KERALA GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WEBSITES

SL. NO	DEPARTMENTS	WEBSITES
1	Agriculture Department	www.keralaagriculture.gov.in/ www.karshikakeralam.gov.in/
2	Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation Department
3	Co-operation Department
4	Cultural Affairs Department	www.keralaculture.org/
5	Finance Department	finance.kerala.gov.in
6	Fisheries Department	www.fisheries.kerala.gov.in/
7	Food and Civil Supplies Department	civilsupplieskerala.gov.in
8	Forest and Wild Life Department	www.keralaforest.org/
9	General Administration Department
10	General Education Department	www.education.kerala.gov.in/ www.examresults.kerala.gov.in/ keralaresults.nic.in/ www.sslcexamkerala.gov.in/ results.kerala.nic.in/
11	Health and Family Welfare Department	www.healthkerala.gov.in/
12	Higher Education Department	www.education.kerala.gov.in/higher.htm
13	Home Department
14	Housing Department
15	Industries and Commerce Department	www.keralaindustry.org/
16	Information Technology Department	www.it.kerala.gov.in/
17	Kerala Police	www.keralapolice.org
18	Labour and Rehabilitation Department	www.labourkerala.gov.in/
19	Law Department	www.keralalawsect.org/
20	Local Self Government Department	www.lsg.kerala.gov.in/
21	Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department	www.norka.gov.in/
22	Parliamentary Affairs Department
23	Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department
24	Planning and Economic Affairs Departmen	www.kslub.com/www.bpe.kerala.gov.in
25	Power Department
26	Public Works Department	www.keralapwd.net/
27	Revenue Department
28	Scheduled Caste Development Department
29	Scheduled Tribe Development Department	www.scheduledtribekerala.gov.in/
30	Science, Technology and Environment Department	www.kscste.kerala.gov.in/
31	Social Welfare Department	www.keralawomen.gov.in
32	Stores Purchase Department
33	Taxes Department	www.keralataxes.org/
34	Transport Department	keralamvd.gov.in
35	Vigilance Department	www.keralavigilance.org/
36	Water Resources Department

FIELD DEPARTMENTS

SL. NO:	DEPARTMENTS	WEBSITES
1	Animal Husbandry Department	ahdkerala.gov.in
2	Archaeology Department	www.keralaarchaeology.org/
3	Ayurveda Medical Education Directorate	www.healthkerala.gov.in/hrp/ayurveda.jsp
4	Archives Department	keralastatearchives.org
5	Coir Development Directorate	coirkerala.org
6	Collegiate Education Department	www.collegiateedu.kerala.gov.in/
7	Chemical Examiners Lab Department
8	Dairy Development Department	www.kissankerala.net/
9	Drugs Control Directorate
10	Economics and Statistics Department	www.ecostatkerala.org/
11	Electrical Inspectorate Department	www.ceikerala.gov.in/
12	Election Department	www.ceokerala.nic.in/
13	Employment Services Kerala	employmentkerala.gov.in
14	Employment and Training Directorate	www.detkerala.org/
15	Excise Department
16	Factories and Boilers Department	www.fabkerala.gov.in/
17	Fire and Rescue Service Department
18	Ground Water Departmernt	www.groundwater.kerala.gov.in/
19	Harbour Engineering Department	www.hedkerala.gov.in/
20	Higher Secondary Education Directorate	www.dhsekerala.gov.in/
21	Homeopathy Directorate	www.healthkerala.gov.in/hrp/homoeo.jsp www.healthymotherhappychild.com/
22	Industrial Training Department
23	Indian Systems of Medicine Department
24	Information and Public Relations Department	www.prd.kerala.gov.in/
25	Insurance Department	www.ksid.in/
26	Insurance Medical Services Department
27	Kerala Agricultural Income Tax and Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal Department
28	Kerala Police	www.keralapolice.org/
29	Kerala State Land Use Board	www.kslub.com/
30	Land Revenue Department	lris.kerala.nic.in
31	Legal Metrology Department
32	Local Fund Audit Department	www.finance.kerala.gov.in/
33	Lotteries Department	www.keralalotteries.com/
34	Medical Education Directorate
35	Mining and Geology Department	www.dmg.kerala.gov.in/
	Motor Vehicles Department	www.keralamvd.gov.in
36	Museum and Zoo Department	www.keralamuseumandzoo.org/
37	Printing Department
38	Prisons Department
39	Port Department	www.keralaports.gov.in/
40	Panchayat Department	www.lsg.kerala.gov.in/
41	Registration Department	keralaregistration.gov.in
42	Rural Development Commissionerate	www.crd.kerala.gov.in/
43	Sainik Welfare Department	www.sainikwelfarekerala.org/
44	Soil Survey Department
45	Sports and Youth Affairs Directorate	www.dsya.kerala.gov.in/
46	Survey and Land Records Department	www.dslr.kerala.gov.in/
48	Technical Education Department	www.tekerala.org/
49	Tourism Department	www.keralatourism.org/
50	Town and Country Planning Department	www.townplanning.kerala.gov.in/
51	Treasury Department	treasury.kerala.gov.in
52	Urban Affairs Department	www.ksudp.org/
53	Vocational Higher Secondary Education Directorate	vhse.kerala.gov.in/
54	Water Transport Department

