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

Anna exercise

Every time he meets, his doctor suggests a slimming exercise. This time also doctor suggested the  same. That is why noted.social activist Anna Hazare is set to go on an indefinite hunger strike against the central government. It is  nearly seven years after his futile anti-corruption movement he goes for a hunger strike.

His first hunger strike was in 2011 against Manmohan Singh demanding the setting up a Lokpal to investigate corruption in public life.This time the target is Narendra Modi. Presumaely nothing of the serious sort will happen, instead Arna will lose a few kilos and beome physically fit. The prime minister Narendra Modi will go on his own path as Manmohan did seven years back.

K A Solaman

Hand over it to PSC

It is interestirg to hear about the allegation of fraud against the corporate educational agency of the Ernakulam-Aangamaly Archdiocese over the appointment of teachers for Plus Two classes. The allegation is that people who gave bribe were appointed without considering candidates with academic excellence. The complainant was one Ambili Joy, who is a member of the Diocese

Presumably the complainant lives in Utopia where there is no such fraud. In fact, in Kerala, all appointments under Christian, SN, NSS and Muslim managements are done for a price. The one who gives more money gets appointed. Educational qualifications often matters little, Of course, there are certain managements making appointment without demanding any donation

The interview board constituted for school- college.appointment is often a laughing stock.  The government nominee in the interview board is a scarecrow iñterested in the hospitality of the management. Most often  almost all  appointments are done by making the government guidelines a farce. What is needed immediately is recruitment by PSC in those institutions where salary is drawn from state exchequer.

K A Solaman

Playing wrong note by Kerala BJP

It is a wrong note played by Kerala BJP  by  inviting the most corrupt politician K M Mani to the NDA fold. All the tirade enacted  by BJP against Mani in bar bribery issue has turned into a laughing stock by  Kummanam Rajasekharan's statement welcoming KM Mani to the NDA.

More stunning is BJP national executive committee member V Muraleedharan's revelation that there is nothing wrong in seeking the votes of even robbers, murderers and corrupt people during elections. Does he mean that after winning election he may stand for the demands of robbers and murderers? With such a low level utterance BJP leader has stooped to the level of other party politicians.

In Kerala, some BJP leaders have now landed in dreamland. Unless they identify people's sentiments their boat would be always in Tirunakkara.

K A Solaman

Dastardly act

Dastardly act getting Good Mother award

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is the largest animal rights organization in the world, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters.

PETA focuses its attention on the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer most intensely for the longest periods of time: in the food industry, in the clothing trade, in laboratories, and in the entertainment industry. PETA  also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of rodents, birds, and other animals . And in no case human is treated as animal under the jurisdiction of PETA

In that case Good Mother Award 2018 constituted by PETA India to Grihalakshrimi Magazine, is interesting. 
PETA India honoured Grihalakshmi with the award for highlighting the importance of breast milk to infant’s health. An edition of Grihalakshmi featured breastfeeding campaign with the tagline ‘Mothers tell Kerala, don’t stare, we need to breastfeed’.

But, in fact the magazine drew flak for tarnishing the mother- child relation by 
showing an unmarried  woman without any motherly affection  breastfeeding a child by fully exposing her breast, There was a sarcasm that the child in the event drew only air instead of breast milk. The act was more of an animal and   that may be the reason for PETA award. Actually this animal award should be given not to the magazine but to the woman by name Gilu Joseph for her in human.act.

Dastardly act getting Good Mother award is surprising

K A Solaman

Safe play by Principal

Principal's job, especially in government colleges in Kerala, is a risky one. This is mainly because of students union might in these institutions. The incidents of principal's burial ground at Govt. Victoria College, Palakkad and burning of  Principal's chair at Maharaja's college, Ernakulam, are indications. In this backdrop the principal of University College, Thiruvananthapuram had played wisely during Attukal pongala

The initial denial of permission by principal to conduct ‘pongala’ on the college campus due to the pressure from SFI activists and later letting the devotees to perform the ritual there on the campus, was a safe play by the principal. Had not she obeyed the dictat of students union, university college would have witnessed another burial ground for principal.

Countless women seen sitting comfortably in the college campus and offering  pongala despite ban, is an eye-opener to students union leaders and their god fathers.

K A Solaman

On negative publicity .

The Supreme Court staying all criminal actions against Malayalam actress Priya Prakash Varrier, who shot to fame following her 'wink song' from the film "Oru Addar Love", is welcome. The controversy surfaced in this direction should subside soon. However. it is everyone's wish to know the veracity of the complants originated from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Present day is the day of negative publicity and a publicity of the sort would be profitable to both the song and the film. In all possibility it is  director Omar Lulu's aquaintances may be behind the issue as complaints have been originated from states where people do not know Malayalam.

It is, therefore, good if the Apex court so decides to enquire about the whereabouts of the complainants and their relation with Omar Lulu before  disposing the case finally. No third rate film producer should be permitted to create unnecessary  turbulance in society with nasty products

K A Solaman

PNB fraud.

No one noticing the fraud until the loss targets to 1.8 billion dollar equivalent to Rs 11500 crore from a branch of Punjab National Bank in Mumbai, is surprising. The incident shows our banking system is so fragile that anyone could siphon away bank's money very easily and cunningly.

Because of huge non-performig assets  Indian banking system is already in trouble. Those ordinary investors who put their money in Indian bank stocks are now sitting with crossed fingers for the folly they committed. With this latest fraud bank stocks have nose-dived  and investors lost several thousand crores. Though the matter is now under the enquiry of  law enforcement agencies the investors are doubtful of getting back  the money.

