Shortage of potable water is a major concern in the city. The situation is aggravated by the threat posed by pollution in industrial areas. Water pollution in Kochi (Cochin) is very high with about 80% of the open wells are polluted. Kochi (Cochin) is also one among the 50 most polluted cities in India, which was ranked 24th by Central Pollution Control Board. The economic boom of the last decade has made Kochi (Cochin) a favourite spot among job seekers. In 2003, the region of the district where the city belongs registered an unemployment rate of 24.5%, roughly 9.7% more than the rate in 1998 which was then the third highest unemployment rate behind state capital Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur. However the economic boom of the ensuing decade saw Kochi (Cochin) soaring into one of the employment hubs of the country, as indicated by various studies in last few years. This has resulted in the a large number of migrants flowing into the city. Kochi (Cochin) is found to have largest share of migrant workers coming to Kerala in search of employment . The economic boom and the flow of migrants has also created a problems of a different kind. The migration has contributed to a growing slum-dwelling population. The government has plans to make the city slum-free by 2016. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, the city holds the fourth position in the number of recorded crimes in India. In 2009, the city recorded an average crime rate of 646.3 against the national average of 181.4. But Kochi (Cochin) City Police Commissioner later clarified that this anomaly was due to higher reporting rates of minor crimes in Kochi (Cochin) than in other Indian cities. The State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) report gives further credence to this as it finds that Kochi (Cochin) has the least number of crime against women in the state of Kerala. According to the 2011 CII/Institute of Competitiveness report on Liveability, Kochi (Cochin) stands first in the state, and 6th in the country. Kochi (Cochin) is ranked seventh in the list of the top ten most affluent cities in India by 2009 study by Nielsen Company.
In 1947, when India gained independence from the British colonial rule, Cochin was the first princely state to join the Indian Union willingly. In 1949, Travancore-Cochin state came into being with the merger of Cochin and Travancore. The King of Travancore was the Rajpramukh of the Travancore-Cochin Union from 1949 to 1956. Travancore-Cochin, was in turn merged with the Malabar district of the Madras State. Finally, the Government of India’s States Reorganisation Act (1956) inaugurated a new state — Kerala — incorporating Travancore-Cochin (excluding the four southern Taluks which were merged with Tamil Nadu), Malabar District, and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara. On 9 July 1960 the Mattancherry council passed a resolution—which was forwarded to the government—requesting the formation of a municipal corporation by combining the existing municipalities of Fort Kochi (Cochin), Mattancherry, and Ernakulam. The government appointed a commission to study the feasibility of the suggested merger. Based on its report, the Kerala Legislative Assembly approved the corporation’s formation. On 1 November 1967, exactly eleven years since the establishment of the state of Kerala, the corporation of Cochin came into existence. The merger leading to the establishment of the corporation, was between the municipalities of Ernakulam, Mattancherry and Fort Kochi (Cochin), along with that of the Willingdon Island, four panchayats (Palluruthy, Vennala, Vyttila and Edappally), and the small islands of Gundu and Ramanthuruth.
With a large number of advanced tertiary/quaternary care facilities, Kochi (Cochin) has one of the best healthcare facilities in India. It is the prime destination for people seeking advanced healthcare facilities from across Kerala. In recent times, it has attracted a large number of patients from all over India, Middle East, African nations as well as from Europe and United States looking for relatively inexpensive advanced medical care. Kochi (Cochin) is the only city from Kerala that have carried out successful heart transplantations. Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Sunrise Hospital Kakkanad, Specialists Hospital Ernakulam, Medical Trust Hospital, PVS Memorial Hospital Kaloor, Lakeshore Hospital, Lisie Hospital are some of the advanced tertiary/quaternary healthcare facilities in Kochi (Cochin). There are a large number of tertiary/quaternary medicare institutions that are newly coming up in Kochi (Cochin) including Aster Medicity, Rajagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Medical Trust Institute of Medical Sciences.Empty citation? (help) Other reputed institutions in the city include Ernakulam Medical Centre, KIMS Hospital, Renai Medicity, Lourde’s Hospital, Kochi (Cochin) Medical College, and Saraf Hospital. Some of the reputed fertility related treatment centres in India – like Vijaya Hospital, Bourn Hall Clinic and CIMAR – are located in Kochi (Cochin). General Hospital, Ernakulam is the only notable medical institution in the government sector in Kochi (Cochin).
