Nobel gesture by police

Policemen participating  in the cleaning up of Kozhikode Medical College is a novel gesture.
Standing in hideouts and jumping upon helmet less bikers has brought no less notoriety to Kerala police. Repeated  lock up killing also invited wrath of people against police.

However  policemen in their uniforms removing  plastic waste and garbage heaps from a public place is praiseworthy and should be appreciated. If such events are replicated in other parts of the state the lost image of the police can be regained. The people will start to think police as their friends.

K A Solaman

Twin dangers !

The consumption of liquor and the mania for the lotteries are death traps for poor and ignorant people of Kerala and the Government that is bound to restrict it stand as a mute spectator. Common man is falling prey to this social evil and is spending all  hard earned money without caring children and the ailing old ones in home It is not campaigns and awareness programmes that are needed to check the danger but strict law enforcement. If a few people are not able to sustain without lottery, make alternative arrangement for re - habilitation.

K A Solaman

Maneka's call

I endorse Union Minister Maneka Gandhi's call that Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) should be used against those who kill stray dogs. The two business men of Kerala are exploiting the situation created by stray dog menace for their personal gain and fame. As Meneka put, these business men are suffering  from mental disorder which can be termed as ' killing syndrome'.

The business man  Kochuouseph Chittilapally asking Maneka  to worriy for her son is unwarranted. Like a few wood headed, Chittilapally has also believed the fake video about Varun Gandhi in social media. Chittilappally should bother about his son before putting nose to the personal life of others standing for a cause.

As no existing law permits  business men to kill or export stray dogs what they are doing now is criminal offence and should arrested under KAAPA

K A Solaman

Drug abuse and addiction

Many people are drug addicted and addiction has become chronic disease. The initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, just like smoking for most people, but repeated drug use  leads  to brain changes. Most drugs affect the brain by flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. This  system controls the body's ability to feel pleasure and motivates a person to repeat behaviours. This overstimulation of the brain causes  people to take  drug again and again. Despite being aware of these harmful outcomes, many people who use drugs continue to take them, which is the nature of addiction.

There are many factors that compel a person to get addicted to drugs.Gender, ethnicity, influence of drug makers, stress, early drug use. mental disorders etc, influence risk for drug use and addiction.

However, drug use and addiction are preventable. Prevention programmes involving families, schools, communities, and the media are effective for preventing or reducing drug use and addiction.  Education and outreach are important in helping people understand the possible risks of drug use. Teachers, parents, and health workers have significant role in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction.

K A Solaman

Where is Swachh Bharat?

 

It was a hopeful act  in October 2014 by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to stimulate all Indian sweepers to take up a scheme to clean the country. And with this the market has witnessed a huge price surge for broom sticks! Nevertheless, even after two years streets of India  remains unclean. The fish vendors, hoteliers, and street dwellers have made streets unsuitable for an evening walk.

And in support to PM's gesture  former minister and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor joined  campaign  in a cleaning program at Vishinjam. The ex-minister who opts to stay in luxury hotels and find time to ridicule cattle-class flight travellers  really surprised many.  Tharoor holding a dead rat in his hand was viewed as endorsement of  Modi's 'Swachh Bharat' campaign. 
Tharoor now went into oblivion and no one is talking about Swachh Bharat. All fish- meat vendors abandoned their original sell place and flocked on public roadsides making the street a filthy hell.

K A Solaman

Fiddling in disaster

'Did Nero really play fiddle while Rome was burning?', is a question still remains unanswered. However, similar incidents in history are not rare. For instance look at the present happenings in the little state of Kerala.
While its Industries Minister E P Jayarajan is on his way to resign amidst the raging row over nepotism,  the Finance Minister Thomas Isaac is busy taking selfies with Guinness  celebrity  small cow at Mavelikkara. Jayarajan's refusal to talk to the media is meaningful but the channel friendly vociferous Isaac not uttering a single word to protect his central committee colleague, is conspicuous.

Fiddling in disaster is an all time phenomenon
-K   A Solaman

Decibel measurable

The finding that the loud speakers transcend their traditional religious purpose in the mosques is not correct. No religion prescribes loudspeakers for religious ceremony as loudspeaker is a later invention than any religion. A Kerala HC order emphasises in this direction

Kerala is a land of series of festivals and festival season is the time where patients, senior citizens, infants, pregnant women etc go through the ill effects of excessive sound pollution. There are rules for festival organisers and temple- church-mosque  runners to get a mike permission. It says 55 decibel sound at the maximum during day time and 45 decibels during night. This means the sound should not go beyond maximum distance 200 feet. Unfortunately, many agencies  function with least regard to these rules.
So the police should come forward with calibrated sound meter equipment to measure the decibel levels. If anyone found violating  rules he must be brought to book regardless of  religious or political backing.

K A Solaman

Hidden truth

The reports of recurring custodial deaths in Kerala are disturbing. The most recent case is that of Abdul Latheef. He died at the Wandoor police station. According to the police, Latheef was found hanging in the toilet. In 2010, an inmate named K. Nasar was also found hanging in the toilet of the Thalassery police station. It is appalling that such reports fail to evoke outrage among citizens. Human rights activists often find it difficult to frame charges against the culprits. The apathy of politicians has further worsened the situation. A thorough probe should be conducted into Latheef's death. The third-degree torture of prisoners must also be stopped.

K.A. Solaman,
Kerala
The Telegraph, Calcutta, Sept 21, 2016