Hotel food will cost more.

The Kerala state annual budget has allocated Rs 250 crore for Kudumbashree noting great contributions of it in empowering women. The Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac pointed out that projects for women are the major highlight of the budget.

It sounds all of his budgets are woman centred; last year it was 'she budget' and this year it may be called as 'mother-in-law' budget. It is  mother-in-law, who cares more the food habit of son-in-laws. This I say because government's ambitious project is 'Hunger free Kerala'. It will be undertaken by Kudumbashree and 1000 hotels will be opened to provide meals at Rs 25.

The implication is: people have to spend more to get quality food from hotels hereafter. The hotliers never consider such gimmicks as a harm to their business.

K A Solaman

എൻ പി ആർ & സെൻസസ്:

നാഷണൽ പോപ്പുലേഷൻ രജിസ്റ്റർ (NPR) - ൽ രാജ്യത്തുടനീളമുള്ള ഓരോ താമസക്കാരനെയും ഉൾപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.

എൻ പി ആർ & സെൻസസ്:-ഇവയുടെ ലക്ഷ്യങ്ങളും സവിശേഷതകളും തമ്മിലുള്ള  വ്യത്യാസങ്ങളും ഏറെക്കുറെ ഇങ്ങനെ വായിക്കാം.

1 ദേശീയ ജനസംഖ്യാ രജിസ്റ്റർ (എൻ‌പി‌ആർ):

രാജ്യത്തെ സാധാരണ താമസക്കാരുടെ രജിസ്റ്ററാണ് എൻ‌പി‌ആർ. പൗരത്വ നിയമം, 1955, പൗരത്വം (പൗരന്മാരുടെ രജിസ്ട്രേഷൻ, ദേശീയ ഐഡന്റിറ്റി കാർഡുകളുടെ ഇഷ്യു) ചട്ടങ്ങൾ, 2003 എന്നിവ പ്രകാരം പ്രാദേശിക (ഗ്രാമം / ഉപനഗരം), ഉപജില്ല, ജില്ല, സംസ്ഥാന, ദേശീയ തലങ്ങളിൽ ഇത് തയ്യാറാക്കുന്നു.

എൻ‌പി‌ആറിൻറെ ആവശ്യങ്ങൾ‌ക്കായി, ഒരു സാധാരണ താമസക്കാരനെ നിർ‌വചിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്, കഴിഞ്ഞ ആറുമാസമോ അതിൽ‌ കൂടുതലോ ഒരു പ്രദേശത്ത് താമസിച്ച ഒരു വ്യക്തി അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അടുത്ത ആറുമാസത്തേക്ക് ആ പ്രദേശത്ത് താമസിക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന ഒരു വ്യക്തി. ഇന്ത്യയിലെ ഓരോ പൗരനെയും രജിസ്റ്റർ ചെയ്യാനും ദേശീയ തിരിച്ചറിയൽ കാർഡ് നൽകാനും നിയമം നിർബന്ധിതമാണ്.

1960-1975 കാലഘട്ടത്തിൽ ജനിച്ചതാണോ? ടേം ഇൻഷുറൻസിനായി നിങ്ങളുടെ യോഗ്യത പരിശോധിക്കുക.

സെൻസസ് നടത്തിപ്പിന്റെ ഭവന ലിസ്റ്റിംഗ് ഘട്ടത്തോടൊപ്പം അസം ഒഴികെയുള്ള എല്ലാ സംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളിലും യു ടി കളിലും 2020 ഏപ്രിൽ മുതൽ സെപ്റ്റംബർ വരെ എൻ‌പി‌ആർ രജിസ്ട്രേഷൻ നടത്തും.

നാഷണൽ രജിസ്റ്റർ ഓഫ് സിറ്റിസൺസ് (എൻ‌ആർ‌സി) ഇതിനകം സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് നടത്തിയതിനാൽ അസമിനെ ഒഴിവാക്കി.

ഇന്ത്യയിലെ രജിസ്ട്രാർ ജനറലിന്റെയും മുൻ ഔദ്യോഗിക സെൻസസ് കമ്മീഷണറുടെയും ആഭിമുഖ്യത്തിൽ നടക്കുന്ന എൻ‌പി‌ആറിന്റെ ലക്ഷ്യം രാജ്യത്തെ ഓരോ സാധാരണ താമസക്കാരന്റെയും സമഗ്രമായ ഐഡന്റിറ്റി ഡാറ്റാബേസ് സൃഷ്ടിക്കുക എന്നതാണ്. ഡാറ്റാബേസിൽ ഡെമോഗ്രാഫിക്, ബയോമെട്രിക് വിശദാംശങ്ങൾ അടങ്ങിയിരിക്കും.

ഓരോ വ്യക്തിയുടെയും ഡെമോഗ്രാഫിക് വിശദാംശങ്ങൾ ആവശ്യമാണ്: പേര്, കുടുംബനാഥനു മായുള്ള ബന്ധം, പിതാവിന്റെ പേര്, അമ്മയുടെ പേര്, ജീവിതപങ്കാളിയുടെ പേര് (വിവാഹിതനാണെങ്കിൽ), ലിംഗം, ജനനത്തീയതി, വൈവാഹിക നില, ജനന സ്ഥലം, ദേശീയത, സാധാരണ താമസത്തിന്റെ ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ വിലാസം, നിലവിലെ വിലാസത്തിൽ താമസിക്കുന്ന കാലാവധി, സ്ഥിരമായ താമസ വിലാസം ഇവയെല്ലാം രേഖപ്പെടുത്തണം.

സെൻസസ് 2011 ലെ ഹൗസ് ലിസ്റ്റിംഗ് ഘട്ടത്തിനൊപ്പം 2010 ലാണ് എൻ‌പി‌ആറിനായുള്ള ഡാറ്റ അവസാനമായി ശേഖരിച്ചത്. 2015 ൽ വീടുതോറുമുള്ള സർവേ നടത്തി ഈ ഡാറ്റ അപ്‌ഡേറ്റുചെയ്‌തു.

വരാനിരിക്കുന്ന എൻ‌പി‌ആറിനായുള്ള ഗസറ്റ് വിജ്ഞാപനം കേന്ദ്ര സർക്കാർ ഓഗസ്റ്റിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ചു.

എൻ‌പി‌ആർ നടത്തിപ്പിനായി 8,500 കോടി രൂപയുടെ ധനസഹായം കേന്ദ്ര മന്ത്രിസഭ അനുവദിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്

2 സെൻസസ്

1948 ൽ പ്രാബല്യത്തിൽ വന്ന സെൻസസ് ആക്ടിന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ നടത്തിയ ഇന്ത്യയിലെ ജനങ്ങളുടെ വ്യത്യസ്ത സ്വഭാവ സവിശേഷതകളെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള വിവിധതരം സ്ഥിതിവിവരക്കണക്കുകളുടെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ഒറ്റ ഉറവിടമാണ് ദേശീയ സെൻസസ്. 2021 ലെ സെൻസസ് രണ്ട് ഘട്ടങ്ങളായി നടത്തും. ആദ്യ ഘട്ടത്തിൽ, 2020 ഏപ്രിൽ മുതൽ സെപ്റ്റംബർ വരെ ലിസ്റ്റിംഗ് അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഭവന സെൻസസ് പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങൾ നടത്തും. രണ്ടാം ഘട്ടത്തിൽ, ജനസംഖ്യയുടെ കണക്കെടുപ്പ് 2021 ഫെബ്രുവരി 9 മുതൽ ഫെബ്രുവരി 28 വരെ നടത്തും, റഫറൻസ് ദിവസം  2021 മാർച്ച് 1

കശ്മീർ, ഹിമാചൽ പ്രദേശ്, ഉത്തരാഖണ്ഡ് എന്നിവിടങ്ങളിൽ മഞ്ഞുവീഴ്ചയുള്ള പ്രദേശങ്ങൾക്ക് റഫറൻസ് തീയതി 2020 ഒക്ടോബർ 1 ആയിരിക്കും.

 കഴിഞ്ഞ ദശകത്തിൽ രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ പുരോഗതി അവലോകനം ചെയ്യുന്നതിനും സർക്കാരിന്റെ നിലവിലുള്ള പദ്ധതികൾ നിരീക്ഷിക്കുന്നതിനും ഭാവിയിലേക്കുള്ള പദ്ധതികൾക്കുമുള്ള അടിസ്ഥാനം സെൻസസ് ആണ്. സെൻസസ് ജനസംഖ്യാശാസ്‌ത്രം, സാമ്പത്തിക പ്രവർത്തനം, സാക്ഷരത, വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം, ഭവന, ഗാർഹിക സൗകര്യങ്ങൾ, നഗരവൽക്കരണം, ഫലഭൂയിഷ്ഠത, മരണനിരക്ക്, പട്ടികജാതി, പട്ടികവർഗ്ഗക്കാർ, ഭാഷ, മതം, കുടിയേറ്റം, വൈകല്യം എന്നിവയെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള വിശദവും ആധികാരികവുമായ വിവരങ്ങൾ നൽകുന്നു.

