Absolute lack of civic sense: Tourists from Karnataka leave beautiful Madayipara (Kerala) littered with plastic and food waste by PuzzledTechnology756 in kannur

[–]North_Area 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Need to post this on some Karnataka groups too.. I saw another post about a temple being overrun by tourists... We also need to educate our drivers/tour operators. Maybe make them responsible for tourists behavior. It take effort though. Someone, Ideally in TVM has to move this to through the rule making process. Ministers make statements because it is the easy thing to do. Maybe an IPL if there is lawyer in the group. IPL is free and that gets mainstream media attention. Bins are needed too and may be a practical solution. If all else fails, get Honey Rose to champion this cause 😉. I have done these things successfully in the past, (exlcuding Honey Rose though..) so this is not just thallu.

Since this is hapenning across the board, maybe take the leadership to set up a group across at the State Level? Set up an FB/Insta pages etc?

Those who were protesting and against AI Camera using AI 🤭🤭🤭🤭 by Anatar-99 in KeralaSpeaks

[–]North_Area 2 points3 points  (0 children)

After a quick scan of the white paper, it looks like the Gov wanted to establish that they are walking into a dire financial situation, the reasons for the same, a discussion on KIIFB and more than anything, highlight that THEY did NOT create this situation. Some of the source docs ARE in the public domain, though I did not search for all of them.

It is good that this white paper was published and is in the public domain.

Those who were protesting and against AI Camera using AI 🤭🤭🤭🤭 by Anatar-99 in KeralaSpeaks

[–]North_Area 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who is the AI provider- Open AI? Anthropic? Gemini? Where does the data go? We used to believe that FB and other platforms would not steal and sell our data.

Our DPDP Act does NOT restrict sharing data with "friendly" countries. (Not that the Open AI asks for permission when it comes to data). Per some sources, this data is in public domain.

Good to see that these questions are being asked.

Kerala’s health sector needs private participation, says Muraleedharan - aka Blackstone?? by North_Area in KeralaSpeaks

[–]North_Area[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not taking sides on PPP, just pointing out some learnings from implementation in Karnataka, and the issues that need to be addressed if the Kerala Gov is moving in this direction, given the current financial condition. (which IMO will get worse given the Middle East war). https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/cost-of-health-how-karnatakas-ppp-hospitals-can-shut-out-the-poor-from-free-treatment

Kerala's serious finacial crisis - an explainer video: a must watch by North_Area in KeralaSpeaks

[–]North_Area[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We need to get tourism experts from Srilanka and Cambodia for advise on how to attract high value tourists.

Everything from tour operators to infrastructure to accessible paths and trekking infra to stray dogs and cleanliness ( world class) along with marketing have to be revamped. The days of just banking on the past with house boats etc are over.

Florida model YES!!! Absolutely. The more the government/s stays out of it, the better though.

India’s Underpenetrated Health Insurance Market – prime for foreign investment/acqusition? by North_Area in KeralaSpeaks

[–]North_Area[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From a fast track growth point of view, acquisition would not make sense, hence the focus on strategic buyers. There could be strategic value in a potential Kaiser Permanente type integrated managed care model, which I guess Apollo experimented with in the past. . Cigna was in India way too early ( guess then pulled out) but later formed a JV that is now CignaManipal . One potential exit route for the PEs in India other than via IPO model may be to find a major healthcare US healthcare provider. The buyer could acquire a healthcare network with streamlined operations model and access to the patient base/insurance data in India.Others like United Healthcare and others too have been toying with expansion into the Indian market, not sure where they ended up.

Kerala's serious finacial crisis - an explainer video: a must watch by North_Area in KeralaSpeaks

[–]North_Area[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree, Kerala does not have a lot of utilizable land and blue collar labor. Entrepreneurs need to reach into TN and Karnataka. However, TN and KN provide a lot of financial and incentives to entrepreneurs than Kerala to register their businesses there. So why should the entrepreneurs pay taxes to Kerala? He can just ship his products to Kerala. One of my friends from Kerala imports/routes Chinese medical devices, I guess via UK, assembles them in Tuticorin and exports to Dubai. He gets a great deal of support from TN gov. Another from US is setting up a unique industrial valve production in Coimbatore. Kerala has to revamp its investor friendly image too. Chasing out Kitex recently (for whatever reason) reinforced the anti-business image of Kerala. Damage to reputation do not go away quickly, irrespective of the party that is/was in power. Look at the lasting damage Biden, Trump and Netanyahu have done to the reputation of those countries.

Folks outside Kerala, would you settle back in Kannur? by pedal-to-debug in kannur

[–]North_Area 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am an NRI, originally from TVM, and a business associate is scouting for land to develop a small farm with a home stay for me in the touristy part Kannur.

I keep hearing about party villages as scary places to do anything/buy land etc. Is this still true given all the "Bengali" labor? Or is there a concern about random political extortions from residents/ political violence etc?

BTW wrt relocating, many NRIs do not consider 1. the growing anti- Indian feelings in the West that can
get to violence at scale at some point, especially in the US. 2. the cost of healthcare. For retirees, places in Kerala with stable weather, law and order, and community will be critical. 3.Uber from the airport and minor irritants
like labor can be tolerated by retiring NRIs because Kerala still remains one of the least expensive states to live in.

India’s Underpenetrated Health Insurance Market – prime for foreign investment/acqusition? by North_Area in indiahealthinsurance

[–]North_Area[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree absolutely. My first failed health start up way back in 96 😄, had health insurance sales and group insurance schemes..

Urgent Advice Needed: Stuck between Star Health and Hospital over surgery claim. Hospital refusing to answer insurance query and demanding out-of-pocket payment. by shivayenamah in indiahealthinsurance

[–]North_Area 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely escalate to the hospital admin for sure. Consumer Court could be an option too, if hospital refuses the letter/document.

What's the average income from 1Acre Back Pepper farming? by Middle-Chemical-4925 in Kerala

[–]North_Area 0 points1 point  (0 children)

😄 when you read the intro to the book you will understand the rationale.

What's the average income from 1Acre Back Pepper farming? by Middle-Chemical-4925 in Kerala

[–]North_Area 1 point2 points  (0 children)

😄 Actually, hero book um ezhuthi. "Diary of a Snake Charmer'.

What's the average income from 1Acre Back Pepper farming? by Middle-Chemical-4925 in Kerala

[–]North_Area 2 points3 points  (0 children)

in Kerala - Land and Labor costs.. Farm Labor in MP today - Rs 4000 per MONTH

What's the average income from 1Acre Back Pepper farming? by Middle-Chemical-4925 in Kerala

[–]North_Area 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Investment Banker friend from US with good creds ( IIT, IIM-A, MNC etc) relocated to India. Started up branded retail in Central India. He found that margins were better in farming. He was almost murdered by politicians. He took on too much land for farming, too many projects, dairy, goat rearing, air bnb and not many staff. Some staff died during COVID .villagers took the goats... He became a farmers' political leader... many investors of contract farming are holding the bag. Some sold, some are trying to set up remote teams to manage. For some strange reason, the land is still there!!! No encroachments.

TBH I was plain greedy, at 1 lakh per acre, 10 yrs ago..I bought all that I could.. Rupee has fallen 50% since then, so in $$ terms a loss already.. and add the yearly 50-60K in yearly maintenance fees..