THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 7 July 2007 — Kerala has urged the federal authorities to increase the state’s Haj quota to meet the growing demand this year. “We have received more than 20,000 applications this year but the state’s quota remains at 6,177. This is barely enough to meet the growing demand. We received 6,000 more applications this year,” Minister for Local Administration Paloli Mohammed Kutty, who is also in charge of Haj affairs, said here yesterday. “The waiting list is growing. Last year, more than 5,000 people missed the chance. We have to give preference to them as well,” he added, urging the Central Haj Committee to increase the state’s quota. He said out of India’s quota of 150,000 approved by the Kingdom this year, the federal authorities have set apart 47,000 seats for the private operators who levy exorbitant fee on pilgrims. “The government should take back these seats and give them to the states according to the demand,” he said.
Cultural Calendar
Traditional art forms of Kerala, including dance and dance-based performances, will be featured at the yearlong “Utsav” as part of steps to promote Kerala as a popular tourist destination. Kerala Tourism is preparing a cultural calendar containing the venues, dates and performances to be sent to tour operators and agencies abroad. Those interested in visiting Kerala and knowing more about the art form can find out the details in the calendar and plan their visits accordingly.
Strong Rupee Hits Expats
The federal government must provide sops to the Non-Resident Keralites (NRK) who are struggling due to the constant appreciation of the rupee, Kerala’s Finance Minister Dr. Thomas Isaac told the state assembly. “We are all aware that with the rupee strengthening, those withdrawing from non-resident accounts here would get less than what they used to get previously,” Isaac said. “The central government has provided sops to exporters who have suffered on account of rupee appreciation and in the same way we can now ask them to help the NRKs by way of a package,” he said.
CIAL, CUSAT to Ink MOU
The Cochin International Airport Ltd. will train students of the Cochin University of Science and Technology from next academic year. Both the institutions would soon sign a memorandum of understanding for starting joint academic programs in the aviation sector at the diploma and degree levels.