COMMISSIONS

SL. NO	DEPARTMENTS	WEBSITES
1	Kerala Official Language (Legislative) Commission	www.kerala.gov.in/dept_law/authorities.htm
2	Kerala Public Service Commission	www.keralapsc.org/
3	Kerala State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission	www.kerala.gov.in/grievanceredressal/redressal.htm
4	Kerala State Farmer's Debt Relief Commission
5	Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission	www.erckerala.org/
6	Kerala Women's Commission	www.keralawomenscommission.gov.in/
7	State Co-operative Election Commission	www.kerala.gov.in/govinstitutions/commissions.htm
8	State Commissionerate for Persons with Disabilities	www.kerala.gov.in/govinstitutions/commissions.htm
9	State Election Commission, Kerala	www.electionker.org/
10	State Information Commission Kerala	keralasic.gov.in
11	The Kerala State Human Rights Commission	www.kshrc.kerala.gov.in

GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGES AND MEDICAL COLLEGES

1	College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram	www.cet.ac.in/ www.me.cet.ac.in/
2	Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, Thiruvananthapuram	www.gecbh.ac.in/
3	Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology, Kottayam	www.rit.ac.in/
4	Government Engineering College, Idukki	www.gecidukki.ac.in/
5	Government Engineering College, Palakkad	kerala.gov.in/dept_technicaleducation /engineeringcolleges.htm
6	Government Engineering College, Kozhikkode	www.geckkd.ac.in/
7	Government Engineering College, Kannur	www.gcek.ac.in/
8	Government Homeopathic Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram	www.ghmct.edu.in/
9	Medical College, Kottayam
10	Medical College, Kozhikode	www.calicutmedicalcollege.ac.in/
11	Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram	www.govtmedicalcollegetvm.net/
12	T.D. Medical College, Alappuzha	www.tdmedicos.com/hospital.htm

UNIVERSITIES

SL. NO	INSTITUTIONS	WEBSITES
1	Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)	www.cusat.ac.in
2	Kannur University, Mangattuparamb	www.kannuruniversity.ac.in/
3	Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Thrissur	www.kau.edu/
4	Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam	www.mguniversity.edu/
5	Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit
6	University of Calicut	www.universityofcalicut.info/
7	University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram	www.keralauniversity.edu/

AUTONOMOUS BODIES, CULTURAL AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS

SL. NO	INSTITUTIONS	WEBSITES
1	Agency for Development of Aquaculture (ADAK) Thiruvananthapuram	www.fisheries.kerala.gov.in/key.htm
2	Agency for Non-Conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) Thiruvananthapuram	education.vsnl.com/anert/
3	Attappady Hills Area Development Society, Palakkad	www.ahads.org/
4	Bharat Bhavan Society of Kerala

Is your Insurance Company listening to you? Here is your option..

Dear Friends

If your complaints have not been addressed by your insurance company, please contact

IRDA Grievance Call Centre

Toll Free No. 155255 (India)

to register your complaints and track their status or you may email them at complaints@irda.gov.in

IRDA = Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.

An Amazing Sore Throat Remedy

Sore throat? An Amazing Sore Throat Remedy

This simple home remedy has worked 100% of the time for anyone that has tried it. Instead of suffering with a sore throat for a week or more, you can drive it away immediately, sometimes in less than a day. However, this remedy is not medical advice; it is a shared experience that really works! This site is not for profit; it's aim is simply to help people cure their sore throats.

