CHANGING EATING HABITS

 Vironi Ouso Manayath was a young widow in our locality. She was an enterprising lady. In 1970s she started a bakery business. Her bread and cookies were popular in all the nearby Islands. Her second son, Thomas, was a member of the public library and was an avid reader. He helped his mother by supplying the baked goods she made to her varied customers in all the Islands. Vironi also installed a Ratt, a spinning wheel, to make coir yarn, which kept her children engaged. It helped them to eke out their living. Later her eldest son, Antony, got a job in the Cochin Port Trust.  This was a great relief as he could take care of the affairs of the family well.

It is amazing to observe the changes in the eating hsbits of the Islanders. Unlike in the earlier days, there are ten bakeries now; some of them are well furnished with clean glass cupboards. By around half past ten in the mornings, a lot of delicious snacks and varied chips fried in ghee or coconut oil, certain snacks with varied fillings, puffs and sandwiches with varied fillings, cake, halwa, other sweets, pastries with cocoa toppings, cookies and bread would be put on display. These would disappear in an hour or two. These bakeries too offer beverages and fresh juices.

“Globalization” has improved job prospects and prosperity in countries like India. The apparent improvement in the diets of people in India especially in Kerala, the domain of Malayalis, is, no doubt, a healthy trend in our economy. I have noted that health and physique especially the height and weight of the new generation are improving. The increasing demand for better nutrition and better food has to be met and the central and state governments have to focus their attention on better production in agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, poultry and farming to avert a food crisis. Quality control is another significant factor to be looked into. We have to improve our ware-houses, transport system and distribution system to make agricultural and other products reach the ultimate consumer at affordable prices. There should be adequate supply of food grains, vegetables and other gooddies commensurate with the demand. This would   enable the government to arrest the spiraling prices. If there is shortage of an item of food, necessary quantity of such item should be imported to maintain the price in the market. With the surplus produced, if any, we should be able to help the poorer nations in the world.

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

“PRESERVE ANCIENT KNOW-HOW”

The Ernakulam Market was a hub of activity. Bullock carts bringing vegetables and fruits especially from Puthencruz, Kizhakkambalam and Muvattupuzha area were unloading their goods on the eastern side of the market. What came to my mind was how I used to try to hang behind these bullock carts on my way to church in Muttuchira.  Bullock carts were very common there. They are rough and tough and they could withstand any hard terrain. They do not require any formatted roads. Without much effort they can move over pot holes, rubbles or even cross streams, hills and valleys.

The development of industries necessitated the bringing of large quantity of raw materials to the factories and the manufactured goods were to be transported to wide markets and ports. The government invested huge amounts to build national highways, bridges and other tarred macadamized road net works to make transportation easier. The bullock carts were substituted by heavy trucks and buses to speed up the transport of goods and passengers.

However, it is significant to keep and maintain the ancient know-how which may be useful in case of a calamity. The government should take care to preserve the manual skills and the skilled for the future generations to come. The highly qualified technocrats and technicians among the Amish People of the United States of America still preserve their ancient knowledge, expertise and skill. They feel that someday they may require all of them. Beware when culture blossoms into civilization, there may be chance for a fall. 

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

A VISIT TO THE ERNAKULAM SOUTH RAILWAY JN.

The Ernakulam South Railway Station was another attraction. It was not as extensive as it is now. There were trains going to the South only up to Trivandrum. To the North the farthest point was Madras. If one’s destination was beyond that, like New Delhi, a connecting train, Jayanti Janatha, had to be taken from Madras to reach New Delhi. The duration of the journey too was very long, three long days on the train, as the steam engines used then could not move any faster. I was amazed to note that the huge engine operated with the application of steam power. ‘Ammachi’ told us, “James Watt was the inventor who devised the first closed cylinder with a piston pushed back and forth by steam. It was George Stephenson who constructed the first practical locomotive in 1814. It was the Raja of Cochin who invested huge amounts to extend the railway line from Thrissur to Cochin.”

It is pertinent to note that large quantities of timber were used for laying the teak sleepers in our extensive railway net work. It was officially estimated that almost   two thousand trees were required per mile of railway line. ‘Ammachi’ told me, “Railway net work was essential for the colonial trade and for the movement of imperial troops. The British colonialists indiscriminately felled and removed large quantity of valuable timber like Teak, Rosewood and others from areas like Parambikulam Forest in Kerala to build their ships, palatial bungalows and furniture; and for fuel in their locomotives, brick and tile factories.”

 I noticed that the railway station areas as well as the passengers coming out of the train were dirty, because of the smoke emitted by the steam engine. The railway station compound too was dirty with cow dung and urine. All these sights of the town were very interesting to us, young children. We could not stay longer than eight o’clock at night as the last boat back home was around half past eight.

