Reasonable apprehension

• Seemingly Finance Minister and financial expert Dr TM Thomas Isaac's 'jack fruit economics ' has few takers in Kerala including his Cabinet Chief Pinarayi Vijayan. That is why Pinarayi appointed another financial expert Gita Gopinath from Harward University. Gita's appointment is without remuneration and she will not visit Kerala and never get involved in Kerala policy decisions. Then, what for this exercise? Pinarayi is unnecessarily making confusion among his own men.

  The small state of Kerala, in fact , does not need a Harvard economist advocating liberalisation policy as the Financial advisor to the Chief Minister of Kerala. Her attitude of market economy and finance is unsuitable to Marxist ideology. And hence apprehension of the Pinarayi detractors about her appointment is reasonable.

  K A Solaman

  

Partition deed fee

It is good to hear that the newly introduced fee for property deals such as partition deed among family members is going to be revised. The stamp duty may also be lowered to Rs.1000 for such transactions. The credit goes to Registration Minister G Sudhakaran for bringing it to public debate. The budget proposal for partition deal fee was exorbitant and that is why the state witnessed an all-time record in property registrations just before the new transaction fee coming into effect.

Other than this, there still remains proposals like high tax for atta, maida, soochi etc which need immediate withdrawal.

K A Solaman

Kabali fun

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  The release of the Rajnikanth movie Kabali that broke many records much before hitting the screens, has been marked with funny matters. One among them is: certain business houses in southern India have given their employees one day off on the first day of the release of the film so that they can attend screening on the first day itself. This indicates how silly are our work forces and their attitude towards job.

  For many employees their job is only a part-time business and they are more interested in silly things such as watching films. As it is impossible for every one to see the film on the first day itself why these people spoil one day for a futile exercise? If they are particular to watch Rajanikant film immediately they can opt for 'Linga or Paayum puli' now and wait for 'Kabali' on another day.

  K A Solaman

  
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Code of conduct for govt staff

Kerala Service Rules (KSR) and Kerala Education Rules (KER) are the two prominent rule books available for the code of conduct of government staff and teachers. According to rules, officials should behave politely with common man and stay away from any sort of corruption. If strict adherence to these rules are made then what is the implication of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan saying a code of conduct would be introduced for government officials?

It is true that there is delay in the implementation of projects and lack of quality in service. Most a often an application receives attention from an official when applicant by himself or by agent approaches the official. This should be stopped. All applications/ petitions received in an office should be settled as per 'first come first serve' basis. The transfer of government officials should be based on principles and never as a punishment like one we saw in the case of two PWD road engineers transferred from Harippad.

When good service rules exist it is meaningless to announce fresh ones.

K A Solaman

Is Kerala not in India?

The expectation for BJP in Kerala election was ten assembly seats but won only the Nemom seat. Infuriated BJP central leadership, therefore , denied berth for any Keralite in the central ministry. Absence of one from Kerala in the 19 newly selected central ministers is a pointer in this regard. The more humiliated person is actor turned politician Suresh Gopi who was dreaming for a ministerial berth for quite long. 

During the assembly election campaign in April, several national leaders of the BJP had hinted that if the state leaders put up a credible performance, one of them will be given a central cabinet berth. O. Rajagopal's victory is creditable one nevertheless the central leadership backtracked from their promise.

K A Solaman