OC canteen?

Amma Unavagam or Amma Canteen  is a food subsidization program run by the Government of Tamil Nadu. "Amma" means mother but clearly in TN it refers to Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who introduced this restaurant concept aimed at helping the very poor sections of the society.
Under the scheme, municipal corporations of the state run canteens serving subsidized food at low price and many poor people consider this as a helping hand.

As there is no dearth for the poor and the downtrodden in Kerala why can't the Oommen Chandy government copy down this novel idea. As there  is no patent  violation in installing this scheme  these canteens can be aptly called as OC canteen. OC means, as all of us know, Oommen Chandy. And if anybody thinks that it would turn out as a violation of code of conduct then it can be put as a promise in the election manifesto.

K A Solaman 

Ban on combination drugs

The Health Ministry is of the view that irrational fixed-dose combinations (FDC) are causing anti-microbial resistance, and, in some cases, toxicity that can lead to organ failure even as drug manufacturers in connivance with unscrupulous medical practitioners are making huge profits (“Weekend – Being’ page – “India coughs up a cold call: no more sweet nothings”, March 20). It may be true that the drug industry could face a revenue loss of several crores for the 300-odd FDCs already banned but a person’s well-being is more important.

K.A. Solaman, Alappuzha, Kerala

The Hindu dated 21 mar 2016

Do- or-die for Congress

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KPCC Prsident V M Sudheeran's action to correct the Congress ministers of Kerala is of no use.

In the Assembly elections in Kerala, the Congress has less at stake than the Marxist party. That is why Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony said the two fronts are equally poised in the next election. The grand old party's leader could say likewise only though he smells an immediate setback for his party in Kerala. Understanding Antony's mind Sudheeran asks ministers to correct their mistakes. However, CM and his colleagues need to place all blame on the head of Sudheeran.

If the Congress retains power in Kerala, it will be a big boost for the party and a clean certificate for the wrong doing of the ministry. I do not think that the sensible people of Kerala will allow it despite the hard work of KPCC President.

K A Solaman

Killer medicines

It is a stunning news that after cough syrups, 500 more drugs, including popular antibiotics and anti-diabetic drugs, may soon face a ban for being  unsafe and ineffaceous. The health ministry, which banned 344 fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) including popular cough syrups like Phensedyl, Corex and Benadryl last week, is evaluating a list of over 6,000 products. The health ministry is of the view that irrational FDCs are causing anti-microbial resistance and in some cases the toxicity is so high that it can even lead to failure of organs. The Health Ministry should be congratulated for  this bold decision.

It may be true that the drug industry may meet  revenue loss of several crore for 344 FDCs that are already banned and they may have to bear more heavy financial loss if more drugs are banned. Some industry sources say the financial impact can be to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore. Nevertheless this is unavoidable as drug makers in connivance with unscrupulous medical practitioners are making huge profit with killer medicines.

The  local pharmaceutical retail market  Rs 1 lakh crore annually should be for saving life and not for killing people. The government should give wide publicity among people about killer medicines.

-K A Solaman

Ban dynamite

An  elderly woman, may be of her dotage ailment, was seen frightened and cried  because of an expected dynamite explosion from a nearby temple. The temple devotees were performing firework display at that time. Along with low decibel firecrackers it has become a habit to  explode high decibel dynamites frightening people of all ages. The use of crackers has been banned by several judicial forums but still its use continues unabated. This is really a cruelty to aged people, animals and birds . Dynamite explosion also causes damages to many buildings.

It is not only in temples but in churches and political party displays dynamites are frequently used. As there is no way to test the loudness of dynamite explosion no one complains to the authority with a valid proof.  Despite court verdict the police often ignore violation of the law as complainants are rare in such cases. So what should be immediately done is: cancel licence of all dynamite makers and alert the police  to check the law violation,

-K A Solaman

Methran Kayal

Methran Kayal issue is a shot in the arm for Ommen Chandy Government. The Kerala HC has directed the state government to maintain stays quo against government order granting sanction to reclaim the Methran Kayal field in Kumarakom. When the Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash out rightly denies his involvement in the issue it fingers  not only to his inefficacy as a minister but also to the ploy made by some other minister in the Cabinet. On reading the news pouring in this direction one could easily infer the alleged involvement of Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala in the issue. But he willfully absconds from the questions aired by media men.

The last minute attempts made by UDF ministers to cash out maximum have  reduced to null their prospects in the next election. Despite request to voters of the state the UDF is unlikely to get another chance.

K A Solaman

On women empowerment

 
It is quite easy to comment on women empowerment, but when it comes to practice   no political party gives importance to strengthen women force.Thirty three percent women reservation should be implemented in Assembly and Parliament elections too. The political parties like Muslim League and Mulayam Singh's party should be banned if they do not allow women representation.

Caustically,  no  agency other than Honda Active scooter company has done any thing in favor for the empowerment of women in the immediate past.

-K A Solaman 

Rethink of EPF?

Revenue mobilisation by taxing an instrument of investment such as EPF is undemocratic. To say that “people will waste their savings on retirement and not invest in pension products” is strange. Instead, taxes should be imposed on new instruments of income generation.

K.A. Solaman,

Alappuzha, Kerala

The Hindu dated March 7, 2016

Alarming NPA

If not a retirement speech what CBI director Anil Sinha said on SEBI and Bank top officials is a welcome one.  There is absolutely lack of accountability in banks and SEBI as they are least bothered to avoid the consequences of fraudulent accounts that resulted in huge NPA in banks.
Accumulating  bad loans in commercial banks is the result of willful attempt by  bank higher ups, corporate heads and  politicians. How could liquor baron Vijay Mallya lead a lavish life when he remains as a defaulter of several crores to many banks?

Average investors and retirees who put their money in bank stocks are now sitting  fingers crossed. Are these banks going to melt in thin air, is a reasonable question.

If anyone says recovery of bad loans is not visible in near future then it is certain that he is also involved in the robbery. Recovery from the private assets of bank officials and  defaulters of loans should soon be done to save banks. Despite CBI' s directives the banks not filing complaints against defaulters is a pointer in this regard. The alarming increase of bad loans and subsequent NPA should be immediately checked.

-K  A Solaman