Rotating menu in schools

#Rotating menu in Schools.

Implementing the new mid-day meal scheme in schools as proposed by the minister involves several practical challenges that are often overlooked. 

One of the most pressing issues is the delay in government funding, which puts schools in a helpless position. With insufficient or irregular financial support, school authorities are forced to arrange meals on credit, which is neither sustainable nor dignified. 

In schools teachers  should be focused on academic responsibilities. But

In many cases, teachers are compelled to approach local grocery merchants and plead for supplies on loan. This not only demoralizes the teachers but also tarnishes the image of the education system. Such a practice of “begging” for rations is an administrative failure that exposes the gap between policy-making and ground-level execution.

The proposed introduction of a varied menu and expert-level cooking adds another layer of difficulty. Most schools, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, lack proper kitchen infrastructure, trained cooks, or storage facilities. Expecting these institutions to serve diversified and nutritionally balanced meals without upgrading their facilities or increasing staff support is impractical. Hiring professional cooks within the current funding constraints is nearly impossible.

 Ensuring the timely procurement of fresh ingredients for a rotating menu is a logistical nightmare, especially when vendors are already reluctant to supply due to pending dues. In such a scenario, the well-intended scheme runs the risk of collapsing under its own weight unless urgent reforms and adequate, timely funding are ensured.

-K A Salaman

Flexible syllabus?

#Flexible #syllabus?

Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty’s impulsive decision to revise the school syllabus in response to a political row with the Governor is both inappropriate and irresponsible. 

The school syllabus is not a tool for political retaliation or personal ego battles. It is a carefully structured framework meant to serve the academic and developmental needs of students. It is absurd to treat it as a flexible document to be altered at the whims of ministers reacting to current events. 

The minister’s announcement raises serious concerns about whether he even has a comprehensive understanding of the existing syllabus. His past promises such as the additional textbook to supplement NCERT content have never materialized.

Such erratic interventions only disrupt academic consistency and undermine the credibility of the education system. Education must be driven by pedagogy and expert consultation, not by the passing moods of politicians.

-K A Solaman

Selective outrage

#Selective #outrage

The recent episodes involving Kerala Ministers P. Prasad and V. Sivankutty boycotting official functions at the Raj Bhavan over the image of Bharat Mata reveal a deeply disturbing ideological bias within the LDF government. Their selective outrage  exposes a mindset that puts petty party politics above patriotism. Because they readily embrace mythical and politically expedient figures like Nangeli and  disrespec Bharat Mata, a symbol of national unity and pride

Such theatrics, especially on solemn public platforms like Scouts and Guides events, not only dishonour the dignity of constitutional offices but also insult the sentiments of ordinary citizens who hold national symbols in reverence. This pattern of behaviour undermines the federal fabric and reduces ministerial responsibility to cheap publicity stunts tailored for their party cadre.

More concerning, however, is the LDF’s long-standing manipulation of university appointments, where merit takes a backseat to Marxist loyalty. For years, deserving candidates have been sidelined while Ph.D. holders loyal to CPM’s ideology are fast-tracked through so-called "mercy chances" and backdoor recommendations.

The Governor’s intervention to promptly fill faculty positions, based on merit and transparency, is a welcome move to break this stranglehold. Left-aligned outfits like SFI, which once championed academic freedom, are now silent or complicit, acting only when the party’s hold is threatened. The education sector in Kerala, once a model for the country, is now plagued by nepotism and cadre favoritism. It is really a tragedy that the people can no longer afford to ignore.

-K A Solaman

#Bharat #Mata #Prasad #Sivankutty #Rajbhavan

Biased channels

#Biased #chanels

The recent uproar by certain Malayalam news channels over Israel’s missile strike on Iran’s national television headquarters reflects a deeply flawed and biased media narrative. These channels, in their eagerness to portray Iran as a perpetual victim, conveniently ignore the broader geopolitical realities and the provocations that lead to such actions. 

Their one-sided reporting not only lacks journalistic integrity but also paints a skewed picture of a highly complex issue. These media houses consistently condemn Israel without context, forgetting that Israel has been a long-standing ally of India — a nation that supported us during times of war, crisis, and international isolation. Their bias, bordering on propaganda, undermines balanced journalism and misleads the public.

