‘Cool jacket’ protection soon for Kerala workers

An expert committee will select 10 viable ideas. An assistance of Rs 1 lakh will be given for converting the concept into a jacket. A suitable proposal will be selected for commercial production and awarded a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

Kerala Industries Director T O Sooraj said the cool jacket was meant to enhance efficiency and productivity. “We work better in an air-conditioned environment. Similarly,a jacket that ensures a moderate temperature will help labourers working in high temperatures,” said Sooraj.

He said such a jacket would be of great help to thousands of Keralites working in adverse climate conditions in Gulf nations. Parameters such as the ideal temperature for the jacket will be decided by an expert committee.

Though the government wants to drape its workers with air-conditioned clothes,Kerala is not exposed to extreme climate,unlike other parts of the country. There has not been a single incident of sun stroke in the recent history of Kerala and the sizzling Gulf temperatures have dampened migration of youths from the state.

“Climatic conditions in the Gulf have not dissuaded the workers from migrating. The idea of cool jacket looks interesting and a welcome one,” counters Dr S Erudaya Rajan,of Centre for Development Studies,Thiruvananthapuram.

Weather expert Dr C K Rajan says,the temperature soars to a maximum of 42 degree Celsius,that too in certain interior regions.