Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
27 Dec 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Even as Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan is optimistic that the deadlock between the State Government and Tecom over the Smart City Kochi project could be resolved shortly, it seems that the latter is awaiting a change of guard in the State.
Sources in the IT sector said that with hardly six months left for the Achuthanandanled LDF Government in power, Tecom might be expecting that the Congressled UDF Government would be back in power in the State after the next Assembly elections. Hence, they may be delaying the project as they expect a more lenient stand from the UDF, said sources. The Smart City project was initiated during the term of the previous Congressled UDF Government. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project was signed in 2005 when the Oommen Chandyled Government was in power. Achuthanandan, who was the then Opposition Leader, had opposed certain clauses in the MoU, especially the handing over of the Infopark to Tecom for the project. The Achuthanandanled Left Government, which later came to power, had scrapped the MoU signed by the Chandy Government and insisted on stringent norms, including 16 percent stake for the State Government and handing over of the 246 acres of land on lease basis.
This being the situation, it is quite natural that Tecom expects a more lenient stand from a UDF Government that may come to power. Hence, they are not taking any initiative to break the present deadlock over the demand for freehold on 12 percent of the land earmarked for the project, which comes to about 30 acres.
Though NRK businessman M K Yusuf Ali, who was recently deputed by the State Government to hold talks with Tecom, had held one round of negotiation with the Tecom to break the deadlock, Tecom was not ready for a climbdown on its demand for freehold.
Top sources in the State Government said that Yusuf Ali would be holding further talks with Tecom and a final picture would be available within a week or two.
The newly appointed IT Secretary K Suresh Kumar, the 'manfriday' of Achuthanandan, may also make an allout effort to resolve the deadlock so as to save the face of Achuthanandan. The Smart City Kochi project was a hot topic in the campaign for the last Assembly elections and it is likely to return in the coming Assembly election as well.
Monday 27 December 2010
Thursday 23 December 2010
A most controversial, but powerful Home Minister
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
Dec. 23
Thiurvnanthapuram : The decades long political innings of K.Karunakaran has not only
earned him the fame of being a shrewd politician, but also a
controversial and powerful Home Minister Kerala has ever witnessed.
If it was the Rajan case that opened his episode of controversies in
the 1970s, the ISRO espionage case during the 1990s came towards the
fag end of Karunakaran in power. Karunakaran was even forced to
resign as Chief Minister in 1977 after the missing of Kozhikode
Regional Engineering College student Rajan snowballed into a major
controversy. In the case of ISRO espionage case, the alleged
involvement of the then IG Raman Srivastava, a close confident of
Karunakaran, in the case had put the leader in a tight spot while he
was the Chief Minister.
Despite the controversies, Karunakaran had been widely accepted as a
powerful Home Minister as well. Though a Congress man, Karunakaran, as
the Home Minister never mixed up politics with routine policing, but
was were well updated of what was going on in the department, recalls
the senior police officials in the State. Even in case of any pressure
from Congress men to take action against any police official,
Karunakaran acted only after considering the merits. Indeed he was
aware of the merits and demerits of each police personnel. Moreover,
he never allowed his party men to boss the police.
The expertise of Karunakaran in policing was evident in 1982 while he
was serving as the Chief Minister and Vayalar Ravi holding the Home
portfolio. While a communal violence broke out in the state,
Karunakaran was said to have played a key role in bringing the
situation under control. In case of crisis situation, Karunakaran
ensured his direct intervention into the arrangements of the police.
The tense situation that erupted following the Babri Masjid is an
instance. Though recovering after the car accident, Karunakaran
personally reviewed the security arrangements.
He used to take police officers into confidence. There were certain
IPS officer who were identified to as close confidants of Karunakaran.
Jayaram Padikkal, T.V.Madhusoodanan, Raman Srivastava and M.G.A.Ramen
are among them.
Karunakaran earned the wrath of a section in the police for giving out
of the turn promotions. There had been several instances of junior
officers being given promotions over looking the seniority of others.
For this reason there used to be a certain group of cops who pretend
themselves as coterie of Karunakaran while he served as the Home
Minister. This had invited widespread resentment in the police force.
The appointment of Jayaram Padikkal as DGP over looking the seniority
of T.V. Madhusoodanan, while Karunakaran was holding the Home
portfolio, had also sparked off a controversy.
"I am a Congress man and will die as a Congress man. If you do
Congress some favour, I will be happy. But you should always remember
that you are a police officer," Karunakaran had once told, recalls a
police officer.
Ends
The New Indian Express
Dec. 23
Thiurvnanthapuram : The decades long political innings of K.Karunakaran has not only
earned him the fame of being a shrewd politician, but also a
controversial and powerful Home Minister Kerala has ever witnessed.
If it was the Rajan case that opened his episode of controversies in
the 1970s, the ISRO espionage case during the 1990s came towards the
fag end of Karunakaran in power. Karunakaran was even forced to
resign as Chief Minister in 1977 after the missing of Kozhikode
Regional Engineering College student Rajan snowballed into a major
controversy. In the case of ISRO espionage case, the alleged
involvement of the then IG Raman Srivastava, a close confident of
Karunakaran, in the case had put the leader in a tight spot while he
was the Chief Minister.
Despite the controversies, Karunakaran had been widely accepted as a
powerful Home Minister as well. Though a Congress man, Karunakaran, as
the Home Minister never mixed up politics with routine policing, but
was were well updated of what was going on in the department, recalls
the senior police officials in the State. Even in case of any pressure
from Congress men to take action against any police official,
Karunakaran acted only after considering the merits. Indeed he was
aware of the merits and demerits of each police personnel. Moreover,
he never allowed his party men to boss the police.
The expertise of Karunakaran in policing was evident in 1982 while he
was serving as the Chief Minister and Vayalar Ravi holding the Home
portfolio. While a communal violence broke out in the state,
Karunakaran was said to have played a key role in bringing the
situation under control. In case of crisis situation, Karunakaran
ensured his direct intervention into the arrangements of the police.
The tense situation that erupted following the Babri Masjid is an
instance. Though recovering after the car accident, Karunakaran
personally reviewed the security arrangements.
He used to take police officers into confidence. There were certain
IPS officer who were identified to as close confidants of Karunakaran.
Jayaram Padikkal, T.V.Madhusoodanan, Raman Srivastava and M.G.A.Ramen
are among them.
Karunakaran earned the wrath of a section in the police for giving out
of the turn promotions. There had been several instances of junior
officers being given promotions over looking the seniority of others.
For this reason there used to be a certain group of cops who pretend
themselves as coterie of Karunakaran while he served as the Home
Minister. This had invited widespread resentment in the police force.
The appointment of Jayaram Padikkal as DGP over looking the seniority
of T.V. Madhusoodanan, while Karunakaran was holding the Home
portfolio, had also sparked off a controversy.
"I am a Congress man and will die as a Congress man. If you do
Congress some favour, I will be happy. But you should always remember
that you are a police officer," Karunakaran had once told, recalls a
police officer.
Ends
Friday 17 December 2010
SBT to launch enrolment process soon
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
17 Dec 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The hopes of the State IT sector to reap the benefits of the enrolment to Unique Identification (UID) project will receive a jolt, as the State Bank of Travancore (SBT) is gearing up to launch the enrolment process soon.
SBT, which has recently inked an agreement with the UID Authority of India, will soon launch the enrolment process for the UID project, whereas the plans of the State IT Department to carry out the enrolment through the Akshaya Centres, IT@School and Keltron is still held up owing to the Free and Open Sources Software (FOSS) policy of the the Left Government in the State.
Though the State IT Department had entered into an agreement with the UID Authority much in advance, it had been caught up in a controversy over the use of propriety software based enrolment application. The State had rejected a Windowsbased enrolment application provided by the UID Authority citing that it was against the Free and Open Sources Software (FOSS) policy of the Left Government in the State. A request of the State IT Department to the UID Authority to provide an enrolment application compatible with FOSS is yet to get any reply.
SBT will, however, be able to launch the project without any hindrance as the FOSS is not applicable to them.
SBT Chief Manager, Financial Inclusion, V Anil Kumar, said that request for quotation would be floated soon to invite bids from the agencies willing to take up the enrolment work. The UID Authority had empanelled around 200 institutions across the country as enrolment agencies.
"Initially we plan to restrict the enrolment process within Kerala. But it may be expanded beyond the State at a later stage. While the enrolment agency will carry out the enrolment process, the bank will give adequate publicity," Anil Kumar told Express.
The State IT Department was hoping to earn a considerable revenue, especially for the Akshaya Centres, from the UID enrolment process as the UID Authority will pay around Rs 50 per person enrolled. The move of SBT to launch the enrolment will shatter these hopes.
The UID project, popularly known as 'Aadhaar,' aims at providing a unique identification number to each citizen of the country. Besides the basic demographic details, the biometric identification marks of fingers and iris of each individual, are also being collected for the UID project.
The New Indian Express
17 Dec 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The hopes of the State IT sector to reap the benefits of the enrolment to Unique Identification (UID) project will receive a jolt, as the State Bank of Travancore (SBT) is gearing up to launch the enrolment process soon.
SBT, which has recently inked an agreement with the UID Authority of India, will soon launch the enrolment process for the UID project, whereas the plans of the State IT Department to carry out the enrolment through the Akshaya Centres, IT@School and Keltron is still held up owing to the Free and Open Sources Software (FOSS) policy of the the Left Government in the State.
Though the State IT Department had entered into an agreement with the UID Authority much in advance, it had been caught up in a controversy over the use of propriety software based enrolment application. The State had rejected a Windowsbased enrolment application provided by the UID Authority citing that it was against the Free and Open Sources Software (FOSS) policy of the Left Government in the State. A request of the State IT Department to the UID Authority to provide an enrolment application compatible with FOSS is yet to get any reply.
SBT will, however, be able to launch the project without any hindrance as the FOSS is not applicable to them.
SBT Chief Manager, Financial Inclusion, V Anil Kumar, said that request for quotation would be floated soon to invite bids from the agencies willing to take up the enrolment work. The UID Authority had empanelled around 200 institutions across the country as enrolment agencies.
"Initially we plan to restrict the enrolment process within Kerala. But it may be expanded beyond the State at a later stage. While the enrolment agency will carry out the enrolment process, the bank will give adequate publicity," Anil Kumar told Express.
The State IT Department was hoping to earn a considerable revenue, especially for the Akshaya Centres, from the UID enrolment process as the UID Authority will pay around Rs 50 per person enrolled. The move of SBT to launch the enrolment will shatter these hopes.
The UID project, popularly known as 'Aadhaar,' aims at providing a unique identification number to each citizen of the country. Besides the basic demographic details, the biometric identification marks of fingers and iris of each individual, are also being collected for the UID project.
Tuesday 14 December 2010
IT Department to go paperless soon
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
14 Dec 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Government is making rapid strides in e-governance with the State Information Technology Department becoming paperless.
All files pertaining to the IT Department at the Secretariat will be transferred electronically once the paperless system is launched, which is in the offing.
IT Secretary Ajaykumar said that the paperless system was in the final stages of implementation and it would be launched within a few days.
“To begin with, we are implementing it in the IT Department. The Civil Supplies Department will become paperless in another couple of months and it will be extended to other Departments in a phased manner,” he said.
Titled Digital Document Filing System, the system is being implemented by Keltron with the support of a private IT firm. As a prelude to the implementation of paperless office, all the existing files of the IT Department will be in electronic form.
Old files to be digitised
The old files are being digitised under the ongoing project for digitisation of all files and records of various departments in the Secretariat.
The Secretariat file digitisation project is being integrated with the paperless office system so that previous files will be available for reference at the click of a mouse.
Already around four lakh files of various departments are digitised and the digitisation project has been integrated with the paperless office system.
The entire files of IT Department will be passed on to various levels, including Ministers, electronically.
Certain files of the IT Department need to be circulated to other departments also. Such file movements would also become paperless.
In order to ensure security, the responsibility of the officials at each level has been fixed. Separate Government Orders were also issued in this regard.
Storage capacity
One of the biggest challenges involved in the project is the storage capacity. Normally, every files of various departments in the Secretariat are voluminous as policy matters are involved and several rounds of circulation among various officials are involved. In order to sort out the issue, a Storage Area Network , a high-speed special-purpose network that interconnects various kinds of data storage devices, may be installed in future.
The New Indian Express
14 Dec 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Government is making rapid strides in e-governance with the State Information Technology Department becoming paperless.
All files pertaining to the IT Department at the Secretariat will be transferred electronically once the paperless system is launched, which is in the offing.
IT Secretary Ajaykumar said that the paperless system was in the final stages of implementation and it would be launched within a few days.
“To begin with, we are implementing it in the IT Department. The Civil Supplies Department will become paperless in another couple of months and it will be extended to other Departments in a phased manner,” he said.
Titled Digital Document Filing System, the system is being implemented by Keltron with the support of a private IT firm. As a prelude to the implementation of paperless office, all the existing files of the IT Department will be in electronic form.
Old files to be digitised
The old files are being digitised under the ongoing project for digitisation of all files and records of various departments in the Secretariat.
The Secretariat file digitisation project is being integrated with the paperless office system so that previous files will be available for reference at the click of a mouse.
Already around four lakh files of various departments are digitised and the digitisation project has been integrated with the paperless office system.
The entire files of IT Department will be passed on to various levels, including Ministers, electronically.
Certain files of the IT Department need to be circulated to other departments also. Such file movements would also become paperless.
In order to ensure security, the responsibility of the officials at each level has been fixed. Separate Government Orders were also issued in this regard.
Storage capacity
One of the biggest challenges involved in the project is the storage capacity. Normally, every files of various departments in the Secretariat are voluminous as policy matters are involved and several rounds of circulation among various officials are involved. In order to sort out the issue, a Storage Area Network , a high-speed special-purpose network that interconnects various kinds of data storage devices, may be installed in future.
Saturday 11 December 2010
Friday 10 December 2010
KSRTC accident: ‘Cops shielding guilty’
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
10 Dec 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It’s nearly two decades since a thirty-year-old woman was run over by a speeding KSRTC bus at Palayam, leaving behind her husband and two children. The incident has moved everyone - even those with hearts of stone - except the Thiruvananthapuram City Police.
A Satheedevi, an employee with the Accountant General’s office, was killed on August 8, 1991 when a KSRTC bus hit the scooter on which she was pillion riding behind her husband P K Shankaran Kutty on the flyover between Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium and MLA quarters. Satheedevi was, incidentally, the first road accident victim on the flyover.
Owing to a ‘mysterious’ delay on the part of the City Police in furnishing certain vital documents to the Advocate General’s office, the case has been pending for nearly eight years. The political clout of the accused is alleged to be the reason for the negligence by the police.
The Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate court had convicted the KSRTC bus driver, Mathai, to 15 months’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 500 in February 1995. However, Mathai filed an appeal against the verdict at the District Sessions Court and he was acquitted in May 2002. The victim’s husband alleges that the public prosecutor had abstained from the court during the trial so as to favour the accused, who was an active member of the pro-Kerala Congress (B) Drivers’ Union.
A prosecution appeal was filed at the High Court against the Sessions Court verdict in January 2003. But the High Court had marked the petition defective owing to the absence of the lower court verdicts. Since then, the Advocate General’s office had sent four reminders to the Circle Inspector of the Thiruvananthapuram city police as well as City Police Commissioner seeking copy of the lower court judgments in the case. But, so far, there has been no response from either the Circle Inspector or the City Police Commissioner.
A recent reply given by the Advocate General’s Office under the Right to Information Act to Shankaran Kutty has exposed the serious lapse on the part of the city police. The Advocate General’s office also maintained that the case was lying idle as the copy of the lower court judgments had not yet been received from the police authorities.
According to the reply from the Advocate General’s office, communications seeking the copy of the lower court orders were sent to the Circle Inspector of the City Traffic Police on March 17, 2003 and June 2, 2003 as well to the City Police Commissioner on August 6, 2003 and April 24, 2004. However, there has been no response so far.
“This exposes the double stand of the police. While the police initiate awareness programmes against rash and negligent driving on one side, the same police are deliberately delaying legal action against a person accused of rash driving. Moreover, justice is being denied to the victims of rash driving,” laments Shankaran Kutty, who was a State Government employee.
The New Indian Express
10 Dec 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It’s nearly two decades since a thirty-year-old woman was run over by a speeding KSRTC bus at Palayam, leaving behind her husband and two children. The incident has moved everyone - even those with hearts of stone - except the Thiruvananthapuram City Police.
A Satheedevi, an employee with the Accountant General’s office, was killed on August 8, 1991 when a KSRTC bus hit the scooter on which she was pillion riding behind her husband P K Shankaran Kutty on the flyover between Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium and MLA quarters. Satheedevi was, incidentally, the first road accident victim on the flyover.
Owing to a ‘mysterious’ delay on the part of the City Police in furnishing certain vital documents to the Advocate General’s office, the case has been pending for nearly eight years. The political clout of the accused is alleged to be the reason for the negligence by the police.
The Thiruvananthapuram Judicial First Class Magistrate court had convicted the KSRTC bus driver, Mathai, to 15 months’ imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 500 in February 1995. However, Mathai filed an appeal against the verdict at the District Sessions Court and he was acquitted in May 2002. The victim’s husband alleges that the public prosecutor had abstained from the court during the trial so as to favour the accused, who was an active member of the pro-Kerala Congress (B) Drivers’ Union.
A prosecution appeal was filed at the High Court against the Sessions Court verdict in January 2003. But the High Court had marked the petition defective owing to the absence of the lower court verdicts. Since then, the Advocate General’s office had sent four reminders to the Circle Inspector of the Thiruvananthapuram city police as well as City Police Commissioner seeking copy of the lower court judgments in the case. But, so far, there has been no response from either the Circle Inspector or the City Police Commissioner.
A recent reply given by the Advocate General’s Office under the Right to Information Act to Shankaran Kutty has exposed the serious lapse on the part of the city police. The Advocate General’s office also maintained that the case was lying idle as the copy of the lower court judgments had not yet been received from the police authorities.
