THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 17 February 2007 — The new Haj House being built near the Kozhikode International Airport would be completed before the next Haj, Minister for Local Self-Government, Haj and Auqaf, Paloli Mohammed Kutty, said.
“We would extend all possible help to the Haj Committee to ensure prompt completion of the building. The Haj Committee needs the support of the people in its endeavor to make the pilgrimage comfortable and smooth every year,” Kutty said while laying the foundation for the Haj House. The Haj complex that will serve as a facilitation center providing lodging and travel facilities will help people going for Haj from north Kerala and Lakshadweep islands.
Kerala Tops in Issuing Passports
Kerala leads the rest of India in the issuance of the number of passports thanks to the large-scale migration to the Gulf countries. A record 616,906 passports were issued from three passport offices in the state, according to figures provided by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Kozhikode office issued 272,804 passports followed by Kochi with 196,097 and Thiruvananthapuram with 148,005.
According the officials, the passport office here receives around 700 new applications everyday and issues 600 passports. Kerala that receives some 260 billion rupees as remittances every year is the only state in the country to have four full-fledged passport offices, with the fourth one having opened in Malappuram district in north Kerala recently.
Herbal Mixture for Cancer Patients
The Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology here has claimed producing a herbal mixture to control the painful side effects of radiation treatment suffered by oral cancer patients. “It’s like a mouthwash or a health care product. Gargling it gives the patient immediate relief,” said RGCB director Dr. M. Radhakrishna Pillai.
The mouthwash is expected to be in the market in six months and it will be available at less than a rupee a dose, giving much relief to the oral cancer patients. The research group says similar drugs in the US are priced at $200 a dose. “We have approached the Department of Ayush, which funded the research with aid from the World Health Organization, to apply for a patent. Once it’s patented, we will license it for commercial development,” Pillai said.
Oral cancer is a painful disease, and radiation treatment affects the saliva glands, leading to difficulty in swallowing and digestion. The new mixture induces saliva flow, and, being anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, it reduces pain considerably. Doctors at the Regional Cancer Center here say they receive patients as young as 10 with precancerous growths due to years of chewing tobacco.
Sri Lankan Traffickers Get Jail
A court here has sentenced three Sri Lankan nationals to 10 to 13 years in prison and a fine of 100,000 rupees each (or two additional years) for possession of 9.4 kg of heroin. Officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Subash, Kuberan and Shanthi with three packets of heroin concealed inside their handbags at a local bus station. Prosecutors say the men were attempting to smuggle the narcotic to Sri Lanka.
Shutdown Call Evokes Poor Response
The one-day shutdown called by a section of clergymen to protest police action against them evoked a poor response with shops and businesses refusing to participate in the shutdown. However, the educational institutions run by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church remained closed throughout the state.
