Illiterate kids of India.

Illiteracy among poor kids, even after 4 years of Education in some Indian states is an alarming factor, according to  a Unesco Report. The case is not different in Kerala. The report says pace in achieving universal primary education, lower secondary education and youth literacy is woefully low in the country, especially for the disadvantaged. Poverty and poor living conditions are not alone the factors for illiteracy. There are more reasons.

We have illiterate politicians and leaders, so who is going to lay emphasis on literacy when our leaders are themselves illiterate is a big question.  If there is no minimum qualification criteria for those contesting elections there will be no improvement in the level of literacy in the country. Another reason for learning predicament is the teacher governance. The report says that there is absenteeism of teachers who are bound to teach students. So no teacher should be permitted to work in politics as teachers’ absence from school adversely affect the teaching-learning process. Not only that, many teaching staff members are not up to the mark. Many fail in the teacher eligibility tests.  If kids do not become literate in a specified time the teachers in charge of them should be held responsible. Separate norms should be fixed for it.

Indian politicians are more responsible for the illiteracy of children as they do not wish children to get educated.  If children are educated, politicians will lose their vote banks.  Tenth or twelfth passing with no serious board examination is also a reason for illiteracy.  No one learns properly and no one teaches properly. The reason for illiteracy among kids is thus evident.

K A Solaman

Who will India vote for?

Black Hole!

No to FDI by Kejriwal

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government decision to disallow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, reversing the previous Sheila Dikshit regime's policy is a welcome step.  It is certain that FDI leads to loss of jobs to a very large extent and future exploitation of people by big business houses.  Most of the people in the lower and middle income group are living out of small time retail trade in vegetables, fruits, groceries, textiles, fish etc. No governmental agency helps them for their existence.

 Foreign Investment into the retail trade would wipe out  livelihood of these people. Hence Kejriwal should be congratulated for this people friendly decision.  The country should not stand for the growth of a few multinationals but cater  the needs of poor millions.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 29 Jan 2014

Needed CBI probe in TP case

CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan is seen thrilled over TP  case verdict  and said the verdict had acquitted CPM leaders in the case. The allegation that CPM leaders conspired in the murder of T P Chandrashekaran has been busted with the freeing of Mohanan Master, according to him. Is Mohanan the only accused  Marxist leader in the case? The role of CPM has become clear as two in the convicted are district level CPM leaders. P K Kunhanandan, one of the convicted, is a Kannur district committee member.  

So, whatever be the top claim, evidently the murder was committedwith knowledge of the CPM leadership. A CBI probe is, therefore, needed to establish the conspiracy and the part played by CPM leaders in the TP murder.

K A Solaman

Poignant shock by Sunanda

Whether the controversy between Tharoor and his wife is true or not, this writer-politician has miserably failed in analyzing the human mind. Sunanda Pushker’s sudden demise is a matter of total upset for Tharoor for not maintaining the moral values needed for a minister and a gentle man. He himself went in despair and has put Congress party in trouble at the time of oncoming election to the Parliament. He was always busy in nonsense affairs using his position as minister ignoring the dignity of an Indian citizen. Married thrice and eyeing for the fourth one is not at all a decorous act.

Sunanda’s death may be the outcome of the huge despair originated form sheer negligence from Tharoor who cornered at the Pakistan columnist Mehr Tarar. Shashi Tharoor lacks the maturity of a responsible citizen. It is a shame for our nation to bear such ministers who are short of moral values and principles in personal life. India has a culture and heritage, which is deeply rooted in the transparency of married life. Tharoor has spoiled everything and with her sudden withdrawal from life Sunanda gave him a poignant shock.

K A Solaman

Gold rush

The women’s commission in Kerala is trying to limit the amount of gold given at weddings to no more than 80 grams. This step is taken to reduce the burden on families and help ease India’s trade deficit. In Indian weddings, gifts of gold, mostly jewellery, are common. The bride’s family gifts gold to the groom to ensure financial stability and this is seen as an auspicious gesture. It is part of the fabric of the Indian belief system. The chairperson of the KWC, K.C. Rosakutty, said that the demand for gold has given rise to a dangerous trend as parents “sell residential property to buy gold for marriages and go for rented houses”. Kerala now uses up to 400 grams of gold per wedding, which was about a tenth of India’s total demand in 2012. The commission has sought a meeting with the chief minister of Kerala, Oommen Chandy, to fix the upper limit at 80 grams. The proposal is unlikely to find many takers in political circles ahead of the general elections in May. It is likely to remain only on paper because the gold industry is a big money spinner for political parties during elections.