The most common sore throat remedies for sore throat are usually over-the-counter sprays, lozenges and pastilles that are ineffective and smelly. The most common doctor-prescribed remedies are antibiotics, which take time to obtain, cost money and can have many negative side effects.

Most often, people waste time waiting while trying to figure out whether or not they really have a sore throat. By the time they realize they do have a sore throat, it's usually to the point that they are already suffering from serious sore throat pain, can barely speak, swallow or even eat.

This remedy is salt, and not just about gargling saltwater, it is actually about using common table salt as it is.

What you have to do is: tilt your head backwards and shake a little bit of salt straight into the back of your throat. Make sure you shake it straight into your throat, onto the base of your tongue and not over the middle or the tip your tongue (this way you will not suffer from any unpleasant taste). After that, do not swallow your saliva, just let the salt dissolve right there on the back of your throat, letting the salt stay there for as long as you possibly can. If you're using a salt shaker, shake 2 to 6 times depending how bad your sore throat is. If you're using a fast food style paper saltshaker, you should shake about 1/4 of the packet directly into your throat.

Also highly suggested, is to shake an even larger amount of salt into your throat right before you go to sleep for the night. During your sleep, without food or drink, bacteria thrive without any interruption to incubation and growth. Therefore, using salt while you are asleep can be extremely effective. Keep a salt shaker near your bed. If you wake up in the middle of the night feeling sore, you can shake some more salt into your throat.

Salt is a very old remedy that kills bacteria. In the old days they traditionally used salt to preserve meat and fish. Why? Because salt attracts water and attacks the bacteria cell walls, causing the bacteria to dehydrate and self-destruct in the process.

If your sore throat is really severe you can use salt as often as every 30 minutes. Use it as soon as you feel the first symptoms of a sore throat and the earlier you use it, the faster you’ll get rid of that sore throat.

Salt is available nearly everywhere. You can stop in to any fast food place on any street and grab some. Don’t wait around trying to figure out whether or not your sore throat is serious. Instead you can use this quick sore throat cure. As soon as you feel the first signs of a sore throat, use the salt immediately. Gargling salt water is not nearly as effective since the concentration of salt is not high enough to take care of the problem. Also, gargling water requires a cup of water and the time to dissolve the salt in it, yet more inconvenience that makes you wait for relief.

Not all sore throats are the result of a bacteria infection. Sometimes the cause is a virus, commonly known as influenza virus. Many times your sore throat starts as a viral infection which develops into a bacterial infection. Salt is intended to fight only the bacteria, not the virus. Therefore salt might not be totally effective if you are suffering from a viral throat infection. Nevertheless, you really have nothing to lose by using salt. According to experience, salt can be extremely effective in most all cases, depending on the cause of your sore throat.

A sore throat is also often the first stage of a common cold, also known as the Flu. First to arrive is the sore throat, followed by nasal congestion and coughing. If you can take care of it fast, you won't wear down your immune system fighting the sore throat and your immune system has more energy to fight the other cold symptoms. Therefore, using salt could also shorten the total duration of suffering from the common cold.
Everybody suffers from a sore throat every year. If you find this advice to be useful - feel free to share it with your friends - and send them a link to this site.

FOR THE BOARD EXAMINEES (Xth and XIIth)

-----------------------------------

Tips for Smooth Sailing:

1) Do not be apprehensive about the forthcoming board exam. Take it as you take any other exam.

2) Unnecessary fear about the performance in exam will affect your retaining power and make you forget whatever you have prepared.

3) If you lack confidence, give your mind positive suggestion like ‘I can definitely do well’ and ‘I will definitely do well’. This will help boost your confidence for sure.

4) Do not worry about the result. Instead, concentrate on your preparation.

5) Set up a target. Believe in your ability. Visualize yourself achieving it and you will definitely actualize it.

6) Sincere effort put into any kind of work will surely lead you to success.

Never fear failure nor feel hopelessness. This is not the end, just the beginning. Try hard... Try again.

For preparation:

1) During preparatory period take practice exams at home: Try to solve question papers by selecting repeatedly asked question. This will short list the important questions.

2) Visualize what you have studied. Repeat reading every paragraph at least 3 times, this process helps to send things you read from conscious mind to your sub-conscious mind. So we can memorize so many things without much effort.