Such partisan behaviour directly contradicts India’s carefully crafted and neutral foreign policy in the Middle East. India's strategic interests lie in maintaining friendly relations with both Israel and Arab nations. When regional news outlets openly vilify a friendly nation like Israel, they do not just discredit themselves, but also work against the national interest. 

It is high time the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting takes serious note of this repeated anti-national trend. No media outlet, under the guise of press freedom, should be allowed to consistently propagate views that contradict India’s official diplomatic stance. 

Strict guidelines and accountability must be enforced to ensure that Indian media upholds national interests over ideological biases.

-K A Solaman

Exploiting consumers

Exploiting consumers

The Kerala Water Authority and Electricity Board have become unchecked monopolies exploiting the helplessness of the public with irrational and exorbitant charges. 

The recent move by the Water Authority to fix water tariffs based not only on consumption but also on the size of a building is illogical, and  discriminatory. And it reeks of authoritarian policy-making. Water usage is a measurable quantity, and linking it to a building’s size—without any regard to actual consumption—is both unjust and unscientific. 

Similarly, the Electricity Board continues to impose inflated charges under complex and often opaque billing structures. With no alternative providers, citizens are forced to bear this exploitation.

It is high time these essential service providers are held accountable and brought under strict regulatory scrutiny to ensure fairness, transparency, and justice for all consumers.

-K A Solaman

Against Federal spirit

#Against federal spirit.

Pinarayi Vijayan, as the Chief Minister of Kerala, represents a state within the Indian Union, not the country as a whole. Foreign affairs, including diplomatic relations with other nations, fall exclusively under the purview of the Central Government, particularly the Ministry of External Affairs.

 It is, therefore, highly inappropriate for a state-level leader to make derogatory comments about a sovereign nation like Israel, especially when India maintains strong diplomatic and strategic ties with that country. By calling Israel a "rogue nation" in the context of the Iran-Israel conflict, Vijayan has overstepped his constitutional role and possibly harmed India's diplomatic stance, even if unintentionally. 

Such statements can be seen as undermining national foreign policy and may also strain international relationships that are crucial for trade, technology, and employment. And that is particularly when many Keralites work in Israel.

Moreover, the Chief Minister's comment does not reflect the official position of the Indian Government. India has traditionally maintained a balanced and pragmatic approach in the Middle East. While democratic leaders are entitled to their opinions, those holding public office must act responsibly, keeping in mind the implications of their words on national interest and global diplomacy. 

Israel, like India, is a democratic country with its own internal and external security challenges. Reducing complex geopolitical issues to name-calling can  mislead the public. Itt also project a fragmented image of Indian governance to the international community. 

In this case, Pinarayi Vijayan’s statement appears to be more partisan driven and  not diplomatically prudent. It undermines the federal spirit where states respect the domain of the Centre in international affairs.

- K A Solaman

Irresponsible statement

#Irresponsible #Statement

Israel, a democratic and sovereign nation, has every right to defend its citizens and territory against persistent threats posed by hostile regimes and terrorist organizations. 

The recent airstrikes against Iran are part of a broader effort to neutralize a growing existential threat from Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and its support for militant proxies across the region.

 Unlike rogue nations and terror groups, Israel adheres to the norms of international law while ensuring that its security is not compromised. The global community, including India, recognizes Israel’s invaluable role in countering terrorism, especially Islamic extremism that has wreaked havoc in the Middle East and beyond. 

India and Israel share a deep strategic, economic, and scientific partnership, and irresponsible political statements that vilify Israel only serve to weaken national interest and disregard the welfare of the thousands of Indians working and studying there.

Islamic terrorism remains one of the most dangerous and destabilizing forces in the modern world, driven by radical ideologies that threaten global peace. Nations like Israel, which stand at the forefront of this battle, are not aggressors but defenders of freedom, democracy, and human rights.

 The appeasement of regimes that sponsor terrorism, under the guise of political ideology or religious solidarity, is not only shortsighted but dangerous. Leaders who exploit these sensitive global issues for domestic political mileage risk alienating key allies and undermining international cooperation.

 It is deeply irresponsible for Kerala's Chief Minister and members of the ruling front to make inflammatory remarks against a nation like Israel, which has consistently extended friendship and opportunities to the people of Kerala. Such rhetoric, rooted in outdated ideological posturing, must be called out for what it is: a disservice to both national integrity and global stability.

-K A Solaman