കൃഷിക്കാരുമായും കാർഷിക തൊഴിലാളികളുമായും ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട വിവരങ്ങൾ, അവരുടെ ലൈംഗികത, ഗാർഹികേതര വ്യവസായത്തിലെ തൊഴിലാളികളുടെ തൊഴിൽ വർഗ്ഗീകരണം, വ്യാപാരം, ബിസിനസ്സ്, തൊഴിൽ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ സേവനം എന്നിവ തൊഴിലാളികളുടെയും ലൈംഗികതയുടെയും അടിസ്ഥാനത്തിൽ കണക്കാക്കുന്നു. ലിംഗഭേദം, സാക്ഷരതാ നിരക്ക്, പട്ടണങ്ങളുടെ എണ്ണം, ചേരി കുടുംബങ്ങൾ, അവരുടെ ജനസംഖ്യ എന്നിവയെക്കുറിച്ച് വിശദമായ സർവേ നടത്തും. കുടിവെള്ളം, ഊർജ്ജം, ജലസേചനം, കൃഷി രീതി, വീട് കോൺക്രീറ്റ് ആണോ, മേഞ്ഞതാണോ അതോ മറ്റുള്ളവയാണോ എന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ചും വിവരങ്ങൾ ശേഖരിക്കുന്നു. 130 വർഷത്തിലധികം ചരിത്രമുള്ള, വിശ്വസനീയവും സമയപരിശോധനയുള്ളതുമായ ഈ ഉദ്യമം ഓരോ 10 വർഷത്തിലും സ്ഥിതിവിവരക്കണക്കുകളുടെ ഒരു ശേഖരം പുറത്തെടുക്കുന്നു, 

1872 മുതൽ ഇന്ത്യയിൽ ആദ്യത്തെ സെൻസസ് വിവിധ ഭാഗങ്ങൾ തമ്മിൽ സമന്വയിപ്പിക്കാതെ ഇന്ത്യയിൽ നടത്തി. ജനസംഖ്യയുടെ വലിപ്പം, അതിന്റെ വളർച്ച മുതലായവയെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള സ്ഥിതിവിവരക്കണക്കുകൾ ആസൂത്രിതമായി ശേഖരിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള നടപടികൾ ആരംഭിക്കാൻ 1949 മെയ് മാസത്തിൽ ഇന്ത്യൻ സർക്കാർ തീരുമാനിക്കുകയും ആഭ്യന്തര മന്ത്രാലയത്തിൽ രജിസ്ട്രാർ ജനറലിന്റെയും കീഴിൽ ഒരു ഓർഗനൈസേഷൻ സ്ഥാപിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.  സുപ്രധാന സ്ഥിതിവിവരക്കണക്കുകളും സെൻസസും ഉൾപ്പെടെയുള്ള ജനസംഖ്യാ സ്ഥിതിവിവരക്കണക്കുകളിൽ ഡാറ്റ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നതിനുള്ള ഉത്തരവാദിത്തം ഈ ഓർഗനൈസേഷനുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. പിന്നീട്, ജനനമരണ രജിസ്ട്രേഷൻ നിയമം 1969 നടപ്പാക്കാനുള്ള ഉത്തരവാദിത്തവും ഈ ഓഫീസിനെ ഏൽപ്പിച്ചു

ബിസിനസ്സ് ആരംഭിക്കാൻ കേരളം മികച്ച സംസ്ഥാനമോ?.

ബിസിനസ്സ് ആരംഭിക്കാൻ കേരളം മികച്ച സംസ്ഥാനമോ?.

മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയുടെയും മറ്റ് മന്ത്രിമാരുടെയും  അവകാശവാദങ്ങൾക്കിടയിലും വ്യാപാര സംരംഭം എളുപ്പമാക്കുന്ന കാര്യത്തിൽ ഏറ്റവും മോശം പ്രകടനം നടത്തുന്ന സംസ്ഥാനങ്ങളിലൊന്നാണ് കേരളമെന്ന് എൻഐടിഐ ആയോഗ് വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു. തമിഴ്‌നാട്ടിൽ ഒരു ബിസിനസ്സ് ആരംഭിക്കാൻ 63 ദിവസം മാത്രമേ എടുക്കുന്നുള്ളൂ, എന്നാൽ കേരളത്തിൽ ഏകദേശം 118 ദിവസമാണ്. അംഗീകാരങ്ങൾ, അനുമതികൾ, നിയമപരമായ തടസ്സങ്ങൾ പരിഹരിക്കൽ എന്നിവയ്ക്കായി എടുക്കുന്ന സമയം വളരെക്കൂടുതലാണ് കേരളത്തിൽ. ട്രേഡ് യൂണിയൻ മുഷ്കാണ് ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ശാപം.

ഉദാഹരണത്തിന്, മുത്തൂറ്റ് ഫിനാൻസ് കമ്പനിയുടെ ദുരവസ്ഥ നോക്കുക.  കോടിക്കണക്കിന് രൂപയാണ് നികുതിയായി അവർ അടയ്ക്കുന്നത്. പക്ഷെ സിഐടിയു ഭീഷണിമൂലം സംസ്ഥാനത്ത് സുഗമമായി ബിസിനസ്സ് നടത്താൻ അവർക്കു കഴിയുന്നില്ല.

വനിതാജീവനെക്കാരെ ചീമുട്ട എറിഞ്ഞ പരാതിയാണ് സി ഐ റ്റി യു വിനെതിരെ ഏറ്റവുമൊടുവിൽ പോലിസിൽ കൊടുത്തിരിക്കുന്നത്. ഭരണകക്ഷിയായ സിപിഎം നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്ന സിഐടിയുവിന്റെ ആളുകളാണ് ആക്രമണത്തിന് പിന്നിലെന്ന് അവർ ആരോപിക്കുന്നു. പോലീസ് സംരക്ഷണത്തോടെ മാത്രം ഓഫീസ് തുറക്കാൻ പറ്റുന്ന അവസ്ഥ. അതു കൊണ്ടു തന്നെ പുതിയ സംരംഭകരാരും അവരുടെ ബിസിനസ്സ് ലക്ഷ്യസ്ഥാനമായി കേരളത്തെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കില്ല.

കെ എ സോളമൻ

Kerala discord

Having passed the resolution by the Assembly and the Kerala government approaching the Apex court against the CAA, has created a discord between Governor Arif Mohemmad Khan and CM Pinarayi Vijayan. The government's action is a violation of the rules according to the governor.

Instead of admitting the fault, CM criticized the governor with a "resident" reference. With this in mind, all and sundry in social media that support Pinarayi have started to speak out against the governor. This is not at all justified and it is Pinarayi's duty to ask his disciples to beware of their words. If the current situation continues, it will affect the proper functioning of the government.

The petition addressed to SC against the resolution of Parliament without the knowledge of Governor is out of the ordinary.

K A Solaman

New gen cine artists should pay tax on time.

What Yuvamorcha state secretary Sandeep Varier said about ടome new generation movie artists is right. Many of them are dwelling in ganja smoke and they not even know about paying income tax on time.

And in this context  BJP state general secretary M T Ramesh coming against Sandeep’ s comment is unwarranted. There is no other leader, young or old, in Kerala BJP to defend the party so vividly, in channel debates. Perhaps Sandeep is not in the group led by M T Ramesh. Even if Sandeep's view is not  party's opinion, what he said is correct and new gen cine artists have to pay the tax on time and they have to abstain from Ganja life as alleged by cine producers.

K A Solaman

Rain water policy

Overpopulation has resulted in the   depletion of our water bodies. Deforestation has further compounded the deficiency of water. Several areas are critically affected by a dearth of usable water.

May be in this backdrop the Government of Kerala made laws for harvesting rain water. Facilities such as tanks and pipes are to be installed at the rate of collection of 25 litres of water for one square metre area for residential buildings and 50 litres per square metre for commercial buildings. This means having constructed a residential building of 100 sq.m area, owner has to spend lakhs to make PVC/Ferro cement tank to hold 2500 litres of water. This will break the back bone of the owner.

Moreover, the tanks made of PVC or concrete is not eco-friendly and they immensely contribute to global warming. Again rivers, lakes and ponds are refilled with rain water and if all people collect water and hold it in their tanks, no refilling will happen unless there is  heavy rain.

Further, water requirement of some districts is less compared to others and hence a uniform pattern for rain water harvesting is not at all advisable.

Hence, a revision is needed for rain water policy of Kerala government.

Rain water harvesting strategy should not be made a cause for environmental impact and a curse to those who make a new building.

K A Solaman

Deal with iron hand

The government should remain firm on its strategy on CAA. The protestors of various colleges and varsities should be dealt with iron hand. All stone-pelters and property destroyers should be brought to book and severely punished if they refuse to shun violence.

There were several rounds of clashes between agitators and the police. The supporters of CAA have shown complete restraint against the agitators. If they also surface into the arena it would be a tough time for the police to restore normalcy. Misguided youths resorting to violence is a curse to the country

K A Solaman

Sheer extravagance

It is a sheer extravagance for cash crunchy Kerala to send student leaders for foreign trip  by spending lakhs. If the very purpose of the trip is to give chance to take part in leadership training programme at Cardiff University in London, it could be outsourced to more able agencies at a lower rate within the country.

When KSRTC staff end life because of no salary it is truely cruel to misuse fund for sending a 70-member team, most of SFI leaders, for the training session. What kind of training they get is anybodys guess. These student leaders will not even get a chance to visit the tomb of Karl Marx in London as it was demolished many months ago.

K A Solaman

Child eating soil .

Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Mayor offering job to the woman residing in Kaithamukku, who handed over four of her six children to CWC, because of poverty, is a noble gesture. However, the socio- economic issues that led to the incident also to be looked into.

A poor young woman becoming the mother of six poses a question before the Health Department and its family welfare schemes. Her child eating soil due to hunger makes  all schemes relating hurger-free villages in the state in stake. The Asha Workers, Ayalkoottam, Kudumbashree, and other charity agencies not seeing this family,  is rather curious. The woman's husband, instead of earning for the family, becoming drunkard also indicates the liquor policy of the state.

The corporation and CWC gestures are praiseworthy but what actually needed is rehabilitation of the entire family. The CWC denying parental care for children when parents are alive, is not in the right direction.

K A Solaman

Shameful acts.

What is now happening at  University College, Thiruvananthapuram is a shame to the state. There is seemingly police inaction into the incident at University College.

How can a ganja smuggling criminal namely, Ettappan Mahesh, who was named accused in all violences in the college,  still remain in the college hostel?

Allegations that the University College hostel is under the hold of mafia gang and there is illicit trade of drugട and ganja are shamefulto the College authority, the Collegiate Education Department and the Government.

K A Solaman

The 21st century joke.

It is a money making business for all Kerala ministers to open more bars and pubs.The Kerala government's earlier decision to relax the minimum distance limit of bars from schools and places of worship, to revive tourism sector, was a sheer non-sense. Couldn't we survive without tourism, is a significant question.

It is a crafty  plan to shift gods' own country to boozers' on country. All efforts made by anti-liquor agitators were thrown ashtray by the  LDF government. They have backtracked from the decisions they took before the election. Only the women community in the state could prevent the present decision of the government because they are worst sufferers from drunken relatives. It is the youngsters of poor families who are spoiled by the abundent sale of liquor. The LDF government has least concern about the poor lot.

Now, the abkari minister revealing that a decision has been taken for opening of pubs in the state, is yet another wrong step taken by the government.. As State Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan is a close aide of Chief Minister, his involvement in the present dubious deal cannot be ruled out.  Minister Ramakrishnan's revelation that our economy is dependent heavily on tourism and hence more bars and pubs are needed, is a farce.

By opening more liquor outlets in the state the LDF ministers assurance that their policy would be, not prohibition but abstinence from liquor, is the 21st century joke.