However, it would be good news for the finance minister, P. Chidambaram, if the proposal is accepted. Apart from raising gold import duties to a record 10 per cent last year, he has also been vocal about the need to end Indians’ fascination with the yellow metal. It is heartening to know that gold and silver imports have declined by almost 70 per cent in December 2013, after the government imposed restrictions on the import of gold to narrow the current account deficit. The KWC should also educate the people to check their fondness for gold.

K.A. Solaman,  Kerala

The Telegraph, Calcutta published on 14-1-14

Limit on gold at weddings

Finally the Kerala Women’s Commission has identified the crisis. It seeks to limit the amount of gold given at weddings to no more than 80 grams to reduce the burden on families and help ease India's trade deficit. The decision is unparalleled but I am not certain that the gold merchants in the state permit the political bosses to take a decision in this direction.

The money handed over to political parties by the gold merchants in the State is far beyond any reckon and hence the rulers would never take a decision harming the prospects of gold dealers. Or else ask the government to take action against obnoxious advertisements in TV channels by unscrupulous gold merchants. For instance, in a gold ad the ‘chatta’ cladded Boby Chemmannur plays football fouls with Argentinean player Diego Maradonna. His intention is not to sell only 80 grams. 

The gold merchants with their prime time ads have become a total nuisance to channel viewers especially the poor. If an ordinary man  so thinks to sell his belongings to find money for buying gold ornaments he cannot be blamed. So, there should be awareness campaigns against the tendency of groom’s parents seeking increasing amounts of gold at marriage. The propensity among parents to sell residential property to buy gold for marriages should also be checked.

The Kerala women’s fascination for gold is limitless and this can be proscribed only by societal interference. Meanwhile, the gold merchants should be restricted from their dishonest advertisement and subsequent bamboozle.

K A Solaman

Thought for the Day

Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken. — Albert Camus

Kerala fiscal squeeze.

The best finance minister of Kerala has turned into worst finance minister. There is not enough equipment in Mani’s kitty to save the State from financial crunge. The State is in the verge of financial blackout as its employees even denied salary before the X’mas, which is a phenomenon never seen in the history of Kerala.

The veteran finance minister doesn’t know how to mobilize fund in a systematic way. What he knows is a prayer in the Palayam church before the State Budget and installing more Kerala lotteries inviting more people for a state wide begging campaign. Can anyone say this unproductive, unscientific Kerala lottery is something more than public begging. Of course there are many people earn their livelihood by way of selling lottery but this is not the way for a democratic state to protect the unprivileged. Mani has an eye on pension benefits of employees also.

If the revenues have not increased as envisaged in the budget and the expenditure is far above estimates, it is due to the folly of the ministers of the state. Mani now asks to implement tax and non-tax augmenting measures that have already been approved. But before that Mani and other ministers should withdraw ministerial stay given to big defaulters. There are many corporate and abkaris as defaulters to state exchequer and it is the duty of the ministers to take immediate action to collect the dues.

Who knows it is not a ploy of finance minister to enhance to retirement age of state employees in the setting of fiscal squeeze and thereby to withhold the pension benefits of employees. The collection from staff unions in this direction has been made last year itself, it is told.

K A Solaman   
The New Indian Express published on 9-1-14

Playing with gas

Playing with fire is dangerous to little ones. Likewise, playing with gas is dangerous to UPA ones. The passing away of the Congress party in the next election depends solely on their foul play with LPG distribution. Hike in LPG prices sparked protests across political divide in Kerala and elsewhere and supply of cooking gas cylinders to domestic consumers disrupted in many parts. There is confusion regarding the price of LPG and Adhaar linking for getting subsidy.

The Kerala CM Oommen Chandy and Congress leader V M Sudheeran have expressed their resentment for giving free hand to oil companies to determine price of LPG and petroleum products. The oil companies running a parallel government in the country is not at all desirable. It will definitely harm the prospects of Congress party in the next election. The minister in charge of petroleum ministry Moily sticking on the present fixed number of cylinders is amusing.

 He could have stuck on to ‘single cylinder' to single person!

