Cotton Hill School transfer row

The transfer row relating the Cotton Hill School, Thiruvananthapuram is quite unwarranted.  Seeking to settle the controversy emerged by the transfer of the Head Mistress Urmila Devi  of Cotton Hill  school  for criticising Education Minister, Government has revoked the orders and posted her in Model High School  in the city itself. Is it then just to punish the head of Model School by transferring him or her for a fault committed by someone else? Is there anyone, I mean a political party or communal outfit to hear the grievance to Model School HM?

Transfer of HM Urmila Devi  to a school near Attingal town, about 35 km from the city is not a big mistake. There are many employees in the State travelling every day more than 200km by train or bus to attend their duty. The controversy relating the transfer was politically motivated. The situation that there is none to speak for HM of Ayilam School, Attingal and Model School, Thiruvananthapuram is curious. Barring seniority all HMs are equal under government service. Nevertheless, it now appears that Urmila Devi is a super HM, having powers to downsize even  the Education minister of the State..

.Undoubtedly the CM and the Education Minister have made all the effort to settle the row. Had been this episode in LDF regime, Urmila Devi has to appeal the CM from Kasargod for the furor she created.

K A Solaman

Move to remove governors is bad

The BJP-led government’s move to remove governors of some states is autocratic and is against the democratic mores of the country. By doing so, the BJP government has put the first spade to dig its own grave.

If one looks back to the benefits the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi received by the  Shah Commission instated by then Janatha Party Government against her, no one would hastily act now to remove the governors in various states. The hurried action of Modi Government is an act of political revenge rather than fulfilling its election assurances.

Removing governors after change of government brings a bad precedence even if UPA government had in 2004 replaced some governors appointed by the previous NDA government. Governors’ post being a non-political one it is imprudent to remove them after a change of government.

K A Solaman

Imperceptive participatory effort.

Bizarre are the ways of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to check the ever increasing power consumption in the state. One is their advice to all its consumers to switch off unwanted lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to participate in the Earth–Hour campaign in the month of March. None, including the ministers observed it. Ministers’ residences registered an extra consumption on that day- an RTI query replies.

Other one is the arrangement of KSEB to distribute energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL). As such, the CF lamps thus distributed have become a toxic waste creating health hazards. The KSEB keeps no data on power savings on that way with CFLs except the commission the board has accrued by way of purchasing sub-standard gadgets for consumers.

And now with football fans planning to stay stuck to TV sets to catch the FIFA show, KSEB officials demand for a ‘participatory effort’ from consumers. The consumers have to save power in advance to get uninterrupted power supply from 9.30pm for watching the World Soccer. Grippingly, no one one is going to heed the KSEB as the consumers have had bitter experience from the board by way of meter charge, un-informed power cuts, poor service, and poor consumer redressal. The KSEB should learn first to exert a pull on the heart of consumers and then ask for a participatory effort.  

K A Solaman 

KSEB offices in danger!

We have Computer, Internet, Facebook, Twitter, Mobile phone and what else.  And what for these gadgets without electric power- a Kerala  facebookian laments.   This bewail would soon turn into an outburst or even clash  because of power failure that disappoint football aficionado in the State as they would miss the FIFA World Cup matches.

According to the scheduled load shedding, power cuts of duration of 45 minutes to one hour daily take place between 6.30 p.m. and 11.15 p.m. in different parts of the state. In all, 24 matches of the FIFA World Cup are being played at 9.30 p.m. (Indian time), which includes two quarter final matches. Given the load shedding schedule, many may not be able to watch the matches unless back up power supply or generator is available.

In most cases people watch TV only when there is no power cut. Though the load shedding schedule is informed in advance, consumers are annoyed with uninformed power cuts. And any such occurrence during the live telecast of World Football would take fans to nearby KSEB offices which would, no doubt, turn into unprecedented incidents this time.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 14-6-2014

Good decision, but...

I welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance to improve agriculture productivity through modern farm techniques and thereby to check price rise. To bring food prices under control price stabilisation fund, setting up of special courts to deal with hoarding and black marketing, unbundling of the Food Corporation of India and establishment of national agriculture market, are good decisions.