K A Solaman

Wise decision

Kerala Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran's saying that no protection would be provided for women who want to trek Sabarimala, is welcome.

Women should not be taken to Sabarimala under police protection. If they want to go there, they should bring court order in this regard, according to the minister. No court  order for women entry will be obtained as the indication of the SC order is in this direction. For once an execution sentence is referred for detailed enquiry it is the practice not to carry out the execution.

Presumably the verdict has been invalidated after the Supreme Court referred the review petitions to a larger bench.

The media should restrain airing  statements of activists damaging the peaceful atmosphere of Sabarimala.

K A Solaman

Happy boozers of Kerala

All Kerala Boozers are very happy to hear the news that state cabinet has accepted the report for making wine and low alcohol content liquor from Kerala fruits like jackfruit, cashew, and plantains. And ín any case if the liquor made has high alcohol content, there may be provision for diluting it with sufficient water !

Perhaps those leaders of the former UDF Government are cursing themselves and trying to strangle each other for not utilising this golden opportunity. Giving production license to those people who are able to start liquor units, is a money making mechanism. Interestingly, with all liquor shops opened and new brewery units established, Kerala is on its way to stage-by-stage liquor ban as promised in the manifesto.

K A Solaman

SNDP - NSS feud

The SNDP and NSS are two communal outfits in the state with their own varied interests. The secretaries of these organisations often come  vociferously during election time and claim they are the ones who decide the outcome of the election, but actually not.  The voters never bother about what is called 'right distance or equal distance' policy and vote only on convictions.

However, while NSS secretary Sukumaran Nair restricts his words. SNDP secretary Vellappally Natesan  shows no mercy in using abusive words against NSS . Vellappally Natesan has severely criticized NSS leadership for publically campaigning for UDF candidates. He alleged that NSS leadership has uncultivated thoughts and campaigning in the name of caste would turn Kerala into a lunatic asylum. But, in fact, Vellappally is also playing on the same turf.

Vellappally saying that NSS action would result in riots, is counter productive. This type of one sided  gesticulations of Yogam Secretary would bring communal hatred.

K A Solaman

Chennai connect is a Nobel connect.

This year's Nobel Peace Prize was  awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali for his efforts to achieve peace and international cooperation, and in particular for his decisive initiative to resolve the border conflict with neighbouring Eritrea.

In this context Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping Chennai meet is  of great significance. The meet will give  great momentum to
bilateral ties between India and China. Any  improvement in India-China relations would avert boarder tensions and benefit the people of the two countries and the world. And in that case Modi and Xi will follow the path paved by Abiy Ahmed Ali

K A Solaman

Nobel Prize to Mr Trump

It is first of its kind in the world that a leader complains for non-receipt of Nobel prize. US President Donald Trump airing one of his oldest grievances at the United Nations that it is unfair he never got the Nobel peace prize, is interesting With this demand Trump has once again proved that he is a funny man with varied fancies. However, he has to remember facts related to Nobel prize issue.

Though there were controversies related to selection, Noble Peace Prize is by far the only biggest prestigious award which is having an unmatched pride. Suspecting an unfair play couldnot  be accepted.

The selection is.always followed by some or other form of strict criteria The selection committee need to make sure of every new development and contributions that has hit in the year. If contribution by someone else outweighes that of  Mr Trump, it means he has not reached the limit to get the prize.
K A Solaman

When postman becomes banker.

Bizarre are the innovations of postal department in the state. The one among them is the 7196 postmen in the state going to act as mobile ATMs . A new system allows money withdrawal and deposit upto Rs 10000 through postmen.

However, this scheme will unlikely to materialise or if materialised it will end up in disaster. This one says because postmen in Kerala are overloaded with work. Complaints are plenty against them for not delivering postal articles in time. The periodicals coming via post receive scant regard from postmen and they are not even delivered. In that case money handlig will bring them a tough time in their work.

The prime duty of the postman is to deliver postal articles promptly. Making Item bankers invite unforseen problems

K A Solaman

Dargerous corruption

Who said universities in Kerala are independent bodies where external influence is little?  The alleged violation of noms by minister for higher education K T Jaleel shows that all the unversities are under his control and he is capable of raising marks of failed candidates. The  alleged  violatiion of norms to intervene and pass a B Tech student who failed in one subject despite revaluation, is a solid evidence in this direction.

There are usually allegations against one or two ministers in a cabinet. But allegation of corruption against all the ministers in a cabinet is new to Kerala.

A minister forming special evaluation committee for providing. sufficient marks to pass the student for the subject in which the student could not score pass marks even after revaluation, is a dangerous form of corruption.

K A Solaman

#Irreverent #act

It is an out and out disrespectful act on the part of state government of Kerala to convene an all party meeting to discuss the Maradu flat issue. The politicians and bureaucrats are beneficiaries in the fake venture of constructing Maradu flats and that is why ruling and  opposition parties demand not to execute the apex court order.

More interesting is the surfacing of  the flat builders by giving  letter to the municipal secretary clarifying that they have no responsibility in the issue. After cheating all the flat buyers, it is the sponsored  programme of builders to tell new stories.

K A Solaman

Cross the road or not?

After opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran, UDF convenor Benny Behanan has also raised sharp criticism against MP Shashi Tharoor for his comments that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be praised for doing the right things. Tharoor, considered as a potential candidate for AICC president, suffering this humiliation from Congress leaders is undesirable.

Why the flunkey leaders of Congress do not understand Tharoor's plight to avert a possible fall in the case related to suspecious murder of his third wife Sunanda Pushkar? Moreover, his darlingest Mehr Tarar in Pakistan waits for him for an immediate nuptial knot. Without prime minister Modi's blessings these are all beyond the bounds, Tharoor believes.

So, an immediate return to power is very remote, Congress leaders should think of  acting like Tharoor  to get some reward. There is enough time to return to Congress when matters come in favour.

K A Solaman

Kerala flood

Kerala flood

There are many factors that brought  the severe rainfall and consequent flood in  Kerala in 2018 and 2019. On 16 August 2018, severe floods affected Kerala, due to unusually high rainfall during the monsoon. It was the worst flood in Kerala in nearly a century killing 483 people. A report by J P. Alex, an amicus curiae appointed by the Kerala high court, said the devastating floods of 2018 was the result of bad dam management by the state government. This finding is acceptable to the people all around. This year also there was unprecedented heavy rainfall and overall damage is not too high.

It is believed that climate change is reason for heavy rain fall. Though it is difficult to attribute any single event to climate change, its possible reasons are deforestation and thoughtless quarrying. However, the reason for the immediate flood after heavy downpour is the little death of rivers. The quarry owners and M-sand mafia have played foul with selfish politicians not to mine river sand. This made rivers shallow and the the immediate impact after rain is, flood. The rivers are made shallow not to hold water and hence overflows. To avoid such  floods in future river sand mining can be reconsidered

K A Solaman

Naked sons

Sons of prominent leaders of Kerala are at receiving end. For instance, Binoy, son of CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, is under threat from Bihari woman for compensation for rape and illegitimate  fathering. Binoy, though against his father's belief, sought the possible help of Lord Ayyappa by visiting Sabarimala.

Another prominent son, BDJS leader and NDA candidate against Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, Thushar  is under arrest in Ajman in UAE on a bounced cheque case. He was sent to the Ajman Central Jail. A dishonoured cheque of 10 million Dirham (about 19.5 crore rupees) is a serious criminal act in UAE.Thushar is the son of SNDP Yogam Secretary Vellappally Natesan.

In fact, it is a handicap of these Kerala leaders that all their kids are born completely naked.

K A Solaman

It was a fitting reply

It has been reported that a group of members in BJP demanded to seek an explanation from B Gopalakrishnan for his remarks against film personality Adoor Gopalakrishnan. Who are these members, however, is missing in the report.

BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan has given a fitting reply to Adoor for his writing to PM based half baked truths. Adoor and company had also forged the signature of film director Manirathinam.

Adv B Gopalakrishnan's comment was seemingly not controversial and such fitting replies are absolutely necessary to shut the mouth of Modi detractors

K A Solaman

Police ordeal

The police courting trouble because of their arrogance, is no news in Kerala. Latest is the lathi charge against CPI  protestors who marched to Kochi Range IG Office.
Several leaders and workers including Muvattupuzha MLA Eldo Abraham got injured in the police lathi charge. The MLA’s hand broke as the police thrashed him using lathi. CPI district secretary was also injured in the police attack.

An MLA of the ruling front getting injured in police action is new to the state.  As Eldo reacted, there is no one in the state to control the police. Of late, lathi-charge and water cannon have become daily ordeal in the state to handle protesters.

Perhaps, under Pinaryi regime, police has to prove that no one is above the law. Not a politician, not a student, not a teacher, not a priest, not an advocate. All are all subjected to police action except CPM leaders

K A Soleman

Needed single-window for autonomous colleges

The  heavy rush for admission to undergraduate and PG courses of autonomous colleges has nothing to do with the quality of teaching  or overall discipline. The only reason is: the college is autonomous.

The admission procedure in autonomous college is different from that of affiliated or non- autonomous colleges. Single application is sufficient for admission to non- autonomous colleges  as they practice single window system. But each autonomous college demands separate application. and this places a huge burden on applicants. Moreover, one autonomous college will be in tie- up with adjacent autonomous  college regarding question paper setting and valuation. This generates simple question papers and high marks to students which non- autonomous college students could not imagine. In fact an autonomous college student gets high marks but his standard is low compared to non- autonomous student.

So, the only way to protect standard of autonomous colleges is to conduct examination by the university. Valuation of answerscripts should done by examiners unknown to automous college teachers. Heavy rush and students' difficulty in getting admission can be avoided by introducing single window system for admission procedure  in autonomous colleges.
K A Solaman

Warn foul players of Indian Stock Market.

The India equity market moved down after the Union Budget. Though the budget is rational and development oriented down trend prevails in the market. Possibly this is due to the foul play by some big operators.

Though there are measures to improve growth, reduce income inequality, strengthen bank performance and bring about a transparent and honest regime, the nose-diving of prominent scrips is to be examined. It is time for FM to alert SEBl and warn foul players of the Indian stock market.

K A Solaman

Highly priced Kerala power

The power tariff by the Kerals State Electricity Board Is again on a hike. The proposed hike is ten percent. It was two years back the charge for single phase connection has been increased to Rs 30 from Rs 20. The fixed charge for three phase connection has been hiked to Rs 80 from Rs 60. With that hike, the board has garnered extra revenue of Rs 550 crore. There is no valid reason for the present hike except Chairman N S Pillai's ego.