K A Solaman

Kerala model Assembly

The Kerala Assembly is no longer a model for the country, according to Defence Minister A.K. Antony. He said : "There was a time when the functioning of the Kerala assembly was a model for the country, but it no longer holds good, as bills are being passed without discussion. This does not augur well for the new generation. Both the treasury and the opposition benches are equally responsible for this.” This he said when he was addressing the valedictory function of the 125 years' celebration of the legislature of Kerala.

Seemingly, these all happened when he left the State after serving as chief minister three times, and was being a legislator in the house five times. Antony’s remark is rather a matter of introspection. And being the Defence Minister of the country he is bound to say which one of the states in the country has a model assembly. The legislature bodies in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and others are crammed with criminals and in that respect Kerala Assembly is a better one with lesser species.

It is not the practice of criticising a dead man at his funeral function. Likewise no one will like to say off-colourly  against an institution at its ceremonial function. It sounds as if, being the three time head of the Kerala Assembly, Antony could decant ill-words on it because he is the only ‘puritan’ among all Congress leaders who are entangled in corruption. Antony should understand that this sort of revelation to save his party will not work as peoples’ trust has been shifted to Aam Aadmi from Congress and other political parties, especially when leaders like Rahul and Karat have started learning lessons.

K A Solaman

Words are for deeds.

Words are not for deeds for most political parties in the country. But Aam Aadmi party has proved it wrong, The words are meant for deeds to them. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) would provide 700 litres of free water per day to each and every household which has a regular water connection. The decision was taken after a meeting between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's  and  members of the DJB. The cost of providing the free water would be borne by the DJB.

The promise of 700 litres of free water to every Delhi household was made in the Aam Aadmi Party's poll manifesto. If the other promises are also met then there will be no look back for AAP. ‘Young’ Rahul Gandhi and the ‘old ‘Prakash Karat will then learn more lessons from Aam Aadmi. Kerjriwal’s magic will turn out as a death blow to all hard-core corrupt politicians.

However, the interesting aspect is: all the abkaris, hoarders, black marketers, communal fanatics etc have expressed their willingness to work with AAP in different states.

K A Solaman

Strategic sessions

Strategy sessions with top leaders and Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states by Rahul Gandhi  to make the party fighting fit for the Lok Sabha polls is of little use. People’s mandate solely depends of the good governance and not on the false promise party leaders place before them at elections.  

Congress failure in the polls in Delhi, Rajasthan and other states is due the corruption of the rulers. The huge price rise of essential commodities, diesel, petrol, cooking gas and what else persuaded people to think against the rulers and such thoughts should not immediately vanish if Rahul Gandhi along with some hard core politicians place a few strategic ideas to hoodwink people. The passing of Lokpal bill is not an attraction to common people and even if it comes as a strategy item, all except Mulayam have claim in it. The Congress alone could not get any benefit at election for passing Lokpal bill.  

K A Solaman

Perform and deliver Mr AK

It is quite interesting to see the gimmicks of Aam Aadmi party leader A Kejriwal. Latest in this direction is his appeal to all honest officers to get directly in touch with him. Possibly there will be a heavy rush from all ‘honest’ officers to serve under him. If an SMS to AK expressing willingness to serve make one honest, who will refrain from doing so.
Nevertheless.  AK forgot something about honesty. Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness. People can be turned honest by motivation and fear of punishment.

Kejriwal looks for a ready-made solution which will never materialize. He should know that if his ministers are honest, the officers cannot do corruption. Now, it is the time for him to perform and deliver and not to place some Utopian requests.

So, Kejriwal should stop such gimmicks and start ruling. Then he could understand who is honest and who is not? Don’t compel one to say himself that he is honest.

K A Solaman
The Hindu Business line published 27-12-13

Goatee mustache.

The term goatee is used to refer solely to a beard formed by a tuft of hair on the chin—like on the chin of a goat, hence the term 'goatee'.  By the 1990s, the term was also used to refer to the style of facial hair that combines a chin beard and a short moustache. When Christianity became the dominant religion Satan was being depicted with a goatee in medieval art. In the media, goatees have often been used to designate an evil or morally questionable character. Villains in cinema and serials often appear with goatees. The students with goatees are often a head-ache to college and school principals. Thus goatees designated evil characters and are used to signify a character's transformation from positive or neutral to evil.