3) Do not eat just before exams: Heavy breakfast or lunch can be taken three hours before going to exam. When you eat food, blood supply increases to the stomach area. So, blood supply to the brain decreases and you feel lazy and sleepy or your brain power decreases.

4) If you feel hungry just before exam, you can eat fruits .Because fruits stay in your stomach for few minutes then goes to the small intestine and nutrients are extracted there.

5) Sleep well: You must sleep well during exam days. Good sleep makes you fresh and energized. If you are not fresh and energetic, you will not be able to do best of your abilities.

Some suggestions for taking exam:-

Ø Dress comfortably: Try to wear clothes in which you are comfortable.

Ø Make a list of things to carry for your exam (Do not miss anything).

Ø Relax before the exam begins: You should reach the exam hall before time. Usually you will have 5 to 10 minutes before they give you the question paper. Take five deep breaths repeating in your mind that you will be able to do well in exam.

Ø First of all, go through the question paper and try to answer easy objective questions first. These are the ones which are scoring and less time consuming.

Ø Take deep breaths after each main question which will energize your brain giving extra oxygen to it. This in turn will be helpful in recalling what you have learned.

Ø Keep your answer book very presentable: The best remembered questions must be written first.

Ø Write long answers: For essay type questions, try to fill more pages. Use short paragraphs and underline words and keywords. Use a dark pen to answer your paper and colour pen to highlight the headings.

Ø Do not always check your watch and worry about the time. The tension developed in this way will make you forget things that you have learned.

Ø One of the most important points to remember is that whatever you write should be written with utmost precision and confidence.

Ø Do not leave the exam room before time: Recheck your answer book. You may be able to remember some more point to the answers.

Work hard positively. You will achieve your goal successfully…………..

Releasing Stress And Worry

There is a slight difference between concern and worry. Concern has a reason behind it and is based on logic. We might shut all the windows before we leave the house, concerned that someone might break in, or that the wind might blow in and knock over a vase of flowers. Through concern we avoid discomfort, and hence feel more relaxed.

Worry, on the other hand, lacks the logic of concern. Instead it tends to concentrate on unnecessary wishing that we could change the past, or on thinking about unavoidable aspects of the future. Moreover the mind becomes infected with free floating anxieties (worries), which accumulate and become a habit and which soon we begin to regard as normal. Specific problems may get solved, but their disturbing effects remain in our minds.

Before we can fully relax, we must silence this unnecessary disturbing inner noise of our lives, and tune in to the pure silence where our personal search for contentment (satisfaction) may be fulfilled.

To a great extend, positive thinking can help in releasing stress. It needs little practice only. Nobody was born as a positive person and/or a negative person; it was due to our thinking only.

Curing Insomnia Through Meditation

Insomnia is the complaint of insufficient (not enough) or poor quality sleep because of difficulty getting off to sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, waking up too early in the morning and/or unrefreshed sleep that occurs on a regular basis.

The most common causes of insomnia are stress; psychological conditions like depression, anxiety (worry) or schizophrenia; certain prescription drugs; over the counter medications which may contain caffeine and other stimulants; intake of coffee, alcohol or tobacco; some medical conditions; biological factors; changes in lifestyle; environmental changes; etc.

Insomnia can be treated using various medications, but these medicines are accompanied by various side effects. Moreover continuous use of these drugs may result in dependence on them. This creates a situation in which sleep is not possible unless the drug is used.

In order to successfully win over the problem of insomnia, lie down in bed visualizing and experiencing the meditation commentary given below regularly for a few minutes, just before going to sleep. Meditation works by relaxing the mind. The peaceful mind quickly spreads its effect to the hypothalamus, the region where the sleep centre is located. When the blockage there is removed, natural and peaceful functioning of the sleep centre is restored.

I am a soul, glowing powerfully in the centre of the forehead........

I travel outside the physical body and physical world to fly to my sweet silent home of golden red light........

I am now in front of the Supreme Point, the Ocean of Peace........

I experience soothing (relaxing) rays of spiritual peace from this unlimited source of peace descending on me........

I am bathing in the Fountain of Peace........

The experience of the union with the Almighty gives me a deep feeling of relaxation........

It brings my original qualities to the surface of my consciousness........

As I release my negative emotions, my tensions and worries are minimized, therefore, I feel free and light........

I am able to concentrate on this practice of meditation........

My eyes are becoming heavier and heavier........