According to the reply from the Advocate General’s office, communications seeking the copy of the lower court orders were sent to the Circle Inspector of the City Traffic Police on March 17, 2003 and June 2, 2003 as well to the City Police Commissioner on August 6, 2003 and April 24, 2004. However, there has been no response so far.
“This exposes the double stand of the police. While the police initiate awareness programmes against rash and negligent driving on one side, the same police are deliberately delaying legal action against a person accused of rash driving. Moreover, justice is being denied to the victims of rash driving,” laments Shankaran Kutty, who was a State Government employee.
Monday 6 December 2010
P J Thomas failed to inform the then CM
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
06 Dec 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Knowingly or unknowingly, the Congress-led UPA Government is justifying an IAS officer who was earlier held responsible by the Congress-led Government in Kerala in 1995 with regard to palmolein import.
Chief Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas, who was a former secretary of Food and Civil Supplies Department in Kerala, was held responsible by the Congressled UDF Government in Kerala in 1995 for sending a proposal to the Centre for importing palmolein to the state from a Singapore-based company without the knowledge of the then Chief Minister K Karunakaran.
The Congressled UPA Government at the Centre is now giving a clean chit to the same Thomas even while the matter is still pending before the court.
The state government had submitted an action-taken report (ATR) to the Public Undertakings Committee of the State Legislative Assembly in January 1995 in response to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report in 1993 citing irregularities in the palmolein import.
The state government had mentioned in the ATR that though the Singapore-based firm Power and Energy Private Limited had sent a letter to the Chief Minister in November 1991 offering to import palmolein under the Rupee Clearance Scheme, thethen Chief Minister K Karunakaran had not even seen the letter before thethen Food and Civil Supplies Secretary P J Thomas forwarded a proposal to the Centre for importing palmolein from the Singapore-based firm.
Excerpts from the ATR
"This letter (Letter from the Singapore firm), though addressed to the Chief Minister (K Karunakaran was the then Chief Minister), was not even put up to him, nor seen by him at this stage but was processed by the Food and Civil Supplies Department.
Based on such processing, the Food and Civil Supplies Department decided to send a formal proposal to Government of India. This proposal dated November 18, 1991 was accepted by the Government of India. It is this acceptance which formed the basis of the entire transaction," says the ATR prepared by the state Food and Civil Supplies Department.
As reported by Express the other day, P J Thomas who was the then Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in the state had sent the proposal to the Centre.
It had also come to light that P J Thomas had written the proposal to the Centre prior to the state Cabinet granting sanction for the purchase of palmolein on November 27, 1991.
The New Indian Express
06 Dec 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Knowingly or unknowingly, the Congress-led UPA Government is justifying an IAS officer who was earlier held responsible by the Congress-led Government in Kerala in 1995 with regard to palmolein import.
Chief Vigilance Commissioner P J Thomas, who was a former secretary of Food and Civil Supplies Department in Kerala, was held responsible by the Congressled UDF Government in Kerala in 1995 for sending a proposal to the Centre for importing palmolein to the state from a Singapore-based company without the knowledge of the then Chief Minister K Karunakaran.
The Congressled UPA Government at the Centre is now giving a clean chit to the same Thomas even while the matter is still pending before the court.
The state government had submitted an action-taken report (ATR) to the Public Undertakings Committee of the State Legislative Assembly in January 1995 in response to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report in 1993 citing irregularities in the palmolein import.
The state government had mentioned in the ATR that though the Singapore-based firm Power and Energy Private Limited had sent a letter to the Chief Minister in November 1991 offering to import palmolein under the Rupee Clearance Scheme, thethen Chief Minister K Karunakaran had not even seen the letter before thethen Food and Civil Supplies Secretary P J Thomas forwarded a proposal to the Centre for importing palmolein from the Singapore-based firm.
Excerpts from the ATR
"This letter (Letter from the Singapore firm), though addressed to the Chief Minister (K Karunakaran was the then Chief Minister), was not even put up to him, nor seen by him at this stage but was processed by the Food and Civil Supplies Department.
Based on such processing, the Food and Civil Supplies Department decided to send a formal proposal to Government of India. This proposal dated November 18, 1991 was accepted by the Government of India. It is this acceptance which formed the basis of the entire transaction," says the ATR prepared by the state Food and Civil Supplies Department.
As reported by Express the other day, P J Thomas who was the then Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in the state had sent the proposal to the Centre.
It had also come to light that P J Thomas had written the proposal to the Centre prior to the state Cabinet granting sanction for the purchase of palmolein on November 27, 1991.
Friday 3 December 2010
e-district project to roll-out on December 17
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
03-Dec-10
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Aimed at delivering a host of government services at the door steps of the citizens, the State Government is all set to launch the e-district project this month.
It has been decided to formally the launch the project on December 17. In the initial phase, the project would be pioleted in Kannur and Palakkad districts, sources in the State IT Department has said.
The Kerala State IT Mission is implementing the project with the supports of District Administrataion, Akshaya Centres, National Informatics Centre and Wipro. After evaluataing the success of the project in Palakkad and Kannur districts it would be extended to other districts in a phased manner.
The e-district project envisages delivery of a host of services of various government departments through the citizen service centres, especially the 2000 odd Akshaya centres spread across the state, and the Friends Janasevakendra. The e-district project also envisage delivery of the services through district portals.
In the initial stage about 50 services would be delivered through the e-district project. Services of Revenue, Agriculture, Police, Election, Transport and Local Self Government departments are included in the project so far and more departments would join it in the due course. Passport related services and filing of Right to Information applications could also be done through e-district project.
The services to be offered through e-district project include issuing various certificates under the Revenue department, like residence, nativity and income certificates, soil testing, crop insurance, ration card related services, filing police complaints, enrolling into the electoral list, booking date for leaners licence or vehicle test and registrataion of birth and death certificates. Applications under Right to Information could also be given through e-district project.
The implementation of the e-district project is also expected to reduce the delay involved in government services these days as the entire process of file tranfer would become automated. The application for the project has been developed by NIC and Wipro is the consultant, said sources.
The project would be a major milestone in the efforts of the State Government in bringing the benefits of IT Enables Services to the grass root levels.
The New Indian Express
03-Dec-10
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Aimed at delivering a host of government services at the door steps of the citizens, the State Government is all set to launch the e-district project this month.
It has been decided to formally the launch the project on December 17. In the initial phase, the project would be pioleted in Kannur and Palakkad districts, sources in the State IT Department has said.
The Kerala State IT Mission is implementing the project with the supports of District Administrataion, Akshaya Centres, National Informatics Centre and Wipro. After evaluataing the success of the project in Palakkad and Kannur districts it would be extended to other districts in a phased manner.
The e-district project envisages delivery of a host of services of various government departments through the citizen service centres, especially the 2000 odd Akshaya centres spread across the state, and the Friends Janasevakendra. The e-district project also envisage delivery of the services through district portals.
In the initial stage about 50 services would be delivered through the e-district project. Services of Revenue, Agriculture, Police, Election, Transport and Local Self Government departments are included in the project so far and more departments would join it in the due course. Passport related services and filing of Right to Information applications could also be done through e-district project.
The services to be offered through e-district project include issuing various certificates under the Revenue department, like residence, nativity and income certificates, soil testing, crop insurance, ration card related services, filing police complaints, enrolling into the electoral list, booking date for leaners licence or vehicle test and registrataion of birth and death certificates. Applications under Right to Information could also be given through e-district project.
The implementation of the e-district project is also expected to reduce the delay involved in government services these days as the entire process of file tranfer would become automated. The application for the project has been developed by NIC and Wipro is the consultant, said sources.
The project would be a major milestone in the efforts of the State Government in bringing the benefits of IT Enables Services to the grass root levels.
Saturday 20 November 2010
Passport seva kendras to come up next year
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
20-Nov-10
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The long queues in front of the Passport offices may soon become a thing of the past as the proposed Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) would become functional in the state by the beginning of next year.
As many as 13 PSKs are being set up across the state including three under Thiruvananthapuram-region, five under Kochi region, two each under Kozhikode and Kannur and one at Malappuram.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) which is setting up the PSKs have already identified the locations. The land acquisition process is being carried out. Once it is over, the building would be set up in 100 days time, TCS sources said adding that the PSKs would become operational by around April-May 2011.
A total of 77 PSKs are being set up across the country. The project was already rolled out in Bangalore in May this year. Though there are certain initial technical hick-ups, those are expected to be sorted out soon.
The PSKs would offer a customer friendly atmosphere with modern amenities. In order to avoid queues, the applicants would be given appointments for submitting the applications. The applications will have to be filed online. There would be help desk at each PSKs to assist the applicants in filling the forms. Officials of Passport Office would be verifying the documents at the PSKs.
Another feature of PSKs would be that the applicant need not attach passport size photographs along with the application as digital the photographs would be taken at the PSKs itself. Moreover, biometric finger print of all fingers of the applicants would also be collected and stored in the data base. This would be useful to check tampering with the photographs in a passport, which is rampant these days.
The biometric data being collected could also be used once biometric passports with smart cards are introduced.
Once the PSKs are set up the Regional Passport Offices would not directly accept applications from the public. Instead it would turn to be back-end processing centres of passport applications. The applications received at the PSKs would be transferred to the Regional Passport Offices online. The police verification process would also be done online.
By making the entire process online, the processing time for a passport application could also be reduced considerably, said sources.
The existing facilities to submit passport applications at the passport cells attached to the District Superintendents of Police as well as as selected Post offices may be phased out in the due course.
Ends
The New Indian Express
20-Nov-10
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The long queues in front of the Passport offices may soon become a thing of the past as the proposed Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) would become functional in the state by the beginning of next year.
As many as 13 PSKs are being set up across the state including three under Thiruvananthapuram-region, five under Kochi region, two each under Kozhikode and Kannur and one at Malappuram.
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) which is setting up the PSKs have already identified the locations. The land acquisition process is being carried out. Once it is over, the building would be set up in 100 days time, TCS sources said adding that the PSKs would become operational by around April-May 2011.
A total of 77 PSKs are being set up across the country. The project was already rolled out in Bangalore in May this year. Though there are certain initial technical hick-ups, those are expected to be sorted out soon.
The PSKs would offer a customer friendly atmosphere with modern amenities. In order to avoid queues, the applicants would be given appointments for submitting the applications. The applications will have to be filed online. There would be help desk at each PSKs to assist the applicants in filling the forms. Officials of Passport Office would be verifying the documents at the PSKs.
Another feature of PSKs would be that the applicant need not attach passport size photographs along with the application as digital the photographs would be taken at the PSKs itself. Moreover, biometric finger print of all fingers of the applicants would also be collected and stored in the data base. This would be useful to check tampering with the photographs in a passport, which is rampant these days.
The biometric data being collected could also be used once biometric passports with smart cards are introduced.
Once the PSKs are set up the Regional Passport Offices would not directly accept applications from the public. Instead it would turn to be back-end processing centres of passport applications. The applications received at the PSKs would be transferred to the Regional Passport Offices online. The police verification process would also be done online.
By making the entire process online, the processing time for a passport application could also be reduced considerably, said sources.
The existing facilities to submit passport applications at the passport cells attached to the District Superintendents of Police as well as as selected Post offices may be phased out in the due course.
Ends
Friday 19 November 2010
Kerala: Keltron taking government for a ‘ride’
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
19 Nov 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Taking undue advantage of the state government's decision to place orders for various projects with Keltron without inviting tenders, the state Public Sector Undertaking is suspected to be fleecing the government by collecting exorbitant rates.
While Keltron recently installed the biometric finger-print-based attendance management system at the Secretariat at a cost of Rs 62.7 lakh, private players claim that they could have installed the same system at one-third of the cost.
A prestigious project of the Police Department to install surveillance cameras along the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam National Highway is also held up owing to the exorbitant rate quoted by Keltron, it is learnt.
With the state government asking all the directorates to install biometric punching system, Keltron is hoping to present magical figures in its fiscal results for the coming years. There are more than 80 directorates under the state government and Keltron has already approached most of them.
Keltron had charged Rs 62.7 lakh for installing the entire system, which includes Rs 40.8 lakh for the Biometric Smart Card-based Attendance Management System and Rs 21.9 lakh for web-based customised software for managing the attendance, additional hardware and technical manpower support. A total of 42 punching machines have been installed at the Secretariat, which means that the average cost for one unit came to around Rs 1.5 lakh. Keltron had procured the hardware from a Mysore-based firm.
While 'Express' enquired with a couple of suppliers of punching machines in the state, they claimed that the actual cost of the most-advanced finger-print-based punching machine would be only around Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000. Keltron officials claim that they had provided imported hardware.
But the private parties clarify that almost all the hardware associated with punching systems that are commonly used in India are imported.
It is widely alleged that Keltron is playing the role of a middleman and reaping undue benefit.
Earlier, there was a government directive that government departments, organisations and public sector units shall place orders for direct purchase of computer and other hardware with Keltron. However, it was later relaxed by the government as private players were denied an opportunity.
Even then, many government agencies are still placing direct purchase orders with Keltron by violating the Store Purchases rules of the state government, according to which any purchase above Rs 20,000 has to be made only through tendering process.
It was as part of the much-hyped Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam model road project that the Police Department decided to install around 15 cameras along the stretch so as to check traffic rule violations. Keltron is learnt to have quoted Rs 20 lakh per camera, which is many times higher than estimated by the Police Department. Hence, the project has come to a standstill.
The New Indian Express
19 Nov 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Taking undue advantage of the state government's decision to place orders for various projects with Keltron without inviting tenders, the state Public Sector Undertaking is suspected to be fleecing the government by collecting exorbitant rates.
While Keltron recently installed the biometric finger-print-based attendance management system at the Secretariat at a cost of Rs 62.7 lakh, private players claim that they could have installed the same system at one-third of the cost.
A prestigious project of the Police Department to install surveillance cameras along the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam National Highway is also held up owing to the exorbitant rate quoted by Keltron, it is learnt.
With the state government asking all the directorates to install biometric punching system, Keltron is hoping to present magical figures in its fiscal results for the coming years. There are more than 80 directorates under the state government and Keltron has already approached most of them.
Keltron had charged Rs 62.7 lakh for installing the entire system, which includes Rs 40.8 lakh for the Biometric Smart Card-based Attendance Management System and Rs 21.9 lakh for web-based customised software for managing the attendance, additional hardware and technical manpower support. A total of 42 punching machines have been installed at the Secretariat, which means that the average cost for one unit came to around Rs 1.5 lakh. Keltron had procured the hardware from a Mysore-based firm.
While 'Express' enquired with a couple of suppliers of punching machines in the state, they claimed that the actual cost of the most-advanced finger-print-based punching machine would be only around Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000. Keltron officials claim that they had provided imported hardware.
But the private parties clarify that almost all the hardware associated with punching systems that are commonly used in India are imported.
It is widely alleged that Keltron is playing the role of a middleman and reaping undue benefit.
Earlier, there was a government directive that government departments, organisations and public sector units shall place orders for direct purchase of computer and other hardware with Keltron. However, it was later relaxed by the government as private players were denied an opportunity.
Even then, many government agencies are still placing direct purchase orders with Keltron by violating the Store Purchases rules of the state government, according to which any purchase above Rs 20,000 has to be made only through tendering process.
It was as part of the much-hyped Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam model road project that the Police Department decided to install around 15 cameras along the stretch so as to check traffic rule violations. Keltron is learnt to have quoted Rs 20 lakh per camera, which is many times higher than estimated by the Police Department. Hence, the project has come to a standstill.
Friday 12 November 2010
Pinarayi gags humour
The New Indian Express
Nov 12
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Is forwarding an e-mail a crime? Yes, feels CPM party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. More so if it pertains to him. At a time when cyberspace is populated with stuff lampooning politicians of all kinds, including the President of the United States of America, Pinarayi has taken umbrage at an e-mail quoting a dialogue by veteran actor Sankaradi in the film ‘Sandesham’ which takes a swipe at the CPM and its policies.
Pinarayi , smarting under the severe wounds inflicted on the party in the local body polls, has got the person arrested for forwarding the email. Moyideen, 47, from Kuttipuram in Malappuram district, was summoned to the Cyber Police Station here and arrested on Thursday. He was later let off on bail.
‘’The mail had the image of Pinarayi Vijayan and the dialogue was attributed to him. This amounts to forgery and defamation,” the police said. Moyideen, one among the hundreds who had forwarded the e-mail, has been charged with various sections of the IT Act and the Indian Penal Code that warrants imprisonment up to three years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
Moyideen, an employee of Keltron, had received the mail from Hamsa, a relative in Barcelona.
Hamsa got it from just4ajoke@ gmail.com, cyber cell sources said adding that efforts are on to trace the source.
"Pinarayi seems to be unaware that he is distancing himself from the masses by initiating serious action against such silly jokes which are now common. If the cyber police were to arrest people for such silly offences, the jails in the world would not suffice to keep them,” a tech-savvy comrade said on condition of anonymity.
Nov 12
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Is forwarding an e-mail a crime? Yes, feels CPM party secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. More so if it pertains to him. At a time when cyberspace is populated with stuff lampooning politicians of all kinds, including the President of the United States of America, Pinarayi has taken umbrage at an e-mail quoting a dialogue by veteran actor Sankaradi in the film ‘Sandesham’ which takes a swipe at the CPM and its policies.
Pinarayi , smarting under the severe wounds inflicted on the party in the local body polls, has got the person arrested for forwarding the email. Moyideen, 47, from Kuttipuram in Malappuram district, was summoned to the Cyber Police Station here and arrested on Thursday. He was later let off on bail.
‘’The mail had the image of Pinarayi Vijayan and the dialogue was attributed to him. This amounts to forgery and defamation,” the police said. Moyideen, one among the hundreds who had forwarded the e-mail, has been charged with various sections of the IT Act and the Indian Penal Code that warrants imprisonment up to three years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
Moyideen, an employee of Keltron, had received the mail from Hamsa, a relative in Barcelona.
Hamsa got it from just4ajoke@ gmail.com, cyber cell sources said adding that efforts are on to trace the source.
"Pinarayi seems to be unaware that he is distancing himself from the masses by initiating serious action against such silly jokes which are now common. If the cyber police were to arrest people for such silly offences, the jails in the world would not suffice to keep them,” a tech-savvy comrade said on condition of anonymity.