The city is administered by the Kochi (Cochin) Corporation, headed by a mayor. For administrative purposes, the city is divided into 74 wards, from which the members of the corporation council are elected for five years. Earlier; Fort Kochi (Cochin), Mattancherry and Ernakulam were the three Municipalities in Cochin area, which was later merged to form the Cochin Corporation. The Corporation has its headquarters in Ernakulam, and zonal offices at Fort Kochi (Cochin), Mattancherry, Palluruthy, Edappally, Vaduthala and Vyttila. The general administration of the city is handled by the Personnel Department and the Council Standing committee Section. Other departments include that of town planning, health, engineering, revenue and accounts. The corporation is also responsible for waste disposal and sewage management. The city produces more than 600 tons of waste per day and a large portion of waste is decomposed at Brahmapuram Soild Waste plant into organic manure. The supply of potable water, sourced from the Periyar River is handled by Kerala Water Authority with support of Water works department of Kochi (Cochin) Corporation. Electricity is provided by the Kerala State Electricity Board. The GCDA and GIDA are the government agencies initiating and monitoring the development of Greater Cochin area, mainly in developing infrastructure facilities for the city.
Kochi (Cochin) is the seat of High Court of Kerala, the highest judicial body in the state and thus several judicial offices are located here. The Kochi (Cochin) City Police is headed by a Police Commissioner, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. The city is divided into five zones and each zone under a circle officer. Apart from regular law & order, the city police comprises the Traffic Police, Narcotics Cell, Riot force, Armed Reserve Camps, District Crime Records Bureau and a Women’s Police station. It operates 19 police stations functioning under the Home Ministry of Government of Kerala. An anti-corruption branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation also operates out of the city. CISF maintains 3 squadrons for providing security to various central and state heavy industries, airport and seaport zones. Other major central agencies are NIA, DRI and Indian Customs due to the presence of major port. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Kochi (Cochin) reported significant increase of 193.7 per cent IPC crimes in 2010 compared to 2009, and reported a crime rate of 1,897.8 compared to the 424.1 in whole Kerala. However, Kochi (Cochin) Police officials defended that in major crimes such as murders and kidnapping, the city registered a low crime rate even behind other cities in the state.
Availability of electricity, fresh water, long coastline, backwaters, good banking facilities, presence of a major port, container trans-shipment terminal, harbor terminal and an international air terminal are some of the factors which accelerated the industrial growth in the city and its adjoining district. In recent years the city has witnessed heavy investment, thus making it one of the fastest-growing second-tier metro cities in India. Sales tax income generated in the Kochi (Cochin) metropolitan area contributes heavily to state revenue. The district contributes the highest portion, 14.47%, of the state’s GDP. Construction and manufacturing combined contributes 37%, and trade, tourism and hospitality together provides another 20%. Major business sectors include construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, transportation/shipping, seafood and spices exports, chemical industries, information technology (IT), tourism, health services, and banking. Kochi (Cochin) is recognized as one of the seventeen major industrial cities of India by World Bank, Doing Business Group. However, in the 2009 rankings of ease to start and operate a business, among the 17 Indian cities selected, Kochi (Cochin) was rated as the second most difficult city to start business and was ranked 16th, above Kolkata.
Kochi (Cochin) has a diverse, multicultural, and secular community consisting of Malayalis, Konkanis, Gujaratis, Bengalis, Marathis, Punjabis, Tamilians, Biharis and a few families of Jews among other denominations, all living in peaceful co-existence. The city once had a large Jewish community, known as the Malabar Yehuden—and now increasingly as Cochin Jews—that figured prominently in Kochi (Cochin)’s business and economic strata. The Syro-Malabar Church, one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches, has its seat at Ernakulam. The headquarters of the Archdiocese of Verapoly and the Diocese of Cochin are also situated in the city. Prominent places of Christian worship include the St. Mary’s Cathedral, the St. Antony’s Shrine at Kaloor and St Mary’s Bascilica,Vallarpadam. Appropriate to its multi-ethnic composition, Kochi (Cochin) celebrates traditional Kerala festivals like Onam and Vishu along with North Indian Hindu festivals like Holi with great fervour. Christian and Islamic festivals like Christmas, Easter, Eid ul-Fitr and Milad-e-sherif are also celebrated. A merry making fest called the Cochin Carnival is celebrated at Fort Kochi (Cochin) during the last ten days of December.
As in most of Kerala, remittances from non-resident Indians (NRI)s is a major source of income. Eloor, situated 17 kilometres (10.5 mi) north of the city-centre, is the largest industrial belt in Kerala, with more than 250 industries manufacturing a range of products including chemical and petrochemical products, pesticides, rare earth elements, rubber processing chemicals, fertilisers, zinc and chromium compounds, and leather products. Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), one of the oldest fertilizers and chemical industry in Kerala is located in Kochi (Cochin). Kochi (Cochin) Refineries of (BPCL) at Ambalamugal is one of the largest oil refining facilities in South India. Petronet India has now almost completed Kochi (Cochin) LNG Terminal, for importing and storing natural gas, for energy and fueling needs. Central Government establishments like the Coconut Development Board, the Coir Board and the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) have head offices located in the city.
