to recollect
the story behind the
Technopark. “The concept
of Technopark originates
in a 1989 meeting held at
the Government Guest
House in Thycaudu and
the credit goes to three
great visionaries – the then
Chief Minister EK Nayanar,
KR Gowri Amma and KPP
Nambiar. “, he said.
Recollecting some initial
issues with trade unions, he
said that Technopark had
always been fair and firm
regarding labour issues.
“The entire project had
always been seen beyond
political affiliations, and all
successive governments
supported Technopark
in a big way”. He also
appreciated thousands
of construction workers
and hundreds of head
load laboures, who
cooperated sincerely with
the Technopark during its
constructions.
Visionaries behind
Technopark’s success
story including Shri Vijaya
Raghavan and Shri PK
Kunhalikkutty, first project
implementation team
members, Members of the
first governing board and
the founding team of India’s
first IT Parks were honoured
on the occasion.
Prathidwani, a forum of
Technopark employees,
handed over a letter of
consent signed by 1000
employees volunteering for
organ donation to the Chief
Minister in the function.
“The forum began their
campaign just few days
back and the number of
volunteers is expected to
touch 3000 in the next two
days”, said Technopark
CEO Shri KG Girish Babu.
A cheque of Rs 75,000
pooled by the employees
of a car washing company
in Technopark was donated
to chief minister for the
welfare of cancer patients.
Mr PH Kurian,
Principal Secretary
to the Department
of IT and Industries;
Adv. K Chandrika,
Thiruvananthapuram
Corporation Mayor ; Shri
MA Wahid, MLA; Shri VK
Mathews, Chairman, GTECH
were also present.
The official event was
followed by a live
performance by the music
band Thaikkudam Bridge.
In the wake of Technopark
celebrating its silver
jubilee, an extended
series of events have been
planned which included the
inauguration of the new
Rs 2.5-crore solid waste
management plant, the
new security control room
and laying of the foundation
stone for the largest IT
building in the Phase I
campus of Technopark
during the month of
August.

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The acceptance will be
handed over to the Chinese
Ambassador to India H.E
Le Yucheng in the presence
of Shri Oommen Chandy,
Hon`ble Chief Minister of
Kerala tomorrow at Govt
Guest House, Ernakulam.
It was at a meeting
between Kerala Chief
Secretary Shri Jiji Thomson
and Beijing Mayor Wang
Anshun, who is also the
chairman of WTCF Council,
held on the sidelines of
recent BITE expo in Beijing,
that Wang Anshun invited
Kochi to join WTCF.
“We expect that joining
the league will be a great
step towards strengthening
the association between
Beijing and Kerala. The
Government of Kerala is
honoured by this invitation
and has decided to accept
the invitation,” said Kerala
Tourism Minister Shri A P
Anil Kumar.
In a letter sent to the
government, WTCF Chief
had said “As the Chairman
of the WTCF Council, I
sincerely invite you to join
the WTCF. I believe that,
by joining the WTCF, you
will bring and share your
successful experience in
the development of the
tourism industry with all
other members of the
federation.”
“The WTCF acts in
accordance with the core
idea of Better City
Life Through Tourism.
The membership will
enable us to share
experiences in the
development of the
tourism industry and
explore new tourism
markets,” said Chief
Secretary Shri Jiji
Thomson.
State Tourism Secretary
Shri G Kamala Vardhana
Rao said Kerala would be
able to upgrade the level
of tourism industry as the
WTCF was into promoting
the coordinated economic
and social development of
the world’s tourism cities.
WTCF is a non-profit, non-
governmental international
organization voluntarily
formed by tourism cities
and organizations of various
countries and regions from
around the world. The
WTCF was formerly founded
in Beijing on September
I5, 2012, and is the first
international tourism
organization to take cities as
its focus in the entire world.
Kochi to Become Member of Beijing-Based
World Tourism Cities Federation
METROFOCUS
Kochi will soon become a member of Beijing-headquartered World Tourism
Cities Federation (WTCF) Council as Kerala Government has decided to
accept the invitation extended by WTCF to Kochi to be a member of the
Council which is aimed at creating a global platform for cooperation and
development of tourism.

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അതിനായി നമുക്കു സ്വയം അർപ്ികാം

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Metro Mart August 2015

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