MNP to benefit mobile phone subscribers
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
10 Nov 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: No surprise, if the two croreplus mobile phone subscribers in the State enjoy stateoftheart customer care and attractive offers from their cellular service providers in the coming days. Thanks to the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) scheme to be introduced soon.
MNP, which allows a mobile phone subscriber to switch to another cellular service provider by retaining his mobile phone number, will force the service providers to ensure 100 percent customer satisfaction so that its customer base do not erode. MNP is scheduled to be launched in Haryana on November 25 and would be extended to other states by December.
It has been alleged that a formal launch of the MNP was postponed a couple of times owing to stiff pressure from the cellular service providers on the Department of Telecommunications.
''Ultimately, the customer is going to be the king. So far, however poor is the service offered by the provider, the mobile phone subscribers had no option but to stick to their existing connection so as to retain the number. But with the introduction of MNP, customer care would have to be given utmost priority by the service providers,'' highly placed sources in the telecom sector point out. With more than two crore cellular connections, the mobile phone industry has almost reached a saturation point in Kerala which has a total population of around three crore.
Already, there is an intensive competition between the cellular service providers to woo customers from other service providers.
This would become more intensive with the introduction of MNP and the customer would benefit from it. At present, Idea cellular service has the highest number of subscribers in Kerala, 60 lakh, followed by Vodafone, 47 lakh. BSNL, which was once leading the tally, is now pushed to the third place with 43.6 lakh connections, according to the figures available with the Cellular Operators Association of India.
''BSNL, being a governmentcontrolled organisation, has its own disadvantages when it comes to marketing. Compared to private sector, decision making involves more time in the case of a government firm.
Hence, the future of the BSNL with the introduction of MNP may become further bleak,'' said sources.
Though 'Express' contacted the senior officials of the leading mobile phone service providers in the State and enquired about the strategies they are chalking out to face the stiff competition with the launch of MNP, all of them preferred to keep mum.
The charge for switching from one user to the other is fixed by the DoT at Rs 19. Once shifted to a new service provider, a customer could make a further change in service provider only after a specific period.
The New Indian Express
10 Nov 2010
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: No surprise, if the two croreplus mobile phone subscribers in the State enjoy stateoftheart customer care and attractive offers from their cellular service providers in the coming days. Thanks to the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) scheme to be introduced soon.
MNP, which allows a mobile phone subscriber to switch to another cellular service provider by retaining his mobile phone number, will force the service providers to ensure 100 percent customer satisfaction so that its customer base do not erode. MNP is scheduled to be launched in Haryana on November 25 and would be extended to other states by December.
It has been alleged that a formal launch of the MNP was postponed a couple of times owing to stiff pressure from the cellular service providers on the Department of Telecommunications.
''Ultimately, the customer is going to be the king. So far, however poor is the service offered by the provider, the mobile phone subscribers had no option but to stick to their existing connection so as to retain the number. But with the introduction of MNP, customer care would have to be given utmost priority by the service providers,'' highly placed sources in the telecom sector point out. With more than two crore cellular connections, the mobile phone industry has almost reached a saturation point in Kerala which has a total population of around three crore.
Already, there is an intensive competition between the cellular service providers to woo customers from other service providers.
This would become more intensive with the introduction of MNP and the customer would benefit from it. At present, Idea cellular service has the highest number of subscribers in Kerala, 60 lakh, followed by Vodafone, 47 lakh. BSNL, which was once leading the tally, is now pushed to the third place with 43.6 lakh connections, according to the figures available with the Cellular Operators Association of India.
''BSNL, being a governmentcontrolled organisation, has its own disadvantages when it comes to marketing. Compared to private sector, decision making involves more time in the case of a government firm.
Hence, the future of the BSNL with the introduction of MNP may become further bleak,'' said sources.
Though 'Express' contacted the senior officials of the leading mobile phone service providers in the State and enquired about the strategies they are chalking out to face the stiff competition with the launch of MNP, all of them preferred to keep mum.
The charge for switching from one user to the other is fixed by the DoT at Rs 19. Once shifted to a new service provider, a customer could make a further change in service provider only after a specific period.
Saturday 6 November 2010
Witness in Varghese case pleads for justice
The New Indian Express
2 Nov 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, who welcomed the CBI Special Court’s verdict against former IG K Lakshmana in the Naxal Varghese murder case by calling it as a victory for law and justice, seems to be unaware that his government has been denying justice to a person who played a key role in solving the four-decade-old case related to police torture.
A Mohammed Haneefa, a former police constable and the lone eyewitness in the Varghese murder case, has been knocking at the doors of power centres over the last many years for getting minimum pension. But his pleas have been repeatedly turned down by the government and the 70-year-old Haneefa is now struggling hard to make both ends meet. Haneefa and his wife are now living at the mercy of their friends and relatives.
Haneefa started his service in the MSP third battalion in 1965 and later joined the CRPF in 1967. During his service in the CRPF, which lasted till 1973, he had served on the border during the 1971 Bangladesh war and had received ‘Bangaldesh Star’ medal. It was during this period that he became part of the operation to trap Naxalites, including Varghese.
‘’Having served in the MSP, CRPF and the SAP for 12 years from 1965 to 1977, I had applied for minimum pension and had called on Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Finance Minister Thomas Isaac. However, no decision has yet come in my favour,’’ says Haneefa, who is a native of Thiruvananthapuram.
It is learnt that though the Home Minister had given nod to Haneefa’s request it is being held up in the office of the Finance Minister citing reasons of financial burden to the exchequer. Haneefa had left the police service without submitting formal resignation and this was initially cited as an obstacle for granting him pension. But the Home Minister has already cleared this aspect of the issue.
Haneefa was the 21st witness in the Varghese murder case and it was his eyewitness account which became the crucial evidence in cracking the four-decade-old case. The CBI special court had said in its judgment that Haneefa’s statement alone was enough to establish the involvement of Lakshmana in the case.
Haneefa had left the police service in 1977 fearing for his life as he had participated in the operations against Naxalites. He later worked in Gulf countries for a few years. "Now I am struggling to meet my daily needs as well as that of my wife. Hence, I am knocking at the doors of the power centres for a minimum pension,’’ Haneefa says.
Considering the poor health of Haneefa, the CBI court had took his statement in the Varghese murder case by holding the court in his house.
2 Nov 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, who welcomed the CBI Special Court’s verdict against former IG K Lakshmana in the Naxal Varghese murder case by calling it as a victory for law and justice, seems to be unaware that his government has been denying justice to a person who played a key role in solving the four-decade-old case related to police torture.
A Mohammed Haneefa, a former police constable and the lone eyewitness in the Varghese murder case, has been knocking at the doors of power centres over the last many years for getting minimum pension. But his pleas have been repeatedly turned down by the government and the 70-year-old Haneefa is now struggling hard to make both ends meet. Haneefa and his wife are now living at the mercy of their friends and relatives.
Haneefa started his service in the MSP third battalion in 1965 and later joined the CRPF in 1967. During his service in the CRPF, which lasted till 1973, he had served on the border during the 1971 Bangladesh war and had received ‘Bangaldesh Star’ medal. It was during this period that he became part of the operation to trap Naxalites, including Varghese.
‘’Having served in the MSP, CRPF and the SAP for 12 years from 1965 to 1977, I had applied for minimum pension and had called on Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Finance Minister Thomas Isaac. However, no decision has yet come in my favour,’’ says Haneefa, who is a native of Thiruvananthapuram.
It is learnt that though the Home Minister had given nod to Haneefa’s request it is being held up in the office of the Finance Minister citing reasons of financial burden to the exchequer. Haneefa had left the police service without submitting formal resignation and this was initially cited as an obstacle for granting him pension. But the Home Minister has already cleared this aspect of the issue.
Haneefa was the 21st witness in the Varghese murder case and it was his eyewitness account which became the crucial evidence in cracking the four-decade-old case. The CBI special court had said in its judgment that Haneefa’s statement alone was enough to establish the involvement of Lakshmana in the case.
Haneefa had left the police service in 1977 fearing for his life as he had participated in the operations against Naxalites. He later worked in Gulf countries for a few years. "Now I am struggling to meet my daily needs as well as that of my wife. Hence, I am knocking at the doors of the power centres for a minimum pension,’’ Haneefa says.
Considering the poor health of Haneefa, the CBI court had took his statement in the Varghese murder case by holding the court in his house.
Sunday 24 October 2010
CDS study moots reforms in overseas recruitment
THIRUVANATHAPURAM, Oct 25: THE Centre for Development Studies (CDS) has recommended setting up of an Indian Migration Management Authority (IMMA) by doing away with the existing system for overseas recruitment process.
The study, conducted by the CDS into the existing practices in overseas recruitment, pointed out that the existing system of granting emigration clearance involved massive irregularities and also did not ensure protection of emigrants. The study suggested that emigrants, who leave the country for employment be issued Indian Citizen Employed Overseas (ICEO) smart card containing basic information regarding the emigrant.
"The belief that somebody who emigrates with proper documents will be safe and protected during their expatriate life has not been proved correct. The exercise of ensuring genuineness through documentary evidence is undermined not only by the absence of mechanism to check the veracity of documents but also by the nexus between corrupt recruiting agencies and government officials," says the study, which was funded by the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry and International Labour Organisation. The study was conducted by S Irudaya Rajan, V J Varghese and M S Jayakumar of the CDS. The findings of the study may form part of the new Emigration Act being drafted by the Centre, said sources.
Throwing light on the massive irregularities in the existing emigration system, the study says that the unholy nexus between the recruiting agents and offices of the Protectors of Emigrants had resulted in the exploitation of emigrants, especially those belong to the weaker sections of society. Based on the feedback from recruiting agents and emigrants, the study points out that bribes ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 5,000 is involved in granting emigration clearance.
The agents also collude with officials of the airport emigration wing for illegal transit of migrants who do not have proper documents, which is popularly known as 'pushing'. Certain 'ghost' companies which exist abroad only on paper issue the 'documents' to pave way for illegal migration, the study says.
"The credibility of the overseas recruitment system in the country as a whole is at stake. The institutional failure, which is the cause of this, cannot be rectified by cosmetic changes but calls for a comprehensive reform," says the study.
The proposed IMMA should administer all aspects of migration through flawless coordination among various departments and agencies concerned and should have presence in foreign countries also. The responsibility of issuing ICEO smart cards should be vested with the IMMA. All documents from foreign countries should be channelised through IMMA and should also be made available online through bilateral talks, the CDS study suggested.
The study, conducted by the CDS into the existing practices in overseas recruitment, pointed out that the existing system of granting emigration clearance involved massive irregularities and also did not ensure protection of emigrants. The study suggested that emigrants, who leave the country for employment be issued Indian Citizen Employed Overseas (ICEO) smart card containing basic information regarding the emigrant.
"The belief that somebody who emigrates with proper documents will be safe and protected during their expatriate life has not been proved correct. The exercise of ensuring genuineness through documentary evidence is undermined not only by the absence of mechanism to check the veracity of documents but also by the nexus between corrupt recruiting agencies and government officials," says the study, which was funded by the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry and International Labour Organisation. The study was conducted by S Irudaya Rajan, V J Varghese and M S Jayakumar of the CDS. The findings of the study may form part of the new Emigration Act being drafted by the Centre, said sources.
Throwing light on the massive irregularities in the existing emigration system, the study says that the unholy nexus between the recruiting agents and offices of the Protectors of Emigrants had resulted in the exploitation of emigrants, especially those belong to the weaker sections of society. Based on the feedback from recruiting agents and emigrants, the study points out that bribes ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 5,000 is involved in granting emigration clearance.
The agents also collude with officials of the airport emigration wing for illegal transit of migrants who do not have proper documents, which is popularly known as 'pushing'. Certain 'ghost' companies which exist abroad only on paper issue the 'documents' to pave way for illegal migration, the study says.
"The credibility of the overseas recruitment system in the country as a whole is at stake. The institutional failure, which is the cause of this, cannot be rectified by cosmetic changes but calls for a comprehensive reform," says the study.
The proposed IMMA should administer all aspects of migration through flawless coordination among various departments and agencies concerned and should have presence in foreign countries also. The responsibility of issuing ICEO smart cards should be vested with the IMMA. All documents from foreign countries should be channelised through IMMA and should also be made available online through bilateral talks, the CDS study suggested.
Wednesday 20 October 2010
Airport director to be axed
Oct. 19
Amidst the uncertainty over the commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, a move is on to shift Airport Director V.N.Chandran from the post.
Sources in the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said that there is strong lobbying from various quarters to shift Chandran from the post. A decision in this regard is likely to be taken soon.
Director of the Karipur International Airport G.Chandramouli is being considered as the new director of Thiruvananthapuram Airport.
V.N.Chandran however reserved his comments on the matter.
Chandran who had taken over as the Thiruvananthapuram Airport director hardly an year ago had initiated stern measures against various irregularities going on at the airport terminal. Such measures had invited enemies to Chandran, sources at the Airport said.
The Airport director was also under stiff pressure from the AAI to commission the new terminal. However, there has been a lack of cooperation from certain agencies that was delaying the commissioning of the airport. The Air India which was responsible for arranging the ground handling facilities was yet to complete the works.
Commissioning to be delayed further : Meanwhile, a meeting of AAI officials and Air India officials held here on Tuesday has decided to go for commissioning of the terminal only after setting up the ground handling and cargo handling facilities. AAI Regional Executive Director Devarajan and Air India Regional Director Sunil Kishen attended the meeting.
Airport Director had earlier issued a circular to the airlines and other agencies concerned that the new terminal would be commissioned by October 20.
ends.
Amidst the uncertainty over the commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, a move is on to shift Airport Director V.N.Chandran from the post.
Sources in the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said that there is strong lobbying from various quarters to shift Chandran from the post. A decision in this regard is likely to be taken soon.
Director of the Karipur International Airport G.Chandramouli is being considered as the new director of Thiruvananthapuram Airport.
V.N.Chandran however reserved his comments on the matter.
Chandran who had taken over as the Thiruvananthapuram Airport director hardly an year ago had initiated stern measures against various irregularities going on at the airport terminal. Such measures had invited enemies to Chandran, sources at the Airport said.
The Airport director was also under stiff pressure from the AAI to commission the new terminal. However, there has been a lack of cooperation from certain agencies that was delaying the commissioning of the airport. The Air India which was responsible for arranging the ground handling facilities was yet to complete the works.
Commissioning to be delayed further : Meanwhile, a meeting of AAI officials and Air India officials held here on Tuesday has decided to go for commissioning of the terminal only after setting up the ground handling and cargo handling facilities. AAI Regional Executive Director Devarajan and Air India Regional Director Sunil Kishen attended the meeting.
Airport Director had earlier issued a circular to the airlines and other agencies concerned that the new terminal would be commissioned by October 20.
ends.
Blame game over terminal commissioning
Oct. 11
The commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapruam Interntaional airport is running into rough weather as the airlines have expressed their unwillingness to shift their opertaions to the new terminal.
The Airline Operators' Commiittee (AOC) of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport has given in writing to Airport Director the other day raising serious concerns over the delay in setting up the basic facilitiers, especially ground handling services and cargo handling.
“We have made it clear that it would be nearly impossible to operate from the new terminal until the basis opertaional requirements are provided. The ground handling facilities are yet to be made ready at the new terminal. Same is the issue with cargo handling,” AOC chairman Mathew George told Express.
Meanwhile, sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry told Express that AAI Chairman V.P.Aggarwal had written to Air India Chairman Arvind Javed directing that the ground handling services and other facilities of Air India be set up at the new teriminal without delay.
Air India which is the ground handling agency at the airport however puts the blame on the Airports Authority of India (AAI). “We are prepared to provide ground handling services provided the basis infrastructure faclities are in place. Since the international and domestic terminals would be on two sides of the runway once the new termional becomes operataional, the movement between the two terminals would be very crucial. For this, the perimetere road should have sufficient width,” said an Air India official on the condition of anonymity.
Air India Thiruvananthapuram station manager K.D.Sivanath was not available for giving his comment on the issue.
Meanwhile, Kerala State Industriual Enterprises, which is in charge of the cargo handling at the airport said that, they had received land for setting up a temporary cargo facility for the new terminal only a couple of days back. “The civil works for the temporary facility has been awarded to the Steel Industries Kerala Limited. We hope to complete the works in another 15-20 days,” said KSIE Managing Director Josemon.
The exporters in Thiruvananthapuram are also concered over commissioning of the airport at this stage. “ Cargo movement comprise half of the operataions from the airport. Hence, commissioning the airport with out a proper facility for cargo handling would be like having a handicapped baby, “ Agricultural Products and Processed Foods Exporters Association secretary Dil Koshy said.
There is a serious lapse on the part of the State Government and KSIE is setting up the facilities in time. Having a temporary facility for cargo movement is not desirable, he said adding that it would be better that the AAI takes over the cargo operations.
Amidst all these confusions, AAI is optimistic that the terminal could be commissioned during this month itself, provided all the agencies concerned cooperate.
Ends.
The commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapruam Interntaional airport is running into rough weather as the airlines have expressed their unwillingness to shift their opertaions to the new terminal.
The Airline Operators' Commiittee (AOC) of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport has given in writing to Airport Director the other day raising serious concerns over the delay in setting up the basic facilitiers, especially ground handling services and cargo handling.
“We have made it clear that it would be nearly impossible to operate from the new terminal until the basis opertaional requirements are provided. The ground handling facilities are yet to be made ready at the new terminal. Same is the issue with cargo handling,” AOC chairman Mathew George told Express.
Meanwhile, sources in the Civil Aviation Ministry told Express that AAI Chairman V.P.Aggarwal had written to Air India Chairman Arvind Javed directing that the ground handling services and other facilities of Air India be set up at the new teriminal without delay.
Air India which is the ground handling agency at the airport however puts the blame on the Airports Authority of India (AAI). “We are prepared to provide ground handling services provided the basis infrastructure faclities are in place. Since the international and domestic terminals would be on two sides of the runway once the new termional becomes operataional, the movement between the two terminals would be very crucial. For this, the perimetere road should have sufficient width,” said an Air India official on the condition of anonymity.