I allow myself to fall into a deep and satisfying sleep........

I let go off my bodily parts........


Slowly reduce the speed of meditative thoughts and let the natural physical sleep phenomenon do its work. While you lie down in bed in a comfortable dark atmosphere you will automatically fall asleep.



Many of our friends face this issue. Just give a try, you will definitely be successful (hello..this we have to do ourselves only please!!). Sound sleep is very important in our life; as also sufficient sleep.

Some tips for CV Writing

Your CV is your marketing brochure through which you try to sell a commodity, ie your skills to the potential buyer ie the prospective employer. The sole purpose of your CV is to fetch you an interview call. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

However, creating a CV isn't as simple as just using flowery language and pretty fonts. There are certain things that put recruiters off and if you want to make a good impression, make sure you do not commit these mistakes in what is arguably the most valuable document of your job hunt. 

While the rules listed are well-founded, they are not carved in stone. At times you will need to break the rules. If you want to add these things knowingly and purposefully to your CV we advise you to do that.

The points mentioned here are not listed in the order of priority; instead they are listed in the sequence in which they usually appear on a CV.

Colorful or glossy paper and flashy fonts

Your CV is a formal, official document. Keep it simple.

Resume or CV at the top 

Many people tend to add headings to their CV. The usual are CV, Curriculum Vitae and Resume. Do not do this.

Photographs until asked

Do not add your photo to the CV until you have been asked for it. Photographs are required only for certain types of positions like models, actors etc. 

Usage of 'I', 'My', 'He', 'She'

Do not use these in your CV. Many candidates write, 'I worked as Team Leader for XYZ Company' or 'He was awarded Best Employee for the year 2007'. Instead use bullet points to list out your qualifications/ experience like: Team leader for XYZ Company from 2006-2007.

Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors

Proofread your CV until you are confident that it doesn't have any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. These are big put-offs for the recruiters. Moreover, sometimes these mistakes might land you in an embarrassing situation.

A candidate who submitted his CV without proofreading it committed the mistake of wrongly spelling 'ask' as 'ass'. Now you can imagine the type of embarrassment he must have faced during the interview, when the interviewer pointed it out. These mistakes tend to convey a lazy and careless attitude to the interviewer.

Lies about your candidature

Do not lie about your past jobs or qualifications or anything which might have an impact on the job. You may be able to secure a job with these lies today but tomorrow you may lose it as well.

Abbreviations or jargon that is difficult to understand

People screening your resume usually belong to the HR department. If they do not understand what the abbreviations and jargon mean, they will simply dump your CV in the trash can. Avoid over-using such terms as far as possible.

Reasons for leaving last job

Leave these reasons to be discussed during the personal interview. For example, some candidates write: Reason for leaving the last job: Made redundant. Avoid making such statements in your CV, they add no value. Besides, if you do get an interview call, chances are the interviewer will address the issue.

Past failures or health problems

Mentioning these immediately slash your chances of getting an interview call.

For instance, you have a gap in your employment because you started your own business which did not do well. Some candidates might write -- Reason for gap in employment: Started own business which failed. Do not do this type of injustice with your job hunt at this stage of writing the CV.

Current or expected salary

Leave it to be discussed while negotiating the salary.

Irrelevant details

Leave out the details like marital status, sex, passport number, number of kids, age of kids. These are usually irrelevant for most interviewers but at times could be used as a basis for discrimination.

References

Do not include them until asked. In fact, it is not even required to mention the line 'Reference available on request'. If the recruiter requires a reference, he/she will ask you to bring it along for the interview.

Now that you have run through the list, take a fresh look at your CV and prune away unnecessary details and unaffordable blunders that could have cost you your dream job

How to Improve Your Memory & Exercise Your Brain

Everyone can take steps to improve their memory, with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize seemingly impossible amounts of information. Whether you want to win the World Memory Championships, ace your history test, or simply remember where you put your keys, this article can get you started. Scientists believe that exercising your brain can create a `cognitive reserve' that will help you stay sharp as you age.

1. Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve. Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves that their memory is bad, that they are just not good with names, that numbers just slip out of their minds for some reason. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Commit yourself to the task and bask in your achievements — it's hard to keep motivated if you beat yourself down every time you make a little bit of progress.

