Tranquil beachside retreat close to the shore

Image Source: airbnb 

 I just went the need to write a post after seeing this beautiful airy house made with wood. The whole concept such a house embrace open space, nature, natural light, etc. 

After seeing this picture, I was thinking of this - wouldn't it be possible for our local carpenters, architects, designers, etc to come together to make similar model houses which can be lifted and placed in picturesque spots of kerala. 

What about such a house that could be close to a beach, where visitors can enjoy the full beauty of the location, yet give them modern amenities. 

Well, making this does involve costs but it could be kept low with low-cost materials, wood, etc. 

Now, imagine such a house by these locations:

- near St Andrews beach or Kapil beach in Trivandrum.
- At Bon Accord ( listed on airbnb site). The income from rentals could be used by tea estate workers in that location
- by Neyyar dam site 
- at a forest location inside Brimore area near Palode ( maintained by forest dept)

- Near Kallar area, Ponmudi
- At Munnar 
- By Ashtamudi kayal 
 and many such spots. 

What if each Panchayat office sponsors one such house to people with land and who has the education and who has undertaken training in hosting travelers! 

- Imagine if Kerala Govt launches a plan to construct and give 10,000 or 1 lakh such houses for tourists to stay at many spots in Kerala! Imagine, the income it can generate, the families it can benefit!

Let's dream big for a clean and green Kerala. Let's tap the natural beauty of our state - bringing sustainable tourism for the benefit of people! 

Btw, what are the keywords people use to search for such locations:

 Beach / Coastal Variations:

• Tranquil beachside retreat close to the shore
• Quiet coastal escape just steps from the sea
• Peaceful hideaway near a secluded beach

🌿 Backwater / River / Lake Variations:

• Serene backwater retreat nestled by the canals
• Lakeside escape tucked in quiet surroundings
• Calm river-view cottage near flowing waters

🌲 Forest / Hill / Tea Estate Variations:

• Forest-edge retreat wrapped in greenery
• Hill-view hideout with nature all around
• Quiet tea estate stay overlooking lush slopes
• Green hillside retreat with panoramic valley views

🌾 Countryside Variations:

• Rustic countryside retreat away from the noise
• Charming rural getaway in a peaceful village setting
• Country-style escape surrounded by fields and silence

Cabin house - one room house with bathroom, kitch

Container house - plan

Nanma Connect: Turning Leftovers Kanji into Lifelines for the Hungry ( Community Kitchen Project)

 

Nanma Connect 

"It was a simple, ordinary moment. I recently started the habit of taking hot rice water — kanji — something which used to be common in South India. As I sipped it, feeling the warmth and mild starch settle in my stomach, a thought struck me.

This nourishing drink, full of energy and comfort, is something thousands of households in cities like Trivandrum throw away every day — down the drain, without a second thought. ( same in our households till last week when I started to drink it)

And that’s when it hit me. What if this ‘waste’ could become a life-giving meal for someone who doesn’t know where their next food is coming from? What if we could connect kitchens, communities, and compassion through one forgotten resource — kanji?

That moment became the seed of an idea — a voluntary food-sharing project where households contribute their leftover rice water, which is then collected, tracked through an app, and distributed to people in need at clean, community spaces in busy public areas. A simple system, built on empathy and structure, that could turn everyday waste into daily sustenance.

📍 1. Mission Statement

Transform the discarded rice water (kanji vellam) into a community-fed energy supplement for undernourished and low-income individuals, through a volunteer-driven collection and distribution system.

 2. Core Components

• Household Participation
• Households sign up voluntarily to donate rice water.
• Each family is required to purchase a standard stainless-steel thermal container for hygienic collection.

• Collection Volunteers
• Volunteers from the locality are assigned specific routes.
• They collect the hot kanji in insulated carriers and update status via the app.

Mobile App & Tracking Portal

A simple app is developed with three user roles:

• Donors (households)
• Collectors (volunteers)
• Distributors/Admins

Real-time tracking of collection, storage, and distribution.

App will also show donor households, pickup status, and distribution centers.