Interestingly the highly priced Kerala power lacks quality. Though said there is no  cut,  power supply is intermittent. Tree touching removal is the new phrase for the present power cut

This price hike and others are a marked backtrack from the declared stance of  LDF Government during its inception. The manifesto by the LDF published on April 2016 reads: "If LDF forms a government, it will ensure that there will be no rise in prices of essential items". The manifesto also promises corruption-free, and clean governance. And, of course, power tariff hike is not covered by the manifesto.

K A Solaman

Rise in drug abuses

One of the aspects that Excise Department officials find most alarming in Kerala is rise in drug abuses related to schools. School students form a large part of the customer base for narcotic drugs.
Nearly 70 percent  of school children in the state are vulnerable to narcotics abuse. Not only students use narcotics, a few of them act as a supplier to schoolmates.

So in this context Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu saying that the government alone would not be able to tackle the problem of growing drug abuse, is significant. The parents, teachers and the entire society would have to be involved to check the menace.. The State should set up special cells to deal with the problem and honest and sincere  officers are to be posted to deal with the situation.

K A Solaman

Tottappan's fierce fall

It is a tragic end for the acting career of award winner cine actor Vinayakan as he was booked over a sexual harresment complaint from an activist and model.  This I say because of the acting career of Alansiar who was booked over a 'me too' case. Alansiar is nowhere in the cinema world at present.

The woman in her complaint alleged that when she phoned Vinayakan to invite him for a programme, he verbally abused her. He abused her mother also and she has a valid proof in this regard.

The incident shows celebrities, especially male ones, should take caution while dealing with persons of courage and integrity. Vinayakan's misbehaviour ended in a call record which is a valid evidence against the actor. The whole incident tells:
Celebrity was a long time in coming; it will go away. Everything goes away.

K A Solaman

Is it a gold smuggling crime?

The inquiry into the death of violinist Balabhaskar in a car accident goes leaden day by day. Investigators are seemingly cluless  as people associated with Balabraskar have allegedly criminal background. The new track of the CB inquiry targets Prakashan Thampi and Vishnu Somasundaram, both fixtures in Balabhaskar’s music circuit and accused in the smuggling case registered by the DRI. Though Lakshmi, Balabhaskar's wife has denied that they are her husband’s business associates, the whole story  puts Balabhaskar's  dealings shady.

The rift between his friends and relatives prompts one to think that the whole drama is a bit complicated. As one television actor had alleged the accident may be a gold smuggling-related crime.

There is a dark side of everyone- it is the side people do not really get to see. One thinks everyone has that.

K A Solaman

Dams make ecological damage

Possibility for potential floods in future haunts the LDF government in Kerala. So government plans to construct four more major dams in the state. The sites  identified for the  construction are Peringalkuthu, Pooyamkutty, Achankovil and Kuriyarkutty.

The reason for such a decision is two fold. One is: to make people convince  that last August flood was natural and no minister or the KSEB has involvement in making the flood by opening simultaneously all the dams. Second is: an eye on the huge commission it would generate in the purchase of cement and steel rods. Also, there is an eye in the sale of trees in dam sites.

Whatever it may be,  this crafty plan is unlikely to work out in Kerala  in the immediate future because the new generation is not unaware that  the ecological damage that dams make is unfathomably complex and dire.

K A Solaman

Women's Commission should be apolitical

Kerala Women's Commission should function irrespective of political affiliations. This is the opinion of newly elected Alathur MP Ramya Haridas. And it is also the opinion of many other like-minded people. It is true that Women's Commission did not book suo-moto case against LDF convenor for making offensive comments on Remya Haridas. In P. K Sasi's case also they took similar attitude.

The Kerala Women's Commission is a statutary body and it performs on all matters relating to women's problems.The commission is to inquire into the complaints of any unfair practice to women and to  recommend to the government, what action to be taken. Unfortunately the Commission acts are partisan because of obvious reasons.The commission should  ensure equal opportunity for disputes redressal  to all women irrespective of caste, creed and political interest.

K A Solaman

Damage control drill

The blow to the LDF this time is so severe. It has not only lost all its traditional bastions such as Alathur, Palakkad, Kannur, Kasargod, Vadakara and Attingal but also majority in 75 of the 91 Assembly segments it had won in the 2016 elections. The UDF, on the other hand, has gained sizeable majority in 123 Assembly segments. The Pinaryi government has no moral right to continue.

However, the CPM has started with damage control exercise. Theyhave come to the conclusion that Sabarimala is a major reason for the shameful defeat. There was also big leakage of Hindu votes. The question is: are they ready to restrict those thoughtless women who still want to make surprise in Sabarimala?

Interestingly, the CPM Secretariat has asked district committees to submit reports on reasons for the defeat. The district committees then will ask area committees to report. The area committees, in turn, will ask branch committees about the debacle. This routine drill will continue and finally conclusion will be; people didn't vote, so lost. The UDF, for its victory, owes very much to LDF because it is the folly of the latter that helped the UDF.

K A Solaman

Fire on clothes

Report from Muvattapuzla that clothes inside a house in Valakam caught fire without any reason, is amusing. No matter where the clothes are kept, it caught fire for no reason. The police and fire force are clueless to find the reason for this strange incident.

The answer to question is well explained in the Fazil film Manichithrathazhu, where Ganga, a psychic patient in the house, is naturally programmed to do this job. If the police is still clueless they can think of in this direction. And also ask the members of the family whether anyone among them has seen the Fazil film recently or has the habit of handling metallic sodium.

K A Solaman

Mysterious death of Rohit

The man who said: "There are no illegitimate sons, only illegitimate fathers" is no more. His death is, indeed, shocking.

It was a wonderful tirade by
Rohit Shekhar, son of N D Tiwari and  Ujjwala Sharma  for his quest to not be called a ‘bastard’. As none is born without a father it is highly humiliating to use the word ‘bastard’ against a man. It was not Rohit Shekhar alone in the country who had gone through such a humiliating experience. Rohit was a trailblazer to many who had undergone bitter experience. He once said: “I am not the illegitimate son, he(Tiwari) is my illegitimate father". This was absolutely right. The wishy-washy Tiwari had hoodwinked the entire country with his political poses as minister, governor etc, but finally admitted his fault.  Rohit Shekhar had become successfuel for 'giving birth' to his illegitimate father. There are no illegitimate sons, only illegitimate fathers, according to him.

It was this Rohit Sekhar who met with a mysterious death. Rohit's mother accuses his wife and her family of trying to usurp the property of her son. Delhi Police  investigating the case would reveal the truth, it is hoped.

K A Solaman

Masala for new models

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan along with higher officials, will be on a 10-day foreign tour, after election. They are not to communist countries like China or N Korea but to capitalistic countries like Netherlands, Switzerland, France and Britain. Finance minister Thomas Isaac will also accompany the team to participate in the KIIFB masala bond listing in London.

Masala bond is not for a meagre sum. It is intended to collect a sum in tune with Rs 50000 crore and the present collection of Rs 2150 crore is only a tip of the iceberg, according to Finance Minister Thomas Isaac's lecture class before a less cheerful audience, possibly party cadres, in the party channel. Though the participants of the discussion were not seen impressed, Isaac was pretendedly smiling all time because of the thought of hefty sum likely to come via masala sale.

One pertinent question is: Do the present ministers have the mandate of the people to collect and spend such a huge amount with in a span of 2 years. Is it right on the part of the goverment to make future generation permanent debtors to western countries? Is there any approved modality for repayment of masala bonds? If so who approved it and when?

With available fund the govt. has done little to flood hit people. It is then unwise to think new models will be implemented for  post-flood renovations with borrowed money.
K A Solaman

Vigillance vs Vigilance

The man with yellow  and red cards is now seemingly desperate. His adventure with election politics has ended nowhere. Now  his own  department, the Vigilance, has booked a case against him. The man is Jacob Thomas, the former Vigilance Director of Kerala. He is alleged for corruption when he was the Ports Director.

Jacob was allegedly involved in corruption of more than of Rs 14 crores in the purchase of a dredger. In the investigation the finance department  has found a loss of Rs 14.96 crores. Based on this, vigilance investigation is initiated.

History repeats first as a tragedy then as a comedy

K A Solaman

Odd question

APRIL 08, 2019, The Hindu
Not all public service commission examinations have serious questions. A few of them are quite funny. For example, an objective-type question paper set for assistant professors in the Kerala Health Department had this: “Who were the first women to have entered the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple as per the Supreme Court ruling?” Is this what future assistant professors of psychiatry need to know?

K A Solaman,
Kerala

Opposition not credible

Kerala's Opposition party is a toothless tiger. Instead of agitating over serious matters their targets are always silly stuffs. For instance, a few days back Opposition leader Remesh Chennithala has said that the lions share of the masala bonds of KIIFB was brought by CDPQ, a firm that has connections with the controversial SNC Lavalin. If so what? The aim of the bond issue is to get fund and that has been done successfully. It is not seller's head-ache to check the history of the buyer.

The grave mistake done by the government is the killing of 450 people by an artificially created flood in August, last year. Disregarding the gravity of this crime, Opposition often saves the face of government by switching over to another lapse and the action cascades. In fact the Opposition never sticks to the spot and has become an  agency to support the government.

In the absence of a credible opposition party, the government will go berserk. And that is what happening in Kerala.

K A Solaman

Action needed.

Making Malayalam feature films is a child's play now. Anyone with a movie/mobile camera along with a few bucks and  thugs could make a film. Teen love, cutting genitals and open defacation etc, are the main scene of such films. No rules and regulations are obeyed and morals are observed in the shooting of such cinemas

Seeking of explanation by the Central government from the state Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Wild Life Department, regarding granting permission to deposit foreign red soil on Parthakochi reserve forest under the Kasargod forest range for shooting a film, is an example in this direction.  Overnight erection of a beverages shop at Pathirapally, Alappuzha, is yet another rule violation by film makers. Who gave permission to them to make an advertisement promoting the use of liquor ?
The act of the forest officials in allowing shooting inside the reserve forest and allowing shooting near NH by obstructing traffic are  gross violations of forest laws and local self government guidelines. Nuisance on thoroughfare is a punishable oftence  under Panchayat Act.

Stringent action , therefore, is needed against the forest officials and panchayat officer  for allowing shooting in public area disturbing people and animals.