2. Keep your brain active. The brain is not a muscle, but regularly "exercising" the brain actually does keep it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. By developing new mental skills—especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument—and challenging your brain with puzzles and games you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning.

3. Exercise daily. Regular aerobic exercise improves circulation and efficiency throughout the body, including in the brain, and can help ward off the memory loss that comes with aging. Exercise also makes you more alert and relaxed, and can thereby improve your memory uptake, allowing you to take better mental "pictures."

4. Reduce stress. Chronic stress, although it does not physically damage the brain, can make remembering much more difficult. Even temporary stresses can make it more difficult to effectively focus on concepts and observe things. Try to relax, regularly practice yoga or other stretching exercises, and see a doctor if you have severe chronic stress.

5. Eat well and eat right. There are a lot of herbal supplements on the market that claim to improve memory, but none have yet been shown to be effective in clinical tests (although small studies have shown some promising results for ginkgo biloba and phosphatidylserine). A healthy diet, however, contributes to a healthy brain, and foods containing antioxidants—broccoli, blueberries, spinach, and berries, for example—and Omega-3 fatty acids appear to promote healthy brain functioning. Feed your brain with such supplements as Thiamine, Vitamin E, Niacin and Vitamin B-6. Grazing, eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals, also seems to improve mental functioning (including memory) by limiting dips in blood sugar, which may negatively affect the brain.

6. Take better pictures. Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because our observational skills need work. One common situation where this occurs (and which almost everyone can relate to) is meeting new people. Often we don't really learn people's names at first because we aren't really concentrating on remembering them. You'll find that if you make a conscious effort to remember such things, you'll do much better. One way to train yourself to be more observant is to look at an unfamiliar photograph for a few seconds and then turn the photograph over and describe or write down as many details as you can about the photograph. Try closing your eyes and picturing the photo in your mind. Use a new photograph each time you try this exercise, and with regular practice you will find you're able to remember more details with even shorter glimpses of the photos.

7. Give yourself time to form a memory. Memories are very fragile in the short-term, and distractions can make you quickly forget something as simple as a phone number. The key to avoid losing memories before you can even form them is to be able to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without thinking about other things, so when you're trying to remember something, avoid distractions and complicated tasks for a few minutes.

8. Create vivid, memorable images. You remember information more easily if you can visualize it. If you want to associate a child with a book, try not to visualize the child reading the book – that's too simple and forgettable. Instead, come up with something more jarring, something that sticks, like the book chasing the child, or the child eating the book. It's your mind – make the images as shocking and emotional as possible to keep the associations strong.

9. Repeat things you need to learn. The more times you hear, see, or think about something, the more surely you'll remember it, right? It's a no-brainer. When you want to remember something, be it your new coworker's name or your best friend's birthday, repeat it, either out loud or silently. Try writing it down; think about it.

10. Group things you need to remember. Random lists of things (a shopping list, for example) can be especially difficult to remember. To make it easier, try categorizing the individual things from the list. If you can remember that, among other things, you wanted to buy four different kinds of vegetables, you'll find it easier to remember all four.

11. Organize your life. Keep items that you frequently need, such as keys and eyeglasses, in the same place every time. Use an electronic organizer or daily planner to keep track of appointments, due dates for bills, and other tasks. Keep phone numbers and addresses in an address book or enter them into your computer or cell phone. Improved organization can help free up your powers of concentration so that you can remember less routine things. Even if being organized doesn't improve your memory, you'll receive a lot of the same benefits (i.e. you won't have to search for your keys anymore).

12. Try meditation. Research now suggests that people who regularly practice "mindfulness" meditation are able to focus better and may have better memories. Mindfulness (also known as awareness or insight meditation) is the type commonly practiced in Western countries and is easy to learn. Studies at Massachusetts General Hospital show that regular meditation thickens the cerebral cortex in the brain by increasing the blood flow to that region. Some researchers believe this can enhance attention span, focus, and memory.

13. Sleep well. The amount of sleep we get affects the brain's ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night's sleep  a minimum of seven hours a night – may improve your short-term memory and long-term relational memory, according to recent studies conducted at the Harvard Medical School.

14. Build your memorization arsenal. Learn pegs, memory palaces, and the Dominic System. These techniques form the foundation for mnemonic techniques, and will visibly improve your memory.