Ancient travellers and tradesmen referred to Kochi (Cochin) in their writings, variously alluding to it as Cocym, Cochym, Cochin, and Kochi (Cochin). The Cochin Jewish community called Cochin as Kogin (?????), which is seen in the seal of the synagogue which is still owned by the community. The origin of the name “Kochi (Cochin)” is thought to be from the Malayalam word kochu azhi, meaning ‘small lagoon’. Yet another theory is that Kochi (Cochin) is derived from the word Kaci meaning ‘harbour’. Accounts by Italian explorers Nicolo Conti (15th century), and Fra Paoline in the 17th century say that it was called Kochchi, named after the river connecting the backwaters to the sea. After the arrival of the Portuguese, and later the British, the name Cochin stuck as the official appellation. The city reverted to a closer anglicisation of its original Malayalam name, Kochi (Cochin), in 1996. However, it is still widely referred to as Cochin, with the city corporation retaining its name as Corporation of Cochin.
Like elsewhere in Kerala, tourism is one of the strongest drivers of the local economy. Ernakulam district, in which Kochi (Cochin) is situated, ranks first in the total number of domestic tourists visiting Kerala, and thus contributes to the economy of the city. The tourist enclave at Fort Kochi (Cochin) and presence of several historical monuments, museums etc. as well as natural attractions like the Vembanad lake and the backwaters attract large number of tourists to the city. Presence of several leading hospitality brands have been a major source of employment for locals. The Kochi (Cochin) Port is one of the leading ports where international cruisers call on regularly. The city has the first marina facility in the country Kochi (Cochin) Marina which attracts large number of yacht-totters. Real Estate industry is also one industry which is contributing a lot to the economy of Kochi (Cochin). Many players have entered the market and have developed residential properties.
Meanwhile, the Dutch, fearing an outbreak of war on the United Provinces, signed the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1814 with the United Kingdom, under which Kochi (Cochin) was ceded to the United Kingdom in exchange for the island of Bangka. However, there are evidences of English habitation in the region even before the signing of the treaty. In 1866, Fort Kochi (Cochin) became a municipality, and its first Municipal Council election was conducted in 1883. The Maharaja of Cochin, in 1896 initiated local administration by forming town councils in Mattancherry and Ernakulam. In 1907, the Governor of the Madras Presidency, Sir Arthur Lawley and his brother, Beilby Lawley, 3rd Baron Wenlock, Governor of Madras, 1891 to 1896, left for an official tour of Cochin and Travancore, which lasted from January 25 to February 14. On January 26th, they were met by His Highness the Rajah of Cochin who gave a State Dinner in their honour at Ernakulam.
Kochi (Cochin) is home to the Southern Naval Command of the Indian Navy and the state headquarters of the Indian Coast Guard with an attached air squadron, named Air Squadron 747. Commercial maritime facilities of the city include the Port of Kochi (Cochin), an International Container Transshipment Terminal, the Cochin Shipyard, offshore SPM of the Kochi (Cochin) Refineries, and the Kochi (Cochin) Marina. Kochi (Cochin) is also home for the Cochin Stock Exchange, International Pepper Exchange, major chemical industries like the FACT, TCC, IREL, HOCL and Kochi (Cochin) Refineries, electrical industries like TELK and industrial parks like the Cochin Special Economic Zone and Infopark. Kochi (Cochin) is home for the High Court of Kerala and Lakshadweep, and the Cochin University of Science and Technology. The city lies about 220 kilometres (137 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, and about 180 kilometres (112 mi)south of Kozhikode.
Kochi (Cochin) is considered to be the hub of the vibrant Malayalam movie industry, especially new generation Malayalam movies. The rise of Kochi (Cochin) to the centre stage of the entertainment industry occurred coinciding with the economic boom of the last couple of decades. A large number of movies are shot in Kochi (Cochin) every year. Kochi (Cochin) also has a host of state-of-the-art production and post production facilities. Due to these reasons, major section of film personalities including of actors, technical experts and other related workers reside in Kochi (Cochin). There are over twelve cinema halls that screen movies in Malayalam, Tamil, English and Hindi. The city hosts Kerala’s first cine multiplex, at the Oberon Mall with four screens. Gold Souk Grande Kochi (Cochin) also has a cine multiplex operated by Q cinemas. 16 more multiplex screens are expected in the city in the near future.
The orphanages for children under Don Bosco Sneha Bhavan Cochi are Sneha Bhavan Annexe, SnehaBhavan, Valsalya Bhavan, Don Bosco and Bosco Nilayam. The Childline India project in Cochin is taken in collaboration with Don Bosco. Children in distress and in need of help can contact in ‘1098’ (toll free number). Sneha Bhavan Annexe is the first point of contact with children and children can stay as a safe night shelter. Sneha Bhavan is a home for the children from the streets and for those from unhealthy and risky situations. The Valsalya Bhavan centre is solely for the girls who are rescued from the streets. Runaways, street children, children of sex workers, abused children and child labourers all live here. Along with primary and high school education at a local school, the centre provides shelter, food, clothing and educational support.