K A Solaman

Pay back for the dastardly act

It is time for we all Indians to pay homage to 44 CRPF jawans who were martyred in the terror attack in Pulwama, near Avantipura city  on Thursday. The need of the hour is to express solidarity with the government demanding stringent action against terrorism.

If US could eliminate Osama Bin Laden, Israel could wipe out all miscreants within their territory, India could also eliminate  the mastermind of the attack who was being protected  by Pakistan.

Martyrdom of our brave hearts was indeed  heart-breaking. Time has come for the India government to take stringent action against those who carried out the attack and killed innocent Indian jawans. The real tribute to martyred soldiers would be when India struck back with vengeance against the coward perpetrators of the dastardly act.

K A Solaman

Being good is difficult

The action of Kerala CM against DCP Chaitra Theresa John for raiding the CPM  district committee oftce, Thiruvananthapuram, is unwarranted. Is this office, a place beyond the reach of police?

By taking action against the police officer, the government undermines the gravity of the crime committed by offenders. A gang of party workers pelting stones at the Medical College police station and allowing them to hide in the party office, are serious crimes. The DCP's action, therefore, was in the right direction. The criminal within the police who leaked out the raid news should be booked first.

Being a good police officer is one of the most difficult, dangerous, idealistic jobs in the world. Nevertheless, officers like Chaitra Theresa John place some hope about police in the minds of general public. Her action is a morale boost to the police force.

K A Solaman

Thankless act

Mata Amritanandamayi's statement that the state administration has mishandled the Sabarimala issue, is in the right direction. The advisors of state rule do not know anything about the rituals and customs of temples. Amritanandamayi said the poojas, customs and traditions of each temple are different and this is one major issue which has to be addressed.

Based on her statement CPM Secretary and his cadres coming against her is out of the ordinary. It is an indecent act to undermine her service to humanity.Indiscriminate review about a good person based on petty politics is an exceptionally thankless act.
K A Solaman

Stalin's clock

DMK president M K Stalin vowing to make Congress chief Rahul Gandhi the country's next prime minister, is laughable. The PM of India is not elected by the proposal of a regional party leader on the occasion of unveiling his father's statue. It is not Stalin or Vazhappadi or Kamal Hasan to decide the fate of TN and subsequent elevation of Rahul as PM. It is Rajnikant to decide who would rule TN after next election

Stalin appealing  to other party leaders  like TDP's N Chandrababu Naidu and CPM leader Pinarayi Vijayan to strengthen the hands of Rahul, is also interesting. How could it be possible for Pinarayi to strengthen Rahul's hand when his party is the bete noire of Rahul's party in Kerala? Stalin saying government led by Modi has turned India's clock back 15 years, is ridiculous. Where from he got this clock?
K A Solaman

Impose Diesnon for MLAs

For the past few days Kerala assembly witness uproar because of varied reasons. What M K Muneer MLA said about the Women's wall is right. On close analysis it is obvious that people behind women's wall are communal outfits excluding Muslim's, Christians, Nairs and all Lord Ayyappa worshippers.

Members of both fronts, the ruling and the opposition have no consideration  about the decorum of the house. Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan who expressed displeasure over the uproar in the assembly, was once a participant  in creating utter commotion in the house.

The members of house are elected for effective running of the government, Since they are miserably failed to do their duty they are not eligigible for any pay. The speaker should so decide that no member of the house is eligible for cry DA or TA for days for which the assembly was disrupted. The members should should also show the willingness to not accept any remenuration for the days lost.

K A Solaman

KSRTC should have social responsibility

.

Students' concession in private and ksrtc  buses is an age-old practice and the ending of it is unacceptable. A report, therefore, in this direction submitted to  chief minister Pinarayi Vijyan by KSRTC MD Tomin J Thachankary, is out of the ordinary. A bureaucrat has no right to place proposals on policy matters.

It is a part of government committment not to increase concession ticket rates of students even though private bus operators continue demanding for a hike in it. Perhaps the ksrtc MD had a closed door meeting with the private bus operators.

Terminating students' concession is not an option  to save KSRTC from the financial crisis. There should be other tangible  measures to cut short the expenses. The. KSRTC and other government estatishments should not forget their social responsibility.

K A Solaman

More severe storms?

Severe cyclonic storm 'Gaja' has claimed the lives of six persons in Tamil Nadu. Around 82,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas as 'Gaja' crossed TN coast, bringing with in heavy rains in coastal regions. TN has taken utmost care to contain Gaja

Here in Kerala too gusty winds due to the cyclonic storm has resulted in hundreds of trees and electricity poles being uprooted. There were heavy rain also.
But not showing scant regard to Gaja,  the Kerala government has not taken any precaution and  is running after Trupti Desai and Sasikala. Seemingly Trupti and Sasikala are more dangerous storms than Gaja for Pinarayi and company.

It is unwise to rely fully on Kerala weather forecasting: is the lesson we learned during August flood.

K A Solaman

Review on Sabarimala verdict.

The apex court had decided to consider the review petitions on Sabarimala Verdictt in an open court on January 22.
Till then it is the prime
duty of the Government not to do anything harmful to the faith of believers. All forceful  attempts by women below 50 to enter Sabarimala should b e restricted.

A court sentence for execution of a person will not be effected if there is SC sanctioned  review on it.

K A Solaman

Higher Farce

Yet another Tuglak model is on the anvil in Kerala Higher Education sector. It is the move by the Department of Higher Education to appoint teachers in the colleges and universities on tenure-based contract for five years.

The Higher Education sector in Kerala is in a highly delapilated state as majority of the courses are run with the help of guest teacherട. As guest teachers deliver little to the present system of teaching most of the courses are run with low standard. The government saying that  it has no financial capacity to fill the permanent vacancies, is a farce

The conditions that contract validity is for five years and continuation of the post will be decided after assessing the service of contract teachers during the five years etc.,  appear curious. Of course the select committee will be from politicians & union leaders who are capable of doing wonders.

K A Solaman

Injustice by the Government

Hartal in Pathanamthitta district today is the result of thoughtless act of State Government of Kerala. The hartal was declared after an Ayyappa devotee was found dead at Laha. The mystery behind the death of devotee should be probed into.

It is true that SC has permitted woman entry in Sabarimala based on constitutional grounds but certain traditions prohibit women there. It is the women to decide whether to visit or not the holy place. The verdict did not ask the government to give protection to each and every woman in Sabarimala and it is quite unbecoming on the part of government to send police troop along with every woman visitor to Sabarimala. If any untoward incident happens then it is right on the police to interfere. But what happened in Sabarimala is police high-handedness which might have resulted in the death of the devotee. Earlier another devotee ended his life because of sheer despair caused by the action of Govt.

There is, of course,  injustice on the part of government in dealing with Sabarimala issue.
K A Solaman

Totally unnecessary

The new order by Kerala Finance Department relating to salary challenge by excluding no-consent letter of employees and making consent letter mandatory, is a puny attempt to save face from the humiliation that it received from SC. The new order was issued on the basis of supreme court verdict over salary challenge. As per the new order those who are willing to donate one-month salary to Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund  have to give a consent letter to the department.

By this time, those employees who were willing to contribute to CMDRF have already done it  But the callous attitude of Finance Department has made the situation worse. By the new order the government is unlikely to bring any good result.  Donate or not to donate, is a ones' personal matter and no agency has right to compel anyone. Collecting of consent letter from employees will make a divide among them, which is totally unnecessary.
K A Solaman

Do not divert fund

The huge fund collected  to rebuild the state in the aftermath of the worst flood disaster, is likely to go otterwise. The  proposal Rs 80 crore apartment complex for state legislators should be viewed in this direction. The proposed plan is to demolish an old building in the Legislators Complex and build a multi-storeyed housing complex in its place.
It looks like that Legislators Complex was demolished in flood.

The  flood caused severe damage and  brought in untold miseries to people of various districts. Thousands of people went homeless.  Estimates say the floods has caused a destruction of over Rs 40,000 crore. The people from all walks of life have contributed liberally to relief fund. So it is not right right on the part of  government to divert the amount for other purposes

K A Solaman

Fire cracker use

The Supreme Court alloweirg sale and use of firecrackers with specific conditions, is in the right direction. A total ban ot fire crackers is undesirable as many people earn their livilihood by working with fire cracker industry.

Supreme court fixing  8 pm to 10 pm time schedule for bursting of firecrackers on Diwali and other festivals, is also welcome as rest of the day can protected from high dB sound. However, the big handicap is, most users of fire crackers will not follow the time schedule. No police officer is seen to take iterest in checking sound pollution, The permission  for sale and manufacture of "green" crackers which have low emission seems good but a clear demarkation between green crackers and others, is practically difficult.

Interestingly all agencies function with least regard to sound pollution rules.
So the SHOs should come forward with calibrated sound meter equipment to measure the decibel levels. If anyone found violating  the rule regarding time schedule and dB levels of crackers, he must be brought to book regardless of  religious or political backing.

K A Solaman

Last Action Hero.

Tomin Thachankari, the MD,  is seemingly the last action hero of  KSRTC. The lightning strike  by KSRTC employees and the subsequent withdrawal, is the solid example of mismanagement in KSRTC. The misinformed MD will likely to ruin KSRTC.

KSRTC employees in various districts had called for a lightning strike in protest over the decision to assign Kudumbashree to handle the reservation counter. Bus service from these depots was disrupted. Then the question is: who entrusted Thachankari to take a decision that adversely affect the normal functiohing of the Corporation.

Perhaps Thachankari is of opinion that woman entry to Sabarimala is a hot topic of discussion and the government sponsors it. So if a similar woman entry is made in KSRTC through backdoor he will also get acclades. May be this wrong perception put KSRTC in trouble.

Kudumbashree also need discipline to not enter the sectors where there are permanent employees.

K A Solaman

Helmet programme not feasible

Bizarre are the inventions of Kerala police. One such is the issue of  ISI-marked helmets to replace the damaged helmets in accidents. This will be given if the mishap happened within Kozhikode city limits. The helmets are given away under a programme by the Kozhikode city traffic police in co-ordination with Suzuki Motors Pvt Ltd.

The interesting aspect is, in order to avail the new helmet, one just has to reach the police station after the accident along with a complaint and the broken helmet. In fact, this programme is unlikely.to run as there would be no buyers for helmet from police station after a serious helmet broken accident.

If the Kozhikode police so desire to announce their name in public let them come with programmes such as  giving black tea to night drivers etc. Think practically and introduce feasible programmes.