Air India Thiruvananthapuram station manager K.D.Sivanath was not available for giving his comment on the issue.
Meanwhile, Kerala State Industriual Enterprises, which is in charge of the cargo handling at the airport said that, they had received land for setting up a temporary cargo facility for the new terminal only a couple of days back. “The civil works for the temporary facility has been awarded to the Steel Industries Kerala Limited. We hope to complete the works in another 15-20 days,” said KSIE Managing Director Josemon.
The exporters in Thiruvananthapuram are also concered over commissioning of the airport at this stage. “ Cargo movement comprise half of the operataions from the airport. Hence, commissioning the airport with out a proper facility for cargo handling would be like having a handicapped baby, “ Agricultural Products and Processed Foods Exporters Association secretary Dil Koshy said.
There is a serious lapse on the part of the State Government and KSIE is setting up the facilities in time. Having a temporary facility for cargo movement is not desirable, he said adding that it would be better that the AAI takes over the cargo operations.
Amidst all these confusions, AAI is optimistic that the terminal could be commissioned during this month itself, provided all the agencies concerned cooperate.
Ends.
Technopark insulated against polls
Oct 14
While the local body elections are being widely discussed in every nook and corner of the city, nearly 30,000 people in the state capital seem to be insulated from the election heat. It appears that the candidates also are least concerned about this section who make valuable contributions to the state's economy.
Technopark, the first IT park in the country, that employs nearly 30,000 techies is nowhere in the election picture, especially because only a meagre section of the techies are voters of the wards in the which Technopark falls. Poll trends, merits or demerits of political parties or candidates or other poll-related issues are not being discussed in the premises, except a few.
What is surprising to note is that many of the candidates from the locality are also unaware of the issues being faced by techies, ranging from lack of streetlights to garbage dumping.
“I am unaware of any issues pertaining to Technopark,” was the instant reply of Lathika Dayanandan, BJP candidate in Attippra ward where a major portion of Technopark is located. “I was a native of Ulloor and came down to this place after marriage,” she justified.
Though Kazhakuttum got a place in the world IT map thanks to Technopark, the CPM candidate representing Kazhakuttum has literarily ignored Technopark. “Technopark did not come within the limits of my ward. You may better contact my counter part in Attipra ward,” M.Kala, the CPM candidate from Kazhakuttum, came up with her instant reply.
The UDF candidate in Kazhakuttum R.Sreerekha also said that there were no major issues pertaining to Technopark.
The techies can heave a sigh of relief as at least the BJP candidate from Kazhakuttum, K.Malini, is quite aware of the issues affecting them. “Technopark is facing various issues like garbage problem, stray dogs and streetlights. I will initiate steps to sort out these issues,” she said.
Sangeetha, the LDF candidate in Attipra and Suraja Kumari, the UDF candidate, also said that they would look into the issues faced by Technopark and try to find solutions.
Technopark, however, lists out a number of issues. The Technopark Chief Executive Officer Mervin Alexander lists out a series of issue that are affecting the smooth life of techies. “ First of all, there is lack of proper lighting on the national highway. Since many of the companies are working round the clock, techies will have to travel during the odd hours. Hence improper lighting, as well as better policing, are long pending issues pertaining to the Technoapark,” he said.
“Waste disposal is another issue affecting Technopark, which the local bodies could come up with a solution,” he adds.
The techies also list out a series of issues including development of the nearby Kazhakuttum railway station, fleecing of techies by autorickshaws and taxis and lack of sufficient public amenities.
While the local body elections are being widely discussed in every nook and corner of the city, nearly 30,000 people in the state capital seem to be insulated from the election heat. It appears that the candidates also are least concerned about this section who make valuable contributions to the state's economy.
Technopark, the first IT park in the country, that employs nearly 30,000 techies is nowhere in the election picture, especially because only a meagre section of the techies are voters of the wards in the which Technopark falls. Poll trends, merits or demerits of political parties or candidates or other poll-related issues are not being discussed in the premises, except a few.
What is surprising to note is that many of the candidates from the locality are also unaware of the issues being faced by techies, ranging from lack of streetlights to garbage dumping.
“I am unaware of any issues pertaining to Technopark,” was the instant reply of Lathika Dayanandan, BJP candidate in Attippra ward where a major portion of Technopark is located. “I was a native of Ulloor and came down to this place after marriage,” she justified.
Though Kazhakuttum got a place in the world IT map thanks to Technopark, the CPM candidate representing Kazhakuttum has literarily ignored Technopark. “Technopark did not come within the limits of my ward. You may better contact my counter part in Attipra ward,” M.Kala, the CPM candidate from Kazhakuttum, came up with her instant reply.
The UDF candidate in Kazhakuttum R.Sreerekha also said that there were no major issues pertaining to Technopark.
The techies can heave a sigh of relief as at least the BJP candidate from Kazhakuttum, K.Malini, is quite aware of the issues affecting them. “Technopark is facing various issues like garbage problem, stray dogs and streetlights. I will initiate steps to sort out these issues,” she said.
Sangeetha, the LDF candidate in Attipra and Suraja Kumari, the UDF candidate, also said that they would look into the issues faced by Technopark and try to find solutions.
Technopark, however, lists out a number of issues. The Technopark Chief Executive Officer Mervin Alexander lists out a series of issue that are affecting the smooth life of techies. “ First of all, there is lack of proper lighting on the national highway. Since many of the companies are working round the clock, techies will have to travel during the odd hours. Hence improper lighting, as well as better policing, are long pending issues pertaining to the Technoapark,” he said.
“Waste disposal is another issue affecting Technopark, which the local bodies could come up with a solution,” he adds.
The techies also list out a series of issues including development of the nearby Kazhakuttum railway station, fleecing of techies by autorickshaws and taxis and lack of sufficient public amenities.
Kerala gearing up for UID enrolment
Oct, 12
Aimed at enrolling one-third of the state's population by March 2011, the Unique Identification (UID) project would be rolled out in the state shortly.
Though met with certain initial hiccups, the project is expected to be in full throttle as the Akshaya e-Kendras across the state as well as Keltron are gearing up for the enrollment process. The target is to enroll one crore persons by the first quarter of next year, said sources.
While the 2000 odd Akshaya e-Kendras would collect the data from the general public, the Keltron would mainly focus on Government offices and urban areas. As many as 50 lakh students in the State would be registered by Keltron with the support of IT@School. The State IT Department has been appointed as the registrar for the UID projectin the state and the Kerala State IT Mission is the nodal agency.
IT Department sources said that the project is slightly off the actual schedule in the State owing to the delay on the part of the State Government is finalising the state-specific data to be collected from each individual in the state.
The UID Authority of India had listed out as set of details, including the iris identification and finger print, to be collected from each individual which is referred to as Know Your Residence (KYR) details. Apart this, in each state governments could prescribe a set of state-specific information pertaining to an individual, referred to as KYR plus, which would also be incorporated with the UID database. The data thus collected may be later used by the state.
IT Mission Director Ishita Roy said that besides some technical issues all the preparation for enrolling to UID are in the final stages in the state.
While the enrollment process had already begun in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka the preparations are in the final stages. Enrollment has also begun in Maharashtra.
Though the UID Authority had provided the application for the data collection which is based on proprietary software, the State is developing a Linux-based application. The Akshaya and Keltron would be procuring the hardware, including iris scanner and finger print scanner. The data collected would be uploaded to the UID Authority data base in Bangalore.
Rolling out of the UID project would also brighten the prospects of the Akshaya entrepreneurs in the state as it would earn considerable returns to them.
Ends
Aimed at enrolling one-third of the state's population by March 2011, the Unique Identification (UID) project would be rolled out in the state shortly.
Though met with certain initial hiccups, the project is expected to be in full throttle as the Akshaya e-Kendras across the state as well as Keltron are gearing up for the enrollment process. The target is to enroll one crore persons by the first quarter of next year, said sources.
While the 2000 odd Akshaya e-Kendras would collect the data from the general public, the Keltron would mainly focus on Government offices and urban areas. As many as 50 lakh students in the State would be registered by Keltron with the support of IT@School. The State IT Department has been appointed as the registrar for the UID projectin the state and the Kerala State IT Mission is the nodal agency.
IT Department sources said that the project is slightly off the actual schedule in the State owing to the delay on the part of the State Government is finalising the state-specific data to be collected from each individual in the state.
The UID Authority of India had listed out as set of details, including the iris identification and finger print, to be collected from each individual which is referred to as Know Your Residence (KYR) details. Apart this, in each state governments could prescribe a set of state-specific information pertaining to an individual, referred to as KYR plus, which would also be incorporated with the UID database. The data thus collected may be later used by the state.
IT Mission Director Ishita Roy said that besides some technical issues all the preparation for enrolling to UID are in the final stages in the state.
While the enrollment process had already begun in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka the preparations are in the final stages. Enrollment has also begun in Maharashtra.
Though the UID Authority had provided the application for the data collection which is based on proprietary software, the State is developing a Linux-based application. The Akshaya and Keltron would be procuring the hardware, including iris scanner and finger print scanner. The data collected would be uploaded to the UID Authority data base in Bangalore.
Rolling out of the UID project would also brighten the prospects of the Akshaya entrepreneurs in the state as it would earn considerable returns to them.
Ends
Techies out for selling their creativity
Oct 12
No problem if another recession hits the IT sector. The techies of the Thiruvananthapuram Technopark are earning an extra income out of their creativity.
Techie Store, a latest initiative of a group of IT professionals of the Technopark, is setting the platform for the techies to showcase their creativity and get a fair price. Techies could post their products on www.store.technoparktoday.com and find prospective buyers.
“We have come up with the idea after it was noticed that lot of techies in the Technopark are involved in various creative works like painting, cooking, making of curios etc. Though launched only couple of days back, the new venture is getting an impressive response, “ says Renjith Ramachandran, an IT professional in a Technopark firm who is one of the active promoters of the online venture.
'Technoparktoday.com', has been one of the prime initiatives of the group. The community portal aims at exchanging IT related news as well as other useful information to the techies, especially those in the Technopark. The group also maintains www.tpbazaar.com, a website aimed at selling used commodities like household items and other gadgets of techies, besides real estate trade and house rental.
Techie Store will be an online store for the techies by the techies. There are lots of techies who do oil and glass paintings, embroidery works, modelling vintage aircraft, greeting cards, various dishes and cakes and even designer ornaments. At present, these are being distributed among their friends or office circles. At times some of the companies conduct in-house events to promote the creativity of their employees, say the promoters.
Through the new initiative we give the techies a plat form to display their products and quote the price. A collection centre would also be assigned in Technopark campus for the transaction between the buyer and seller.
“We do not intend to earn any profit from this as the transaction would take place between the buyer and seller directly. We are merely setting a platform for displaying the products, “ says Renjith.
Various essential commodities for techies like ID card holder and memory cards would also be made available through the Techie Store.
ends
No problem if another recession hits the IT sector. The techies of the Thiruvananthapuram Technopark are earning an extra income out of their creativity.
Techie Store, a latest initiative of a group of IT professionals of the Technopark, is setting the platform for the techies to showcase their creativity and get a fair price. Techies could post their products on www.store.technoparktoday.com and find prospective buyers.
“We have come up with the idea after it was noticed that lot of techies in the Technopark are involved in various creative works like painting, cooking, making of curios etc. Though launched only couple of days back, the new venture is getting an impressive response, “ says Renjith Ramachandran, an IT professional in a Technopark firm who is one of the active promoters of the online venture.
'Technoparktoday.com', has been one of the prime initiatives of the group. The community portal aims at exchanging IT related news as well as other useful information to the techies, especially those in the Technopark. The group also maintains www.tpbazaar.com, a website aimed at selling used commodities like household items and other gadgets of techies, besides real estate trade and house rental.
Techie Store will be an online store for the techies by the techies. There are lots of techies who do oil and glass paintings, embroidery works, modelling vintage aircraft, greeting cards, various dishes and cakes and even designer ornaments. At present, these are being distributed among their friends or office circles. At times some of the companies conduct in-house events to promote the creativity of their employees, say the promoters.
Through the new initiative we give the techies a plat form to display their products and quote the price. A collection centre would also be assigned in Technopark campus for the transaction between the buyer and seller.
“We do not intend to earn any profit from this as the transaction would take place between the buyer and seller directly. We are merely setting a platform for displaying the products, “ says Renjith.
Various essential commodities for techies like ID card holder and memory cards would also be made available through the Techie Store.
ends
Locals concerned over shifting of airport terminal
Oct 10
While the countdown for the commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has begun on one side, on the other the golden days of a small region is coming to an end.
Scores of traders, lodge owners and autorickshaw and taxi drivers at Shanghumugham are quite concerned over the shifting of the international terminal to the Chakai side as it would be a major blow to their business. They are, however, pinning hopes on a proposal mooted by Thiruvanananthapuram MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor to retain international budget airlines at the existing international terminal.
“Our business fully depends on the passengers at the airport as well as those coming to see off or receive them. Hence shifting the international terminal from here would badly hit us,“ says Shaji who runs a small shop opposite to the Airport over the last four decades.
More than a 100 shops and about two dozen lodges make up the Shanghumugham junction, besides a couple of banks and travel agencies.
Besides the establishments, more than 60 autorickshaw drivers and a same number of taxi drivers are also concerned about their future. “Once the international operations are entirely shifted from here, Shanghumugham junction would become a deserted place. It would leave us in dire straits,“ says 61 year old Ashokan Nair, an autorickshaw driver at Shanghumugham for the last 30 years.
“The future is dark for the 60-odd auto drivers here,“ adds Pathrose Augustine, another autorickshaw driver of the locality.
It would be quite diffuclt for them to relocate to Chakai as many autos are already based there. Moreover, the new terminal is quite far from the main road than the existing one. Hence it would be quite difficult for autorickshaws to get rides unless they are allowed inside the new terminal premises, Pathrose says.
The Government and the officials concerned should show us a way to lead our life, they plead.
“It is going to be the second major blow for the lodges and other traders at Shamghumugham, after the one following the commissioning of the Nedumbaserry Airport,“ says Timothy Pereira, who earlier ran a lodge at Shamghumugham Junction.
Before the Nedumbassery Airport was commissioned, there used to be brisk business at Shanghumugham and many houses in the locality used to hire rooms on daily rent. ''But once the Nedumbaserry Airport came, there was considerable decline in our business and hence I closed my lodge a couple of years back. The situation is going to be the worst for traders and lodge owners once the entire internataional operations are shifted from here,'' says Timothy.
International passengers constitute about three-fourth of the total passengers at the airport.
Shashi Tharoor had recently written to the Civil Aviation Ministry proposing that the existing international terminal may be converted into a no-frills terminal as in many foreign countries. At present three budget airlines are operating from Thiruvananthapruam - Air India Express, Air Arabia and Air Asia. The Singapore-based budget airlines Tiger Airways is scheduled to commence services from Thiruvanananthapuram in November.
Ends.
While the countdown for the commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has begun on one side, on the other the golden days of a small region is coming to an end.
Scores of traders, lodge owners and autorickshaw and taxi drivers at Shanghumugham are quite concerned over the shifting of the international terminal to the Chakai side as it would be a major blow to their business. They are, however, pinning hopes on a proposal mooted by Thiruvanananthapuram MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor to retain international budget airlines at the existing international terminal.
“Our business fully depends on the passengers at the airport as well as those coming to see off or receive them. Hence shifting the international terminal from here would badly hit us,“ says Shaji who runs a small shop opposite to the Airport over the last four decades.
More than a 100 shops and about two dozen lodges make up the Shanghumugham junction, besides a couple of banks and travel agencies.
Besides the establishments, more than 60 autorickshaw drivers and a same number of taxi drivers are also concerned about their future. “Once the international operations are entirely shifted from here, Shanghumugham junction would become a deserted place. It would leave us in dire straits,“ says 61 year old Ashokan Nair, an autorickshaw driver at Shanghumugham for the last 30 years.
“The future is dark for the 60-odd auto drivers here,“ adds Pathrose Augustine, another autorickshaw driver of the locality.
It would be quite diffuclt for them to relocate to Chakai as many autos are already based there. Moreover, the new terminal is quite far from the main road than the existing one. Hence it would be quite difficult for autorickshaws to get rides unless they are allowed inside the new terminal premises, Pathrose says.
The Government and the officials concerned should show us a way to lead our life, they plead.
“It is going to be the second major blow for the lodges and other traders at Shamghumugham, after the one following the commissioning of the Nedumbaserry Airport,“ says Timothy Pereira, who earlier ran a lodge at Shamghumugham Junction.
Before the Nedumbassery Airport was commissioned, there used to be brisk business at Shanghumugham and many houses in the locality used to hire rooms on daily rent. ''But once the Nedumbaserry Airport came, there was considerable decline in our business and hence I closed my lodge a couple of years back. The situation is going to be the worst for traders and lodge owners once the entire internataional operations are shifted from here,'' says Timothy.
International passengers constitute about three-fourth of the total passengers at the airport.
Shashi Tharoor had recently written to the Civil Aviation Ministry proposing that the existing international terminal may be converted into a no-frills terminal as in many foreign countries. At present three budget airlines are operating from Thiruvananthapruam - Air India Express, Air Arabia and Air Asia. The Singapore-based budget airlines Tiger Airways is scheduled to commence services from Thiruvanananthapuram in November.
Ends.
No-frill terminal mooted
Oct 5
A no-frill terminal exclusively for budget airlines has been suggested by former Union Minister and Thiruvananthapuam MP Shashi Tharoor for the Thiruvananthapuram Airport.
Though Tharoor has mooted the idea primarly with the intention of relieveing users of budget airlines from the user fee, setting up a third terminal also has various other advantages. Moreover, in many foreign countries there are exclusive no-frill terminals that cater to the passengers in budget airlines.
Tharoor, who had already sent his suggestion to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and others senior officers concerned, also said that the new terminal could be reserve only for non-budget airlines. Domestic services would be retained at the exisiting domestic terminal itself. The no-frill terminal would only offer the basic amenitieis.
