The Kerala cooperative bank employees are considered to be a lesser group and they never measure up to their counter parts in nationalized banks where a hefty sum is dispersed as monthly salary. The cooperative bank employees by their customer friendly attitude attract money to the bank and thus it is sheltered. However the Government of Kerala is in no mood to protect the cooperative sector.
The major crisis in State Cooperative banks is mainly due to the failure of State Government to repay the Rs 495 crores it had taken as loan. And when the Finance Minister is thinking of availing another 2000 crores from elsewhere the repayment will likely to never happen. The Cooperative banks have to wait more time to tide over its fiscal problems and I presume it will not meet the fate ofthose 16 banks in the US.
Though, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Reserve Bank of India had banned the cooperative banks from extending loans to the State Government the Government is pressing the primary cooperative banks by directing them to deposit their funds in the treasury. In addition the bank employees are asked to sell ‘navartna lottery’ through bank branches. As all lotteries are unproductive the government decision to introduce it in State Cooperative banks is intolerable. The clients will likely to abandon cooperative banks as it has turned in to a lottery selling stall. Making Cooperative Bank employees State sponsored beggars is a licentious act by a Government which boasts in the high. The Navtatna lottery would meet the same fate of the lucky dip introduced by economist turned Finance Minister Thomas Isaac for every purchase of 1000 rupee or above. Introducing lottery to every sphere of life is the only kind of development in Kerala. Are those economists behind this utopian idea eligible for Nobel Prize in Economics?
K A Solaman
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Killing Christians
Killing of more than 100 Christians and displacing more than 100,000 with in just two months sends dismal picture of the country to the outside world. It is relevant for the National Human Rights Commission to institute a special probe into the inhuman killing of Christians. There seems to be a larger conspiracy behind the attack on Christians and that needs to be investigated. Despite all Christian organizations have condemned the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in Orissa's Kandhamal the country is witnessing unabated attacks on Christians.
It is undeniable that extremist elements are trespassing into the churches when the worship service is on. The Church properties are destroyed and priests and nuns are beaten up. The attacks are being made on the false conversion charges without any evidence. The attackers claim that they had blessing of Hindu outfits. It is high time for Centre-State administrations to act boldly.
K A Solaman
It is undeniable that extremist elements are trespassing into the churches when the worship service is on. The Church properties are destroyed and priests and nuns are beaten up. The attacks are being made on the false conversion charges without any evidence. The attackers claim that they had blessing of Hindu outfits. It is high time for Centre-State administrations to act boldly.
K A Solaman
Thursday, October 23, 2008
None to hoist the flag
Sir,
Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan’s congratulation of the space scientists of the country for their successful achievement in launching India’s first unmanned spacecraft to moon, Chandrayaan-I is rather ludicrous as he is the first politician in India who called the foremost brain of such projects Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as a mere ‘fire work ‘ man. His observation about the project that the scientists will hoist national flag in the moon is incongruous as the scientists have no immediate plan to hoist flag there. The spacecraft will only circulate in moon’s orbit and there is none in it to land on moon to hoist the flag.
K A Solaman
Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan’s congratulation of the space scientists of the country for their successful achievement in launching India’s first unmanned spacecraft to moon, Chandrayaan-I is rather ludicrous as he is the first politician in India who called the foremost brain of such projects Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as a mere ‘fire work ‘ man. His observation about the project that the scientists will hoist national flag in the moon is incongruous as the scientists have no immediate plan to hoist flag there. The spacecraft will only circulate in moon’s orbit and there is none in it to land on moon to hoist the flag.
K A Solaman
Chandrayaan-1
Certainly Chandrayaan-1 mission would appreciably build on India's technological capability to undertake inter-planetary missions in the coming years. The mission reflects ISRO’s strong competence, to raise India's stature worldwide.
However there arise a few apprehensions. Even Scientists say Chandrayaan's benefits will not become immediately apparent. It will take at least 30 to 40 years to do so according to them. A period of 30-40 years is far enough for people to forget all about Chandrayaan. Even generation would change by that time and there will be none presently working in Chandrayaan project to speak about the benefit of the mission.
