CSR at CSS AKCAF Onakkazhcha 2010

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CSS has always been committed towards social welfare and empowerment of the Indian community residing in the UAE. AKCAF Onakkazhcha 2010 is the recent CSR event sponsored by Devas Holidays & Travel Services India Private Limited, a division of CSS Group. Hosted by the All Kerala Colleges Alumni Forum, UAE (AKCAF), Onakkazhcha 2010 is a celebration of the harvest festival: Onam, for Keralites worldwide. Onam is the biggest festival in the South Indian state of Kerala; it unites people from various walks of lives, irrespective of creed, caste, religion and political ideology. This harvest festival crossed borders and entered into the social life of the non-resident Indian community in the Gulf, especially in UAE. Several cultural events like traditional Onam feast, design of decorated flower carpets and wearing of traditional attire make the Onam season very special.

Affiliated to the Indian Community Welfare Committee (ICWC), AKCAF UAE was established in the year 1998, under the patronage of the Consulate General of India, Dubai. It is an integrated apex body of about 50 active alumni associations of Kerala colleges, possibly the largest socio-professional organization functioning in the UAE.

AKCAF Onakkazhcha 2010 will feature Athapookkalam (Flower Carpet) Competition on Friday, 17th September at Millineium School, Al Ghusais and Onam Grand Finale will be held on the following Friday, 24th September, 2010 at Al Nasr LeisureLand, Dubai. The Grand Finale will comprise vivid cultural events, traditional Ona-sadhya, procession, public function in the presence of celebrity guests like Padmashri O.N.V.Kurup, Padmashri Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, Stephen Devassy, Balabhaskar, Karunamoorthy, Ajeesh, Rejiya, Thari from Kerala and Consul General of India for Dubai, H.E. Sanjay Verma.

CSS Group is delighted to be a part of this auspicious celebration and wishes AKCAF Onakkazhcha 2010 great success.

Know me better

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This section of the CSS Portal awareness initiative shows how to use the Sailing Schedule module.

Sailing Schedule

The sailing schedule module lists the inbound as well as the outbound cargo schedules, this is mainly for the sea cargo operations. The sailing schedule module can also be used to book cargo in the listed schedules.

From the top ‘Select’ area you may choose the ‘Inbound’ or ‘Outbound’. Select the ‘ORIGIN’ port as well as the ‘DESTINATION’ port from the list and click on the ‘Search’ button to get the desired schedule.

The above listed schedule is a routed schedule via ‘KUWAIT’. You can even book cargo to this particular schedule by clicking on the ‘Book Now’ button’ which will take you to the ‘online booking’ screen with the selected schedule.

Go Green – Save Mother Earth Care for the environment

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There was once a very wealthy man – he had all the money but all the wrong money habits too – so he ensured that he eroded all his wealth – step by step – slowly but surely – till the day he knew that there is no recourse and that a financial disaster awaited him with a garland of orchids. So as his neck came closer and closer to this garland – he started to jabber even more and more about money – you know the oratory storm before the eternal lull of poverty

But why am I talking about this man – stupid me – slap myself – the IN thing to talk about today is going green – caring for the environment and all the jabber on the subject. So let me sound a little IN before you throw me OUT

Primitive man roamed naked – I mean free of inhibition. Then inhibition prevailed and he covered himself – with a little of greed lust fear anger and other clothing. Then many years passed. He got a second layer of clothes by Armani and Gucci. Now he is a doubly clothed superman playing with machines and moving fast ahead

At the same time as the above hierarchy, Nature was fully clothed with her own beauty. Then she was forced to shed her inhibition for feeding her children (we idiots) and started to get off these clothes – we helped strip her – slowly of all her minerals, forests, snow mountains, rivers, flaura and fauna. Once we saw her sensuous beauty, we abused her, 24*7*365 – for centuries. Today she is somebody who has nothing remaining – but for us and our concrete exhibits

We know of the above, so what. But we also know that our pit is dug, our garland is ready. And now our necks are nearing it with each passing day of DEVELOPMENT. So check your jabber, on Mother Earth – hahaha – on going Green – hahaha

I will attend your funeral and shed a tear too – don’t worry

Rahat Talreja -
Extreme writings & behaviour services

So Where Do We Go From Here

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When it comes to employment has our world become testing crazy? What with psychometric, personality, aptitude, verbal, spatial, emotional, mechanical, numerical and reasoning assessment tests, it certainly feels like it!  Maybe you might first look at the picture, think about it, and then see if you wished you had thought something different by time you have finished reading this article.

The value of testing, at job interviews and within human resource structures, is sometimes brought into question. This is especially so when one considers the offers of training available on the Internet to help “pass” these methods of evaluation. Surely if it is possible to train and get help then the whole raison d’être of testing is undermined? The one word which encompasses many of the tests is “psychometric” as the theories associated with this have been applied in the measurement of personality, attitudes, academic achievements and beliefs.

The use of such tests has become ubiquitous since they were first mooted in the late 1880’s to such an extent that their reliability and validity must be expertly evaluated. It is true to say that the use of psychometric testing, as part of recruitment procedures and staff assessments, is widespread. You may well ask, “Is it a waste of time training to pass such tests?” My reply would be a categorical, “Yes, it is a waste of time!” The whole idea is to find a position which mutually suits you and your employer. It is of little benefit to anyone if you end up in a job you cannot do well especially as it will probably mean you will be unhappy.

