Sex is a divine gift for Christians! (2013 Jan Post)

The Catholic Church in Kerala going to introduce sex education into the catechism curriculum is a welcome step provided it reduces sex related abuses among the community. However it would be a tough time for catholic priests and nuns who practice absolute celibacy to deliver such classes. How could one speak about sex without experiencing it once in a life time?  

The religious classes up to tenth standard in Sunday schools are managed by youngsters who do not even know about menstrual cycle. Interestingly as some uninformed priests also keep a similar view and they are unable to handle sex education classes. What they know only is the proclamation of Powathil Thirumeni asking Christian couple to procreate profusely. Bishop Powathil can say like this because the laity associated with him is rich and are able to feed children a dozen or more. Nevertheless, for poor catholic fishermen residing in the cost of Arabian sea are unable to give good food and education to their children. When the Government of India speaks about single child it is impudent on the part of catholic clergies to argue against government policy.

If sex-education classes are handled by psychologists and counselors working in that field it will be alright but it is unlikely to happen in Sunday schools as many of the schools are incapable of bringing experts for classes. Christian concept of sexuality should not be for producing more children but for inculcating good manners and well behaviour.  

K A Solaman 

Aruvikkara profligacy

The Aruvikkara by-election campaign was in fact show of money power. Who spent what is beyond anybody’s  guess. . The expenditure part of the election campaign by various candidates in Aruvikkara crossed all permissible levels stipulated by the Election Commission of India. The campaign was so theatrical presenting that there would be no life for political parties after Aruvikkara poll.The inflow of black money also cannot be ruled out.

There is a provision for expenditure observer in the constituency to monitor the spending by the candidates. But in this particular case it seems that the observer was in deep sleep all the time. The monitoring mechanism in the constituency has miserably failed to check the extravagance of political parties. Invisible expenditure relating channel show etc still remains unaccounted.

The candidates would become morally corrupt too when they submit returns to the Election Commission.

K A Solaman 

Needed organic farming

Healthy food is people’s right but it is often torpedoed by vested groups. These groups include farmers, store keepers and traders. The vegetables and fruits now available in markets are contaminated by pesticides and other chemicals that can adversely affect people. Just washing vegetables is not enough to ensure produce clean enough for consumption

Even if the most toxic chemicals have already been banned for use in agriculture it is often used by farmers. We, therefore, should try to do every effort to minimize our intake of these adverse chemicals. And in this regard the best option is turning our self in to organic farming. The examples of Kanjikuzhy and Mararikulam Panchayaths are noteworthy in this respect. The self groups in this area produce pesticide- free vegetables and find a good market for them. An agriculture clinic has been started under the supervision of a co-operative bank here to disseminate the advantage of organic farming. Knowing which produce contain more pollutants can help us make the right choices, avoiding the most contaminated fruits and vegetables. It  is really a folly to outsource our basic food requirements.

We should keep in mind to buy only organic food materials.

-K A Solaman

Thoughtless lot of Aruvikkara?

The State of Kerala is also following the Tamilian way of electioneering for the crucial Assembly bypoll in Aruvikkara. The constituency got a celebrity touch with film stars Suresh Gopi and Innocent appearing on the scene to take the campaigning to an excited mood. More popular film stars are expected to tour the constituency on coming days turning it as place of unthinking people.

Kerala was once pompous of not fielding film stars as election candidates and often condemned the folly  of people of Tamil Nadu running after film stars. Bur now the “Shotgun” Suresh Gopi adds colour to the BJP campaign for its candidate O Rajagopal, former Union Minister. The Leftist MP Innocent, the most popular film comedian of Kerala with his humour-rich speeches, campaigns for Marxist candidate M Vijayakumar. Another film star Mukesh also campaigns for Vijayakumar. And at the same time actress Khushboo and another popular film actress are expected to campaign for its candidate KS Sabarinathan. 

Thus the whole election scenario has turned into a film picnic spot turning the people of Aruvikkara a thoughtless lot.

-K A Solaman 

Anoop is right

There is a point in endorsing the Face Book post of  Kerala  Food Minister  Anoop Jacob against RBPillai and hid son  K B Ganesh Kumar.  Pillai is notorious for all sort of unlawful acts and if Anoop says  Pillai had approached him for making illegal appointments in Consumer Forum, it cannot be ruled out. K B Ganesh Kumar, who was in the good book of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy for quite long now turning as his worst foe indicates that Kumar is a person never to be trusted. It is true that Kumar has miserably failed in running his own house. His business with the assets of late actor Sreevidya is also doubtful.  

It is a pity to see that the LDF is seeking the assistance of Pillai and son in Aruvikkara election. Any chance of victory there is spoiled by the nexus of LDF with Pillai and son.