Distribution Centers ("NAMA Kendrams")

• Clean, open-air, shaded, garden-style community spaces.
• Each center has chairs, handwash stations, clean toilets, and a koi fish tank for aesthetic comfort.
• Locations: High footfall areas like Trivandrum Medical College, East Fort, KSRTC Bus Stand.

Food Menu & Service

• Main offering: Free or token-based rice + sambar/egg/dal meal (rotating menu).
• Rice water is served as an energy drink, optionally with salt, curry leaves, or jeera.

Weekly Pilot Operations

• Operates 5 days a week (Monday–Friday).
• Saturdays reserved for volunteer meetings, feedback, and SOP refinement.

Nutrition Value of Rice Water

• Rich in starch, B-complex vitamins, and simple carbs — a low-cost energy drink.
• Helps hydrate, energize, and soothe digestive issues — valuable for the elderly, daily wage workers, and undernourished people.
• Can be enhanced with ginger, cumin, or salt for better taste and digestion.

Volunteer Structure

• Core volunteers manage: tech, route management, food hygiene, and community outreach.
• Retired teachers, nurses, ex-govt workers, homemakers encouraged to join.
• Local architects can help design the space.

Fundraising & Transparency

• Donations collected via the portal (individuals, expats, businesses).
• Live reporting of daily collection, meals served, volunteer hours contributed.
• Display “Today’s Meal” at each distribution point with funding details (like Indira Canteen).
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Guidelines for food hygiene, container use, volunteer duties, app use, and meal distribution.
• Emergency protocols and weekly quality checks.

 3. Pilot Launch Plan

• Target Locality: One ward/area in Trivandrum with high density of housing.
• Start with 30–50 households donating kanji.
• Serve one location (e.g., near Medical College or Uloor).

Measure:

• Quantity collected
• People fed
• Volunteer time
• Feedback from recipients and donors

 4. Growth Potential

• Can expand across cities like Kochi, Madurai, Coimbatore, etc.
• Potential for including boiled rice, leftover safe food from events.
• Tie up with Indira Canteen-like setups for partial funding or infrastructure support.
• Local colleges or NSS units can integrate student volunteering.

 5. Why It Matters

• Reduces food waste at the household level.
• Restores dignity by offering food in clean, peaceful settings.
• Builds community trust and participation.
• Fills a gap for those who aren’t starving, but skip meals due to cost or access.

Canteen Observations at SUT Pattom: Suggestions for a Quieter, Cleaner, and More Comfortable Space

 

SUT Hospital Canteen

To

The Hospital Administration,

SUT Pattom Hospital,

Trivandrum.

Subject: Feedback and Suggestions Regarding the Hospital Canteen Facilities

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am a regular visitor to SUT Pattom and have always appreciated the care offered at your facility. During my recent visit for a blood test, I stopped by the hospital canteen for a cup of coffee, as I often do. While I’ve previously noticed a few discomforts, this time I felt compelled to write to you, as some of these issues are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.

Below are some observations and suggestions that I hope you will consider to improve the overall comfort and experience for patients, visitors, and staff who use the canteen:

Seating and Furniture:

Uncomfortable Chairs: The current chairs in the canteen have flat wooden bases. While they are polished and compact, they are not ergonomically suited for comfortable seating, especially for those who may already be under physical stress. I kindly suggest exploring the possibility of replacing them with more comfortable alternatives that offer better support.

Missing Rubber Bushes on Chair Legs: Many metal chairs are missing their rubber bushes, causing a loud screeching noise when moved. This not only disturbs the peaceful environment of the hospital but also adds to the discomfort of the users. Replacing these with rubber leg caps would be a small but highly impactful change.

Table Suitability: The current tables do not seem suitable for a food-serving food. It appears as if old-fashioned tables were remodeled with marble slabs. A review and potential replacement with more practical dining tables would enhance the dining experience.

Sound Management:

Noise from Utensil Handling: Staff members often handle stainless steel vessels in a manner that produces loud banging and clanking sounds. A gentle reminder to staff to be mindful and careful when handling utensils could significantly reduce this noise and maintain a more soothing atmosphere.