About one-third of the international passengers from the airport are using budget airlines and most of them are involved in low-income jobs in Gulf countries. Hence the user fee of Rs. 755 which is fixed for the new interntaional terminal would be a heavy burden for them. Around Rs. 750 is already being collected from each passengers as service fee and service tax.
Atpresent three budget airlines are operating from Thiruvananthapuram airport and the the Singapore-based budget airline Tiger Airways is commencing opertaions to Thiruvananthapuram from next month. More budget airlines would be commencing services in the near future. Hence maintaining a no-frill terminal would become useful in the future.
The infrastructure at the existing interntaional terminal could also be utilised effectively if it is retained as a no-frill terminal. The rush at the terminal could also be reduced by distributing the passengers among more terminals. The heavy traffic congestion that the NH by-pass may witness once the new terminal becomes opertaional could also be controlled to certain extent if the budget airlines are opertaed from the exisitng terminal itself, it is pointed out.
Meanwhile, sources at the airport said that all the agencies involved with the airport like the emigration, CISF and Customs would require additional manpower and infrastructure. It would also cause additional financial burden.
Tigere from TVPM : The Singapore-based budget airline Tiger Airways is commencing services in the Thiruvanananthapuram – Singapore sector from next November.
Sources said that Tiger is planning three weekly service in the sector, on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays. Tiger would be the fourth budget airline to opertae from Thiruvananthapuram after Air India Express, Air Arabia and Air Asia.
Other ailines like the Spicejet and Indigo are also planning to commence services from Thiruvananthapuram shortly, said sources.
A no-frill terminal exclusively for budget airlines has been suggested by former Union Minister and Thiruvananthapuam MP Shashi Tharoor for the Thiruvananthapuram Airport.
Though Tharoor has mooted the idea primarly with the intention of relieveing users of budget airlines from the user fee, setting up a third terminal also has various other advantages. Moreover, in many foreign countries there are exclusive no-frill terminals that cater to the passengers in budget airlines.
Tharoor, who had already sent his suggestion to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and others senior officers concerned, also said that the new terminal could be reserve only for non-budget airlines. Domestic services would be retained at the exisiting domestic terminal itself. The no-frill terminal would only offer the basic amenitieis.
About one-third of the international passengers from the airport are using budget airlines and most of them are involved in low-income jobs in Gulf countries. Hence the user fee of Rs. 755 which is fixed for the new interntaional terminal would be a heavy burden for them. Around Rs. 750 is already being collected from each passengers as service fee and service tax.
Atpresent three budget airlines are operating from Thiruvananthapuram airport and the the Singapore-based budget airline Tiger Airways is commencing opertaions to Thiruvananthapuram from next month. More budget airlines would be commencing services in the near future. Hence maintaining a no-frill terminal would become useful in the future.
The infrastructure at the existing interntaional terminal could also be utilised effectively if it is retained as a no-frill terminal. The rush at the terminal could also be reduced by distributing the passengers among more terminals. The heavy traffic congestion that the NH by-pass may witness once the new terminal becomes opertaional could also be controlled to certain extent if the budget airlines are opertaed from the exisitng terminal itself, it is pointed out.
Meanwhile, sources at the airport said that all the agencies involved with the airport like the emigration, CISF and Customs would require additional manpower and infrastructure. It would also cause additional financial burden.
Tigere from TVPM : The Singapore-based budget airline Tiger Airways is commencing services in the Thiruvanananthapuram – Singapore sector from next November.
Sources said that Tiger is planning three weekly service in the sector, on Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays. Tiger would be the fourth budget airline to opertae from Thiruvananthapuram after Air India Express, Air Arabia and Air Asia.
Other ailines like the Spicejet and Indigo are also planning to commence services from Thiruvananthapuram shortly, said sources.
417 booths in TVPM sesitive
Oct 10
While the candiates are busy wooing the voters, the law enforcers are also busy chalking out security measures so as to ensure a smooth polling.
A preliminary evaluation by the police has identified 417 polling booths in the capital district as sensitive. The total number of polling booths in the district comes to 3372 booths.
The situation of the neighbouring Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts are also more or less same. In Kollam 250 out of the 2878 polling booths are identified as sensitive and in Pathanamthitta 150 out of 1688 polling booths are sensitive.
“The sensitive booths have been identified on the basis of the law and order probelems that took place in these wards during the previous elections. Additional secureity measures would be initiated at the sensitive booths,” the source said.
The police have already prepared the security arrangments to be taken in connection with the polls that fall on October 23. The entire police force in the district would be mobilised for the security arrangments, police sources said.
As part of the security arrangments for the elections, it has been decided to form two law and order patrol teams in all police stations. Apart from the existing police circles and sub-divisions, more police circles and sub-divisions would be formed so as to tighten the security and ensure quick response in case of any law and order break down. Every building in which polling booths are located would be brough under tight police security.
Video surveillance would also be initiated at highly senstive areas. The City Police Commissioner and Rural SP would initiate further securtiy arrangments in consultation with the District Collectors.
The police would also establish a dedicated communicataion network connecting all polling booths, police stations and offices of senior police officers for quick exchange of messages. “ Such a system was established during the previous Parliament Elections and it was found to be effective,” said sources.
Ends
While the candiates are busy wooing the voters, the law enforcers are also busy chalking out security measures so as to ensure a smooth polling.
A preliminary evaluation by the police has identified 417 polling booths in the capital district as sensitive. The total number of polling booths in the district comes to 3372 booths.
The situation of the neighbouring Kollam and Pathanamthitta districts are also more or less same. In Kollam 250 out of the 2878 polling booths are identified as sensitive and in Pathanamthitta 150 out of 1688 polling booths are sensitive.
“The sensitive booths have been identified on the basis of the law and order probelems that took place in these wards during the previous elections. Additional secureity measures would be initiated at the sensitive booths,” the source said.
The police have already prepared the security arrangments to be taken in connection with the polls that fall on October 23. The entire police force in the district would be mobilised for the security arrangments, police sources said.
As part of the security arrangments for the elections, it has been decided to form two law and order patrol teams in all police stations. Apart from the existing police circles and sub-divisions, more police circles and sub-divisions would be formed so as to tighten the security and ensure quick response in case of any law and order break down. Every building in which polling booths are located would be brough under tight police security.
Video surveillance would also be initiated at highly senstive areas. The City Police Commissioner and Rural SP would initiate further securtiy arrangments in consultation with the District Collectors.
The police would also establish a dedicated communicataion network connecting all polling booths, police stations and offices of senior police officers for quick exchange of messages. “ Such a system was established during the previous Parliament Elections and it was found to be effective,” said sources.
Ends
Kerala animators make global presence
By Arjun Raghunath
Sept , 2010
The creative skills of a group of animators from Kerala has already entertained the animation buffs of Latin American and is getting ready to reach other parts of the world.
Gaturro, a 3D animated feature film that has been brought out by the Toonz Animation at the Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, is one of the scores of animation works being done from Kerala to cater to the international market.
With the multimedia and animation industry across globe witnessing a sky rocketing growth, the animation and multimedia industry in India is cashing on it. About 95 percent of the animation and multimedia works being carried out in the country are outsourced from foreign countries, mainly US and UK.
Besides undertaking outsources works from the international clients, many of the prominent multimedia and animation firms in the state like the Toonz, Accel and Vismaya Max are also involved in co-porduction with leading international production and distribution house as well as developing in-house procducts targeting the international audience.
“According to a recent report of NASCOM, the Indian animation industry that stands at 494 million US $ in 2008 would touch one billion US $ by 2012. This projection also reflects the huge job potential in the sector,” says Toonz Animation Chief Executive Officer P.Jayakumar.
Toonz which has a state of the art studio at Technopark has brought out a number of animation feature films in association with world renowned institutions catering to mainly to the American and European markets. We have also entered into a deal with Oscar winner Voltage Pictures for bringing out Gaturro in other foreign languages, says Jayakumar.
Though China is emerging as another destination for animation industry, India has its own advantages. A better command over the English language is an edge for India over China.
“There is tremendous prospects in the sector. The demand for animation production services from India has been growing with the emergence of an organised animation production sector, with state-of-the-art of work required for international TV program production, at substantially lower costs,” Chief Technology Officer of Accel Animation Studios S.Muralidharan said.
The Chennai-based Accel Animation, which has 20,000 square feet facility at KINFRA Film and Video Park in Thiruvananthapuram equipped with latest facilities in 3D production, has been carrying out outsources works mainly from countries like USA, France, Singapore and Malaysia, besides other in-house productions targeting the international market. “At present we are doing the complete visual post production work of Hollywood feature film The Flying Machine,” said Muralidharan.
Amidst the bright scenario in the multimedia and animation sector, the sector is witnessingan aacutehortage of fine tuned professionals, says A.S.Pramod, marketing head of Vismaya Max Animation Academy and Studios.
“Though a number of animation and multimedia training institutions have come up, besides a fedw well reputed ones, many are not providing quality training. Hence the students who pass out from such institutes need to further trained by the employers, “ says Pramod.
Vismaya Max which is promoted by actor Mohanlal also caters to Emirates, US and UK. It also has a training animation and multi-media training division.
Ends.
Sept , 2010
The creative skills of a group of animators from Kerala has already entertained the animation buffs of Latin American and is getting ready to reach other parts of the world.
Gaturro, a 3D animated feature film that has been brought out by the Toonz Animation at the Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, is one of the scores of animation works being done from Kerala to cater to the international market.
With the multimedia and animation industry across globe witnessing a sky rocketing growth, the animation and multimedia industry in India is cashing on it. About 95 percent of the animation and multimedia works being carried out in the country are outsourced from foreign countries, mainly US and UK.
Besides undertaking outsources works from the international clients, many of the prominent multimedia and animation firms in the state like the Toonz, Accel and Vismaya Max are also involved in co-porduction with leading international production and distribution house as well as developing in-house procducts targeting the international audience.
“According to a recent report of NASCOM, the Indian animation industry that stands at 494 million US $ in 2008 would touch one billion US $ by 2012. This projection also reflects the huge job potential in the sector,” says Toonz Animation Chief Executive Officer P.Jayakumar.
Toonz which has a state of the art studio at Technopark has brought out a number of animation feature films in association with world renowned institutions catering to mainly to the American and European markets. We have also entered into a deal with Oscar winner Voltage Pictures for bringing out Gaturro in other foreign languages, says Jayakumar.
Though China is emerging as another destination for animation industry, India has its own advantages. A better command over the English language is an edge for India over China.
“There is tremendous prospects in the sector. The demand for animation production services from India has been growing with the emergence of an organised animation production sector, with state-of-the-art of work required for international TV program production, at substantially lower costs,” Chief Technology Officer of Accel Animation Studios S.Muralidharan said.
The Chennai-based Accel Animation, which has 20,000 square feet facility at KINFRA Film and Video Park in Thiruvananthapuram equipped with latest facilities in 3D production, has been carrying out outsources works mainly from countries like USA, France, Singapore and Malaysia, besides other in-house productions targeting the international market. “At present we are doing the complete visual post production work of Hollywood feature film The Flying Machine,” said Muralidharan.
Amidst the bright scenario in the multimedia and animation sector, the sector is witnessingan aacutehortage of fine tuned professionals, says A.S.Pramod, marketing head of Vismaya Max Animation Academy and Studios.
“Though a number of animation and multimedia training institutions have come up, besides a fedw well reputed ones, many are not providing quality training. Hence the students who pass out from such institutes need to further trained by the employers, “ says Pramod.
Vismaya Max which is promoted by actor Mohanlal also caters to Emirates, US and UK. It also has a training animation and multi-media training division.
Ends.
Thursday 7 October 2010
E-service providers get legal sanctity
By Arjun Raghunath
T'Puram, Oct 7
E-services being delivered through the 2000 plus Akshaya e-Kendras across the State have got legal sanctity with the Government bringing out the Kerala Information Technology (Electronic Delivery of Services) Rules 2010.
The rules, that has been framed under provisions of the central IT Act 2000, would be applicable to any e-service providers entitled by the Government. The rates for various e-service that could be charged by the e-service providers has also been notified by the government in the rules.
As many as 23 services that are being delivered through the village and taluk offices are listed out in the rules as e-services that could be delivered through the e-service providers. The application forms to be used for each service as well as the format of the certificate to be issued by the e-service provider have also be specifically mentioned so as to ensure uniformity in the services being delivered by all the e-service providers.
The e-service provider is entitled to a service charge of Rs. 20 for delivering an e-service. Service charge for allied services like status enquiry, computer print-out and scanning related to e-services and acknowledgment receipts is fixed at Rs. 2. Fifty percent of the service charge, except for the allied services, will have to be remitted to the Government.
The Government should conduct audit of the services being delivered through the e-service providers every year with the help of a audit agency. The audit should cover the over all functioning of the e-service providers as well as maintenance of accounts, say the rules.
The rules also provides that any license, permit, certificate or other services delivered through the e-service providers will be admissible in any legal or other proceedings. However, such certificate should contain wither a computer generated number or a bar code or digital signature or any other means notified by the Government so as to enure the authenticity of the document.
The format of the acknowledgment and receipt to be issued by the e-service provider has also been standardised in the rule.
Ends
T'Puram, Oct 7
E-services being delivered through the 2000 plus Akshaya e-Kendras across the State have got legal sanctity with the Government bringing out the Kerala Information Technology (Electronic Delivery of Services) Rules 2010.
The rules, that has been framed under provisions of the central IT Act 2000, would be applicable to any e-service providers entitled by the Government. The rates for various e-service that could be charged by the e-service providers has also been notified by the government in the rules.
As many as 23 services that are being delivered through the village and taluk offices are listed out in the rules as e-services that could be delivered through the e-service providers. The application forms to be used for each service as well as the format of the certificate to be issued by the e-service provider have also be specifically mentioned so as to ensure uniformity in the services being delivered by all the e-service providers.
The e-service provider is entitled to a service charge of Rs. 20 for delivering an e-service. Service charge for allied services like status enquiry, computer print-out and scanning related to e-services and acknowledgment receipts is fixed at Rs. 2. Fifty percent of the service charge, except for the allied services, will have to be remitted to the Government.
The Government should conduct audit of the services being delivered through the e-service providers every year with the help of a audit agency. The audit should cover the over all functioning of the e-service providers as well as maintenance of accounts, say the rules.
The rules also provides that any license, permit, certificate or other services delivered through the e-service providers will be admissible in any legal or other proceedings. However, such certificate should contain wither a computer generated number or a bar code or digital signature or any other means notified by the Government so as to enure the authenticity of the document.
The format of the acknowledgment and receipt to be issued by the e-service provider has also been standardised in the rule.
Ends
Chandra's experience takes on Kasida's inexperience
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Oct. 4
A former Mayor, two time councilor, one of the probabale Mayor candidate and most importantly a well acceptable person of the locality. Thus goes the adjectives for J.Chandra, the LDF candidate from Peroorkada ward which is reserved for women.
She is taking on Kasida Madhu, a fresher to politics and a not so familiar person to the locality, who is the Congress candidate in the ward. She is the wife of a Non-Resident Keralite is having a couple of business concerns including an auditorium at Peroorkada junction. Not only that she has much adjectives to highlight, Kasida is also facing the threat from a candidate being backed by the SNDP.
If local sources are to be believed, Kasida is a late-hour choice of UDF. The SNDP had been pressing for Leelama, a retired school teacher and a resident of Amabalamukku, as the UDF condidate. However, as the UDF turned down the demand for unknown reasons, Leelama decided to enter the fray with the backing of SNDP.
“Leelama is not a Congress rebel, but a SNDP candidate and we do not see any threat from her,” said Congress local leader Manamoola Rajan.
While Chandra lists out a seroes of development activities intiated by herself during her term as councilor in from Kawdiar ward in 1995 to 2000 and Mayor in 2000 to 2005 as well as that by her party colleague V.S.Padmakumar during 2005 to 2010, the present status of Peroorkad and Ambalamukku junctions as well as the antiincumbancy factor against the LDF might snowball as adverse factors against her. Chandra could heave a sigh of relief as road works are progressing on a war footing basis at Ambalamukku junction. The UDF camps also blame the LDF of derailing a major development programmes for Peroorkada junction that was initiated during the term of the UDF government led by Oommen Chandy.
In the campaign mode, Chandra has already registered an edge as she had already reached out to the 7,500 voters. While Kasida is trailing behind, Leelamma has already made here presence felt in the ward. “Since there was some delay in deciding our candidate, we are quite behind in the camping. But we hope to over come it in another couple of days, “ said Congress activist Rajan.
All the three candidates share the advantage of being local residents for the past many years.
Ends
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Oct. 4
A former Mayor, two time councilor, one of the probabale Mayor candidate and most importantly a well acceptable person of the locality. Thus goes the adjectives for J.Chandra, the LDF candidate from Peroorkada ward which is reserved for women.
She is taking on Kasida Madhu, a fresher to politics and a not so familiar person to the locality, who is the Congress candidate in the ward. She is the wife of a Non-Resident Keralite is having a couple of business concerns including an auditorium at Peroorkada junction. Not only that she has much adjectives to highlight, Kasida is also facing the threat from a candidate being backed by the SNDP.
If local sources are to be believed, Kasida is a late-hour choice of UDF. The SNDP had been pressing for Leelama, a retired school teacher and a resident of Amabalamukku, as the UDF condidate. However, as the UDF turned down the demand for unknown reasons, Leelama decided to enter the fray with the backing of SNDP.
“Leelama is not a Congress rebel, but a SNDP candidate and we do not see any threat from her,” said Congress local leader Manamoola Rajan.
While Chandra lists out a seroes of development activities intiated by herself during her term as councilor in from Kawdiar ward in 1995 to 2000 and Mayor in 2000 to 2005 as well as that by her party colleague V.S.Padmakumar during 2005 to 2010, the present status of Peroorkad and Ambalamukku junctions as well as the antiincumbancy factor against the LDF might snowball as adverse factors against her. Chandra could heave a sigh of relief as road works are progressing on a war footing basis at Ambalamukku junction. The UDF camps also blame the LDF of derailing a major development programmes for Peroorkada junction that was initiated during the term of the UDF government led by Oommen Chandy.
