KERALA

Over 50% preterm babies need neonatal ICU admission: Study

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More than a half of thepreterm babies those born alive before 37 weeks ofpregnancy requireneonatal intensive care unit(NICU) admission. In contrast, only 7% of term babies neededNICUadmission. In preterm babies, there were also concerns aboutGrowth retardationandabnormalities, shows a study fromKerala.

Kerala has shown a downward trend of neonatal mortality in 6 per 1,000 live births, infant mortality in 7 per 1,000 live births and maternal mortality rates in 43 per 1,00,000 live births. The decline of infant mortality rates has shifted the focus now to perinatal mortality rates which is a good indicator of the quality of care for both mother and child.

This resulted in not only lower birth weight Average birth weight of 2kg in preterm babies compared to 3.1kg among term babies but fetal outcomes were also poor with 2% deaths compared to none in the control group. About 5% of preterm babies had intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), 7% had a cardiac abnormality, 3% had renal abnormalities and 3% had respiratory distress.

State ensures hassle-free entry for startups: Min

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Minister for law, industries and coir P Rajeeve has hailed the startup ecosystem inKeralarating it as the best in Asia.

He said that an interaction withIndian Electronics and Semiconductor Association(IESA) at the recentDefence Exporevealed that Kerala is the only place where companies can come with their products straightaway whereas a formal submission of brochures and posters initially is required in other states.
Noting that a whirlwind of change is happening in the IT sector in Kerala, Rajeeve said that Cognizance Technologies opened its 1.5 lakh sq ft facility in Kochi, Tata Elxsi has 50% workforce in Kerala andTata Consultancy Servicesis setting up 36-acre campus near Infopark at Kakkanad.

Malabar to have literary tourism circuit

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The state has made its foray into literary tourism by announcing plans to set up a Malabar Literary Circuit, which is billed as the first literary tourism circuit in the country, in the budget. Literary tourism allows travelers with a literary bent of mind to trail their favourite authors and locales associated with their literary works. Countries like the United Kingdom have capitalized on literary tourism in a big way by showcasing a string of locales associated with literary giants like Shakespeares birthplace in Stratford upon Avon and Thomas Hardys Dorset, among many others.

The Malabar Literary Circuit will connect destinations like Thunchan Parambu in Tirur,the birthplace of Thunchanth Ezhuthachan, the father of Malayalam language, Beypore in Kozhikode, which houses the residences of Beypore Sultan, Vaikom Muhammed Basheer, Thasrak, the village in Palakkad on which the imaginary land of Khasak where O V Vijayans masterpiece novel Khasakkinte Ithihasam is set, and Ponnani, Thrithala and the banks of Bharathapuzha linked to the life and works of eminent writer M T Vasudevan Nair.

The government has earmarked Rs 50 crore for setting up two new tourism circuits in the budget, the other being the circuit connecting places such as Ashtamudi Lake, Munroethuruth, Kottarakara, Meenpidipara, Muttara Maruthimala, Jadayu Rock, Thenmala and Achancovil in Kollam district.

No new ayurveda college in Kerala in past 3 years: RTI

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Kerala, that takes pride in its ayurvedic tradition and aggressively markets it overseas, has not received permission to set up a new ayurveda college in the state in the past three years.

In the academic year 2020-21, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine granted permission to only one college in India to start Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course. In 2021-22, the numbers jumped to 35 and this academic year 47 colleges were given permission to start BAMS courses. However, most colleges are in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka.

According to the experts in ayurveda, the main reason for this is the ‘s decision not to set up any new private Ayurveda college in the state as it has reached stagnation. Another major reason is decreasing interest for the BAMS course.

New Species Of Spider And Millipede In Kerala

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Researchers from Christ College, Irinjalakuda’s Department of Zoology, identified a new spider species in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and a new millipede species on the University of Calicut’s Tenhipalam campus.

Highlights:

Carrhotus tholpettyensis is a new species of spider discovered from the moist deciduous forest of the Tholpetty range of wildlife sanctuary in the Western Ghats.

