Penalty unwarranted

People having interest in stamps, coins, currency notes etc collect them and use for antique purpose.
In that case jail term or penalty in keeping demonetised notes in possession is out of the ordinary. So,  there should not  be jail term or penalty for holding demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes and the ordinance approved by the Union Cabinet in this regard should be immediately withdrawn.

Day after day the Union Cabinet and RBI are issuing contradictory orders denying the fundamental rights of citizens. What is the harm if a person holds a few demonetised notes? Will the government stop the stupidity of penalising them?

It is admitted by all that the current demonetisation was a thoughtless act. The black money seized is only about 4200 crores. On the other hand money eroded from Indian banks alone is more that one lakh crore. The loss to Indian companies augments to several lakh crores. The wage loss for workers is more than this. It is better for the government to admit the failure and stop further harassment. 

K A Solaman

Drill continues

Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithi (JSS) rebels clamouring for the resignation of party leader K R Gowri Amma is interesting.
JSS activists secretary B Gopan asking Gowri Amma to resign from the party is ridiculous.
JSS , in fact,  is Gowri Amma and that party is known by her name and not by the name of any other leader. Many fortune seekers had come and left, still the party exists because of Gowri Amma. The rebels' claim that 90 per cent of party members are with them, will not annoy Gowri Amma as she has seen many ups
and  downs
Gowri Amma is an icon and her image could not be tampered by silly people.

K A Solaman

Kulappulli trust dissolved

Kulapulli trust dissolved.

With the sudden demise of Cheria Achan (Jagannatha Varma) the sarcastic  three member Kulappalli trust of 1997 block buster film Araam Thampuraan  has been dissolved. He was the only surviving member of the trust since other members Kulappulli Appan Thampuraan(Narendra Prasad) and  Subhadra  Thampuraatti (Sreevidya) had left the scene  quite early. The three were ace actors of their time and will be remembered by all cine goers.

Varma had acted in a number of Malayalam movies performing roles of a senior police officer, judge, bishop etc.  He was a good Kathakali artist and also a percussionist. His demise is a great loss for Kerala artistic scene.

K A Solaman

Going Cashless

Most people are comfortable with currency transaction. This country  continues printing currency notes. Then what is the fun in going cashless? All propaganda about cashless transaction is intended to hide the folly made by Modi Inc with demonetisation by withdrawing 86 percent of the total currency.

Though cashless transaction has some advantages its disadvantages outweigh. The first one is higher risk of identity theft. With the rising incidence of online fraud, the risk of hacking will only grow.  Secondly redressal mechanism in the country is inadequate.With the poor  grievance redressal, people will have no easy recourse if they lose money online. There is no stringent legal process to deal with this kind of fraud. Add to it the mass identity theft from banks'  databases  can turn into a financial nightmare.

Thirdly, since the customer is  dependent on smart phone for all transactions on the move, losing it can prove to be  harmful.. It can not only make one susceptible to identity theft, but could also be rendered helpless in the absence of physical cash or any other payment option. Another drawback is that even a poor man should buy a high end phone and it is to be kept constantly charged. If the phone dies no money, no transaction until it is charged.The digital medium may prove a challenge for the tech unfriendly, aged, and illiterate who will need time to adapt. And the most dangerous demerit is it could open a spending trap. According to behavioural finance theorists, the pain of parting with money is felt more acutely if one uses physical cash.

K A Solaman

Demonetisation thus far

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark that demonetisation and cashless transactions will make the country corruption-free is never going to work. The remark is bound to make people uncomfortable as it is said that each electronic transaction will result in a user bearing an additional service tax of Rs.25 depending on whether it is under National Electronic Fund Transfer or Real Time Gross Settlement. It is also estimated that only 2 per cent of the population is truly interested in a cashless economy despite innumerable advertisements that are attempting to promote it. Mr Modi needs to understand the country’s needs and wishes. His comment is insensitive.