However, unless we abandon Oil & Gas Companies regime in India all the wise decisions visualized would become futile. The price of oil and inflation are often seen as being connected in a cause and effect relationship. As oil prices move up inflation follows in the same direction. That is, if the price of oil rises, it raises price of essential commodities and thus inflation.

Oil and gas producers in India are now asking the government to allow the market to set prices. If permission is given in that direction all efforts of the government to contain price rise go in vain.

K A Solaman

Touching gesture

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a noble gesture by discouraging anyone from touching the feet — whether his or of other senior leaders of the party. In doing so, he took a dig at the Congress. He has also advised the newly-appointed MPs belonging to the ruling party to stay humble and work hard. Modi has ordered the MPs to spend as much time as possible in their constituencies and not waste their time in Delhi when Parliament is not in session.

Modi had said that it pains him if someone touches his feet. The idea, according to the BJP, is to end the culture of sycophancy that has been a part of Indian politics for decades. In his 20-minute address, Modi, who is also the BJP leader, reminded his partymen that they are no longer in the Opposition, and, as elected representatives of the ruling party, they need to remain grounded and be alert at all times.

Modi’s speech centred around what the party lawmakers should do, in light of the fact that the new Lok Sabha has the maximum number of first-time MPs, including Modi himself. He asked the party MPs to attend Parliament sessions regularly and be well-prepared to participate in debates. It remains to be seen whether the BJP MPs will pay heed to Modi’s advice or follow in the footsteps of the outgoing members.

K.A. Solaman,  Kerala

The Telegraph, Calcutta published on 10-6-14

OBNOXIOUS ATTITUDE

Mulayam Singh Yadav’s comment that “boys will be boys” and that they “make mistakes” is quite obnoxious. He stooped to new lows by saying “Rape accused should not be hanged. Men make mistakes”. In the context of such comments, what Indian women need is self-defence training and what men need is sex education.

The girl behind closed doors is equally at risk as the girl on the street. Rape has nothing to do with culture. It is an odious crime. It is high time we punished rapists and also those who plead for them.

KA Solaman

The Hindu Business Line Published on 10-6-14

Boys should not be rapists.

The SP supremo Mualayam Singh Yadav’s comment that "boys will be boys" and that they "make mistakes" is quite obnoxious. He stooped to the floor by saying. "Rape accused should not be hanged. Men make mistakes”. Stupid comments of this sort would come from politicians if their daughters, wives and sisters are not get raped. These politicians are unsighted with the power they cleave to.

And in the backdrop of such senseless comments by politicians, what Indian women need is some self-defense training and what men need is sex education. The girl behind the closed doors and curtains is equally at risk like the one walking in the street. Rape has nothing to do with culture. It is an odious crime done by men who are uneducated, inebriated, and self-centered.

So it is high time to punish the rapists and also the politicians who plead for the guilty. Nonsensical politicians should be restricted from insulting the whole womenfolk which includes their women kin.

K A Solaman

Modi’s noble gesture.

That is a noble gesture from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  He advised BJP MPs to remain humble and visit their constituencies regularly and not touch his feet. Asking MPS not to touch his feet is an act of humility. And it is also an indirect corrective step shown to all Amma Chief Ministers(present and ex) elsewhere in the country.
Once elected to law making bodies the MPs and MLAs forget to contact people in grass root level and often ignore their responsibility. If PM’s gesture makes the MPs more humble and responsive it would become an added advantage to the country.

Humility is the solid foundation of all virtues-Confucius

K A Solaman

Prostitute should not rule the roost

Woman prostitutes should not be allowed rule the roost. There is no political situation now in Kerala that requires Congress MLA Abdullakutty to step down in the wake of solar accused Saritha Nair’s allegations against him. A person facing accusations is not an accused. He becomes indicted only when all the accusations are proved in a court of justice.
It is to be noted that all the laws are ostensibly meant for protection of the hypothetical weak sections and they are blatantly abused by pretenders to the title of 'weaker section'.  The victims have scarcely any defence or remedy. The laws should not create bias and prejudice. They should not reduce the chances of justice being delivered in genuine cases. A humanitarian approach is, therefore, needed in the case of A P Abdullakutty MLA.

 "All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!", the Bible says.

K A Solaman