Food and Hygiene Improvements:

Quality of Idli & Sambar: Serving fluffier, steaming idlis in the morning would be a welcome improvement. Though I haven't had idli from here for a long time, I feel idli should be the typical boring and hard ones. So, investing in an idli-making machine could help ensure consistency, fluffiness and also reduce manual effort. Apart from the sambar, idli podi can be an addon to serve. 

Sterilization of Plates: If possible, installing a sterilization unit for stainless steel plates could improve hygiene, simplify staff workflow, and reassure visitors about food safety.

Availability of Masks and Sanitizers: Keeping a these items in the canteen billing section would help in cross-selling the items to canteen customers. It becomes easy to purchase face masks and pocket-sized sanitizers without visiting the pharmacy. 

Another useful time-saving gadget for hospital is a mask/sanitizer vending machine. It can be kept in an area close to the pharmacy or where there are footfalls. 

Positive Note:

Lastly, I want to express my appreciation for the improvements in the garden area near the entrance of the hospital. The Buddha statue, the pond, and the plants with red flowers on a rocky surface have added a very calming and welcoming feel to the hospital environment. Whether it's a result of new management or the work of a talented gardener, it certainly deserves recognition and a pat on the back.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this feedback. I hope these suggestions help in continuing to provide a comforting and healing environment for everyone visiting SUT Pattom.

Warm regards,

Building Kerala’s First Psychiatry Knowledge Hub: A Digital Leap for Mental Health Awareness

 I live close to the home and clinic of a well-known psychiatrist. Every day, I watch a steady stream of people coming and going from his consultation. A few wear visible signs of distress — furrowed brows, anxious body language, restless pacing. But most blend into the crowd, their struggles tucked behind calm expressions — much like you or me on any ordinary day.

The psychiatrist himself is a senior practitioner, managing his entire clinic alone. It often makes me wonder: how does he engage with each patient? How does he listen, diagnose, and decide on treatment — whether it’s medication, therapy, or simple reassurance?

As a layperson with growing curiosity, I started thinking about the types of mental health conditions he might be treating. Anxiety? Depression? OCD? ADHD? SEXUAL - Arousal disorders, Relationship stress, Drug Abuse? The list could be long and diverse. But does he maintain any data? Does he track patterns over time?

Given that he works independently, I imagine he must be dealing case-by-case, not storing any cookies of any patient. But what if there was a way to organize the information — not for surveillance, but for insight? Probably this data could be used by other young psychiatric doctors.

What if he kept a basic log of the issues reported by patients? Over time, even a simple digital tool could generate a tag cloud or issue frequency chart — offering a bird’s eye view of the common mental health concerns in his practice. ( Btw, is there a specific software for such doctors to track or monitor patient information) Probably! 

What if he had an assistant to help document recurring patterns and generate informative content based on real-life cases (with full privacy, of course)? A small, dedicated website could serve as a resource — offering reading material, guides, or FAQs that could be printed and handed to patients after their session.

Even small steps like these could lead to meaningful change — not just in how mental health is treated, but in how it is understood, discussed, and destigmatized. And this sparked a larger thought: what if institutions like Trivandrum Medical College took this idea and scaled it for public benefit! 

The Reality on the Ground - Patients at Medical College Psychiatry Dept 

From students and working professionals to homemakers and retirees, mental health issues span demographics. While private practitioners are doing commendable work, they often operate solo — managing consultations, prescriptions, and follow-ups single-handedly. There’s little time left to document trends, build awareness, or support patients with post-consultation educational resources.

Now, imagine the power of a well-structured digital system — a platform that not only logs trends but educates, collaborates, and grows into a living, breathing mental health repository. This is where institutions like Trivandrum Medical College can lead by example.

A Digital Mental Health Ecosystem: A 16 Plus Point Roadmap

1. Begin with the Right Tools

Equip the Psychiatry Department with essential digital tools — a paid ChatGPT subscription for AI-assisted content generation, and Canva Pro for graphic design and visual content creation.

U.S. Example: Stanford University’s Center for Youth Mental Health uses AI-based tools to prepare data summaries and educational material for their outreach programs.

2. Build a Government-Backed Digital Portal

For this portal to be truly useful, vibrant, and user-friendly, it’s best to minimize direct government control over its design and day-to-day management. In many cases, government-led projects tend to involve multiple committees, leading to slow decision-making and diluted vision due to too many conflicting opinions.