K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala
The Hindu Business Line, Dec 19, 2016

Cruel joke

Indian Prime  Minister Narendra Modi 's remark that the present demonetisation and cashless transaction can make the country corruption free is never going to work.  The remark is bound to make the people  uncomfortable, because each transaction causes an additional service tax of Rs 25. Moreover, so long as currency notes are printed and distributed and only two percent of the Indian population are interested in cashless economy despite innumerable advertisements it would take decades  for the country to fulfill Modi's dream. Mr Modi needs to be educated to understand which way the country lopes. The Prime Minister’s comment is insensitive and indeed a cruel joke on the poor.

K.A. Solaman

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Disease of excess freedom

Disease of excess freedom

The formal rendition of Indian National Anthem  takes only fifty-two seconds and any delegate from abroad visiting India is bound to honour it by standing up 52 seconds while it is sung. And in that case International Films Festival of Kerala (IFFK), Director and Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Chairman Kamal saying that  it is unfortunate for the viewers to stand before every show, is unwarranted. He is, therefore, unfit for the post he occupies and  should relinquish it.

National Anthem should be respected by all  and people must stand up when it is played. The police action against those viewers of IFFK  who refused to stand up while rendering national anthem, is in the right direction. It is the responsibility of the  police to ensure law and order.

The very appearance of seven arrested at IFFK,  Thiruvananthapuram tells that they are not bound by any law. However, their behaviour would be entirely different if they were in Saudi Arabia, where the law enforcement is a little more tough. These youths suffer from the disease excessive freedom.

K A Solaman

Protest natural

The PM Modi speak in 'jan sabha' that he was not permitted to speak in Parliament  by Opposition, is a direct slap on the face of Indian democracy. Soon he is likely to speak that he is not allowed to enter into the Parliament. If PM is not permitted to speak in or enter  the Parliament there is something very undesirable happening in the country. And  it is the President, PM and Speaker to take collective action to put an end to this imbroglio.
It is true that the thoughtless action of quick demonetisation of currency has disturbed the economic growth of the country and innumerable workers went jobless. The protest in and outside the Parliament, therefore, is quite natural.
K A Solaman

Give Your PAN

Which is more corrupt - public sector banks or cooperative banks? Enforcement Department enquiry at  public sector banks across country answers this question. There are reported financial crimes post demonetisation and hence the ED launched the enquiry operation at over 50 bank branches across the country. The enquiry is to  detect money laundering and hawala dealing instances of public sector and new gen banks. However no cooperative bank is involved in this corruption as coop banks are denied exchange of demonetised currency.

All bank branches in India are now seemingly busy with demanding KYC  from clients. Does it mean that bank did business all these time with out knowing the customer? What the banks actually needed is the PAN number of the customer. So the present impetus in KYC drive may be conveniently changed to GYP- Give Your PAN.

K A Solaman

Beginning of the end

Apart from usual scolding aired at Kejriwal and others the Hindu Mahasabha has realised the fact and come against Modi saying that Centre’s demonetisation move would be the beginning of the end of Modi rule. The saffron organisation alleged that the policy introduced Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anti-Hindu.
In fact Modi's demonetisation move without proper homework is anti-people. The purpose of the scheme is yet not known and is changing day by day. Initially, it was against  black money and later turned to total digitalisation and cashless economy. The cashless economy is a crafty idea to woo multi- national  companies making smart phones and thereby to get hefty commission

Poor people, who earn Rs  200-300 every day or those who live on paltry government pensions need not require costly cell-phones and the service of high- tech banks. Their bank is a bit of ditty cotton cloth kept below the carpet they sleep. Most of them are uneducated or undereducated  and have no expertise in handling a smart phone even if it is available free of cost. It is also reported that demonetisation has made no impact on the rich as certain weddings are performed spending several crores.

Selling the country to mobile manufacturers and network providers  in the name of demonetisation would mark the beginning of the end  of Modi rule

K A Solaman