K A Solaman

The inevitable will happen

Almost all self financing engineering in Kerala are in the verge of putting down shutters because of dearth of takers for engineering degrees. The prospects of engineering graduates are very bleak and those come out from low profile colleges lack the required standard and skill suited for any engineering works. However, these colleges can be advantageously converted into resort hotels or business establishments as profit making is the sole motto of self finance college managements. 

In yesteryears the news papers were flooded with cinema advertisements. Now they are replaced ads of engineering colleges just for survival. The quality and standard of these colleges lie in advertisements only and not in actuality.

In most of the colleges little emphasis is given for academic eligibility and intellectual quality of students. The classes are run largely by guest lecturers with a meager salary. When uneducated laborers earn Rs 25000 or more in a month the guest lecturers with M Sc and M Tech in self financing colleges earn only Rs 10000 or less. The exploitation in this sector is embarrassing.  Just for instance in the IHRD college in Cherthala, Physics and Chemistry subjects are handled by guest teachers since its inception and the earning per month by the teacher in Phyisics or Chemistry is below Rs 5000. If a permanent hand is appointed the salary will be eight times but the authorities will not appoint permanent teachers as profit making is the sole business.

Since minimum quality and intellectual level are not available for students coming out from most of the colleges, a few of them will soon close and only the fittest will survive. The students and their parents should be very vigil to select a college for future study in engineering courses.

- K A Solaman

Medical entrance drill

Illegal methods to score high rank in Medical Entrance and other competitive examinations often come in public very rarely. SC scraping AIPMT 2015 and ordering re-conduction of test reveals widespread corruption in this direction.

Admission to a single MBBS seat alone being a hefty business of several lakhs rich and the influential resort to all sort of illegal trade.  Leakage of question papers and manipulation iof rank lists are often carried out denying opportunities to the poor and the bright. Man’s craze for medical profession vanishes only when this job lacks the present attraction.  And for this more medical colleges are to be started and more seats are made available. Those who are behind this large-scale cheating should be brought to book.

However, it is a fierce drill for all the  6.3 lakh students  and their patents  to face another  All India Pre-Medical Test.

K A Solaman 

Fatty Kerala wedding

Show him the way out.

There are innumerable IPS officers in Kerala cadre but Tomin J Thachankary is an exception. He is always in the rumour for misdeeds. This time Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has ordered a Vigilance inquiry against him in a cheating case. It is alleged that he cheated quarry owners by selling off an unlicensed quarry and took Rs 8 crore for the Rs 20 crore deal. Telephonic conversations are available with the quarry owners to validate their claim.

There are also reports mentioning irregularities in Consumerfed where he is the MD. He has a dubious history of crimes for which the Opposition leader is also a complainant. So this is high time to show the way out to this unjust officer.

K A Solaman

The daughter

Ground reality

After an initial hiccup the Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan took Aruvikkara constituency by storm.  Hundreds of people thronged the public meeting venue to hear the veteran. The  slogans  like “Kanne, karale VSe, muthe muthe VSe, janalakshangalude nethave” was exhilarating.

Sardonically for official Marxist comrades VS is very dear during election times and is a class enemy deserving capital punishment at other times. The CPM State leaders, in fact, have no understanding of the ground reality. If they wake up it will be good for them and for the party.

K A Solaman

Fat Kerala weddings

The resolution taken by the Keraia Women Commission(KWC) to shun lavish marriages is a radical one. Fulsome marriages which had become a status symbol in Kerala had left many families to utter debt. Bountiful marriages are common in many communities across the state giving rise to the phrase,  ‘Fat  Kerala weddings’ – an affair costing several lakhs of rupees even among the middle class. A hotel or a resort arranging a single marriage charges in tune with rupees 30 lakhs or more for the event alone. Then on accounting the money spent for ornaments, dresses etc it would exceed rupees one crore for certain posh marriages.
Spending heavily for a marriage would certainly run on families into strenuous debts. So the KWC directions to cut down unnecessary or showy expenditure is a welcome move and it is highly beneficial for middle and lower classes.

Certain marriage extravaganzas are accompanied by redundant traditions like inviting professional dancers, organising orchestra or music by DJs and even liquor parties during the ceremonies. This should come to an end and the Kerala weddings, once known for their simplicity, should regain its past glory. Wedding should become a function to show one’s wisdom rather than wealth borrowed via debt.

K A Solaman

Low Floor robbery

Sooner or later the ordinary and fast passenger buses of KSRTC will be replaced by low floor buses as it is the most crafty way to collect more money from ordinary people without any protest. The bus concession permissible to students would become meaningless then as they are not permitted to travel by LF buses. Politicians advocating low floor buses should ensure safe and economic travel facility to common man. Spending heavily for buying LF buses ignoring the plight of KSRTC pensioners and ordinary people is a despicable act on the part of KSRTC

K A Solaman

Illogic speak

Can anyone  compel an Indian voter to cast his vote for a particular candidate? If not what is the logic behind SNDP Yogam Secretary to ask  Aruvikkara voters to vote according to their choice?  A communal leader asking voters to cast vote according to his fancy is out of the ordinary and hence the speak of Vellappally is unwarranted.

