Parting shot

The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa, has introduced several health schemes. The Amma Master Health Check-up Scheme and the Amma Women Special Master Health Check-up Scheme are real gifts for the poorer sections of society. Poor patients cannot get access to most private hospitals, since they charge an exorbitant amount of money. These private hospitals also beat their own drums through advertisements to lure patients. Such news as that of a heart transported from Kerala to Tamil Nadu in record time and transplanted in a patient in a private hospital are part of business games. This is not to say that such news are untrue. But one must emphasize that such news exist side by side with hundreds of cases in which patients die due to lack of treatment.

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha, Kerala
Thew Telgraph, Calcutta on 27 Aug 2015

Good gesture by TN Chief Minister

It is praiseworthy to see the various health schemes introduced by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in TN.

The 'Amma Women Special Master Health Check-up' scheme and others are really gifts to poor section of the society.It is a fact that the private hospitals are charging exorbitantly from patients and most of them functions mainly on advertisements. The news of the sort “heart transported from Kerala to TN in a record time and transplanted in a patient” in a private hospital are part of business games. This actually happens when hundreds die because of their inability to pay for their treatments,

In fact, what the TN Chief Minister did is a good gesture and lesson to follow by her counter parts in other states.

K A Solaman

'Sahaya' damp squib

The Information technology is a boon for vast generation nevertheless it is a curse for a few. The latest in this direction is the 'Sahaya' project , that is going to be implemented in Kerala schools. By this project if a student cuts his class and goes to view the new-gen cinema like the notorious ' Premam' then that information is soon transferred to his/her father. The father who is also watching the film then can advantageously abscond while his son/daughter reaches the theatre. More terrible is mental agony of the guardian, possibly a bus conductor or a police man who is fed up with his job, when receives this news.

In Kerala there are many instances of misusing internet assisted services. While K B Ganesh Kumar was in charge of a minister he made a project to video record the waste accumulation in panchayats and municipalities and put them into web site with suitable colouration. On removing the waste the colour of place changes from red to green via yellow indicating the removal of filth. Unfortunately there was no follow up action when Kumar relinquished his post. Likewise the former minister T M Isaac had the habit of counting poth holes in public roads and putting their number in the website. But that website does not exist now.

So it can be rightly said that ' Sahaya project ' will also turn into a damp squib without any good result other than wasting public money.

-K A Solaman

Hartal draft bill

The rules and regulations stipulated in Hartal draft bill is interesting. A person who destroys public property is punishable under the rule and for him to get bail for such crime he has to pay the cost of the property he destroyed. But who will identify the destroyer and who will provide amble evidence against him are pertinent questions. It is often seen that in most of the hartals the police who are bound to maintain law and order, remain moot spectators and the public are then a hapless lot. So it is better to impose all the levy on the caller of the hartal instead of waiting for the public to appear as witness.

A three day advance notice for observing hartal is also seems ridiculous.

\-K A Solaman

On street pollution

A business tycoon of Kochi, who is known for his unparalleled  generosity of donating one of his kidneys, was seen disturbed at a traffic jam because of  the passenger behind him honked his  car horn incessantly.  Annoyed by this sound pollution the business man got out of his car and entered into war of words  with the car driver. On reading this my first reaction was; the business man was fit to live in the US.

As the business man commutes only between his house and the company in a car he could not see other pollutions such as air and street. The entire streets of Kochi and elsewhere are polluted by fish vendors but none from the authority is bothered to check this. They can at least search for the clean-practices during King's rule in the State when special fish markets with proper drainage causing no traffic jam were maintained. I think in the US the law against pollution is stubborn. It is here the laws follows its own course as our CM repeatedly says.

K A Solaman

Do you feel sleepy during the day?

By Professor Colin Espie

It is important to differentiate sleepiness from tiredness. When we feel sleepy, it is a conscious struggle to remain awake. On the other hand, when we are tired, we may feel fatigued but still remain relatively alert. You could think about this distinction by associating tiredness as a physical symptom experienced in the muscles in our body. Sleepiness however, is more like 'brain tiredness'.

It's a good idea to try to keep all your sleep for night-time, so if you feel mildly sleepy during the day do your best to counteract it. Exercise at lunchtime can be a good idea – a brisk walk perhaps. Getting out in the daylight is very important because natural light helps keep us alert. Then caffeinated drinks can also give us a much-needed 'boost' during daytime lulls.

The course helps to restore normal levels of sleepiness by increasing sleep pressure – This is a good thing and can be more pronounced during the course, which helps to get your sleep into shape. Often prior to the course, poor sleepers don't feel sleepy at all, night or day! Sleepiness will wear off as your sleep continues to evolve.

However if you feel very sleepy – so sleepy that you might fall asleep without warning – you should take it seriously as it can be dangerous, particularly when driving. In this case you should seek advice from your doctor as soon as possible.

Sheer vandalism

What is now happening in Kerala colleges is sheer vandalism. The heads of these institutions are hapless persons to check this rot. The latest example in this regard is the killing a of girl student in College of Engineering , Thiruvananthapuram.

The college was hosting the Onam celebrations and that too without the permission of the principal. How can a college conduct Onam celebrations without the permission of the authority? The college management owes an explanation for permitting a jeep lacking valid papers inside the campus.

The whole episode reveals the need for occasional check inside the campus by the police and for that no permission from the college authority is needed. No college will be permitted to become haven of criminals.

K A Solaman

Kerala teen-age psyche

All that is said and done against the nasty Malayalam film 'Premam' went ashtray. Still the teen agers obsessed by the film have preferred to go to the schools and colleges wearing black shirt and dhothi to celebrate Onam festival. Reports from Thodupuzha and elsewhere say that the school authorities had a tough time to deal with these tiny miscreants.