My hitherto perception was also in the direction, that is, men with goatees are inherently sinister and threatening. However this acuity has come to an end after watching the Christmas ceremony of Pope Francis in Vatican. A few cardinals staged along with the Pontiff were goatees!

K A Solaman

New beginning

The lok pal bill was finally passed after more than four decades. It has paved the way for the establishment of an ombudsman to fight corruption in public offices and ensure accountability on the part of public officials. Even the prime minister falls within its ambit, although he enjoys some safeguards. Anna Hazare said that the bill meets most of his demands, and he thanked both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. But his estranged colleague felt that the bill has been compromised, rendering it toothless. 

Arvind Kejriwal must understand that something is better than nothing. Hazare had put pressure on the government to pass the bill through non-violent means, and it was due to the social activist’s efforts that the lok pal bill has become a reality. It is an important step in the fight against corruption. After eight failed attempts to pass the lok pal bill, Parliament finally gave its seal of approval to a powerful ombudsman. The bill has been drafted and redrafted by two parliamentary committees and now enjoys strong bi-partisan support.

The lok pal will be empowered to investigate complaints of graft against the mightiest of political figures and will be able to supervise the Central Bureau of Investigation at every stage of a probe. According to the bill, the lok pal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, half of whom shall be judicial members and the rest from amongst the minorities and underprivileged sections of society. The common people have to fight corruption at every stage. Some more provisions in the bill would have made it more effective.

K.A. Solaman,  Kerala

The Telegraph, Calcutta published on 24-12-2013

Advantageous for BJP

May be  unconditional or conditional, it is an irony of fate that Kejriwal accepted the support of the party of the candidate whom he defeated in the election.  A very tough time is ahead of AAP as it is very difficult for them to achieve the goal what they have promised before election. AAP is starting to lose its credibility and failing somewhere. Congress Party has hidden agenda in supporting AAP.

Possibly the Government will be pulled down for some reason at any moment by the Congress party and it will be advantageous for BJP which still sticks to their earlier stance.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 25-12-2013

Dim-witted Ms Khobragade

It seems that India has ignored the plight of thousands of Indians working in the US in the backdrop of the issue related to Devyani Khobragade.  If one looks at the whole state of affairs the India Government has reacted unnecessarily taking the consular's personal servant issue forgetting that she has signed an affidavit stating she would abide by the US Labour law. She has accepted that she would to pay the required salary.  Servants are no lesser persons and if Ms Khobragade was not able to pay the requisite salary she should not have employed a servant. Today before the whole world India has become a laughing stock because of this dim-witted lady. The two nations are in the verge of confrontation over a silly servant issue.

Actually this consular must have tried to blackmail the servant stating she would make her husband arrested if she tried to act smart.  So the US govt has shrewdly acted and driven out the maid's family from India to US. And as a safe guard to the family they have arrested the consular. In that case what US did is fair. They have acted according to their law.  If Devayani had committed a gaffe she should be prosecuted.

Diplomatic immunity should not be a tool to outsmart a country’s justice system. Instead of raising all the hue and cry over this silly issue  India Government should help Khobragade fight it out in the US courts and get justice done as soon as possible. If Devyani Khobragade is innocent, she is sure to win the legal battle. And as far as US Justice System is concerned it is not that much bad as ours, I mean the snail's pace. An innocent diplomat has all the chances to get freed from the US court. If guilty it  would  be judged and punished without minding the diplomatic status of the guilty

K A Solaman

No benefit for cattle class

After a long wait of 46 years India has finally got a Lokpal, the one without teeth as Arvind Kejriwal put.  It is like keeping fried groundnut before a toothless person. Thanks to Anna Hazare for his continual slimming exercise, Rahul Gandhi for dipping pressure and Sushama Swaraj for a calming gesture.

One is quite surprised to see how could we celebrate the passing of this bill as there is nothing which would help common people. People face corruption in Taluk office, Panchayat-Municipal-City Corporation offices,  Food Supply office, RT office, Police station, Electricty Board office etc., and there is nothing in the bill to contain corruption in these offices. When the existing laws are sufficient to prevent corruption no ruler is concerned to implement them effectively. Even court orders are discarded by persons responsible for executing them.

Cattle class Indians are going to be little benefited from this bill. Gandhian Anna Hazare could repeat his ritual asking for executing the provisions of the bill. 

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published  20-12-2013