K A Solaman

Setting everything right?

Kerala won’t reduce tax, then what Is the  fun in asking the Centre to reduce tax?

Finance Minister Thomas Issac saying that the state government will not reduce tax on petrol and diesel, is deplorable. The Centre has reduced Rs 2.5 per litre  on petrol and diesel. It is then obligatory for State Government to bring down price proportionately. Instead of doing this, the F M saying that  the Centre first reduce the full amount it hiked and the state government would then think about reducing tax, is ridiculous.

If thirteen states of India could adhere to  the words of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asking the state governments  to reduce Rs 2.5/litre of VAT, the Kerala Government that is determined to set everything right, also should reduce the fuel tax.

K A Solaman

Serious lapse

Adminstration of contaminated  oral polio vaccine to children in Maharashtra, Telengana and  Uttar Pradesh, is a serious lapse. The makers and distributors of this vaccine should be punished. Along with there must be  surveillance to trace any aftereffect due to the use of this vaccine among children.
It is a pity that in many countries disease kills people and its medicine kills more.

K A Solaman

Review petition is imperative.

Sabarimala, the hill abode of Lord Ayyappa, is one of the most important pilgrim centres in the country. It is the most famous and prominent Ayyappa shrine.  At  Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa is worshipped as a Brahmachari.

Devotees are expected to observe a mandatory fast of 41 days, beginning on the first day of Malayalam month Vrishchikam, from mid-November. The fasting highlights the significance of abstinence and austerity. Every devotee visiting Sabarimala temple shall wear a garland made of Tulsi or Rudraksha. Rituals start with the wearing of garland. A devotee who has visited Sabarimala more than 18 times, called as Guruswamy, will give the mala after performing a pooja. The devotee is then called as Swami or Ayyappa.

A swami should take bath twice a day.
As the Lord is considered as a brahmchari, it is a must that devotees visiting him should observe celibacy.
The devotee should subside hunger and control food intake during the period.
An Ayyapa is expected to speak the truth and commit no sin during the 41 day period. He must be fully devoted to Lord.  Swamis usually wear black, saffron or dark blue dress and will walk barefoot.

Then, the significant questions are :
Who will be the guruswami among women to perform pooja before giving mala to devotee? 
Since male devotee is known as Ayyappa, what will be name of woman devotee?
Is the name brahmachari applicable to woman devotee?

Presumably, these and other practical difficulties may not have considered by SC before pronouncing the present verdict.

Seemingly the Left government of Kerala has not placed these issues before the court and that resulted an adverse judgement which strongly affect believers' sentiments. It is, therefore, imperative for the Devaswom Board or State government  to file  a review petition with the SC for reconsideration of the verdict on Sabarimala.

It is to be remembered that strength of
most people lies in their faith
K A Solaman

Thou shalt commit adultery!

"Thou shalt not commit adultery" is one of the Ten Commandments in Christian belief. Adultery is sexual relations in which at least one participant is married to someone else. Sexual relations are designed to unify husband and wife and it is a source of enjoyment and to result in children. This commandment puts a firm basis for all happy familiy relationship in all civilised groups across the globe.

Now, in India five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court  unanimously ruled to scrap Section 497, which deals with adultery, of the Indian Penal Code. Calling the law archaic and saying that it violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution the justices said adultery couldnot be a criminal offence.

In fact the verdict gives license to married couples for adulterous relationships and hence sanctity of marriage ends up in peril. As men are the most offenders in such cases the making of Section  497 gender neutral is, out and out, an anti women decision.

K A Solaman

All should be for truth

The nun, who now lives Kottayam, called Jalandhar bishop a rapist and in return the bishop accused her of unholy relation with a man. The nun alleges
she was assaulted after summoning her on the pretext of discussing an important issue in 2014 and raped her 13 times since then. Bishop, on the other hard  rejected the allegations, calling them a conspiracy against the church. Nun called Bishop Mulakal a predator and alleged at least 20 nuns were forced to leave the congregation due to his sexual advances. The sisters who are in support of nun went on public strike.

On seeing this all become judges and went to support  sisters leaving scant regards to the words of Bishop. Is it right, is a big question before us?

The alleged incident took place 4 years back and it is quite natural that the probe will take its own time. Then who are these people like actor Reema, her husband, Joy Mathew and other activists to denounce the bishop and ask the police to arrest Bishop. These people need publicity and hence hijack all sensational events for their gain. Their act as self proclaimed judge, is condemnable

The police submission  that there are  contradictions in the statements of the victim, witnesses and the bishop should be taken into account by the activists before they leap.

All should be for truth, no matter who, nun or bishop tells it. All should be for justice, no matter who it is for or against.

K A Solaman

Six-six hartal

The Monday six-six hartal, called by the ruling  LDF and  opposition UDF to protest against the rising fuel price, was a big hit. With this the new Kerala mission has been completed successfully as the state is fit to give up one day Income by abandoning all work. Shops and commercial establishments remained closed and vehicles kept off roads. Attendance in offices and educational institutions was not a matter for all would get salary of hartal day without doing any work.

No major untoward incidents was reported except one at Pattanamthitta where State Women Commission member Shahida Kamal was assualted by a few hartal thugs. This congress turned comrade was excepting this for quite long and hartal day was the best opportunity for it. More interesting is: leaders of both fronts making it clear that flood relief works in the state had not been affected due to hartal. The implication is, they were happy with bottles and snacks at home. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President and known hartal hater M M Hassan,  urging the party workers to hold the strike without disrupting normal life and relief works, is very interesting.

How long the ordinary people Kerala do suffer from hartals, is a peritinent question. Any man can make mistakes, but only  idiots persist in their errors.

K A Solaman

Fuel price hike

The fuel price rise is alarming. It is increasing day by day. In Kerala, petrol price is Rs 83.30 per litre in Thiruvananthapuram and diesel price is
Rs77.18. If this trend continues price of all essential commodities shoot up. Once the price of commodities has gone high it will never come back.

However, the Congress party called  Bharat bandh on September 10 will do nothing against fuel price hikie. Instead it will paralyse the normal life of poor  people, especially daily wage owners. All nationwide shutdowns affect not the rich but the poor.

K A Solaman

Viswom's futile exercise

CPI leader Binoy Viswam approaching the Supreme Court against the Centre’s stand of refusing to accept foreign aid for rebuilding flood-hit Kerala, is ridiculous. Accepting or  refusing foreign aid is a policy matter and any amendament regarding this should be discussed in the Parliament. Instead of placing it before the Parliament for discussion, Viswom personally approaching SC is a futile exercise to show that he has done something for the flood victims of Kerala.

The Kerala Government has not yet estimated the property loss in the flood. The govt. doesn't know the exact number of victims staying in rescue shelters. However, the Centre has drafted an aid in tune  with Rs 22000 cr and Viswom's interest should be in getting implemented the package. The state government should be asked to present inmediately the exact loss suffered by the state. Whether the country needs or not theforeign aid, is question to be resolved by the Indian Parliament.

All the MPs individually approaching the Court questioning policy matters is a poor practice.

K A Solaman

Attention medical fraternity

People have started to return to their homes from relief camps. Water at many of the flood hit places are highly contaminated. There are chances for spread of diseases like cholera, jaundice etc.

Kerala Health Department has issued warning  against the spread of jaundice in the wake of cases being reported from several parts. The diseases spread mainly through contaminated water and food. The debris and waste materials after the flood pose a big threat.

So medical teams including doctors, health inspectors and nurses should be deputed by Health Department to help people. Private hospitals also owe responsibility to address the needs of those flood-hit people.

The Military, Navy and the fearless warriors of fishermen community  have saved thousands from downing  and it is now the turn of medical fraternity to avert further causualities.
K A Solaman

Needed more Central fund

In a fine gesture Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appreciated Kerala for fighting against the flood havoc. He complimented the state authorities for their efforts in the adverse condition. NDRF, BSF and RAF are deployed to fight the devastation in the state, stated PM.

Along with, the timely help of people of other areas of Kerala should also be admired. The fishermen of Kerala coastal belt rescued more than 4000 people with their fishing boats.

The financial loss incurred by harvest loss, cattle loss and loss of property is huge. The financial assistance in tune with Rs 760 crore issued by Centre is inadequate. More central fund is immediately needed for bringing flood affected people to normal life. The PM may take quick decision in this regard, it is hoped.

K A Solaman

Free service is no service.

Heavy rains and floods hit normal lives in Kerala. Death toll has crossed 160. The military, police force and many voluntary organizations are rendering possible  help.
Even fishermen from coastal belt have gone to Chengannur, Pathanamthitta  etc. with their boats to help the flood-hit people. The telecom companies including BSNL, Jio, Airtel, Vodafone and Idea have assured to provide free call and data services to the people.

Interestingly, the service of Vodafone and Idea are not available in many parts of Kerala. This is, of course, a sort of cheating by these phone providers. Free service is no service for them. The government must look into the matter.

Arother important point is, the police should be vigilant about thieves in flood affected areas. As most of the houses are abanded by people, thieves will target these places. If not surveilled by police valuable materials would disappear when people return to their homes. It is unwise to think all are good people.

K A Solaman

Anyone sleepless over Mullapperiyar?

Political leadership  in 2011 had hard-pressed common people of Kerala for a protest on the issue of Mullapperiyar dam. But then CM of TN Purachi Thalavi Jayalalithaa ignored all agitations about the death-defying state of Mullapperiyar dam. The scientists of Roorki IIT along with Kerala Congress leader P J Joseph were dead against maintaining  the dam. Joseph was sleepless over the imminent extinction of 30 lakhs of people in nearby districts. Nevertheless, as  known to all, even after seven years of agitation  the dam is wonderfully intact. The solution then accepted was to keep the water level in the dam as low as possible, that is less than 140 feet.

Now, water level in the Mullaperiyar dam has reached 142 feet. The water level continues to rise due to heavy rain in the catchment areas. The 13 spillway shutters have been opened to let out the excess water.

But, thanks to media, none is seen panic about the possible breakdown of the dam. The implication is: consternation is often created by certain unscrupulous politicians assisted by media.

K A Solaman

MK's Burial

The Madras High Court has taken a wise decision by allowing the burial of DMK chief M Karunanidhi on the Marina Beach. Karunanidhi could rest in peace  on the noted Marina beach alongside his mentor and former chief minister C N Annadurai.