In fact the Kerala teen-age psyche is far beyond one's guess.

K A Solaman

Private CEOs in banks

The Union Government's decision to induct CEOs from the private sector  to public sector banks is not wise. This will not only affect the morale of the present executives of the banks but helps to leak out all important financial dealings of the bank.

At present retired staff of the public sector banks have a propensity to join private financial institutions serving latter to discover new financial sources through  the account holders of the bank. This will be intensified by the induction of private executives in key positions of the bank. Moreover the accountability of the top executives of the bank will be at risk with private persons at the helm.

In fact, there is no need for private executives when there are competent management within the bank. In all probability the move to appoint private CEOs is an unwarranted act to protect private persons who are the supporters of the ruling party.

-K A Solaman

Protect our seas

According to the Meera Kumari Commission report, foreign fishing vehicles may be permitted in our seas and hence it justifies the looting of our marine resources by foreign companies. It welcomes foreign crews in Indian waters. The commission’s recommendations would adversely affect the fishing community and lead to their displacement. We should take no action that affects the livelihood of traditional fishing communities; the government should protect the fish resources on which thousands of fishermen are dependent.

KA Solaman, Alappuzha 

The Hindu Business Line April 30, 2015

Independence Day Wishes!

K A Solaman

Murder of democracy

I fully agree with what Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said about the unruly behaviour of Opposition party in the Parliament. She said “protest by the Opposition  is murder of democracy  and hijacking the rights of 440 members by 40-50 others”.

The Congress party led UPA was ruling the country for the last ten years and as the result of their misrule they lost to BJP. Nevertheless, the Congress cannot imagine a day without power. And that is the very reason for the nonstop hullaballoo by the Congress.

Congress insisting that it would not allow Parliament to function is out of the ordinary. What the Speaker has to do is, suspend the agitating members for another two weeks instead of permitting channels to telecast all the rubbish played by Opposition members.

K A Solaman 

Dress code in Public libraries.

In British library and libraries of New York, Toronto and New Delhi neat dress with shoes are the permitted dress code of library users. However bathing dress, swimming suit and bikini are not permitted. Shoes are compulsory item for the dress behaviour of readers in these libraries.

But to one's dismay, in Cherthala Municipal library, not only shoes but chappals are also not permitted inside the library. If by chance, one enters this library wearing shoes he is immediately thrown out of the library and is given mouthful of advises regarding the advantages of non-use of shoes.

So one legitimately wants to know whether shoes/chappals are permitted inside the libraries in Kerala. If not what is the exact scientific reason for disallowing shoes. Does s shoe user carry more dirt on his feet than bare footed one? Bizarre are the cleanser practices of Kerala.

- K A Solaman

Open book examination

Changes in the Kerala Education sector have made many a student  wood-headed, nevertheless, still adventures in this direction are in progress to make more and more  idiots. Latest one in this regard is the M G University , Kottayam initiative  to introduce open book examinations in selected courses. The M G U University VC saying that the present curriculum is out dated and hence changes are to be made, is  interesting. Making curriculum student friendly means students preparing syllabus for themselves  reducing considerably the work of teachers. Teachers have now become a special lot only to watch students and not to teach. All are giving assignments to students that are of little use. Misuse of electronic gadgets have stolen many precious hours of students.

Objective type examinations with multiple choices and speedy evaluation by optical mark readers would not find any good candidate. Return of answer scripts/OMR sheets to students is not a big thing and that would in noway  enhance the standard of education other than creating a few petty cases in judicial forums.

Any modern electronic gadget supposedly made for better education of students  would not replace  time tested black board and chalk. As these things are abandoned by teachers the quality of class education has deteriorated.

The words coming from the mouth of a teacher are more effective than that seen in any power point presentation or  what else.

Thoughtless investment

The Central Government move to invest Employees Provident Fund in the equity market is detrimental. And if investment  is through SBI mutual fund, it is more dangerous. Many people invested in SBI mutual fund  have not received the minimum return so far. Still unknowingly a few  people invest in mutual fund and curse themselves for the foolish decision they have taken.

The EPF Organisation can invest in mutual fund if minimum return is assured. The FII investing in Indian Stock Market and making high returns can not be taken as a yardstick because they  often come as players and Indian investors  are the losers. A rethink, therefore, is essential to invest the hard earned money of employees in stocks an shares as Indian Stock Market is directionless  quite long.

K A Solaman

Obnoxious deal of SBT.

The State Bank of Travancore’s move to transfer its education loan recovery to the Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Asset Reconstruction Company is unjustifiable. Anil Ambani group of companies have a dubious history of cheating the investors and hence in this deal the advantage of top officials of SBT should be looked into. The agitation in this direction by the general public, loanees and the bank staff before the headquarters of the bank in Trivandrum is in the right direction. No thugs in suit and tie should be permitted to frighten the parents of the students and the bank employees.

The SBT move will give wrong signals to other banks in this regard and the State will turn into a land of public sector blade mafia. Harassment and torture in the name of repayment of loans by RARC should not be permitted. If SBT is the one that has given loans it is their duty recover it lawfully. Permitting outside muggers to recover the loan is obnoxious.

K A Solaman

No relief for the poor

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

Alappuzha, Kerala

Discontented UDF

The suspension of the two chief engineers of  the Water Resources Department and the PWD by the Home Department is an unprecedented act. If corruption is the sole reason for suspension then it is unlikely to have so many police officers in the Home Department including the IG who had been caught for copying in the LLM examination. By issuing suspension order  Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala is playing a super CM with what is called the ' key post' in his possession.

The act of Chennithala with out informing the CM or other ministers is never an image building mechanism, instead it is a unwise act to uncover the discontent in the UDF.

-K A Solaman