I am amazed at the speedy developments in the Southern Railway during the   last three decades. The teak wood sleepers were substituted by concrete beam support; narrow gauge lines were changed to broad gauge lines; steam engines gave way for diesel engines and now electric powered engines have become common. It increased speed and reduced distance by time. It helped the speedy transportation of goods. The railway is the biggest employer in the country. Lakhs of commuters and passengers make use of this transport which is comparatively economical.

In order to further speed up traffic in the longer routes from the South via Kottayam to the Northern destinations like New-Delhi, Bombay, Kolkotha and other places, a new straight railway line, avoiding the circuitous route through Ernakulam, having a length of hardly 10 kilometers should be constructed in between Trippunithura and Kalamassery  stations via Kakkanad Civil Station limit. This will ease pressure of floating population in Ernakulam South and North railway stations and at least two hours time can be saved for passengers going in the longer routes. Stops may be provided at Trippunithura and Kalamassery or Aluva stations to reduce the inconvenience of passengers. Rajadhani Express train may be run on Alleppy route on alternate days for the convenience of passengers from Ernakulam as well. Those who alight at Trippunithra or Kalamassery or Aluva can make use of the proposed Metro services coming up shortly. I sincerely hope that wisdom would prevail upon the politicians and the authorities concerned. It shall not be delayed on parochial considerations.

The Railways as a service oriented body, should give high priority in enhancing the safety of their passengers, improving amenities provided at railway stations, such as ticketing, catering and cabin quality. 

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITATION

          The changes in the environment like climatic variations; pollution of air and water; stress and strain of body and mind; other hereditary problems; and modern trends in food habits like eating fast foods are the major reasons that create health problems for the people.

The general health of the people of Kumbalam has improved with literacy. Due to torrential rains and excessive humidity of the atmosphere, May 15^th to November 15^th is the unhealthiest period for very old people and the young children, who play in the rain. The dampness and chill caused rheumatism, cold, cough, fever, and pneumonia. Diarrhea and dysentery too occur. It is the time for doctors especially the allopathic physicians to make their quick buck. As the exploitation has increased, I have noted people going to the medical shops to buy medicines without any prescription and consume it. The use of medicines especially anti-biotic is very high in our state which has badly affected the immunity and health of our people. However this practice of self-medication is not advisable.

During my childhood days there were some people, both men and women, having heavy legs like an elephant due to a disease called elephantiasis, which was spread by Culex mosquitoes. This was common in the water-logged and swampy areas of the delta region. Now this is under control except very rare specimens. Now “Chicken Gunia” and “Viral fever” are the two grave fevers that affect young and old alike during monsoon days. Children are affected by round worms as well.

Epidemics like cholera are unheard of nowadays. Small-pox too was completely eradicated by vaccination drive by the government.  Chicken-pox makes its presence felt during sweltering summer. There are some epileptic and insane persons in our Islands; they need free medical attention and perennial supply of medicines.

The blind, deaf, crippled, widows and unmarried women in our Islands have started getting pensions and other benefits from the government. They too are entitled for a decent living.

We have an allopathic public health centre at Panangad with few beds and resident doctors. The people at the northern areas of Kumbalam go to public health centre at Nettoor as well. The poor patients cannot afford medicines, the prices are very prohibitive. The government is duty bound to make available adequate medicines free of costs to the poor. An Ayurvedic hospital with a doctor is servicing the people. The Islanders request for a resident Ayurvedic doctor to serve them.

The poor folk in our Islands lack sanitation facilities. They may be given liberal loans to construct toilets, bath rooms and sewage tanks. This will avert pollution of water bodies especially Vembanad Backwaters. Canals shall be constructed on all road sides to drain out dirty water and excess water during monsoon; and keep it clean. The local authorities and the public health department may construct public lavatories and bath rooms and see that it is maintained properly. Make awareness among the Islanders not to litter in public places; and not to throw waste on their neighbour’s property. They should not only keep their premises clean and tidy but also keep the land, air, water and keep the total village clean and this would help in the improvement of Islander’s health.

          I have noticed that pollution of the environment is a serious problem which has to be curtailed at the source itself. All plastic wastes, as far as possible, should be reused or recycled. It is definitely the duty of the administration to find suitable ways to recycle the non-bio-degradable wastes and / or ban such items totally in the larger interest of the state to protect the environment. The government should make proper arrangements for disposal of large quantity of garbage from markets, hotel wastes and rubbish from hospitals. The local authorities are justified in charging reasonable fees and charges from such hotels, restaurants and other business places. Littering in public places should be fined heavily to deter such individuals.

I would like to appreciate the earnest efforts taken by the government to give subsidy through local administration to erect compost pits and bio-gas plants in an effort to reduce pollution is also commendable.

Excerpts from

NEED OF THE HOUR

by

Joseph J. Thayamkeril

Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.