If this is the fraud in a single bank branch the quantum of forgery in all the bank branches in India is beyond one's imagination. Investors, hereafter, instead investing in banks and bank stocks, keep their money under their pillow. Unscrupulous are the banking authorities in India.

K A Solaman

Impression matters

Impression matters

The Union budget for the financial year 2018-19 is uninspiring as it does not address the problem of unemployment. Also, planning a budget becomes meaningful only when the previous year's proposals have been met. However, the latest budget speech hardly made any reference to the projects that were announced in the earlier years. Arun Jaitley's budget promises are nothing but mere rhetoric.

The government had pledged to create one crore jobs every year but has repeatedly failed to reach the target. Further, setting the limit for cash donations to political parties from one source at Rs 2,000 is a meaningless gesture. Jaitley has not reduced the tax rates for individuals, he also made no provisions to arrest the rise in fuel and commodity prices.

K.A. Solaman,
Alappuzha, Kerala
The Telegraph, Calcutta, Feb 8, 2018

Diverting attention.

Lauding China has become a habit of Kerala Marxist leaders. Days after CPM state Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan’s pro-China remarks, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also come out with statement praising China  This is undoubtedly antinational and these politicians are trying to divert attention of people from Kodiyeri son's financial fraud.

Pinarayi notes China has made long strides in economic sector and has contributed 30 percent to the global economic growth. Does it mean that this achievement is the result of China practising 'hate exercise' of Kerala Marxist leaders ? In China, Communism is only a term to market their practical capitalism. Their economic growth is mainly from Indian markets. If Govt of India so decides to stop the sale of Chineese products here in India  their economy will suddenly collapse.

Being Indian citizens, Pinarayi and company speaking in favour of China and against India, is ridiculous. It is simply an act intended to divert the attention of common people from burning issues.

K A Solaman

Contorted argument

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Kerala Government  finding that toddy is
is a very mild alcoholic beverage, full of vitamins and used in traditional dishes, is interesting. This may be true if toddy sold is pure, but in fact, toddy sold by Abkaris in Kerala is diazepam disolved in water, which is injurious to health. Diazepam produces a calming effect and causes memory loss. And what are the traditional dishes used with toddy is unknown to most people in Kerala.

No doubt even pure toddy is a liquor
and shops selling toddy sould be included in the nationwide ban on sale of alcohol within 500 metres of national and state highways. The apex court bench judges deciding on this issue could seek the opinion of Kerala counterparts about toddy damages. Even though a few shops have been closed on highway side a good number has been opened a little away from there and they do good business. Hence toddy shops on  highway sides is not necessary.

Moreover,  there is no difference in the street dancing pattern of toddy boozers and foreign liquor boozers

K A Solaman

Balram's tirade.

Thrithala MLA VT Balram's comment on late communist leader AK Gopalan has triggered controversy. CPM cadres ransacked MLA office and demanded condemnation of the statement by the MLA. Neveretheless,  two aspects remain significant on Balram's comment.

Firstly, for quite long it was CPM cadres' habit to make derogatory remarks in tune with that of Balram, against Gandhiji, Nehru and others. With Balram's statement against AKG this sort of mudslinging will come to an end. Secondly, it has become an advantage for Pinarayi Government as the attention of the general public has been  diverted from Ochki disaster and even Bonakkad lathi-charge.

And more interesting  is: while finding
derogation in Balaram's comment, how Congress leaders like K Muraleedharan and Shanimal Usman of the Congress could not find fault with minister M M Mani who often makes more vulgur comments.

K A Solaman

Closure of Peace School

Chief Minister ordering the closure of the Peace International School in Ernakulam which has been under scanner for objectionable syllabus, is in the right direction. Not only Ernakulam one, all the ten schools operated by Peace Foundation else where in the state should also be shut down.

The complaint against the school was their syllabus encourages Islamic extremist ideology. How can a school run promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, and language? It is a wonder that the school did not follow textbooks of NCERT, CBSE or SCERT.

And in this backdrop,  the syllabus and day activity of all schools run by religious establishments should be monitored and action should be taken against those compelling all students to participate in religious functions organised by them.

K A Solaman

NMC bill & IMA brute force

Make care of patients is the first concern of a doctor. But for Kerala IMA doctors it is the last concern. The medical bandh announced by Indian Medical Association in protest against the National Medical Commission Bill, had affected the functioning of many government and private hospitals in the state. Patients, especially poor ones, were seen running pillar to post to get  attended by a doctor. Some doctors even prevented others from attending patients showing scant regard to
Hippocratic Oath.

Medical education and profession  is a million ruppee business where doctors could not imagine a small erosion in their high income. Their fear about National Medical Commission Bill arises in this light.

The doctors  should not be allowed to continue exploiting patients. The allopathy medical students hunger strike or IMA doctors one day bandh is not a big issue when thousands of nurses  strike elsewhere in the state for the last few months. Let doctors,who have scant regards to UNA struggle, to go with their strike.

The Health Minister J P Nadda should proceed with the NMC Bill to put an end to the arrogance of IMA brute force.

K A Solaman

Hassan's revelation

Let bygones be bygones- forget and forgive the past, is a much acclaimed motto. But for KPCC President M M Hassan, it is not that much acceptable. In an abrupt revelation he said Congress leader A K Antony had strongly opposed the party’s move to remove then Chief Minister K Karunakaran from the post over the ISRO spy case. He said Karunakaran should have been given an opportunity to complete his term and he regrets having stood against Karunakaran.

May be, the very reason for Hassan to come against Oommen Chandy, who stood strongly against Karunakaran then, is the present tie-up of Karunakaran's son Muraleedharan with Chandy. A foul play of the sort would save his presidentship in the State Congress, Hassan thinks.

K A Solaman