Additionally, it's advisable to avoid assigning the portal’s development to standard government agencies like NIC or state-level IT cells. While competent in administrative systems, these agencies often produce sites that are overly functional, outdated in design, and lacking in user experience — more like a digital version of a PWD building than a modern, engaging platform.

Instead, partnering with professional web development firms like TCS or Infosys or WIPRO with experience in healthcare or education portals will ensure the site is dynamic, intuitive, and designed with the end-user in mind.

Set up a professionally developed website or portal managed by a government health body or a public trust. Seek CSR funding from IT giants like TCS, Infosys, or Wipro to cover initial development and maintenance costs.

 Best Practice: The NIH (National Institutes of Health) in the US regularly collaborates with tech firms for research portals and educational sites.

3. Tap into Alumni Networks for Initial Funding

Reach out to the college’s alumni — both MBBS and MD graduates. Many would be willing to contribute towards the purchase of laptops, software subscriptions, and web hosting costs.

4. Assign Content Creation Teams

PG students, interns, or faculty volunteers can be grouped into teams. Each team is responsible for researching, generating, and editing content on specific mental health topics, from common issues like anxiety to rare psychiatric disorders.

Apart from the content ideas and raw topics from medical students, we require a content team ( volunteers and paid team members to run such a project). 

• A blog-writing assistant creates content based on the input given
• A social media assistant creates poster and content for website, blog, social media
• A  repurposing assistant converts the content into bite-sized content for other channels
• Editing assistant ( checking the content, translating it into Malayalam using online tools, and proof checking) 
• Student volunteers from undergraduate and postgraduate programs in Journalism, Mass Communication, and Media Studies.

5. Use AI as a Co-Researcher

Train students to use ChatGPT and other AI tools effectively. This includes crafting precise prompts to generate accurate, research-backed articles. AI can help in summarizing journal articles, translating medical jargon, and even drafting case studies.

6. Daily Updates to the Website & Social Media

Push content to the website and cross-post on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter). Before launch, study the layouts of leading health education platforms like:

• Cleveland Clinic
• WebMD
• Mayo Clinic

7. Segmented Content Access

The portal should have three distinct content sections:

• For the Public – in plain language with visuals and videos
• For Students – technical content, case studies, presentations
• For Researchers – access to citations, data sets, rare case archives

8. Hire a Portal Assistant

Appoint a junior staff or intern responsible for collating the content created by students and uploading them in a reader-friendly, SEO-optimized format. ( Look for volunteers and experts from tech industry who can spent their time) 

9. Translate for Local Reach

Use tools like ChatGPT or DeepL for initial Malayalam translations. Then have native-language volunteers or faculty proofread the content before publication.

10. Visual Design Using Canva

Each content post should include:

• Social Media Posters ( sharable ones of FB, Stories, etc)
• Awareness posters
• Short videos or animated explainers
• Reels and stories for Instagram and Facebook

 Inspiration: The University of Michigan’s Depression Center regularly posts digestible video content for public health awareness.

11. Data-Driven Insights from Case Logs

Maintain anonymized logs of patient complaints and diagnosis. At the end of each month, generate trend reports showing:

• Common mental health issues treated
• Age/gender-wise segmentation
• Seasonal spikes (exam stress, postnatal depression, etc.)
• Use this to inform outreach and content planning.

12. Establish a Digital Library

Create an indexed and searchable knowledge archive — just like Yale’s digital collection. Each record should include:

• Summary articles
• Peer-reviewed sources
• Case snapshots (anonymized)
• Downloadable guides and handouts

13. Educational Videos on YouTube

Launch a dedicated YouTube channel for the department. Post:

• Patient education videos
• Short 1-min explainers
• Faculty talks
• Animated mental health tips

 US Example: Johns Hopkins Psychiatry posts webinars and Q&A sessions with their mental health professionals, driving both trust and education.

14. Build Global Collaborations

Use the portal as a digital handshake to collaborate with psychiatry departments in international medical schools. Exchange of case studies, tele-lectures, and even student seminars can follow.