15. Venture out and learn from your mistakes. Go ahead and take a stab at memorizing the first one hundred digits of pi, or, if you've done that already, the first one thousand. Memorize the monarchs of England through your memory palaces, or your grocery list through visualization. Through diligent effort you will eventually master the art of memorization.

Some useful Tips

Almonds: To remove the skin of almonds easily, soak them in hot water for 15-20 minutes.

Ants: Putting 3-4 cloves in the sugar container will keep the ants at bay.

Biscuits: If you keep a piece of blotting paper at the bottom of the container, it will keep biscuits fresh for a longer time.

Butter: Avoid the use of butter. If it is essential to use, use a butter containing low saturated fat or with plant stanols (which avoid absorption of cholesterol by our body) or similar substitutes.

Apples: Apply some lemon juice on the cut surface of the apple to avoid browning. They will look fresh for a longer time.

Banana: Apply mashed banana over a burn on your body to have a cooling effect.

Bee and Scorpion Sting Relief: Apply a mixture of 1 pinch of chewing tobacco and 1 drop of water. Mix and apply directly and immediately to the sting; cover with band aid to hold in place. Pain will go away in just a few short minutes

Bitter Gourd (Karela): Slit Karelas at the middle and apply a mixture of salt, wheat flour and curd all round. Keep aside for 1/2 an hour and then cook. Stuffed Karela

Celery: To keep celery fresh for long time, wrap it in aluminium foil and place in the refrigerator.

Burnt Food: Place some chopped onion in the vessel having burnt food, pour boiling water in it, keep for 5 minutes and then clean.

Chilli Powder: Keeping a small piece of hing (asafoetida) in the same container will store chilli powder for long time.

Chopping: Use a wooden board to chop. It will not blunt the knife. Don't use a plastic board, small plastic pieces may go with the vegetables.

Coriander/Mint: You can use dried coriander and mint leaves in coarse powder form in vegetable curry or chutney, if fresh ones are not available. To keep them fresh for a longer time, wrap them in a muslin cloth and keep in a fridge.

Cockroaches: Put some boric powder in kitchen in corners and other places. Cockroaches will leave your house.

Coconut: Immerse coconut in water for 1/2 an hour to remove its hust.

Dry Fruits: To chop dry fruits, place them in fridge for half an hour before cutting. Take the fruits out and cut them with a hot knife (dip it in hot water before cutting).

Dough/Rolling pin: If the dough sticks to the rolling pin, place it in freezer for a few minutes.

Egg peeling off: Make a small hole in the egg by piercing a pin before boiling it. You will be able to remove its skin very easily.

Egg fresh: Immerse the egg in a pan of cool salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh; if it rises to the surface, it is certainly quite old.

Garlic: Garlic skin comes off easily if the garlic cloves are slightly warmed before peeling.

Ghee: Avoid the use of ghee. If it is necessary, substitute it with canola oil. Even for making halwa, you can partly substitute it with oil.

Green Chillies: To keep the chillies fresh for a longer time, remove the stems before storing.

Green Peas: To preserve green peas, keep them in a polythene bag in the freezer.

Idlies: Place a betel (paan) leaf over the leftover idli and dosa batter to prevent them sour. Do not beat idli batter too much, the air which has been incorporated during fermentation will escape. If you add half a tsp of fenugreek seeds to the lentil and rice mixture while soaking, dosas will be more crisp.

Fruits: To ripen fruits, wrap them in newspaper and put in a warm place for 2-3 days. The ethylene gas they emit will make them ripe.

Frying: Avoid deep frying. Substitute deep frying with stir frying or oven bake. Don't pour the oil, but make a habit of spraying the oil in the utensil for cooking. Heat the utensil first, then add oil. This way oil spreads well. You will use less oil this way.

Left Over: Don't throw away the foods left over. Store them in Fridge. Use them in making tasty dishes.

Lemon/Lime: If the lemon or lime is hard, put it in warm water for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to squeeze.

Lizards: Hang a peacock feather, lizards will leave your house.

Milk: Moisten the base of the vessel with water to reduce the chances of milk to stick at the bottom. Keep a spoon in the vessel while boiling milk at medium heat. It will avoid sticking the milk at the bottom of the vessel. Adding half a tsp of sodium bicarbonate in the milk while boiling will not spoil the milk even if you don't put it in the fridge.

Mixer/Grinder: Grind some common salt in your mixer/grinder fro some time every month. This will keep your mixer blades sharp.