Another claim of the Scientist seems quite ludicrous. According to them Helium 3, which is reported to be present on the lunar surface, is brought back to earth, it could help solve the energy crisis. Energy crisis of which country? Is it India? If one ton of Helium-3 can generate a year's supply of energy it would have been siphoned by other developed countries by that time and India could remain only as a mute spectator. Minerals too found on the lunar surface could be commercially exploited by other countries before India plans about it. Moon is owned not alone by India. Moreover Chandryaan mission is too expensive. Wasting resources for an uncovered project is a cruelty towards the starving masses in India. Many countries and international space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan, China, the US and Russia have undertaken or in the process of undertaking unmanned exploratory missions to moon. Hence, there is nothing novel about India’s exploration of the moon
The cost of Chandrayaan-1 mission is Rs 386 crore. And this amount is too high for boosting the technological confidence of India without any material gain. The money spent for the project could have been spent on more constructive projects such as feeding India's poor and educating them. Our country accounts for 57 million malnourished children. Improvement in their condition alone will mean development. The much-acclaimed economic growth and its recession recounts only for the elite class. A national emphasis on wiping out poverty and malnutrition is more necessary than project Chandrayaan.
KA Solaman
However there arise a few apprehensions. Even Scientists say Chandrayaan's benefits will not become immediately apparent. It will take at least 30 to 40 years to do so according to them. A period of 30-40 years is far enough for people to forget all about Chandrayaan. Even generation would change by that time and there will be none presently working in Chandrayaan project to speak about the benefit of the mission.
Another claim of the Scientist seems quite ludicrous. According to them Helium 3, which is reported to be present on the lunar surface, is brought back to earth, it could help solve the energy crisis. Energy crisis of which country? Is it India? If one ton of Helium-3 can generate a year's supply of energy it would have been siphoned by other developed countries by that time and India could remain only as a mute spectator. Minerals too found on the lunar surface could be commercially exploited by other countries before India plans about it. Moon is owned not alone by India. Moreover Chandryaan mission is too expensive. Wasting resources for an uncovered project is a cruelty towards the starving masses in India. Many countries and international space agencies, including the European Space Agency (ESA), Japan, China, the US and Russia have undertaken or in the process of undertaking unmanned exploratory missions to moon. Hence, there is nothing novel about India’s exploration of the moon
The cost of Chandrayaan-1 mission is Rs 386 crore. And this amount is too high for boosting the technological confidence of India without any material gain. The money spent for the project could have been spent on more constructive projects such as feeding India's poor and educating them. Our country accounts for 57 million malnourished children. Improvement in their condition alone will mean development. The much-acclaimed economic growth and its recession recounts only for the elite class. A national emphasis on wiping out poverty and malnutrition is more necessary than project Chandrayaan.
KA Solaman
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Media’s hypocrisy
It is strange that one understands the value of human life only when a child falls into an deep bore well left uncovered by some callous people. The entire state machinery is moved to the rescue the hapless child. However, this rarely happens when hundreds of people are uprooted due to communal violence like in Orissa or when several innocent people are killed in ethnic clashes like in Assam. Why are these lives insignificant? Why doesn’t the electronic media give these stories the kind of air time that they would to a child stuck in a bore well? Isn’t this absolute hypocrisy?
KA Solaman
The Pioneer daily dated 22-10-08
KA Solaman
The Pioneer daily dated 22-10-08
Value of human life
One could understand the value of human life only when a child falls into an uncovered ditch made by callous workers of some multinational companies. The entire state mechanism along with the military would come in rescue of the hapless child who fell into the ditch. This is the scene we once again witnessed when the child Sonu fell down a deep bore well that was left pitilessly uncovered. Though the child died when rescue work was in progress the visual media gave wide coverage to the rescue operation. The way in which the State administration, the Army and the media handled the incident remind the value the human life in India. However this sort of approach is not seen when hundreds were dead in Orissa due to communal clash and several migrants of Bengladesh are dead in Assam
Why for the media and the Army the lives in Orissa and Assam insignificant?
The Governments in States and Centre hereinafter should contemplate to give the same preciousness to the lives of those unfortunates who get killed in racial clashes along with those tender lives which are lost in bore wells. This I say because we have yet to watch the last bore well death and the last ethnic clash death.
K A Solaman
Why for the media and the Army the lives in Orissa and Assam insignificant?
The Governments in States and Centre hereinafter should contemplate to give the same preciousness to the lives of those unfortunates who get killed in racial clashes along with those tender lives which are lost in bore wells. This I say because we have yet to watch the last bore well death and the last ethnic clash death.