In the campaign mode, Chandra has already registered an edge as she had already reached out to the 7,500 voters. While Kasida is trailing behind, Leelamma has already made here presence felt in the ward. “Since there was some delay in deciding our candidate, we are quite behind in the camping. But we hope to over come it in another couple of days, “ said Congress activist Rajan.
All the three candidates share the advantage of being local residents for the past many years.
Ends
Thursday 30 September 2010
Domestic services likely from new terminal
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
01 Oct 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amidst final steps to commence international services from the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is actively considering operation of both international and domestic services from the new terminal.
AAI officials here have already sent a proposal in this regard to their headquarters in New Delhi. The National Aviation Company of Indian Limited (Air India) had also raised a demand to operate both the domestic and international services from the new terminal.
``The proposal is under the active consideration of our headquarters. However, it may take some time to get the final nod as lots of technical factors are involved,’’ AAI sources said.
A major point being raised for the integration of both the terminals is that the peak-time passenger handling capacity of both the existing international and domestic terminals would come to only 1,000 whereas the new terminal could accommodate up to 1,600 passengers during peak hours. Hence, integration of both the international and domestic terminals with the new terminal would not lead to any congestion in the airport. The number of domestic passengers is only around one-third of the total number of international passengers.
Another impact of operating both domestic and international services from the new terminal would be on the user development fee. Once the domestic services are also operated from the new terminal the domestic passengers would also have to bear the user fee. In such a case, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority would have to rework the user fee which is now fixed at Rs 755.
At present, 14 airlines are operating international services from the Thiruvananthapuram Airport and four airlines are operating domestic services.
The new terminal is close to the city by around four kms compared to that of the existing domestic and international terminals. Hence, operating both domestic and international service from here would be convenient to the users, except for the user fee factor.
At a meeting of officials of various airlines and other agencies associated with the airport held here on Monday, NACIL had demanded integration of both domestic and international services from the new terminal. A delegation of NACIL would be holding further talks with AAI officials here on Friday.
Meanwhile, sources at a private airline alleged that there was a move to allow NACIL alone to operate both domestic and international services from the new terminal. Any such decision would invite strong protest from the other domestic airlines, especially Jet Airways, which is also operating both international and domestic services.
Kingfisher and Paramount are the two other airlines operating domestic service from Thiruvananthapuram. AAI officials are going ahead with steps to commence operations from the airport before October 20. An Air India Express flight would conduct a trial flight on October 14
The New Indian Express
01 Oct 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amidst final steps to commence international services from the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is actively considering operation of both international and domestic services from the new terminal.
AAI officials here have already sent a proposal in this regard to their headquarters in New Delhi. The National Aviation Company of Indian Limited (Air India) had also raised a demand to operate both the domestic and international services from the new terminal.
``The proposal is under the active consideration of our headquarters. However, it may take some time to get the final nod as lots of technical factors are involved,’’ AAI sources said.
A major point being raised for the integration of both the terminals is that the peak-time passenger handling capacity of both the existing international and domestic terminals would come to only 1,000 whereas the new terminal could accommodate up to 1,600 passengers during peak hours. Hence, integration of both the international and domestic terminals with the new terminal would not lead to any congestion in the airport. The number of domestic passengers is only around one-third of the total number of international passengers.
Another impact of operating both domestic and international services from the new terminal would be on the user development fee. Once the domestic services are also operated from the new terminal the domestic passengers would also have to bear the user fee. In such a case, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority would have to rework the user fee which is now fixed at Rs 755.
At present, 14 airlines are operating international services from the Thiruvananthapuram Airport and four airlines are operating domestic services.
The new terminal is close to the city by around four kms compared to that of the existing domestic and international terminals. Hence, operating both domestic and international service from here would be convenient to the users, except for the user fee factor.
At a meeting of officials of various airlines and other agencies associated with the airport held here on Monday, NACIL had demanded integration of both domestic and international services from the new terminal. A delegation of NACIL would be holding further talks with AAI officials here on Friday.
Meanwhile, sources at a private airline alleged that there was a move to allow NACIL alone to operate both domestic and international services from the new terminal. Any such decision would invite strong protest from the other domestic airlines, especially Jet Airways, which is also operating both international and domestic services.
Kingfisher and Paramount are the two other airlines operating domestic service from Thiruvananthapuram. AAI officials are going ahead with steps to commence operations from the airport before October 20. An Air India Express flight would conduct a trial flight on October 14
Udayakumar case: CBI to seek fresh trial
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
29 Sep 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the CBI finding serious lacuna in the charge-sheet filed by the Crime Branch in the Udayakumar custodial death case, it will be seeking a fresh trial in the case.
The CBI would soon file a request in the High Court seeking a fresh trial in the case at the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kochi, highly placed sources told 'Express.’
While ordering a CBI probe into the case in 2007, the High Court had stayed a trial that was going on in the Fast Track Court in Thiruvananthapuram on the basis of a chargesheet filed by the Crime Branch.
''Since there are glaring differences in the charges framed by the CBI as well as in the list of accused, compared to that of the chargesheet filed by the Crime Branch, a fresh trail in the case is essential,’’ said sources.
In a bid to plug the loopholes, the CBI had already recorded the statements of all the eight approvers in the case under Section 164 of CrPC before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court - IV in Thiruvananthapuram. It is learnt that Suresh Kumar, a key eye-witness in the case, who was taken into custody along with Udayakumar, had given a statement that he had earlier turned hostile during the trail in the Thiruvananthapuram Fast-Track court as he had received a bribe of Rs 20,000 from those close to the accused.
Legal experts point out that the Crime Branch chargesheet contained several loopholes in favour of the key accused in the case. The chargesheet did not mention about the developments between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Fort Police station on September 27, 2005, the day on which Udayakumar was taken into custody and was found dead.
Udayakumar was taken into custody by the three accused around 2.30 p.m. and he was subjected to torture till 4 p.m. But the first information report was taken only at 8 p.m. It was during this period that the conspiracy involving more police officials took place.
The Crime Branch chargesheet was silent on this part and it would have been a loophole for the three police constables, K Jithakumar, S V Sreekumar and K Soman, to escape from the charges of torture. The then sub-inspector Raveendran Nair, who had registered the FIR around 8 p.m., would have been made responsible for the torture that led to the death of Udayakumar.
Raveendran Nair is now made an approver in the case.
It is also learnt that the CBI had faced strong pressure from the top brass of the Police Department over arraigning more police officials as accused in the case, especially on charges of conspiracy and destroying evidence.
CBI crime-unit Inspector Pradeep Kumar who probed the case was even transferred to Chennai during the course of the probe
The New Indian Express
29 Sep 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the CBI finding serious lacuna in the charge-sheet filed by the Crime Branch in the Udayakumar custodial death case, it will be seeking a fresh trial in the case.
The CBI would soon file a request in the High Court seeking a fresh trial in the case at the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kochi, highly placed sources told 'Express.’
While ordering a CBI probe into the case in 2007, the High Court had stayed a trial that was going on in the Fast Track Court in Thiruvananthapuram on the basis of a chargesheet filed by the Crime Branch.
''Since there are glaring differences in the charges framed by the CBI as well as in the list of accused, compared to that of the chargesheet filed by the Crime Branch, a fresh trail in the case is essential,’’ said sources.
In a bid to plug the loopholes, the CBI had already recorded the statements of all the eight approvers in the case under Section 164 of CrPC before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court - IV in Thiruvananthapuram. It is learnt that Suresh Kumar, a key eye-witness in the case, who was taken into custody along with Udayakumar, had given a statement that he had earlier turned hostile during the trail in the Thiruvananthapuram Fast-Track court as he had received a bribe of Rs 20,000 from those close to the accused.
Legal experts point out that the Crime Branch chargesheet contained several loopholes in favour of the key accused in the case. The chargesheet did not mention about the developments between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Fort Police station on September 27, 2005, the day on which Udayakumar was taken into custody and was found dead.
Udayakumar was taken into custody by the three accused around 2.30 p.m. and he was subjected to torture till 4 p.m. But the first information report was taken only at 8 p.m. It was during this period that the conspiracy involving more police officials took place.
The Crime Branch chargesheet was silent on this part and it would have been a loophole for the three police constables, K Jithakumar, S V Sreekumar and K Soman, to escape from the charges of torture. The then sub-inspector Raveendran Nair, who had registered the FIR around 8 p.m., would have been made responsible for the torture that led to the death of Udayakumar.
Raveendran Nair is now made an approver in the case.
It is also learnt that the CBI had faced strong pressure from the top brass of the Police Department over arraigning more police officials as accused in the case, especially on charges of conspiracy and destroying evidence.
CBI crime-unit Inspector Pradeep Kumar who probed the case was even transferred to Chennai during the course of the probe
Sunday 26 September 2010
COURT CONFIRMS CVC'S INVOLVEMENT IN PALMOLEIN SCAM
By Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Sept. 25
The Office of the Enquiry Commissioner and Sepcial Judge (Vigilance) here has confirmed that Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) P.J.Thomas is still an accused in the Palmolein corruption case.
In reply to a query under the Right to Information Act, the Office of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge has also clarified that the charges against any of the eight accused in the case, including Thomas, have not been quashed by the court till date. “ P.J.Thomas continues to be the eighth accused in the array of accused,” says the RTI reply.
The RTI query was sought in the back drop of the Centre maintaining that Thomas, a Kerala-cadre IAS officer, was exonerated in the Palmolein case. Express had earlier reported that the claim of the Centre was false and that Thomas, who was a former Chief Secretary, is still an accused in the case.
The appointment of Thomas to the post had sparked off a controversy with the BJP raising suspicion over his credentials.
Meanwhile, though the Palmolein case came up before the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) on Saturday there were no proceedings as the case is stayed. The case is now posted to October 23.
Another Kerala-cadre IAS officer Jiji Thomson who has been posted in the Centre as Special Director General of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games, is also an accused in the Palmolein case. Others accused in the case include former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader K.Karunakaran and former Civil Supplies Minister T.H.Mustafa.
http://expressbuzz.com/edition/biography/pj-thomas-still-an-accused-in-palmolein-case/210021.html
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Sept. 25
The Office of the Enquiry Commissioner and Sepcial Judge (Vigilance) here has confirmed that Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) P.J.Thomas is still an accused in the Palmolein corruption case.
In reply to a query under the Right to Information Act, the Office of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge has also clarified that the charges against any of the eight accused in the case, including Thomas, have not been quashed by the court till date. “ P.J.Thomas continues to be the eighth accused in the array of accused,” says the RTI reply.
The RTI query was sought in the back drop of the Centre maintaining that Thomas, a Kerala-cadre IAS officer, was exonerated in the Palmolein case. Express had earlier reported that the claim of the Centre was false and that Thomas, who was a former Chief Secretary, is still an accused in the case.
The appointment of Thomas to the post had sparked off a controversy with the BJP raising suspicion over his credentials.
Meanwhile, though the Palmolein case came up before the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) on Saturday there were no proceedings as the case is stayed. The case is now posted to October 23.
Another Kerala-cadre IAS officer Jiji Thomson who has been posted in the Centre as Special Director General of the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games, is also an accused in the Palmolein case. Others accused in the case include former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader K.Karunakaran and former Civil Supplies Minister T.H.Mustafa.
http://expressbuzz.com/edition/biography/pj-thomas-still-an-accused-in-palmolein-case/210021.html
AMBULANCE SERVICES UNDER SCANNER
By Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Sept. 24
Will a police officer dare to stop an Ambulance that is moving at a high speed with alarms and emergency lights on ?
This privilege being enjoyed by ambulance services, clubbed with the mushrooming number of ambulance services in the state, is indeed becoming a cause of concern for the law enforcers. The entry of various extremist outfits as well as certain organisations that are into mysterious social services into ambulance operations adds to the concern of the police.
The issue came up for discussion at a recent meeting of top police officers in the State and DGP Jacob Punnoose had directed the intelligence-wing to chalk out certain measures to sort out the issue.
According to the data available with the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) there are 3292 ambulance services in the State at present. This includes 3098 light motor vehicles, 97 medium motor vehicles and 97 heavy motor vehicles. The ambulance services are offered tax concession.
Sources in the Police Department said that ambulance service was being widely misused by various outfits to give cover to their mysterious activities. Especially several extremist outfits are now operating ambulance service with mysterious intentions.
While Shivsena operates 23 ambulance services across the state, the Popular Front of India, which is under a cloud of suspicion for its alleged extremist activities, is also learnt to be operating ambulance services. However PFI leaders said that at present they are not operating ambulance services.
"At present we don't have any mechanism to regulate ambulance services. Besides those allowed by the MVD, there are also a number of ambulance services operating in the state without the permission of the MVD. Hence, a mechanism to monitor ambulance services in very essential, “ the DGP said.
During the last Attukal Pongala, an ambulance being run by an extremist outfit was found frequently speeding towards the restricted areas near the temple a number of times. A senior police officer in the city who became suspicious intercepted the vehicles and was surprised to see that the ambulance was transporting ladies for pongala, recalls City Police Commissioner M.R.Ajithkumar.
http://expressbuzz.com/edition/biography/ambulance-services-under-scanner/210034.html
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Sept. 24
Will a police officer dare to stop an Ambulance that is moving at a high speed with alarms and emergency lights on ?
This privilege being enjoyed by ambulance services, clubbed with the mushrooming number of ambulance services in the state, is indeed becoming a cause of concern for the law enforcers. The entry of various extremist outfits as well as certain organisations that are into mysterious social services into ambulance operations adds to the concern of the police.
The issue came up for discussion at a recent meeting of top police officers in the State and DGP Jacob Punnoose had directed the intelligence-wing to chalk out certain measures to sort out the issue.
According to the data available with the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) there are 3292 ambulance services in the State at present. This includes 3098 light motor vehicles, 97 medium motor vehicles and 97 heavy motor vehicles. The ambulance services are offered tax concession.
Sources in the Police Department said that ambulance service was being widely misused by various outfits to give cover to their mysterious activities. Especially several extremist outfits are now operating ambulance service with mysterious intentions.
While Shivsena operates 23 ambulance services across the state, the Popular Front of India, which is under a cloud of suspicion for its alleged extremist activities, is also learnt to be operating ambulance services. However PFI leaders said that at present they are not operating ambulance services.
"At present we don't have any mechanism to regulate ambulance services. Besides those allowed by the MVD, there are also a number of ambulance services operating in the state without the permission of the MVD. Hence, a mechanism to monitor ambulance services in very essential, “ the DGP said.
During the last Attukal Pongala, an ambulance being run by an extremist outfit was found frequently speeding towards the restricted areas near the temple a number of times. A senior police officer in the city who became suspicious intercepted the vehicles and was surprised to see that the ambulance was transporting ladies for pongala, recalls City Police Commissioner M.R.Ajithkumar.
http://expressbuzz.com/edition/biography/ambulance-services-under-scanner/210034.html
Friday 17 September 2010
CVC IS ON BAIL
By Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Sept. 13
It might be a rare honour for the nation. The officer who is holding
the highest position in the nations Vigilance machianery is indeed on
bail in a Vigilance case !
P.J.Thomas, the Kerala-cadre IAS officer who has been appointed as
Chief Vigilance Commissioner amidst controversies, is on bail from the
court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in
Thiruvananthapuram in the sensational Palmoline case.
According to the information available with Express, Thomas, who was a
former Civil Supplies secretary, appeared before the court on Apirl
2, 2003 as per a summons issued by the court in connection with the
Palmoline case and was granted bail. Former Chief Secretary
Padmakumar and former Additional Chief Secretaray Zachariah Mathew
also appeared before the court on the same day and were granted bail.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) which probed into the
Palmoline case had filed the chargesheet against the eight persons
including Thomas in November 1999. On March 12, 2003 the court issued
summons to all the eight accused. The others accused, including former
Chief Minister K.Karunakaran, Civil Supplies Minister T.H.Mustaffa and
Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director Jiji
Thomson, appeared before the court on April 9 and were granted bail.
Meanwhile, contradictory to the observation of the Central Vigilance
Commission justifying the involvement of P.J.Thomas and Jiji Thomson
in the case, it has also come to light that the Supreme Court had
observed that the case against the accused could not be considered as
a “result of malafides or actuated by extraneous considerations.”
While dismissing a petition filed by Karunakaran seeking quashing of
the FIR in the case in March 29, 2000 the Supreme Court observed that
“the menace of corruption cannot be permitted to be hidden under the
carpet of legal technicalities.”
It is also pointed out that the VACB had filed the chargesheet in the
case as per a direction of the Supreme Court. The High Court had also
observed that prima facie there was corruption in deal and the
Comptroller and Auditor General had detected irregularities in the
deal.
“The question is not over the involvement of P.J.Thomas in the
corruption, but over the ethics in appointing a person who is still an
accused in a Vigilance case to the top most post of CVC. Thomas should
have been appointed to such a post only after he is exhonerated by the
court,” said a senior counsel.
Ends.
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Sept. 13
It might be a rare honour for the nation. The officer who is holding
the highest position in the nations Vigilance machianery is indeed on
bail in a Vigilance case !
P.J.Thomas, the Kerala-cadre IAS officer who has been appointed as
Chief Vigilance Commissioner amidst controversies, is on bail from the
court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in
Thiruvananthapuram in the sensational Palmoline case.
According to the information available with Express, Thomas, who was a
former Civil Supplies secretary, appeared before the court on Apirl
2, 2003 as per a summons issued by the court in connection with the
Palmoline case and was granted bail. Former Chief Secretary
Padmakumar and former Additional Chief Secretaray Zachariah Mathew
also appeared before the court on the same day and were granted bail.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) which probed into the
Palmoline case had filed the chargesheet against the eight persons
including Thomas in November 1999. On March 12, 2003 the court issued
summons to all the eight accused. The others accused, including former
Chief Minister K.Karunakaran, Civil Supplies Minister T.H.Mustaffa and
Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director Jiji
Thomson, appeared before the court on April 9 and were granted bail.
Meanwhile, contradictory to the observation of the Central Vigilance
Commission justifying the involvement of P.J.Thomas and Jiji Thomson
in the case, it has also come to light that the Supreme Court had
observed that the case against the accused could not be considered as
a “result of malafides or actuated by extraneous considerations.”