Mosquitoes: Put a few camphor tablets in a cup of water and keep it in the bed room near your bed, or in any place with mosquitoes.

Noodles: When the noodles are boiled, drain all the hot water and add cold water. This way all the noodles will get separated.

Onions: To avoid crying, cut the onions into two parts and place them in water for 15 minutes before chopping them. Wrap the onions individually in a newspaper and store in a cool and dark place to keep them fresh for long time.

Oven: Watch from the oven window to conserve energy because the oven temperature drops by 25 degrees every time its door is opened, To clean the oven, apply a paste of sodium bicarbonate and water on the walls and floor of the oven and keep the oven on low heat for about half an hour. Dried food can easily be removed.

Paneer: To keep paneer fresh for several days, wrap it in a blotting paper while storing in the refrigerator. Do not fry paneer, immerse it in boiling water to make it soft and spongy.

Papad: Bake in microwave oven. Wrap the papads in polythene sheet and place with dal or rice will prevent them from drying and breaking.

Pickles: To prevent the growth of fungus in pickles, burn a small grain of asafoetida over a burning coal and invert the empty pickle jar for some time before putting pickles in the jar.

Popcorn: Keep the maize/corn seeds in the freezer and pop while still frozen to get better pops.

Potato: To bake potatoes quickly, place them in salt water for 15 minutes before baking.
Use the skin of boiled potatoes to wipe mirrors to sparkling clean. Don't store potatoes and onions together. Potatoes will rot quickly if stored with onions.

Refrigerator: To prevent formation of ice, rub table salt to the insides of your freeze.

Rice: Add a few drops of lemon juice in the water before boiling the rice to make rice whiter.
Add a tsp of canola oil in the water before boiling the rice to separate each grain after cooking.
Don't throw away the rice water after cooking. Use it to make soup or add it in making dal (lentils). Add 5g of dried powdered mint leaves to 1kg of rice. It will keep insects at bay.
Put a small paper packet of boric powder in the container of rice to keep insects at bay. Put a few leaves of mint in the container of rice to keep insects at bay.


Samosa: Bake them instead of deep frying to make them fat free. Don't fry the filling potato masala. Preserve the samosas in freezer. For eating, take out of the freezer two hours in advance and bake them over low temp.

Sugar: Put 2-3 cloves in the sugar to keep ants at bay.

Tadka: Use sprouted mustard seeds (rayee) and fenugreek (methi) seeds for your tadkas. Both of them when sprouted have more nutritional values. Also this add flavour to the dish and can be more beneficial, besides giving decorative look to the dish. Submitted by MS Itisha Madhav

Tomato: To remove the skin of tomatoes, place them in warm water for 5-10 minutes. The skin can then be easily peeled off. When tomatoes are not available or too costly, substitute with tomato puree or tomato ketchup/sauce. Place overripe tomatoes in cold water and add some salt. Overnight they will become firm and fresh.

Tamarind: Tamarind is an excellent polish for brass and copper items. Rub a slab of wet tamarind with some salt sprinkled on it on the object to be polished. Gargles with tamarind water is recommended for a sore throat.

Utensils: Use nonsticking utensils. Use thick bottom utensils, they get uniformly heated. For electric stoves, use flat bottom utensils. Add a little bit of common salt to the washing powder for better cleaning of utensils.

Vegetables: Don't discard the water in which the vegetables are soaked or cooked. Use it in making soup or gravy. To keep the vegetables fresh for a longer time, wrap them in newspaper before putting them in freeze. Chop the vegetables only when you are ready to use them. Don't cut them in too advance. It would spoil their food value.

Sink (Blocked): To clear the blocked drain pipe of your kitchen sink, mix 1/2 cup sodium bicarbonate in 1 cup vinegar and pour it into the sink, and pour about 1 cup water. In an hour the drain pipe will open.

Soup Salty: Place a raw peeled potato in the bowl, it will absorb the extra salt.

Yoghurt (Home Made): To set yogurt in winter, place the container in a warm place like oven or over the voltage stabliser.

Yogurt: If the yogurt has become sour, put it in a muslin cloth and drain all the water. Then add milk to make it as good as fresh in taste. Use the drained water in making tasty gravy for vegetables or for basen curry.To keep the yogurt fresh for many days, fill the vessel containing yogurt with water to the brim and refrigerate. Change the water daily..