K A Solaman
Monday, October 13, 2008
Tactic boomeranged!
Tactic followed by ICICI Bank got boomeranged. It is their method to issue loans to customers and resort all inhuman tactics to get back the loan and that too with blade interest. The bank has now approached police with a complaint of economic terrorism and at least two text messages seeking to spread malicious rumours. The bank has accused some brokers of rumour-mongering aimed at beating its share price and spreading panic among investors as well as depositors. The bank had suffered heavy losses on the stock markets following report that it could fall prey to the global credit crisis because of its exposure abroad.
So it is test time for bank to have a rethink of the policies that had taken so far. And it is the time for them to withdraw all the mind-boggling advertisement given in channels to woo the investors. If the financial position of the bank is so strong they should immediately payback the deposits to investors without further dialogue. Meanwhile they should learn lessons from other private sector and public banks who were not gone panic in the present crisis. .
The bank should also enquire whether ICICI officials had sold their holdings in the bank.
K A Solaman
So it is test time for bank to have a rethink of the policies that had taken so far. And it is the time for them to withdraw all the mind-boggling advertisement given in channels to woo the investors. If the financial position of the bank is so strong they should immediately payback the deposits to investors without further dialogue. Meanwhile they should learn lessons from other private sector and public banks who were not gone panic in the present crisis. .
The bank should also enquire whether ICICI officials had sold their holdings in the bank.
K A Solaman
Friday, October 10, 2008
CPI(M) failed Nano
Though West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Mr Ratan Tata say that the agitation by the Trinamool Congress against the Nano project in Singur was the reason behind abandoning the project, it is not entirely true. It is the callousness shown by the State Government in acquiring land for the project that is the real reason for the failure. Ms Mamata Banerjee’s successful opposition to the project is a warning to all obdurate politicians standing against the people’s will. If the CPI(M)-led Government is solemn about industrialising Bengal, they should take into consideration the will of the local populance. It would be better to revive old industries than haphazardly start new ones.
KA Solaman
KA Solaman
Sunday, October 5, 2008
The value
The value
A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rs100 note. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rs 100 note?"
Hands started going up.
He said, "I am going to give this to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth Rs 100.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.
We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!
A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rs100 note. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rs 100 note?"
Hands started going up.
He said, "I am going to give this to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth Rs 100.
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.
We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!
Veliyam's flip
It was K R Gouri Amma who once said the CPI State secretary of Kerala Mr Veliyam Bhargavan sans sense. And it has been virtually proved with latter’s latest comment on SEZ in Kerala. Veliyam Bhargavan somersaulted that SEZs were good for the State, after stating that Kerala would witness riots if efforts were made to set up SEZs.
The inconsistency in the words of Veliyam is not first of its kind. Sometimes people of Kerala think Veliyam and Coterie are good for the State and at the next moment they are compelled to think in the reverse.
A similar stance one could see in the Munnar demolition episode. When Achuthanadan’s brave cats demolished the buildings of land encroachers Veliyam and his group welcomed it. Nevertheless when the cats turned to Tata, Veliyam went red face. Tata was the highest donor for the ‘Janayugom’ re-release! And now the only hope in Veliyam’s party is Kaanam Rajendran who adopted a stand that SEZs were unacceptable. One could not say when Kaanam would start to think in tune with Veliyam.
Interestingly the CPI’s inconsistency in word and deed has been pooh-poohed by CPI(M)'s Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem. He said, "Veliyam’s speech does not have anything to do with the Government's decision on the matter." Does it mean that political speech is a non-sense talk? Hasn’t the CPI anything to do with the Government? All right thinking people should see that the present advocates of SEZ in Kerala are not going to bring any development or employment to the State. Their main motto is to sell land owned by either Government or private parties and thereby to earn a good buck.
It is time in Kerala to intensify struggle against the SEZs.
K A Solaman
The inconsistency in the words of Veliyam is not first of its kind. Sometimes people of Kerala think Veliyam and Coterie are good for the State and at the next moment they are compelled to think in the reverse.
