| Kerala House | |
|---|---|
| Kerala house.jpg | |
| General information | |
| Construction started | 1903 |
| Completed | 1911 |
| Cost | 25 Million Rupees |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 1000 m2 |
| Elevator count | 5 |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | Before: Kingdom of Cochin Cochin Maharaja Now: Government of Kerala |
| Management | Hon. Resident Commissioner of Kerala to Government of India |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 66 |
Kerala House is the official state house of Government of Kerala at New Delhi. As each state of India has to maintain a statutory representative and state mission house in the capital, to liaison with Central Government on behalf of state, Kerala House represents Kerala. The house belongs to Kerala Government, who is represented by Hon. Resident Commissioner of Kerala state administration. The house is located in heart of New Delhi city at Jantar Mandir Road. The current Resident commissioner is Shri Inder Jith Singh IAS, a senior official from Kerala IAS Cadre.[1]
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The house was originally built by Sujan Singh, a prominent Punjabi real estate builder based in New Delhi, as his private residence. In year 1911, when New Delhi was announced as capital of then-the British India, Sujan Singh and his son Sobha Singh[2] became part of New Delhi construction project as senior sub-contractors. The structure was completed and furnished bu 1911 as part of New Delhi City project. The house was named as Vyukunt, which was prominent landmark in New Delhi those time. As part of new British India constitution, a chamber of princes was created in Indian Parilament to represent Indian Native princely states. As a result, it became a nessecity for Indian Princes to visit New Delhi to attend the proceedings and lend their voice and concerns. In 1920, the ruler of Kochi, H.H Raja Rama Varma Maharaja of Kochi purchased the beautiful Vyukunt from Sobha Singh and refurbished as Cochin State Palace, to accommodate Kochi Maharaja and his officials during their New Delhi visits.
After Independence, when Kochi joined with India Union, the house became state property of Kerala Government and choose to make it as Kerala House, as permanent mission of the state to Central Government.
The Kerala House belongs to Kerala State Public Works Department, managed by KTDC. The house is administrated by Chief Controller of Kerala House, who reports to Hon. Resident Commissioner[3]
The controller is assisted by Chief Administrative Officer and various section officers and assistants. The House has 3 major offices functioning
Liaison Wing is headed by the Liaison Officer and is assisted by seven Assistant Liaison Officers. This office is responsible for follow up and co-ordination of various matters/projects/schemes of Government of Kerala with Government of India including release of funds etc. This wing also looks after appointments of State Ministers and Officials with various Union Ministers and Officers.
M.Ps Cell
An M.Ps Cell is functioning in Kerala House to cater the official needs of M.Ps from Kerala. This Cell is also headed by Liaison Officer and is assisted by Assistant Liaison Officers.
Law Wing
A Law Wing headed by the Law Officer and assisted by an Assistant is functioning in Kerala House to effectively take up legal matters of Govt.of Kerala with the High Court, Supreme Court and other courts in Delhi.
PWD Wing
PWD Wing; headed by Assistant Executive Engineer and assisted by Assistant Engineer and Overseers is functioning in Kerala House for maintenance and repair works of Kerala House.[4]
Information Office headed by the Deputy Director and assisted by Information Officer is functioning in Kerala House for co-ordination works with Media and to look after the PR activities of the State Govt including the conduct of various cultural programmes. This office organize press conferences and other media coverage activities for Chief Minister, State Ministers and other Govt. Programmes. Information office is also the co-ordinating agency for the state in major events like India International Trade Fair, Republic Day Parade etc.
Tourism Information Office
A Tourism Information Office headed by the Deputy Director and assisted by a Tourist Information Officer is functioning in Travancore Palace located at K.G Marg to cater the needs of tourists visiting Kerala.
Norka Cell
A Norka Cell headed by the Additional Secretary and assisted by a Joint Secretary/Deputy Secretary and a NRK Development Officer is functioning in Travancore Palace, K.G.Marg to pursue and follow up issues relating to Non Resident Keralites with the various ministries of Government of India. NORKA wing facilitate attestation of certificates sent from various attestation centres of Kerala in various embassies. And also address the needs of Non-Resident Malayalees to the extend possible.
Malayala Bhasha Padana Kendram(Malayalam Learning Centre)
This is an ambitious project initiated jointly by various Malayali Associations in Delhi and Govt. of Kerala. The project envisages to impart Malayalam Literacy & Cultural heritage amongst the new generation of Malayalee community in Delhi and adjacent area. Central office of padana Kendra is established at Travancore Palace.
Cauvery Cell
Cauvery Cell of the Water Resources Department is functioning at the Travancore Palace basically to follow up the Cauvery Water Dispute with the Cauvery Tribunal. Now a days the cell is more engaged with the Mullaperiyar Dam issue
KSEB Liaison Office This office liaises with concerned Central Ministries and offices on behalf of Kerala State Electricity Board.
Travancore House Art Gallery
Travancore House, located at K.G Marg was the erstwhile Palace of Travancore Kingdom in the heart of the Capital city. The building has been categorized as a heritage building by NDMC. The effort of the state government is to transform this heritage building in to a cultural complex and to be a window to Kerala for the out side world. As part of this perspective, an Art Gallery has been set up in the Travancore House.
The Resident Commissioner is the head of all State Government Offices functioning in New Delhi. The Office of the Resident Commissioner, Kerala House, New Delhi was set up in the year 1964. There is an Additional Resident Commissioner in the rank of Secretary to Government of Kerala to assist the Resident Commissioner.
The guest house in Kerala House constitutes of two Blocks. The Main Block having 33 rooms, including the three VIP Suits and Additional Block having 30 rooms. A 12 bed Dormitory at the old block (Cochin Palace) and a 48 bed Dormitory at Travancore House complex at Madhav Rao Scindia Marg are also attached to the Guest House.
The Guest House of Kerala House is basically meant for the stay of important personalities like Governor, Ministers, Judges, Elected Representatives and Govt. officials who are bound to Delhi for official purposes. If available, rooms are also allotted for their non-official visits and also to private individuals with proper references.
The GH Canteen serves traditional Kerala cuisines to all its residents. The canteen also serves other cuisines and prepare as per order, apart from buffet.
The Guest House offers 24 hour house-keeping and room service facility, a medical clinic with resident doctor, a state-of-the-art Conference room & media room, a Business center, Steward and laundry services, in addition to a Tourist reception center and Travel desk.