However, the big handicap in choosing Marina beach is, it is near the memorial of former chief minister Jayalalithaa, his bete noire all the time. And when commemoration days come there is all the possibility of one's followers to deface the memorial of other unless there is police protection. Graveyards gaining reputation is the order of the day.

K A Solaman

Insecure security

The leakage of security documents of President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Kerala, is a serious lapse. The 208-page document titled ‘Secret’ prepared by the police is spread through WhatsApp. The police saying that the document has been provided to all officers on duty and it poses no threat to security, is laughable.

The security document should be intact in the hands of those officers in charge. When it is available to WhatsApp groups its privacy is lost. The incident invokes an investigation because leaking of security documents of the President is a serious offence. Posting it in WhatsApp groups is a wrong action.

K A Solaman

Desperate trollers of Kerala

The new-gen district collectors of Kerala are a little ahead in serving , guiding, motivating and advising youngsters. For instance , Thiruvananthapuram collector K Vasuki has asked the young people of Kerala to utilize their skills and efficiency for the preservation of nature instead of wasting precious time by simply making trolls on social media. Vasuki, of course, enjoys  trolls.

Vasuki wrote: interest shown in trolling should be diverted to preservation of nature and requested the support of all trollers for protection of nature. However, the sad plight of trollers In Kerala is that most of them are grilled by police for trolling fish vendor college girl Hanan, the newly adopted daughter of the government, while thousands of other girls are desperately doing similar works to meet their both ends. As grilling of trollers has turned into  an image building exercise for the government most of the trollers are in jail. Hence, they are not able to do anything in special to save the nature Ms Vasuki.

K A Solaman

Ridiculous Opposition

The peoole of Kuttanad are under severe threat of heavy flood and relief operations are going on at its peak. The civil administration has done yeoman service to reduce the miseries caused by flood. Though CM, due to his busy schedule, could not visit the affected area his cabinet colleague and PWD minister G Sudhakaran is at Kuttanadu all the time giving necessary instructions to coordinate the relief work.

However, opposition parties took a different stand not to cooporate with the relief programmes. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala even boycotted the meeting convened to review the flood-relief operations in Kuttanad. More interestingly, Congress leaders K.C. Venugopal and Kodikunnil Suresh, MPs, too abstained from the meeting. This is quite unfortunate.

Like the ruling political parties, the Opposition has also the responsibility' to lend a helpirg hand to people of flood-ravaged places. Instead of doing this the Opposition parties making political milage out of it, is rather ridiculous.

K A Solaman

Girl missing cases

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data shows that missing cases of girls belonging to age around 18 is high. According to data, a large number of  girls have gone missing from Kerala this year. The latest is one Shabeena (18) from Anchalummoodu, Kollam.

Like the word rape took a metamorphism as harassment the phrase 'girls running away' with boys has assumed the form 'girls missing'. While government takes all the measures to trace out the girls, none is bothered to find the reason why these girls are absconding.

Though teenage love affair is a reason for girl missing, married women are also found missing abandoning husband and children. If one closely examines the issue it could be evident that Malayalam channel serials play a vital role in misguiding people. The present day cinema is yet another reason but the damage made by social media network is the highest.

Let us be sincere to the cases of girl missing. It is not actually missing but the girls are abandoning their present phase of life dreaming a happy future, but it usually ends up in despair. While a thorough check is done on the contents of cinema and serials, better awareness campaigns in schools and colleges can reduce girl missing cases. Nevertheless, the problem with social media sites is still in anybody's guess.

K A Solaman

Screenshot police.

The Kerala police is on an arrest-spree. More and more persons are getting arrested in connection with the online defaming of one college girl called Hanan. Hanan was on alleged online abuse and social media trolls after it came to light that she was selling fish in college uniform at Thammanam, Kochi. Perhaps the arrest will continue until all the 3.5 crore of Keralites are arrested and put in jail. The number 3.5 crore comes here because Kerala has an estimated population of 3.5 crore on date.

The first arrested was one Shaik from Wynadu and it was widely publicized by media because Shaik is a High Court advocate. Advocates have still some rift with media channels. And for the same reason he was let free by the police. Still  arrest continues as if the police has no good job to do.

It is true that there were  fake messages against girl on social media because she and the news reporter of a daily created wrong notion in the minds of public. It is rather rare a woman fish vendor, even if a college student, appearing in class uniform. The distance of the Thodupuzha college, the cinema producer's tall claim etc prompted people to think in the negative.  This resulted trolls and when the fact is revealed a good many have withdrawn their posts. But pretending  as poormans' saviour the CM asked the police to arrest trollers. This is an indirect way to threaten those who put comments against the government too.
If the government has real intention to help  the poor there are thousands of poor students  but all they not go for fish vending. Identify them first and lend a helping hand instead of runnig after channel publicity.

If government needs the police to do some meaningful work, stop them  to take the screen shots and ask them to arrest robbers, rapists, drug pedallers, smugglers,  tax evaders, hoarders, killers and who else.

K A Solaman

Nightmare for people

The toll in rain-related incidents in Kerala has climbed to 39, with 11 more deaths being reported from various parts of the state yesterday. More than 90,000 persons have been shifted to relief camps. Total loss has been estimated to be a little above 10crore. Among the districts from where deaths have been reported are the worst-affected Alappuzha and Kottayam. It has become a nightmare for people living in low-lying areas, especially in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts, as the water level has not receded. Thanks to the Mullapperiyar dam for its regained strength due to mere rheotoric of politicians of Kerala and TN

Interestingly, the ministers of Kerala are not seen in the affected regions in co-ordinating the relief works. Having handed over all the responsibilities to new-gen collectors of districts the ministers are engaged in tour and sight seeing. Not to blame them, collectors are doing what they can including Facebook and Twitter writing. Nevertheless, the worst affected people like those in the coastal belt are not in the network of Facebook or Twitter. Their hardships are beyond any reckon.

K A Solaman

Needed strong bond with US

India inviting US President Donald Trump to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations next year, is a noble gesture . Trump accepts it or not, the invitation would give a major boost to ties between the two countries in areas of defence, security and trade.

It is better for our country to have association with US as a good number of Indians are working there. No other world country  accommodates so much Indians as US does. And our politicians including those from Left politics prefer US for medical treatment to Russia or China.

Also, for India to seek waiver from US sanctions on import of oil from Iran, a bond is needed with US. Any border rift with Pakistan or China could be easily resolved with a stronger friendship  between India and US.

K A Solaman

Check jihadi outfits.

The brutal killing of SFI leader Abhimanyu of Maharajas college  by activists of PFI and its student outfit Campus Front, is shocking. It is not the result of students' quarrel on  fixing posters or writing on the campus walls. It is seemingly an  organised killing to disturb peace in the state. The  PFI was carrying out a Taliban model attack. The formidable presence of SFI in Maharajas campus is also a reason for ever escalating tension between rival groups.

Maharajas incident is an eye-opener to
CPM which has been fighting against right wing Hindu outfits for the last several years in association with  Islamic fundamentalists like PFI. Soft approach by CPM towards the activities of PFI and its  outfits in the state, has become costlier to them The  LDF government should be more vigilant about the growing activities of   jihadi outfits in college campuses and in the state.

K A Solaman

AMMA not a big issue

All burning issues of the State has been put aside by the cleverly drafted story of AMMA admitting actor Dileep to it. Though the foul players behind the ugly epsode are Mukesh and Ganesh, the wrath of the public is  on Mohanlal, the newly elected president of AMMA. It is to be doubted that there is petty politics behind the issue to tarnish the image of Mohanlal, who recently expressed his willingness to associate with BJP. Mohanlal is now a speck in the eyes of comrades.

The Youth Congress,  KSU, AIYF activists are all birds of same feather as they have nothing meaningful to do now other than protest against Lal. That is why some  of them marched to  Mohanlal’s house and others burned him in effigy. The police are seemingly mute spectactors to the issue. The protest march  against Mohanlal and AMMA  by various political parties are intended to get media attention.

AMMA is a privately run  agency where no political party has any contribution.
AMMA has its own set of rules and hence the question of asking Mohanlal to vacate from president’s post is unwarranted. It is better for all youth organisations, the KSU ard others to protest against police attrocity, girls missing, ration problems, price rise, placement ban , liquor menace, dengue fever, nurses strike and else what. AMMA is not a big issue for Kerala public.

K A Solaman

New friends

The meeting between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un has been welcomed by many. The summit has raised hopes in certain quarters that a permanent resolution to the Korean crisis is not far away.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that Trump is the first American president to meet a North Korean leader. One may, therefore, ask, why did Trump's predecessors not try to engage with their North Korean counterparts? It is not hard to guess that the former did not want to provide legitimacy to the dictatorial administration in Pyongyang by hobnobbing with North Korean leaders. Sadly, Trump did not gain anything more from the interaction than a vague commitment on the part of North Korea to work towards denuclearization.

K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala
(The Telegraph, Kolkata
18 June 2018)

How to compromise insult on womanhood?

Having created much hue and cry a  compromise has been reached in the case registered against MLA KB Ganesh Kumar for allegedly manhandling a youth and abusing his mother. Of late, the main function of Nair Pontiff at Perunna is to bring peace between assualting nairs as
compromise was reached in the talks held at the NSS headquarters. As a result both the parties decided to withdraw the cases.

Then the question is: what is the fate of  secret submission before magistrate by the mother of the youth whose womanhood was insulted by the imprudent MLA,  notorious with series of criminal cases? Are the magistrate and court system are toys to play for the criminal gangs?

K A Solaman

E-bus to Kerala

It is good to hear that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has  rolled out its first electric bus making Kerala the sixth Indian state to run the service. KSRTC will carry out a trial run for 15 days  out of which 8 days will be in Thiruvananthapuram and 7 days in Ernakulam, following which it will conduct services in Kochi and Kozhikode. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan  said that if the services are successful, they will roll out around 300 electric buses for service throughout the state.

However, people have genuine doubts about purchase of electric buses as each bus costs around 2.25 crore ruppees and total costs for 300 buses will be 675 crores. How is it  possible for the cash crunchy KSRTC to spend immediately this much amount? If it is a term loan, would it be possible for KSRTC to repay back loan timely? KSRTC is already in a debt trap and there is no proper repayment. The oil companies are always in war path with for non- payment of cost of fuel that they had supplied to KSRTC.

The insiders of KSRTC keep a view that the very reason for KSRTC loss-making is the uncontrolled purchase of spares such as window panes, tyres to small small buses (now none runs)  etc. which are still kept unused in various garages. The commission to higher-ups is the attraction for those thoughtless purchases.