K A Solaman

Advantage UDF

No relief for the poor

Under the Modi regime, the country is facing the same bad phase as it did during the UPA government’s time. Development has been forgotten and the government is busy addressing the internal disturbances of the party. The finance minister has taken no corrective measures for the relief of the poor. The common people are not able to save even a single rupee due to high inflation and price rise of essential commodities.

KA Solaman

Kerala 

The Hindu Business Line published on June 3, 2015

Pollution check for easy money.

All my observations about police  checking vehicles  went wrong. Today(4th June) they sprang upon all the two wheeler owners near Mathilakm Green Gardens Hospital on NH 66 and fined every one for traffic violations. Even those without a ' no pollution' certificate were fined Rs 200 each. When all the state owned vehicles including KSRTC buses run without this certificate what is the logic in punishing two wheeler owners? Interestingly getting a pollution certificate is a matter of 70 rupees for which  pollution is not actually checked.

I think the local police keep a  grudge towards their newly appointed chief.
If it is the govt intention to get easy money then it is better to resort some meaningful method other than to tax poor two wheeler owners. The govt might have issued a notice for compulsory pollution certificate for all vehicles before asking the police for a rapid action with the blessing of the new police chief. 

The people of Aruvikkara are a lucky lot for they having no such humiliation in the coming month.

K A Solaman

Abuse and praise

The 4 km stretch from 11^th mile to Kanjikkuzhy on NH 66 was a place of frequent confrontation between  police and  vehicle owners as there were usually three police pickets in the stretch checking helmet, seat belt and what else. All of them were suddenly disappeared with the dictate of newly appointed police chief. Thus all the abuses hurled on police minister have now turned into all praises for the police chief.

If police chief and chief secretary are the policy making cream of the crop what is the fun in keeping a ministry by spending heavily from the State exchequer?

K A Solaman

Star campaigner at Aruvikkara.

It is an irony of fate to see that it is R Balakrishna Pillai is the star campaigner for LDF in Aruvikkara  and not the founder leader Achuthanandan. A man undergone jail term for one year for corruption becoming advocate of Marxist candidate is not all advantageous for the candidate. Now only Oommen Chandy feels the heat of giving jail term concession for Pillai for his 'iron disease'. Howeve, Pillai's campaign against UDF is good for them.

KASolaman

Mundane Indian laws.

By Bihar court ordering registration of an FIR against Bollywood stars Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta, who have featured in the Maggi advertisements, it has been proved that Indian laws are rather mundane.

India is a place of sub-standard food items. But there is no check on quality of food products by government agencies. The poor people of this country are at the mercy of corrupt politicians, manufacturers, businessmen, traders and celebrities. The prime responsibility goes with the manufacturer and approving authority. The role of Bachchan or Dixit or Zinta in promoting a brand is not a big issue.

Sachin has done advertisements for food products and if anything found wrong with any of them, will Sachin be arrested? Bachchan has done advertisement for pulse polio drop. Will he become guilty if a child dies of reaction? In Kerala, Mammootty, Mohanlal and Manju Warier had featured in the ads of many substandard items like curry powder, apparels, fake finance companies, liquors, ayurvedic products, gold shops etc.. Will they be arrested if curry powder and gold ornaments found adulterated?

Nevertheless, the Bihar court order is an eye-opener for all rapacious celebrities who jump into the ads of low-quality consumer products. And in this respect actors Rajnikanth and Kamal Hasan are role models as they never attempted to hoodwink the gullible public by means of unscrupulous advertisements.

K A Solaman

Acche din kya?

Modi government is seemingly a product of speechifying. If people opening bank account is an indication of ‘ acche din’ it is alright. But for the poor and the daily wagers it is now very bad days. Even in stock market this peril could be seen.
Under Modi regime country is facing the same worse phase as that of UPA government.  Development has been forgotten and the government is  busy in addressing internal disturbances of the party. The present FM is seemingly inefficient as he has taken no corrective measures for the relief of the poor.  The common people are not able to save even a single rupee due to high inflation and price rise of essential commodities.

It is time for Modi Government to take immediate measures to prevent the fast eroding confidence on them by the common man.

K A Solaman

Published by NIE on 4 May 2015

Aiming high

Many are the ways to get into Guinness book of world records. A series of election failure can also be thought as one. This is the first impression one gets when BJP in Kerala fielded senior leader a O Rajagopal, as the party candidate from Aruvikkara.

When there are very smart leaders in BJP, it is highly unconvincing why this decision was taken by BJP core committee. Possibly they are aiming high to take Rajagopal to world record of consecutive election setbacks. Rajagopal has no single instance of success in elections though he was a union minister for some time.

K A Solaman