Kochi (Cochin)’s major religions are Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism and Buddhism, with smaller followings, are also practised in Kochi (Cochin). Though 47% practise Hinduism, Christianity’s large following (35%) makes Kochi (Cochin) a city with one of the largest Christian populations in India. The majority of the city’s residents are Malayalis. However, there are significant ethnic minority communities including Tamils, Gujaratis, Jews, Anglo-Indians, Sikhs, Konkanis and Tulus. Malayalam is the main language of communication and medium of instruction for primary education, although a number of schools do offer English medium education. The higher education is invariably in English medium, and it is the preferred language in business circles. Tamil and Hindi are widely understood—albeit rarely spoken.
The city of Kochi (Cochin) (pop. 601,574) is the most densely populated city in the state and is part of an extended metropolitan region (pop. 2.1 million), which is the largest urban agglomeration in Kerala. Kochi (Cochin) city is also a part of Greater Cochin region and is classified as a B-1 grade city by the Government of India, making it the highest graded city in Kerala. Kochi (Cochin) ranks first in the total number of international and domestic tourist arrivals in Kerala. Kochi (Cochin) has been ranked the sixth best tourist destination in India according to a survey conducted by the Nielsen Company on behalf of the Outlook Traveller magazine. Kochi (Cochin) was one of the 28 Indian cities found to be among the emerging 440 global cities that will contribute 50% of the world GDP by the year 2025, in a study done by McKinsey Global Institute.
Portuguese navigator, Pedro Álvares Cabral founded the first European settlement in India at Kochi (Cochin) in 1500. From 1503 to 1663, Fort Kochi (Cochin) was ruled by Portugal. This Portuguese period was a harrowing time for the Cochin Jews, as the Inquisition was active in Portuguese India. Kochi (Cochin) hosted the grave of Vasco da Gama, the first European explorer to set sail for India, who was buried at St. Francis Church until his remains were returned to Portugal in 1539. The Portuguese rule was followed by that of the Dutch, who had allied with the Zamorin of Calicut to conquer Kochi (Cochin). By 1773, the Mysore ruler Hyder Ali extended his conquest in the Malabar region to Kochi (Cochin) forcing it to become a tributary of Mysore. The hereditary Prime Ministership of Kochi (Cochin) held by the Paliath Achans ended during this period.
The current metropolitan limits of Kochi (Cochin) include the mainland Ernakulam, Fort Kochi (Cochin), the suburbs of Edapally, Kalamassery and Kakkanad to the northeast; Tripunithura to the southeast; and a group of islands closely scattered in the Vembanad Lake. Most of these islands are very small, varying in area from 6 km2 to less than 1 km2 (1,500 to less than 250 acres). The state government and the GCDA have plans to include Mala and Kodungaloor in Thrissur district, Angamali, Perumbavoor, Piravom and Kolencherry in Ernakulam district, Thalayolaparambu and Vaikkom in Kottayam and Cherthala in Alappuzha district with Kochi (Cochin) metropolitan limits. The newly formed metropolis would be put under the charge of a new authority called Kochi (Cochin) Metropolitan Regional Development Authority.
Kochi (Cochin)ites generally partake of Keralite cuisine, which is generally characterised by an abundance of coconut and spices. Other South Indian cuisines, as well as Chinese and North Indian cuisines are popular. Fast food culture is also very prominent. Being a tourist hotspot, Fort Kochi (Cochin) have a number of restaurants that offer international cuisine, like Italian, French, Mexican etc. Being close to the ocean and the backwaters, Kochi (Cochin) has an abundance of seafood, which reflects in the cuisine. A service known as You Buy, We Cook is available at the waterfront of Fort Kochi (Cochin), where the fresh seafood purchased from the nets is cooked as per the customers needs. Arabian food joints that serve Shawarma and roasted chicken are a new addition to the fast food scene in the city.
Under the Köppen climate classification, Kochi (Cochin) features a tropical monsoon climate (Am). Kochi (Cochin)’s proximity to the equator along with its coastal location results in little seasonal temperature variation, with moderate to high levels of humidity. Annual temperatures range between 23 and 31 °C (73–88 °F) with the record high being 38 °C (100 °F), and record low 17 °C (63 °F). From June to September, the south-west monsoon brings in heavy rains as Kochi (Cochin) lies on the windward side of the Western Ghats. From October to December, Kochi (Cochin) receives lighter (yet significant) rain from the northeast monsoon, as it lies on the leeward side. Average annual rainfall is 3,228.3 mm (127.10 in), with an annual average of 132 rainy days.