While dismissing a petition filed by Karunakaran seeking quashing of
the FIR in the case in March 29, 2000 the Supreme Court observed that
“the menace of corruption cannot be permitted to be hidden under the
carpet of legal technicalities.”
It is also pointed out that the VACB had filed the chargesheet in the
case as per a direction of the Supreme Court. The High Court had also
observed that prima facie there was corruption in deal and the
Comptroller and Auditor General had detected irregularities in the
deal.
“The question is not over the involvement of P.J.Thomas in the
corruption, but over the ethics in appointing a person who is still an
accused in a Vigilance case to the top most post of CVC. Thomas should
have been appointed to such a post only after he is exhonerated by the
court,” said a senior counsel.
Ends.
CVC COMES TO THE RESCUE OF CVC
By Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Sept 12
While it has come to light that the Centre has given clean chit to
Kerala-cadre IAS officer P.J.Thomas in the Palmoline case on the basis
of an observation of the Central Vigilance Commission, it is pointed
out that the CVC's observation will not legally exonerate the IAS
officer from the case pending against him at the Vigilance Special
Court in Thiruvananthapuram.
Sources in the Vigilance Department said that the CVC's observation
would deny Centre's sanction to prosecute the IAS officer under the
Prevention of Corruption Act. But the State Government had already
granted sanction to prosecute the officer under Indian Penal Code.
Moreover the observation of the CVC would have no binding on a case
that was already chargesheeted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption
Bureau at the court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge
(Vigilance) here in 2003.
Express had reported the other day that the Centre's claim that
P.J.Thomas, who has been appointed as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner
of the nation, was exonerated in the Palmoline case was not true as he
is still an accused in the case as per the records available with the
VACB and the court.
According to the reply given by the Department of Personnel and
Training to a query under the Right to Information Act on the status
of the Vigilance case against Thomas as well as his IAS colleague Jiji
Thomson, who is also an accused in the case, the CVC had observed that
no case is made against them and that the two officers acted in
accordance with the Cabinet decision and no loss had been caused to
the state government. Most importantly, no case is made out that they
had derived any benefit from the transaction, the CVC observed.
The CVC had also observed that the case may not be held against the
two officers for the purpose of their empanelment at the centre for
higher posts and per their eligibility, says the reply to the RTI
application given about two years back by the wife of former Chief
Secretaray S.Padmakumar who is also an accused in the Palmoline case.
Sources said that the CVC's observation came after P.J.Thomas and Jiji
Thomson made an appeal a couple of years back in connection with the
mandatory clearance required for their promotion.
Legal experts also point out that since the Palmoline case is already
chargesheeted at a court, any person arraigned in the chargesheet
could be exonerated only with the concurrance of the court. “CVC could
only make an observation, but is not a legal authority to exonerate a
person accused in a case, “ said senior lawyer and former Vigilance
Tribunal Cherinyoor P.Sashidharan Nair.
ends.
CVC is on bail
By Arjun Raghunath
T'Puram, Sept. 13 (2010)
It might be a rare honour for the nation. The officer who is holding
the highest position in the nations Vigilance machianery is indeed on
bail in a Vigilance case !
P.J.Thomas, the Kerala-cadre IAS officer who has been appointed as
Chief Vigilance Commissioner amidst controversies, is on bail from the
court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in
Thiruvananthapuram in the sensational Palmoline case.
According to the information available with Express, Thomas, who was a
former Civil Supplies secretary, appeared before the court on Apirl
2, 2003 as per a summons issued by the court in connection with the
Palmoline case and was granted bail. Former Chief Secretary
Padmakumar and former Additional Chief Secretaray Zachariah Mathew
also appeared before the court on the same day and were granted bail.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) which probed into the
Palmoline case had filed the chargesheet against the eight persons
including Thomas in November 1999. On March 12, 2003 the court issued
summons to all the eight accused. The others accused, including former
Chief Minister K.Karunakaran, Civil Supplies Minister T.H.Mustaffa and
Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director Jiji
Thomson, appeared before the court on April 9 and were granted bail.
Meanwhile, contradictory to the observation of the Central Vigilance
Commission justifying the involvement of P.J.Thomas and Jiji Thomson
in the case, it has also come to light that the Supreme Court had
observed that the case against the accused could not be considered as
a “result of malafides or actuated by extraneous considerations.”
While dismissing a petition filed by Karunakaran seeking quashing of
the FIR in the case in March 29, 2000 the Supreme Court observed that
“the menace of corruption cannot be permitted to be hidden under the
carpet of legal technicalities.”
It is also pointed out that the VACB had filed the chargesheet in the
case as per a direction of the Supreme Court. The High Court had also
observed that prima facie there was corruption in deal and the
Comptroller and Auditor General had detected irregularities in the
deal.
“The question is not over the involvement of P.J.Thomas in the
corruption, but over the ethics in appointing a person who is still an
accused in a Vigilance case to the top most post of CVC. Thomas should
have been appointed to such a post only after he is exhonerated by the
court,” said a senior counsel.
Ends.
The New Indian Express
T'Puram, Sept 12
While it has come to light that the Centre has given clean chit to
Kerala-cadre IAS officer P.J.Thomas in the Palmoline case on the basis
of an observation of the Central Vigilance Commission, it is pointed
out that the CVC's observation will not legally exonerate the IAS
officer from the case pending against him at the Vigilance Special
Court in Thiruvananthapuram.
Sources in the Vigilance Department said that the CVC's observation
would deny Centre's sanction to prosecute the IAS officer under the
Prevention of Corruption Act. But the State Government had already
granted sanction to prosecute the officer under Indian Penal Code.
Moreover the observation of the CVC would have no binding on a case
that was already chargesheeted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption
Bureau at the court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge
(Vigilance) here in 2003.
Express had reported the other day that the Centre's claim that
P.J.Thomas, who has been appointed as the Chief Vigilance Commissioner
of the nation, was exonerated in the Palmoline case was not true as he
is still an accused in the case as per the records available with the
VACB and the court.
According to the reply given by the Department of Personnel and
Training to a query under the Right to Information Act on the status
of the Vigilance case against Thomas as well as his IAS colleague Jiji
Thomson, who is also an accused in the case, the CVC had observed that
no case is made against them and that the two officers acted in
accordance with the Cabinet decision and no loss had been caused to
the state government. Most importantly, no case is made out that they
had derived any benefit from the transaction, the CVC observed.
The CVC had also observed that the case may not be held against the
two officers for the purpose of their empanelment at the centre for
higher posts and per their eligibility, says the reply to the RTI
application given about two years back by the wife of former Chief
Secretaray S.Padmakumar who is also an accused in the Palmoline case.
Sources said that the CVC's observation came after P.J.Thomas and Jiji
Thomson made an appeal a couple of years back in connection with the
mandatory clearance required for their promotion.
Legal experts also point out that since the Palmoline case is already
chargesheeted at a court, any person arraigned in the chargesheet
could be exonerated only with the concurrance of the court. “CVC could
only make an observation, but is not a legal authority to exonerate a
person accused in a case, “ said senior lawyer and former Vigilance
Tribunal Cherinyoor P.Sashidharan Nair.
ends.
CVC is on bail
By Arjun Raghunath
T'Puram, Sept. 13 (2010)
It might be a rare honour for the nation. The officer who is holding
the highest position in the nations Vigilance machianery is indeed on
bail in a Vigilance case !
P.J.Thomas, the Kerala-cadre IAS officer who has been appointed as
Chief Vigilance Commissioner amidst controversies, is on bail from the
court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in
Thiruvananthapuram in the sensational Palmoline case.
According to the information available with Express, Thomas, who was a
former Civil Supplies secretary, appeared before the court on Apirl
2, 2003 as per a summons issued by the court in connection with the
Palmoline case and was granted bail. Former Chief Secretary
Padmakumar and former Additional Chief Secretaray Zachariah Mathew
also appeared before the court on the same day and were granted bail.
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) which probed into the
Palmoline case had filed the chargesheet against the eight persons
including Thomas in November 1999. On March 12, 2003 the court issued
summons to all the eight accused. The others accused, including former
Chief Minister K.Karunakaran, Civil Supplies Minister T.H.Mustaffa and
Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director Jiji
Thomson, appeared before the court on April 9 and were granted bail.
Meanwhile, contradictory to the observation of the Central Vigilance
Commission justifying the involvement of P.J.Thomas and Jiji Thomson
in the case, it has also come to light that the Supreme Court had
observed that the case against the accused could not be considered as
a “result of malafides or actuated by extraneous considerations.”
While dismissing a petition filed by Karunakaran seeking quashing of
the FIR in the case in March 29, 2000 the Supreme Court observed that
“the menace of corruption cannot be permitted to be hidden under the
carpet of legal technicalities.”
It is also pointed out that the VACB had filed the chargesheet in the
case as per a direction of the Supreme Court. The High Court had also
observed that prima facie there was corruption in deal and the
Comptroller and Auditor General had detected irregularities in the
deal.
“The question is not over the involvement of P.J.Thomas in the
corruption, but over the ethics in appointing a person who is still an
accused in a Vigilance case to the top most post of CVC. Thomas should
have been appointed to such a post only after he is exhonerated by the
court,” said a senior counsel.
Ends.
Thursday 9 September 2010
New CVC an accused in palmolein scam in Kerala
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
9 Sep 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Centre may have given a clean chit to P J Thomas, the Kerala cadre IAS officer who has been appointed the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, but to the State Vigilance Anti-Corruption Bureau, he is still an accused in the palmolein import case.
State government sources said so far there is no information on the exoneration of Thomas in the case chargesheeted in the court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) here in 2003.
Thomas is the eighth accused in the case (6/2003) chargesheeted by the VACB.
Further proceedings in the case were stayed after K Karunakaran, another accused in the case, approached the Supreme Court maintaining that the Speaker’s permission was required to prosecute him.
VACB sources said as per the current status of the case, P J Thomas is still an accused in the case. “We don’t have any records showing Thomas has been exonerated in the case,” the source said. The Vigilance Special Court where the case was registered too does not have any record to show that Thomas has been exonerated of the charges. While the Prime Minister has held high Thomas’s integrity, Home Minister P Chidambaram said Thomas was exonerated in the palmoil import scam.
The appointment of Thomas as CVC had sparked off a controversy with the BJP questioning his integrity over his alleged involvement in a 2G spectrum deal as well as the palmolein case. Subsequently, the Congress leadership had come to his rescue. The case pertains to irregularities in the import of 15,000 tonnes of palmolein to the state through the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco).
According to the Vigilance case, the then Chief Minister K Karunakaran colluded with Food Minister T H Mustafa, Chief Secretary S Padmakumar, Supplyco MD Jiji Thomson and Civil Supplies Secretary P J Thomas to cause a loss of Rs 2.80 crore to the exchequer.
The New Indian Express
9 Sep 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Centre may have given a clean chit to P J Thomas, the Kerala cadre IAS officer who has been appointed the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, but to the State Vigilance Anti-Corruption Bureau, he is still an accused in the palmolein import case.
State government sources said so far there is no information on the exoneration of Thomas in the case chargesheeted in the court of the Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) here in 2003.
Thomas is the eighth accused in the case (6/2003) chargesheeted by the VACB.
Further proceedings in the case were stayed after K Karunakaran, another accused in the case, approached the Supreme Court maintaining that the Speaker’s permission was required to prosecute him.
VACB sources said as per the current status of the case, P J Thomas is still an accused in the case. “We don’t have any records showing Thomas has been exonerated in the case,” the source said. The Vigilance Special Court where the case was registered too does not have any record to show that Thomas has been exonerated of the charges. While the Prime Minister has held high Thomas’s integrity, Home Minister P Chidambaram said Thomas was exonerated in the palmoil import scam.
The appointment of Thomas as CVC had sparked off a controversy with the BJP questioning his integrity over his alleged involvement in a 2G spectrum deal as well as the palmolein case. Subsequently, the Congress leadership had come to his rescue. The case pertains to irregularities in the import of 15,000 tonnes of palmolein to the state through the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco).
According to the Vigilance case, the then Chief Minister K Karunakaran colluded with Food Minister T H Mustafa, Chief Secretary S Padmakumar, Supplyco MD Jiji Thomson and Civil Supplies Secretary P J Thomas to cause a loss of Rs 2.80 crore to the exchequer.
Tipplers switch to ‘arishtam’
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
9 Sep 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the Kuttippuram hooch tragedy has spurred the Excise Department to go all out against spurious liquor and toddy in the district, tipplers are gulping down a seemingly-innocuous Ayurvedic tonic by the bottlesful to get that added ‘kick’ - ‘Arishtam.’
The USP of ‘arishtam’ is that it’s cheap and doesn’t have the social stigma attached to it as does toddy, despite it having more alcoholic content than toddy.
As the free flow of illicit liquor has been affected owing to the frequent inspections by the Excise, many tipplers in the district seem to be shifting their favour towards ayurvedic tonics (‘arishtam’), Excise officials confirm. While the permissible alcohol content in toddy is only 8.1 percent, in ‘arishtam’ it could go up to 12 percent. Moreover, ‘arishtam’ is cheaper than toddy.
Excise officials, who confirm that ‘alcoholic arishtams’ are now widely available in the district, also point out that about 1,572 litres of ‘arishtam’ was seized by the Excise in a special drive held during Onam between July 21 and August 31. “Alcoholic arishtam is in demand mainly in the rural parts of the district like Neyyattinkara, Balaramapuram and Chirayinkeezhu,’’ Excise officials said.
Meanwhile, the 112-odd toddy shops in the district would struggle to meet the demand in the days ahead with the Excise intensifying enforcement against the supply of illicit liquor in the wake of the Kuttippuram tragedy.
Owing to the shortage of toddy, already, nearly 40 toddy shops in the district are defunct. On an average, at least 50 litres of toddy are required for a toddy shop daily and hence 3,000 litres of genuine toddy is required in the city each day. The major chunk of the so-called ‘toddy’ being supplied in the district comes from other districts like Palakkad.
‘’It is not only the urge of the toddy shop licencees to earn more profit that leads to the mixing of spirit and illicit liquor with toddy, but also the demand of the customers to get an extra kick,” Excise Department sources said.
Excise Deputy Commissioner in Thiruvananthapuram K A Joseph said that as a result of the constant vigil of the Excise Department, the flow of illicit liquor to the district could be checked considerably. He also maintained that none of the toddy shops functioning in the district are supplying spurious toddy.
“We have beefed up the enforcement at all the 15 checkposts in the district bordering Tamil Nadu. Even a sniffer dog is being pressed into service. Moreover, frequent checks are conducted at the toddy shops. The enforcement has been intensified in the wake of the Malappuram tragedy,“ he said.
arjun_raghunath@expressbuzz.com
The New Indian Express
9 Sep 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While the Kuttippuram hooch tragedy has spurred the Excise Department to go all out against spurious liquor and toddy in the district, tipplers are gulping down a seemingly-innocuous Ayurvedic tonic by the bottlesful to get that added ‘kick’ - ‘Arishtam.’
The USP of ‘arishtam’ is that it’s cheap and doesn’t have the social stigma attached to it as does toddy, despite it having more alcoholic content than toddy.
As the free flow of illicit liquor has been affected owing to the frequent inspections by the Excise, many tipplers in the district seem to be shifting their favour towards ayurvedic tonics (‘arishtam’), Excise officials confirm. While the permissible alcohol content in toddy is only 8.1 percent, in ‘arishtam’ it could go up to 12 percent. Moreover, ‘arishtam’ is cheaper than toddy.
Excise officials, who confirm that ‘alcoholic arishtams’ are now widely available in the district, also point out that about 1,572 litres of ‘arishtam’ was seized by the Excise in a special drive held during Onam between July 21 and August 31. “Alcoholic arishtam is in demand mainly in the rural parts of the district like Neyyattinkara, Balaramapuram and Chirayinkeezhu,’’ Excise officials said.
Meanwhile, the 112-odd toddy shops in the district would struggle to meet the demand in the days ahead with the Excise intensifying enforcement against the supply of illicit liquor in the wake of the Kuttippuram tragedy.
Owing to the shortage of toddy, already, nearly 40 toddy shops in the district are defunct. On an average, at least 50 litres of toddy are required for a toddy shop daily and hence 3,000 litres of genuine toddy is required in the city each day. The major chunk of the so-called ‘toddy’ being supplied in the district comes from other districts like Palakkad.
‘’It is not only the urge of the toddy shop licencees to earn more profit that leads to the mixing of spirit and illicit liquor with toddy, but also the demand of the customers to get an extra kick,” Excise Department sources said.
Excise Deputy Commissioner in Thiruvananthapuram K A Joseph said that as a result of the constant vigil of the Excise Department, the flow of illicit liquor to the district could be checked considerably. He also maintained that none of the toddy shops functioning in the district are supplying spurious toddy.
“We have beefed up the enforcement at all the 15 checkposts in the district bordering Tamil Nadu. Even a sniffer dog is being pressed into service. Moreover, frequent checks are conducted at the toddy shops. The enforcement has been intensified in the wake of the Malappuram tragedy,“ he said.
arjun_raghunath@expressbuzz.com
Banning PFI: Government double standard exposed
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
8 Sep 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government seems to be maintaining a double standard on the issue of banning the Popular Front of India (PFI) despite the strong stand it had taken earlier in banning the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The Government is shying away from recommending a ban on PFI citing technical reasons.
In the case of the PFI, the State Government has taken a safe stand by neither opposing a ban nor favouring it and passing the buck to the Centre. However, in the case of SIMI, the State Government had taken a stand that SIMI should be banned.
While the High Court sought the opinion of the State Government on a petition seeking a ban on PFI, the State Government had merely mentioned the cases involving the PFI activists as well as their other suspected activities.
The Government also stated that the right to ban an organisation is vested with the Centre and hence it is for the Centre to take a decision.
In May, during a sitting of the single-bench tribunal appointed by the Centre to review the ban on SIMI, the then IG (Internal Security) T.K.Vinod Kumar had submitted an affidavit stating that the ban on SIMI should continue. The State Government had maintained the same stance during the previous years also.