It’s a nocturnal jumping spider, which retreats to cover under leaves during daytime. It comes out only during already dark for feeding. As of now, 287 species of jumping spiders are reported from India.

Capitulating to the persistent demand from the Kerala government, the Union Rural Development Ministry has lifted the restriction on number of simultaneous work in a gram panchayat for the State. In a written letter to the State government on Friday, the Ministry has said that instead of existing cap of 20 simultaneous works per gram panchayat, the State can have up to 50.

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The Centre had directed the States, by an order in July this year, that the muster roll for new work may not be issued if 20 number of works are available in a gram panchayat. The only exception, which were not counted in this 20 were works under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Gramin (PMAYG).

The State has been warring with the Centre on the issue since the directions were issued July. M.B. Rajesh, Minister for Local Self-government, wrote a letter to the Union Rural Development Minister on October 31,urging the Ministry to consider the restrictions for panchayat wards instead of Panchayats in States like Kerala, where the panchayats are quite big in terms of geographical area and Population.

Land conversion: Kerala govt earns Rs 447 crore

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In the last one year, the government earned Rs 447 crore throughland conversionin the state, revenue ministerK Rajansaid in the assembly.

As per the details of the settlement of land, there were 30 lakhs acre ofpaddy landin the state. In 1970, the extent was 20 lakh acre and when the area of paddy land was assessed 14 years ago, the extent had reduced to 5 lakh acre.

The minister said that to address environmental issues and the reduction in area of farming land, the government had to introduce the act against conversion of paddy land and wetland in 2008. As per provisions of the act, while the conversion of wetland has been completely banned, paddy land can be filled only for construction of houses and for public purposes. Families that have no land other than paddy land are allowed to fill paddy land up to 10 cents in panchayat areas and up to five cents in areas to construct houses, subject to conditions.

Focus on domestic tourism spots in State

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Since domestic tourism is the buzzword these days, Destination Challenge rolled out by the Tourism Department to promote sites off the tourist trail is garnering great response.

LSGs across the State have identified an array of destinations beyond the usual hotspots and the Department has received around 150 solid applications within a short span of time.

While Thrissur district has come up with 25 destinations, Malappuram has 19 and Idukki has 16 spots with untapped potential. From the projects received, a State-level committee will shortlist the best and at present the process is progressing. While local bodies can come up with projects with varying budgets, Tourism Department will provide 60% (maximum 50 lakh) of the total project cost. Many local bodies have submitted multiple projects and the major criteria for selecting destinations include connectivity, eco-friendliness and sustainability.

Right education is key to peace, says Kerala Governor

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KeralaGovernor Arif Mohammed Khan on Friday emphasised that right Education is the key to peace in Society and said India’s spiritual gurus across geographies, who emerged from time to time, reinstalled values on dignity and divinity.

“Peace is something that does not come easily. Right education is the key to peace. Peace is essentially rooted in liberal and generous conduct of human beings,” he said while inaugurating the three-day annual conference of Sri Vishnu Mohan Foundation, a non-profit research foundation here, dedicated to probing inter-disciplinary and inter-faith approaches to rediscover, formulate and create pathways to transform lives and create harmony.

The Governor said Indian scriptures have highlighted the values of knowledge and education, besides the problems arising out of ignorance. They encouraged the people to pursue knowledge.

Kerala has most Covid deaths per million per week

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Keralanow has the highest deaths per million per week in the country. Between July 25 and 31, Kerala reported 24 deaths per million per week, whileMaharashtracame second with 12 deaths, followed by Odisha with 9 deaths. Indias Average is around 2 deaths per million per week.

Keralas seven-day average daily Growth rate is 0.61% while Indias is 0.13%. States R-naught (Reproduction rate) is 1.28, with its daily active cases and deaths becoming the highest in the country.

Keralas Covid-19 mortality rate is going up and it is a concern. States mortality rate during the second wave was bigger than its mortality rate during the first wave.