Here in this case also the commission for  300 electric buses is not small and to whose packets it would go, is a significant question. The tailor-made gentleman MD of KSRTC, of course, knows about  the commission for bus purchase.

The labour unions including persioners are silent as they now get salary and pension regularly. Once this payment breaks they will start enquiring about the purchase of electric buses. So, it is better for union leaders to have look into  the new launch as it may sometimes affect the job security of them.

Is electric bus a mean to  the sustainable development concept of Kerala? Only time could say about it.

K A Solaman

Trump-Kim Summit

The summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Is historic. It can be considered as a welcome development. It is hoped that resolution on denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula will bring peace across the globe.

With  Trump and Kim signing the comprehensive document seven decades of hostility between the two countries has become a past story. Nevertheless, why any other president of the last 30 odd years could not have met the dictator of North Korea, is a pertinent question. It is because they did not want to legitimise N Korea without concrete commitments to something beneficial. Trump has legitimised Kim, getting nothing in return, apart from a promise to work toward denuclearisation.

Further one has to look at the agreements Trump makes and breaks often. And in this respect there is no marked difference between Trump and Kim. However, next Nobel Prize for peace will go to Trump - Kim duo.

K A Solaman

Economic super power

It is stunning to hear that Indian coasts, including that in Kochi, are rich in natural gas reserves. The new discovery by American Geological Survey, would help India to meet its energy needs for another 300 years.

Kochi Coast, Krishna-Godavari basin and Cauvery basin were found with almost 130 million cubic feet hydrate gas accumulations. The survey also reports that one-third of this reserve was found on the Kochi Coast. It is believed to be the biggest Natural Gas Reserve till date.

In order to reap the reserve in full potential  India would work on with its own advanced technology and not on with the assistance of private companies as did in the past. India along with ONGC. GAIL, Oil India, Indian Oil Corporation could make wonders in this regard. The presently found hydrate gas reserve would make India an economic super power.

K A Solaman

End Postal strike.

The  India Post Payments Bank which started with much fanfare has ended in disaster. Those people who opened  accounts with IPPB have abandoned their accounts. As and when the postal strike ends the clients of IPPB will close their.accounts.

The Union government shows scant regards towards the ongoing strike by postal employees. The government takes no steps to resolve the crisis,
The pensioners are deeply concerned about a possible delay in getting their monthly pension through post offices on time owing to the ongoing strike. Those who had Post Office savings accounts are a worried lot as they were unable to withdraw cash. Many unemployed youth, who have been awaiting appointment orders from the State Public Service Commission by registered post, are disappointed. The readers of various publications are denied their legitimate rights by the postal strike. The attitude of the Postal Department and the concerned ministry that they are least bothered about the strike, is condemnable, The government should take initiative to settle the issue immediately.

K A Solaman

To combat honour killings

Time has come  for Kerala police to open a special wing to combat crimes relating love affairs and thereby to prevent honour killings.

When killing over a love marriage is sparking controversy now in Kerala, another couple in love approached the police seeking protection from death threat raised by the girl’s family. A Pathanamthitta man and a Kannur  woman reached the Thrikkakkara police station with a complaint against the girl’s family.

The lovers alleged that the girl’s relatives forcefully possessed her documents of identity proof to stop her from getting married with her lover. Her family also threatened the duo with political influence. They also filed a complaint in the women’s cell. In this case too the man in love story is at the receiving end.

Kerala is a densely populated state. The present estimated population is 3.73 crores of which about one crore people are in between age 15 -30. As the present media culture encourages everyone for free love, chances of love related crimes are high. So it is high time for Kerala  police to avert shame of the sort met in Gandhinagar police station in Kottayam.

K A Solaman

Huge loss.

The demise of Indian theoretical physicist E. C. George Sudarshan is a huge loss to the entire scientific community. His contributions to the field of theoretical physics have no parallelism. He has even augmented certain ideas like  maximum possible speedof Albert Einstein. His concept of tachyons contradicts the maximum possible velocity of light in free space.

He was nominated for Nobel Prize nine times. His contributions include optical coherence, Quantum zero effect, Sudarshan-Glauber representation, V-A theory and others.He was honoured with numerous awards like ICTP Dirac Medal, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Majorana Prize, TWAS Prize, C. V. Raman Award among other awards

For people of Kerala Dr. Sudarshan is particularly a person of pride as he hails from Kottayam.  He was recently in Thiruvananthapuram for a talk on physics. He is inspiring for all students and teachers pursuing in the field quartm field theory.

K A Solaman

Last action hero again

The Iast action hero of KSRTC Tomin J Thachankary is again in headlines with his latest tirade to save the corporation. He asks the government to  declare the corporation as essential service and for an all-party meeting to ensure that it is exempted from hartals.

The history tells that the success of all hartals depends on the attack of corporation buses and the subsequent blockade of all vehicles. In that case no political party is going to listen Thachankary. Moreover, what is the fun in operating KSRTC services on hartal day when all are in holiday mood at home in front of TV with drink and snack.

K A Solaman

Compulsory Malayalam in schools

The Kerala  government drafting rules of the law that makes Malayalam a compulsory subject in all schools in the state from classes 1 to 10, is praiseworthy.. The law directs all schools including CBSE, ICSE, other central syllabus schools,  to make Malayalam a mandatory subject in curriculum.

As and when the law is put in practice, there should be measures to post Malayalam qualified teachers. All and sundry taking Malayalam classes would  turn class rooms into channel shows where manglish is the accepted language.

Formation of Malayalam language law and its implementation are good but it should not become a tool to punish CBSE/ISC schools. It is now the policy of LDF government to put hurdles before CBSE/ISC schools by givirg higher grades for SSLC and Plus 2. Awarding more marks and thereby enabling students to get admission to professional courses should  not be the policy of the government. The people do not know whether the present impetus towardട govt/aided schools last long as after every 5 years the rulers will change and policies differ.

K A Solaman

State expenditure curb

Job seekers of Kerala have a tough time ahead as expenditure curbs have been announced as part of the fiscal consolidation efforts of the State government.

According to a government order, new posts will be created only after conducting a work study and all departments exploring redeployment options. This will take time and it means those who are in PSC rank list can go ahead with protest meets or can visit temple- church-mosque to offer prayer for changing the mindset of atheist ministers. It all goes with the whims and fancies of Finance Minister Thomas Isaac. When Isaac says there is cash, there is it and when says no, there is no cash. And there is no other source to know the actual financial state of the government.

However, the government will go with extravaganza such as spending crores for cyber warriors for promoting govt programmes, hiking salary of ministers and MLAs, buying Crysta cars for ministers, keeping intact the otherwise useless Youth Commission, organising public meets for celebrating anniversary of the govt. etc.

K A Solaman

Needed uniform approach

The protection of identity of rape victims is considered to be a requirement under criminal law. Section 228 A of the IPC prohibits the publication of the identity of rape victims. The prohibition under the section has been worded to prohibit the publication of not only victims’ names but also any matter which could make victims’ identities known. Those who violate the publication prohibition under section 228A, IPC, are liable to be punished with imprisonment for up to two years and are be liable to be fined.

This law has been seemingly protected in the case of Nirbhaya of Delhi and the fifteen year old victim of Jing  district of Haryana. However in the cases of Jisha and 8 year old Katuva girl, this has been outrightly violated. When print media stood with the law by not publishing  photo of victim the social media took a different stand bringing huge damage to victim's family and the country.

Perhaps the publication of the photo may be due to the reason that  victim is dead or a minor. But the way of approach to different cases are different. In some cases identity was disclosed and in some others not. Don't we need a uniform approach in rape and murder cases to prevent social victimisation or ostracism of the victim of a sexual offence and her family?

Be tough towards brute doctors

The government doctors in Kerala are an independable lot. They have no concern about poor patients in the state. They work for their benefit and also for the benefit of private hospitals.

The indefinite strike called by doctors in government hospitals is unwarranted. Their protest against increase in OP timings at family health centres in connection with Ardram Mission, is objectionable. Will the sky fall if they sit   one hour more at OP time during duty hours?

The strike which, most of the public was unaware of, is cruel. It led great difficulty to many. The government should take stern action against this brute force who are in frequent play with poor man's life.

K A Solaman

Dalit hartal damage

Dalit sponsored hartal has become a success by the overreaction of the government, KSRTC,  private bus owners and the traders. All these initially coming against the hartal urged dalits to make it a success.

Traffic was disrupted widely across the state as part of the hartal. KSRTC, private bus owners and the traders stepped back from their earlier promise to boycot the hartal.  Dalit organization activists laid siege to road at many places. Violence was reported from some places in the southern districts of Kerala. The hartal supporters  blocked  the KSRTC, private buses ard bikers making immense hardships to even applicants  writing PSC examination.

"Do nothing against hartal" is the ever accepted policy of the government. A marked deviaton during dalit hartal, therefore,  brought huge damage to the state.
K A Solaman

Profesor needs treatment

The Kerala  state government  decision  to initiate legal action against  Botany professor Rajith Kumar who often makes derogatory remarks against womanhood, is in the right direction. Who permitted him to speak all these rubbish in public?

Earlier, at Women's College, Thiruvanankapuram he had made disparaging remarks against girls wearing jeans that they were likely to damage their womb in doing so. The girls pooh-poohed him and walked out in protest. Now he says women wearing jeans and shirts will give birth to transgenders. As transgenders are treated with equal status with men and women Rajith Kumar's remarks is a direct insult to not only women but also transgenders. His say that children of parents who are not of good character turn out to be autistic and suffer from cerebral palsy, is also deprecating.

In fact Rajith  has been propagating superstition and making anti-women remarks continuously. This misinformed  botany professor urgently needs medical treatment for his mental imbalance.

K A Solaman

Fuel price hike!

The price of one litre diesel touching an all-time high of Rs. 70.08 is stunning. The price of diesel and petrol rises day by day. This would sky rocket the price of essential commodities.

In the last four years oil rates have come down in the international market. But the Indian consumer is untouched by the relief. Who is to be blamed for it? The answer involves our complicated taxation system, the governments– both Centre and states – heavy dependence  on fuel as a source of revenue.

The governments should take measures to reduce tax on fuels. The oil marketing companies should be brought under scanner and pricing of fuel should be monitored. It is the prime duty of the goverments  to check the sudden spurt in the price of essential commodities that may happen from fuel price rise.

K A Solaman