“It is true that the Government had recommended a ban on SIMI whereas it is quite silent on whether to ban PFI or not. It all depends on the Government’s policies,” said a senior police officer.
The State Government maintained in the High Court that the links of Popular Front of India with extremist outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba is being probed by the State police. It was also stated that the police obtained information suspecting that LeT operative Tadiyantavide Nazir had stayed at the PFI’s Ernakulam district office.
In the case of SIMI, the affidavit filed by the Government before the tribunal said that the ban on SIMI should continue as SIMI activists were continuing extremist activities by floating other organisations.
The New Indian Express
8 Sep 2010
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government seems to be maintaining a double standard on the issue of banning the Popular Front of India (PFI) despite the strong stand it had taken earlier in banning the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The Government is shying away from recommending a ban on PFI citing technical reasons.
In the case of the PFI, the State Government has taken a safe stand by neither opposing a ban nor favouring it and passing the buck to the Centre. However, in the case of SIMI, the State Government had taken a stand that SIMI should be banned.
While the High Court sought the opinion of the State Government on a petition seeking a ban on PFI, the State Government had merely mentioned the cases involving the PFI activists as well as their other suspected activities.
The Government also stated that the right to ban an organisation is vested with the Centre and hence it is for the Centre to take a decision.
In May, during a sitting of the single-bench tribunal appointed by the Centre to review the ban on SIMI, the then IG (Internal Security) T.K.Vinod Kumar had submitted an affidavit stating that the ban on SIMI should continue. The State Government had maintained the same stance during the previous years also.
“It is true that the Government had recommended a ban on SIMI whereas it is quite silent on whether to ban PFI or not. It all depends on the Government’s policies,” said a senior police officer.
The State Government maintained in the High Court that the links of Popular Front of India with extremist outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Toiba is being probed by the State police. It was also stated that the police obtained information suspecting that LeT operative Tadiyantavide Nazir had stayed at the PFI’s Ernakulam district office.
In the case of SIMI, the affidavit filed by the Government before the tribunal said that the ban on SIMI should continue as SIMI activists were continuing extremist activities by floating other organisations.
Saturday 4 September 2010
Oracle may arrive at Technopark
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Oracle, one of the global IT giants, is gearing up to spread its wings to God’s Own Country.
It is learnt that Oracle is planning to send a delegation to Kerala by the end of this year to take further measures in this direction.
The new developments are the outcome of a recent video conference attended by a delegation representing the State and senior officials of Oracle. While former Union Minister and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor led the State delegation, the Oracle team was led by its Executive Vice President Thomas Kurian.
During the video conference that lasted more than 30 minutes, Kurian indicated that a delegation from Oracle would be sent to Kerala by November to have a first-hand feel of the facilities available. ‘’Kurian, who directly reports to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, is also likely to take up the matter during the discussion on finalising the global development plans of Oracle which is likely to take place by November,’’ sources in the IT Department told Expresso.
Technopark Chief Executive Officer Mervin Alexander, who also took part in the discussion, said that things were moving in the right direction. ‘’We are quite hopeful over the developments. It seems that Oracle is quite impressed at the facilities that we are offering. Though they may not go for a full-fledged campus, we expect that Oracle would take a decision on setting up a unit in Technopark without much delay,’’ Mervin told this paper.
The video conference was held from the video conferencing facility of UST Global at the Technopark on August 13. The conference, that began by about 9.15 pm, lasted till around 10 pm. Thomas Kurian joined the video conference from Oracle’s headquarters in the US.
Ajay Prasad of the Trivandrum Development Forum was also present at the video conference.
Oracle, at present, has development centres at Bangalore, Hyderabad and Gurgaon in India.
Sources close to Tharoor said that Tharoor was also instrumental in attracting HCL to Technopark. HCL has already taken steps to commence its operations from here.
Mervin also said that there have been a lot of queries from several leading players in the IT and related sectors on the upcoming Technocity project.
The New Indian Express
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Oracle, one of the global IT giants, is gearing up to spread its wings to God’s Own Country.
It is learnt that Oracle is planning to send a delegation to Kerala by the end of this year to take further measures in this direction.
The new developments are the outcome of a recent video conference attended by a delegation representing the State and senior officials of Oracle. While former Union Minister and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor led the State delegation, the Oracle team was led by its Executive Vice President Thomas Kurian.
During the video conference that lasted more than 30 minutes, Kurian indicated that a delegation from Oracle would be sent to Kerala by November to have a first-hand feel of the facilities available. ‘’Kurian, who directly reports to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, is also likely to take up the matter during the discussion on finalising the global development plans of Oracle which is likely to take place by November,’’ sources in the IT Department told Expresso.
Technopark Chief Executive Officer Mervin Alexander, who also took part in the discussion, said that things were moving in the right direction. ‘’We are quite hopeful over the developments. It seems that Oracle is quite impressed at the facilities that we are offering. Though they may not go for a full-fledged campus, we expect that Oracle would take a decision on setting up a unit in Technopark without much delay,’’ Mervin told this paper.
The video conference was held from the video conferencing facility of UST Global at the Technopark on August 13. The conference, that began by about 9.15 pm, lasted till around 10 pm. Thomas Kurian joined the video conference from Oracle’s headquarters in the US.
Ajay Prasad of the Trivandrum Development Forum was also present at the video conference.
Oracle, at present, has development centres at Bangalore, Hyderabad and Gurgaon in India.
Sources close to Tharoor said that Tharoor was also instrumental in attracting HCL to Technopark. HCL has already taken steps to commence its operations from here.
Mervin also said that there have been a lot of queries from several leading players in the IT and related sectors on the upcoming Technocity project.
Cargo complex to move
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: In a bid to resolve the difficulties in cargo movement that may arise once the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport becomes functional, the cargo complex of the Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE) is being shifted to Chackai from Shangumugham.
The new cargo complex would come up on the two acres of land allotted by the State Government to the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology (RGAAT) opposite the Government ITI. The existing facilities of the cargo complex, which also occupies an area of around two acres, would, in turn, be handed over to RGAAT for setting up the academy.
Meanwhile, it is alleged that though a decision to set up facilities for the cargo complex at the site in Chackai was taken more than a month ago, no further steps in this regard were taken.
KSIE Managing Director M D Josemon said that though the design of the structures at Chackai was already completed, KSIE was yet to get actual possession of the land. RGAAT Executive Vice Chairman V Thulasidas, however, said that it was for the KSIE to take further steps in this regard.
The decision to swap the land between the two agencies, both of which are under the State Government, was taken at a meeting attended by Law Minister M Vijayakumar and Industry Minister Elamaram Kareem here on July 20. KSIE MD Josemon had said at the meeting that temporary facilities could be set up at the land at Chackai within three months for shifting the export cargo unit. It is now nearly one-and-a-half months since the decision was taken, it is being pointed out.
Once the present cargo complex of KSIE is handed over to RGAAT, the existing facilities there could be utilised for the Academy. ‘’We hope to use the existing warehouse as a hangar and the buildings could be used as an office as well as training blocks,’’ said Thulasidas.
KSIE sources said that the export cargo, which constitutes the major chunk of the operations at the cargo complex, would be shifted to Chackai, whereas the import cargo operations would be handled on the existing premises itself. The entire cargo operations may be later shifted to a new cargo complex planned near the Enchakkal side, Josemon said.
Meanwhile, the decision to shift the cargo complex to Chackai would be an advantage to the exporters operating from here as it is more adjacent to the city as well as the NH bypass than the existing one at Shangumugham.
The decision to shift the cargo complex to Chackai has been taken in view of the practical difficulties in shifting cargo from the new terminal to the cargo complex once the new terminal becomes operational.
The New Indian Express
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: In a bid to resolve the difficulties in cargo movement that may arise once the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport becomes functional, the cargo complex of the Kerala State Industrial Enterprises (KSIE) is being shifted to Chackai from Shangumugham.
The new cargo complex would come up on the two acres of land allotted by the State Government to the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology (RGAAT) opposite the Government ITI. The existing facilities of the cargo complex, which also occupies an area of around two acres, would, in turn, be handed over to RGAAT for setting up the academy.
Meanwhile, it is alleged that though a decision to set up facilities for the cargo complex at the site in Chackai was taken more than a month ago, no further steps in this regard were taken.
KSIE Managing Director M D Josemon said that though the design of the structures at Chackai was already completed, KSIE was yet to get actual possession of the land. RGAAT Executive Vice Chairman V Thulasidas, however, said that it was for the KSIE to take further steps in this regard.
The decision to swap the land between the two agencies, both of which are under the State Government, was taken at a meeting attended by Law Minister M Vijayakumar and Industry Minister Elamaram Kareem here on July 20. KSIE MD Josemon had said at the meeting that temporary facilities could be set up at the land at Chackai within three months for shifting the export cargo unit. It is now nearly one-and-a-half months since the decision was taken, it is being pointed out.
Once the present cargo complex of KSIE is handed over to RGAAT, the existing facilities there could be utilised for the Academy. ‘’We hope to use the existing warehouse as a hangar and the buildings could be used as an office as well as training blocks,’’ said Thulasidas.
KSIE sources said that the export cargo, which constitutes the major chunk of the operations at the cargo complex, would be shifted to Chackai, whereas the import cargo operations would be handled on the existing premises itself. The entire cargo operations may be later shifted to a new cargo complex planned near the Enchakkal side, Josemon said.
Meanwhile, the decision to shift the cargo complex to Chackai would be an advantage to the exporters operating from here as it is more adjacent to the city as well as the NH bypass than the existing one at Shangumugham.
The decision to shift the cargo complex to Chackai has been taken in view of the practical difficulties in shifting cargo from the new terminal to the cargo complex once the new terminal becomes operational.
Akshaya centres to accept premium
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The premium for the recently launched Non-Resident Keralites Welfare Fund could be soon remitted through the 2,000-plus Akshaya Centres across the State.
The NRK Welfare Fund Board would be signing a memorandum of understanding with the Akshaya project in this regard soon.
So far around 60,000 persons, including those currently working in foreign countries as well as other States in India and those who have returned from other States, have joined the scheme.
NRK Welfare Fund Board chief executive officer K T Balabhaskaran said that steps to collect the contributions to the NRK Welfare Fund through Akshaya Centres were in the final stages.
The MoU would be signed with Akshaya Director Korath Mathew in the initial weeks of September, he said.
"With the tieup with Akshaya, we hope to offer more convenience to the members of the welfare fund to remit their contributions. Even in the case of those working abroad, their relatives back home could make the payment through any of the Akshaya Centres that are spread across the State," Balabhaskaran said.
Akshaya Director Korath Mathew said the revenue of Akshaya entrepreneurs might increase considerably with the new tieup with NRK Welfare Fund Board. Akshaya Centres would be charging a service charge ranging between `5 and `15 per transaction from the members.
The monthly contribution to the welfare fund is `300 for those working abroad and `100 for those working in other Indian states as well as returnees.
The NRK Welafare Fund is also planning to introduce an online facility to help the NRKs join the scheme.
The Government had introduced the welfare scheme following a longpending demand by NRKs.
The NRK Welfare Fund Board is planning to launch a series of campaigns in foreign countries, especially in the Gulf countries, to attract more members to the scheme.
As per rough estimates, there are 20 lakh NRKs in the Gulf countries.
Various welfare schemes are being offered to the members by the Board.
The New Indian Express
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The premium for the recently launched Non-Resident Keralites Welfare Fund could be soon remitted through the 2,000-plus Akshaya Centres across the State.
The NRK Welfare Fund Board would be signing a memorandum of understanding with the Akshaya project in this regard soon.
So far around 60,000 persons, including those currently working in foreign countries as well as other States in India and those who have returned from other States, have joined the scheme.
NRK Welfare Fund Board chief executive officer K T Balabhaskaran said that steps to collect the contributions to the NRK Welfare Fund through Akshaya Centres were in the final stages.
The MoU would be signed with Akshaya Director Korath Mathew in the initial weeks of September, he said.
"With the tieup with Akshaya, we hope to offer more convenience to the members of the welfare fund to remit their contributions. Even in the case of those working abroad, their relatives back home could make the payment through any of the Akshaya Centres that are spread across the State," Balabhaskaran said.
Akshaya Director Korath Mathew said the revenue of Akshaya entrepreneurs might increase considerably with the new tieup with NRK Welfare Fund Board. Akshaya Centres would be charging a service charge ranging between `5 and `15 per transaction from the members.
The monthly contribution to the welfare fund is `300 for those working abroad and `100 for those working in other Indian states as well as returnees.
The NRK Welafare Fund is also planning to introduce an online facility to help the NRKs join the scheme.
The Government had introduced the welfare scheme following a longpending demand by NRKs.
The NRK Welfare Fund Board is planning to launch a series of campaigns in foreign countries, especially in the Gulf countries, to attract more members to the scheme.
As per rough estimates, there are 20 lakh NRKs in the Gulf countries.
Various welfare schemes are being offered to the members by the Board.
Wednesday 18 August 2010
Police let down by please-all Kodiyeri
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
T’Puram, Aug 17
As the days long drama over the arrest of PDP chairman Abdul Nazir
Madhani draws to a close, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has once again proved
beyond doubt that he is an intelligent politician but not a good Home
Minister as he protects his party’s interests at the cost of the
morale of the police force that he leads.
At the end of the day, Kodiyeri is able to please both his party
bosses as well as ‘vote bank friend’ Madhani as Madhani surrendered
and the police arrested him. Had the police gate crashed into
Anwarserri and facilitate the arrest of Madhani, it would have become
another opportunity for the Opposition UDF to shed crocodile tears in
the name of Madhani and there by attack the CPM-led LDF.
Kodiyeri has indeed shown the way to all politicians how to turn an
issue in government’s favour, which would have otherwise caused a
major embarrassment to the government as well as the ruling party.
Madhani, during the press conference on Tuesday, has even expressed
his gratitude to the CPM openly. “I am thankful to the Government that
no force was used inside Anwarserri, not due to any political favours
by CPM, but due to their social responsibility, ‘’ Madhani said.
While Kodiyeri celebrates his political victory, Kerala Police is neck
deep in shame as they had to wait at the gate of a terror accused for
72 hours, that too armed with enough gadgets. And, finally when they
entered, it was indeed an invitation from the PDP leadership rather
than a go ahead sign from their higher ups.
Late on Monday night there were reports quoting the Home Minister that
Madhani would surrender on Tuesday afternoon. While addressing the
press on Tuesday Madhani said that the date, time and venue of arrest
were decided only by late on Monday night. Doesn’t it reveal the
high-level understandings that have been arrived at behind the
curtains during the late hours on Monday? Thanks to the political
under currents.
On August 14, a police team led by Kollam SP Harshitha Attaluri made
the first move towards Anwarserri and she could even reach up to the
gate. It is said that the SP then received a message and there the
police action became calm. Since then the police had enough
opportunity to enter Awarserri and execute the arrest. Even as Madhani
reiterated that he would not resist an arrest, the police did not
received the go ahead from the higher ups due to unkown reasons. The
tops police officers of the State were mumbling for words in front of
their Karnataka counter parts on Monday morning as they have to
withdraw from a move to arrest Madhani in the last minute due to the
ed flag shown by their political bosses.
The developments over the last couple of days had indeed substantiated
the allegation of Karanataka Home Minister V.S.Acharya that the Kerala
Police do not cooperate in nabbing criminals.
While the ‘so called arrest’ of Madhani took place, it could be heard
one police constable telling the other: “Madhani decides when he
should be arrested. Anyway we are relieved”.
ends.
The New Indian Express
T’Puram, Aug 17
As the days long drama over the arrest of PDP chairman Abdul Nazir
Madhani draws to a close, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has once again proved
beyond doubt that he is an intelligent politician but not a good Home
Minister as he protects his party’s interests at the cost of the
morale of the police force that he leads.
At the end of the day, Kodiyeri is able to please both his party
bosses as well as ‘vote bank friend’ Madhani as Madhani surrendered
and the police arrested him. Had the police gate crashed into
Anwarserri and facilitate the arrest of Madhani, it would have become
another opportunity for the Opposition UDF to shed crocodile tears in
the name of Madhani and there by attack the CPM-led LDF.
Kodiyeri has indeed shown the way to all politicians how to turn an
issue in government’s favour, which would have otherwise caused a
major embarrassment to the government as well as the ruling party.
Madhani, during the press conference on Tuesday, has even expressed
his gratitude to the CPM openly. “I am thankful to the Government that
no force was used inside Anwarserri, not due to any political favours
by CPM, but due to their social responsibility, ‘’ Madhani said.
While Kodiyeri celebrates his political victory, Kerala Police is neck
deep in shame as they had to wait at the gate of a terror accused for
72 hours, that too armed with enough gadgets. And, finally when they
entered, it was indeed an invitation from the PDP leadership rather
than a go ahead sign from their higher ups.
Late on Monday night there were reports quoting the Home Minister that
Madhani would surrender on Tuesday afternoon. While addressing the
press on Tuesday Madhani said that the date, time and venue of arrest
were decided only by late on Monday night. Doesn’t it reveal the
high-level understandings that have been arrived at behind the
curtains during the late hours on Monday? Thanks to the political
under currents.
On August 14, a police team led by Kollam SP Harshitha Attaluri made
the first move towards Anwarserri and she could even reach up to the
gate. It is said that the SP then received a message and there the
police action became calm. Since then the police had enough
opportunity to enter Awarserri and execute the arrest. Even as Madhani
reiterated that he would not resist an arrest, the police did not
received the go ahead from the higher ups due to unkown reasons. The
tops police officers of the State were mumbling for words in front of
their Karnataka counter parts on Monday morning as they have to
withdraw from a move to arrest Madhani in the last minute due to the
ed flag shown by their political bosses.
The developments over the last couple of days had indeed substantiated
the allegation of Karanataka Home Minister V.S.Acharya that the Kerala
Police do not cooperate in nabbing criminals.
While the ‘so called arrest’ of Madhani took place, it could be heard
one police constable telling the other: “Madhani decides when he
should be arrested. Anyway we are relieved”.
ends.
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