The easiest and best way to approach any of these tests is to be yourself. Relax and enjoy them. There actually isn’t any pass or fail as it is simply an assessment of your overall skills. Someone who is good at time management may not be as good at problem resolving. Equally someone who excels in decision making may not be so good at presentation.

A successful company needs personnel that, as a team, are able to provide all the necessary skills. It would take a miracle to find these all in one person. We all shine at something and it is the psychometric tests which will help identify this. It is useful for you to undertake your own psychometric appraisal in order for you to know and understand yourself better. Why leave it for others to find out? Knowing yourself puts you ahead of the rest. Some of my friends are now developing picture/visuals as a means of determining skills and motivation. If you have looked at the picture with this article and thought about it, what caught your eye first, second, third and do your subsequent thoughts give a clue to your profile skills? Did you look at the young girl on the right first (the groom)? Did you look at the driver on the left? Did you look at the ponies and then realise that the one on the right was a mule? Did you wonder where the picture was taken? Did you wonder about the sport?

No doubt you will appreciate that over a selection of pictures the order in which you perceive and question things will start to give an overall picture of what motivates you.  Some people are able to develop a skill of “animal instinct” assessment and amongst the best of these are many school teachers. They may quickly determine a pupil’s prospects.
The headmaster at Richard Branson’s school is attributed as saying that Branson would either end up as a successful business man or in jail. It didn’t take any psychometric test to be proved right on both counts.  However when testing is waived before you, as the be all and end all, you should always keep this thought uppermost: – “Winners are always doing something different to everyone else – it is this difference which makes them winners”. So where do we go from here, as it is doubtful if any amount of testing will pinpoint this winning difference?

Dave Eager

Hills and Houseboats Revive Kerala’s Tourism

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Tourism is not new to Kerala, thanks to the state’s booming economy, world-class infrastructure, warm hospitality, cultural heritage and breath-taking natural beauty. Renowned international hotel chains have set up facilities here, offering top-of-the-world services at relatively inexpensive rates. Humongous banquet halls, multipurpose halls, convention centers and a series of entertainment clubs are available under one roof at Kerala’s top-rated hotels and luxury resorts.

As per the latest statistics, backwater cruise and mountain trekking are the most popular activities a regular tourist looks forward to while holidaying in Kerala. Panoramic sights worth a thousand photographs, is what allures travelers to the breath-taking backwaters and misty hills found only in India’s greenest destination – Kerala.

Kumarakom, Alappuzha (Alleppey), Cochin (Kochi), Kottayam and Kollam are the main backwater destinations for any tourist looking for a house boat cruise in Kerala.  Kerala’s tranquilizing charm is best enjoyed from aboard a fully-furnished “Kettuvallam” (houseboat). It is not an uncommon sight to see a Kettuvallom glide across the vast expanse of serene backwaters, taking care not to disturb the sanctity of the path with as much as a ripple. What’s more enchanting is spending a full day or two inside a fully-furnished, air-conditioned houseboat. These kettuvallams are made in the traditional Kerala style architecture and journeying aboard one will guarantee a memorable experience worth cherishing. A cozy, intimate ambiance is created inside the houseboat with flamboyant sunsets and whispering lake music waiting to be explored outside. Couples can cruise in comfort, grace and style as the houseboat glides past the main attractions around Alleppey, Kuttanad and Kumarakom. A tantalizing platter of local beverages and gourmet Kerala meal will be freshly prepared on board by a specially-assigned culinary expert and served piping hot. Stopovers can also be arranged at the local villages to enjoy a friendly chat with the local community and taste the authentic local cuisine at their humble abode.

For those who are looking for the ultimate hill-station indulgence, Vagamon and Ponmudi offers more than just a holiday. While the first promises an exhilarating experience amidst deep valleys and magnificent hues, the latter abounds in natural beauty, refreshingly cool climate, rich tropical vegetation and mountain streams. Ponmudi is one of the best locations for trekking, hiking and exotic wildlife safari. Golden Valley, Kallar river, Agasthyarkoodam and the mesmerizing tea gardens are among the other wonders this heavenly place has to offer. Talking of tea gardens, nothing beats the gorgeous plantations one gets to see at Munnar. Enveloped by dense jungles and gorgeous blue-mountain peaks, the mere mention of Munnar is enough to make one’s soul dance in ecstasy.

Of late, the supremacy of Kerala in the MICE market is also being explored due to the distinctly different conference possibilities the land is able to offer at a single destination point. A board meeting on a houseboat, product launch atop the highest hill or convention amidst exotic fauna can be easily conjured up in Kerala, by blending the purpose of a meeting with the requirements of the participants. With the Commonwealth Games in the horizon, Kerala will be playing the perfect hostess for several large-scale business tours from all over the world.

Devas Holidays and Travel Services India (P) Ltd is one of the fastest growing and trusted tour operators in India. The company offers a bouquet of experiential tour packages covering exotic destinations, beaches, backwaters, wildlife, monuments, hill stations, houseboats, ayurveda and so forth that suit every budget. Backed by an excellent team of tour planners and organizers, Devas Holidays offers holidays that are memorable and hassle-free. Right from air-ticket reservation, transportation and vehicle bookings to the choice of accommodation and fascinating itineraries, Devas ensures a comfortable travel experience without compromising on quality.

Call +91 484 4131000 to book holidays with Devas Holidays.