15. Donation & Crowdfunding Gateway

Include a donation page where individuals and alumni can contribute to the psychiatry department’s efforts — fund for buying research journal access, printing brochures, developing new content formats, or hosting awareness events.

16. Mental Health Campaigns Every Month

Rather than generic campaigns, run focused month-long campaigns:

• January: Exam Stress
• March: Women’s Mental Health
• June: Depression & Monsoon Blues
• October: World Mental Health Day (big push)

Content should include public awareness videos, free downloadables, mini-quizzes, and interactive webinars.

Why This Matters

The beauty of this vision lies in its scalability. What starts in Trivandrum Medical College could become a model for other government medical colleges across Kerala — and even nationally.

By combining AI, student enthusiasm, faculty guidance, and tech support, we can create a mental health resource that serves everyone: the distressed teenager, the anxious parent, the curious student, and the committed psychiatrist.

 Final Thought: We’re not just creating a website or uploading content. We’re building a living mental health encyclopedia — made in Kerala, powered by students, and designed to help everyone feel a little less alone or help in their journey of life.

P.S - This plan on paper looks exhaustive. However, a small step could be taken - step-by-step walk to a larger digital library. All the content could help institutions like Trivandrum Medical College to collect and create a large source of content around mental health, wellness and self-care.

P.S.S - This article is written using ChatGPT. It's based on the prompt based on my observation, on what I had been thinking for a long-time. 

A Simple Fix KSEB Can Implement Today!

 Dear KSEB Officer,

This is something many of us go through every time the power goes out.

We call the section office.

And what do we hear?

📞 "The number you’ve dialed is busy..."

Again and again. For 20... 30... 40 minutes. Then we give up.

Can this be improved? Yes, and here's a simple suggestion:

➡️ Instead of a busy tone, let a recorded voice update callers:

📢 “Power to Medical College area is affected due to maintenance work and will be restored by 8 PM.”

Just one message. It can save thousands of calls and anxious customers from guessing and waiting in the dark—literally.

Here are two easy ways KSEB can keep citizens informed:

1️⃣ Set up auto voice updates on landline calls – Coordinate with BSNL to play recorded updates instead of busy tones.

2️⃣ Use WhatsApp Status & DP – Each section can post outage updates as status or image. Creating a poster takes just 2 minutes on Canva!

These two platforms—calls and WhatsApp—are what most people already use. You don’t need apps or alerts. Just clear updates when it matters most.

We know power restoration takes time. But good communication can restore peace of mind instantly.

These steps would:

• Reduce the number of enquiry calls to KSEB offices,
• Increase public satisfaction,
• Save time for both consumers and staff,

Thank you for your service and for considering this suggestion. Hope these thoughts are helpful in improving your public interaction systems.

🙏 Hoping this reaches the right ears. This fix is simple, doable, and citizen-friendly.

Cargo Container Ship Sinkage and Potential Enviornment Issue in Kerala Coastal

Is it for Real?

At our house, we haven't bought fish for the whole week. Also, today we are skipping it. This is quite unusual in our household, where its normal to have some type of fish curry on most days of the week. 

The reason we avoided buying fish is the fear of contamination due to the sinking of the ship off the coast of Kollam. Also, the containers were carrying hazardous materials. 

In our Kerala, it's typical for govt to issue directives for each-and-every thing. However, I found not much communication coming from the govt side. Probably, b'cos I don't watch news! Did you see any govt spokesperson briefing about the fallout of this container ship which sank in our coast. 

Now that Pollution Control Board has declared that it's safe to have fish and that contamination has not happened! Can we believe what they say? 

- Did they test different samples of marine life
- Did they test the sand where the containers has washed ashore 
- Did they test the water from the sea

Did they consult with the central agencies, International community, scientists who are known to give a better verdict on this? 

Btw, which is the global standards about such pollution finding mechanism? Did they check with their rule book? What was the protocol they followed and did they public their finding and made it public!


These are just my questions! 

Btw, the image source: manoromanews.com 

 

Think Critically? But how?

Critical Thinking

 I'm not sure if this is called critical thinking. Any ways, I found this line from a blog post and made it into a poster for myself!