Land, labour and migrations : understanding Kerala's economic modernity

This paper seeks to map out the historical trajectory leading to a series of migrations in and from the erstwhile princely state of Travancore during 1900-70 in order to acquire and bring land under cultivation. It argues that these migrations undertaken with a moralistic and paternal mission of reclaiming ‘empty’ spaces into productive locations were a result of a specific form of economic modernity in Kerala as beckoned by colonialism and appropriated by a resolute local agency through a process of translation. The attempt is to disentangle the intertwining history of colonialism, capital and ‘native’ agency and thereby to capture the complex circumstances that unleashed a new discourse of development with land and hard work at the centre of its scheme. The transition was facilitated by a conforming social imaginary that not only dissented radically with the idea of leaving landscape empty and being idle but also advocated passionately the idea of using the opulent natural resources for the development of the self and the nation. Leading the transition the Syrian Christians were successful in wielding a new subjectivity of development with a specific authority over the modernity of Kerala as purogamana karshakar (forward-looking peasants). Key words: Economic modernity, translation, objectification, social imaginary, migration, modernisation, development discourse. JEL Classification: N5, P16, O13, O1

मान्नार की खाडी में दक्षिण-पूर्व भारत तट की पादपप्लवक संपदाएं

कृपया पूरा लेखा पढ

Emigration of women domestic workers from Kerala : gender, state policy and the politics of movement

Restrictions imposed by the Government of India on the emigration of women in ‘unskilled’ categories such as domestic work are framed as measures intended to protect women from exploitation. Special protection for certain categories of emigrant women workers makes way for gendered conceptions of citizenship and sovereignty through the use of gender to assert control over space in ways that curtail women’s access to mobility and emigrant work opportunities. However, restrictions have directed potential migrants to the use of informal / illegal processes in connivance with state agencies. Whereas, intermediaries, including recruiting agents and government officials, profit from the use of informal / illegal processes by prospective emigrants and hence they have an interest in rendering these more effective than formal processes established by the state, we argue that the gender politics around movement provides an enabling condition for both state restrictions and the burgeoning of informal / illegal processes. To spell out the implications of state policy on emigrant women domestic workers, the paper compares their position and experience of migration with that of emigrant nurses on the one hand and outmigrant fish processing workers on the other. It also explores the nature of women’s agency involved when domestic workers resist state policy and social norms to emigrate through informal / illegal means. Key words: International Migration, Gender, Citizenship, State Policy, Domestic Workers. JEL Classification

Collection and estimation of zooplankton

Zooplankters are the diverse, delicate and often very beautiful assemblages of animals that drift in the waters of the world oceans. The name zooplankton is derived from the Greek: Zoon, animal; planktos, wandering. They play a key role in the marine food web by transferring the organic energy produced by the unicellular algae to higher trophic levels such as pelagic stocks. Because of their critical role as food source for larval and juvenile fish, the dynamics of zooplankton populations, their reproductive cycles, growth and survival rates are all important factors influencing recruitment of fish stocks and thereby the magnitude of fishery. Majority of them are microscopic, unicellular or multicellular forms with size ranging from a few microns to a millimeter or more. In addition to size variations, there are differences in morphological features and taxonomic position. The zooplankton plays an important role to study the faunal biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems

Phytoplankton - collection, estimation, classification and diversity

In the existing sampling methodology, the interest is to estimate gear-wise, species-wise landings for the state in a month, fishing effort according to different types of fishing boats and also in terms of man hours. The analysis is carried out at CMFRI headquarters. Before the data is processed for analysis it will be ensured that the data collection is made as per the approved schedule, by checking the appropriate proforma. The responsibilities and functions of staff at the headquarters are data coding, estimation and database management. The data analysis is computerised and estimates are made using the software developed by the Fishery Resources Assessment Division of the Institute. The processed data are again counter- checked for errors. When discrepancies are detected, the estimation procedure is scrutinised in detail

Estimation of ASO titer as an indicator of streptococcal infection precipitating acute adenolymphangitis in brugian lymphatic filariasis

Recurrent episodes of acute adenolymphangitis (ADL) are important clinical manifestations of lymphatic filariasis which contribute significantly to the progression of lymphedema. It is increasingly being recognized that secondary bacterial infections play an important role in the etiology of ADL. We examined the role of streptococcal infection as a precipitating factor of ADL in brugian filariasis, by determining the anti-streptolysin O (ASO) titers and by isolating the causative organism wherever possible. The study population consisted of 30 patients with filariasis related ADL (Group A), 30 patients with chronic filarial edema (Group B) and 60 age and sex matched healthy adults (Group C). ASO titer was estimated by the latex agglutination method at the time of entry into the study, at the 15th day and at 3,6 and 12 months. ASO titers were persistently elevated in 90% of patients in Group A and a portal of entry for bacterial infection was detected in all of these patients. In Group B only six patients had persistently elevated ASO titers. These patients had grade III lymphedema and three of them had monilial infections in the affected limb. In the control group none had persistently elevated ASO titers. The elevated ASO titers and the detection of a site of entry for bacteria in patients with ADL supports a streptococcal etiology for this condition

Overseas recruitment in India : structures, practices and remedies

This paper is drawn from an exploratory study aimed at assessing the efficiency of the existing institution for governing labour emigration in India with special reference to the overseas recruitment system. It traces the evolution of the current institution from the colonial times and foregrounds its discriminatory rationalities engendering enormous social cost. It tracks the difference between emigration through social network and recruiting agents and looks at the difference of cost and risk involved. By focusing on the unskilled and semi-skilled emigrations from India, the paper makes an endeavour to determine the discrepancy between the legal/policy structures and the prevailing practices of overseas recruitment, including strategies of circumventing legality. Drawing inputs from major stakeholders like intending emigrants, return emigrants, emigrant households, recruiting agents, Protectors of Emigrants, foreign employers, emigrant labourers and Indian Missions in select destination countries, it assesses the transaction costs of the present institution, identifies its major inadequacies and make recommendations for an alternative institutional framework that can effectively counter the many and varied illegitimate and dishonest activities which have sprung up in the field of emigration and ensure ethical practices in India’s overseas recruitment sector. Key words: emigration, recruitment, institution, social cost, transaction cost, social network, legality/illegality, protection, ECR/ ECNR JEL Classification : J21, J2

Heavy landings of the filefish Aluterus monoceros from the Gulf of Mannar

Heavy landings of the unicorn leatherjacket filefish, Aluterus monoceros (Linnaeus, 1758) was observed at Pamban Therkuvady fish landing centre, landed by trawlers operating in Gulf of Manna