| Kerala |
Crackdown on religious rackets
The year began with a crackdown on religious rackets
starting with the arrest of self-styled godman Santhosh
Madhavan on several charges including rape.
The powerful Catholic Church in the state got a rude
shock when two priests and a nun were arrested by the CBI in
connection with the sensational murder of young nun Sister
Abhaya at a convent in Kottayam in 1992.
The death of the nun kicked up a row amid allegations
that she had been victim of sexual harassment by a senior
sister in the same convent.
In another issue that marred the image of the Church,
Bishop of Kochi, John Thottunkal was divested of his
administrative and pastoral duties after he adopted a woman in
her 30s as his spiritual daughter and accommodated her at the
bishop house.
Tourism tumbles
On account of global economic downturn, tourism, which
registered impressive growth in previous years, is estimated
to suffer 20 to 25 per cent business loss this year.
Commercial crops come a cropper
The sharp crash in price of natural rubber cast a shadow
over the state, which accounts for 90 percent of the
country`s total production. Commercial crops, spices and
marine products went in for a bad patch.
Foodgrain shortage
The consumer-state of Kerala faced a grim foodgrain
shortage with the Centre cutting its ration quota and supplies
in the open market from states like Andhra Pradesh coming down
sharply. The situation was managed by the State Civil Supplies
Corporation buying rice from West Bengal. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and his Cabinet colleagues even held a demonstration in New Delhi against the "Centre`s neglect" of the state, raising issues like cut in rice quota.
Power(less) crisis
Kerala also faced a severe power crisis on account of
deficient South West Monsoon and cut in state`s share from the
Central pool.
Sister Alphonso canonised
The Kerala Christians, who boast of a tradition to the
arrival of St Thomas in AD 52, cheered when Pope Benedict XVI
conferred sainthood on Sister Alphonsa, who lived a quiet life
of prayer and renouncement in the confines of a convent in the
Bharananganam village in Kottayam district last century.
The state witnessed celebrations, prayer meetings and
thanks-giving ceremonies as the Pontiff bestowed the honour on
Sister Alphonsa on October 12 marking the culmination of a
long-drawn canonisation process which began some 50 years ago.
Sister Alphonsa thus became the first Indian woman to be
pronounced saint by the Vatican.
Achutanandan’s unsavoury remarks
While the infighting in ruling CPI(M) kept resurfacing,
the inter-party tussles of the LDF coalition often dented the
image of the government headed by V S Achuthanandan, who
himself landed in trouble for making unsavoury remarks against
NSG commander Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was killed battling
terrorists during the Mumbai attacks.
The Chief Minister remarked that had it not been a martyr’s house even a dog would not have gone there. The remark camr after Major’s father angrily asked the CM to leave from his son’s funeral.
Kerala-Kashmir terrorism nexus
Though Kerala remained free from terrorist incidents, the death of four youths from the state in encounters in Kashmir exposed the existence of modules in the state recruiting youths for subversive operations.
Faultlines over educational reform
On educational front, the Church in Kerala had been on
collision course with the ruling LDF throughout the year.
The "reform" agenda of the LDF in the education sector
was opposed by the Church, which came out against denying it a
role in running educational institutions and infusing the
curriculum with "atheist and materialist" content.
The state witnessed a prolonged agitation over a
controversial portion in VII standard Social Science textbook
called "Jeevan without religion". The church heads and the
Congress-led UDF dubbed it as an infringement on religious
freedom.
Parvathy Miss(ed) World
Parvathy Omanakuttan, hailing from Changanassery in
Kottayam, narrowly missed the Miss World crown, coming first
runners-up. But Parvathy`s own feeling was that the jury`s
decision to push her to the second position was `unfair`.
Bureau Report
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