A similar stance one could see in the Munnar demolition episode. When Achuthanadan’s brave cats demolished the buildings of land encroachers Veliyam and his group welcomed it. Nevertheless when the cats turned to Tata, Veliyam went red face. Tata was the highest donor for the ‘Janayugom’ re-release! And now the only hope in Veliyam’s party is Kaanam Rajendran who adopted a stand that SEZs were unacceptable. One could not say when Kaanam would start to think in tune with Veliyam.
Interestingly the CPI’s inconsistency in word and deed has been pooh-poohed by CPI(M)'s Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem. He said, "Veliyam’s speech does not have anything to do with the Government's decision on the matter." Does it mean that political speech is a non-sense talk? Hasn’t the CPI anything to do with the Government? All right thinking people should see that the present advocates of SEZ in Kerala are not going to bring any development or employment to the State. Their main motto is to sell land owned by either Government or private parties and thereby to earn a good buck.
It is time in Kerala to intensify struggle against the SEZs.
K A Solaman
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Power minister threatens people.
Power minister threatens people.
Kerala Power Minister AK Balan once again threatens people saying that more controls on power supply would have to be imposed in the case of shortfall in the northeastern monsoon rains. For quite long the people of Kerala are being threatened by rulers about power crisis. Still they do not find any way out for the crisis. What on the earth prevents the power minister to divide the board into four companies?
The reason for power failure in the state is often curious. Most of the time it is the shortage of water in the reservoirs to generate power. And when there is no scarcity of water, the generators are under repair! The State is boasting for its IT development. Could this happen without power? The only business that multiplies in the State is Inverter manufacture and this in turn makes the plan of power cut pointless. And there is no concrete effort to minimize the distribution loss. Does the ‘different Balan’ have any statistics regarding distribution loss other the shortage of water in the reservoirs?
When it is very early to make a forecast on the rain availability during Thula Varsham, Balan started crying. Kerala doesn’t need minister to threat the people about power failure.
K A Solaman
Kerala Power Minister AK Balan once again threatens people saying that more controls on power supply would have to be imposed in the case of shortfall in the northeastern monsoon rains. For quite long the people of Kerala are being threatened by rulers about power crisis. Still they do not find any way out for the crisis. What on the earth prevents the power minister to divide the board into four companies?
The reason for power failure in the state is often curious. Most of the time it is the shortage of water in the reservoirs to generate power. And when there is no scarcity of water, the generators are under repair! The State is boasting for its IT development. Could this happen without power? The only business that multiplies in the State is Inverter manufacture and this in turn makes the plan of power cut pointless. And there is no concrete effort to minimize the distribution loss. Does the ‘different Balan’ have any statistics regarding distribution loss other the shortage of water in the reservoirs?
When it is very early to make a forecast on the rain availability during Thula Varsham, Balan started crying. Kerala doesn’t need minister to threat the people about power failure.
K A Solaman
The Brave CM of Kerala
The Chief Minster of Kerala is seen with a busy schedule in Munnar visiting buildings demolished by the special team and moving to places where government lands were occupied by private parties and inspecting buildings to which stop memo was issued by the Revenue Department. He has shown special interest in visiting the government land occupied by Tata, Harrisons Malayalam Plantation, Gloria Estate and the properties that were constructed on government land occupied by some other individuals. The very warning is that is he is in no mood to compromise with the reformists in his party and also those in the LDF who hold umbrellas for the encroachers. It is also commendable to hear from the CM that he keeps a scrap of love in his heart to those honest officers like Rishiraj Singh who accomplished their duty with the utmost satisfaction of the people of Kerala.
It is to be recalled that VS had once faced a violent opposition from Left partners and even an ultimatum from his own party demanding their removal of his earlier ‘cats”in Munnar. However, it is heartening to see that he still stands on his ground. The people of Kerala are firmly behind the CM. The encroachers should be severely dealt with.
K A Solaman
It is to be recalled that VS had once faced a violent opposition from Left partners and even an ultimatum from his own party demanding their removal of his earlier ‘cats”in Munnar. However, it is heartening to see that he still stands on his ground. The people of Kerala are firmly behind the CM. The encroachers should be severely dealt with.
K A Solaman
But India does love Bush!
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s comment that the people of India deeply love US President George W Bush was nothing but a clever piece of diplomacy. After all India does earn billions of dollars in foreign exchange reserves from the US. The Prime Minister recognises this and his statement is a reflection of growing India-US strategic ties. We should not read too much into the issue.
KA Solaman
KA Solaman
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