Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 6,000-odd prisoners in the state have to remain mute witnesses to the electoral process. However, this time they could heave a sigh of relief that a famous legislator is one among them.
The one-year rigorous imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case has played spoilsport for Kerala Congress(B) leader and former Minister R Balakrishna Pillai’s desire to contest the polls. He may also be deprived of a chance to cast his vote. The only ray of hope before Pillai is the outcome of a curative petition that he had filed before the Supreme Court against the judgment in the Idamalayar case.
“At present, we do not have any rules that allow a prisoner to cast his vote,” says Additional DGP (prisons) Alexander Jacob. However, it is a sigh of relief for the prisoners that the new prison rules that have been mooted by the Prisons Department provide for voting rights for the prisoners. But the draft of the new rules is only under the consideration of the government.
At present, there are 6,384 prisoners in the state, of whom 2,700 are convicts. The remaining include remand prisoners, undertrials and those kept in preventive detention under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (Goonda Act).
Though there is no provision for prisoners to exercise their franchise, in case if a prisoner is on parole on any other grounds during the polling day, he may be able to cast his vote, provided his name is there in the electoral roll.
However, the Election Commission will be strictly scrutinising all parole applications. Hence the chance of getting parole on flimsy grounds is rare, say sources.
Over these years, discussions had taken place at various platforms across the nation regarding the denial of voting rights to prisoners. However, it still remains a distant dream in a country like India which boasts of being the largest democracy.
Wednesday 30 March 2011
DGP rank denied to Pulikeshi
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Additional Director General of Police (Training) C S Pulikeshi has been denied promotion to the rank of Director General of Police.
A selection committee headed by Chief Secretary P Prabhakaran which met here on Monday decided to supercede the seniority of Pulikeshi, who is an IPS officer of the 1977 batch, as he had been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case pertaining to the Civil Supplies Corporation.
The committee also cleared the names of IPS officers of the 1978 batch ADGP (Vigilance) Netto Desmond, ADGP K S Balasubramanian (who is on Central deputation) and ADGP (Headquarters) K S Jangpangi for promotion to the rank of DGP. However, fresh postings are likely to be given to these officers only after the new government assumes office.
The selection committee, which also comprised of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K Jayakumar and DGP Jacob Punnoose, came to the conclusion that Pulikeshi is not fit for promotion as he had been chargesheeted by the CBI in a case pertaining to corruption in Civil Supplies Corporation while he was the chairman and managing director of the corporation. The name of Pulikeshi could be considered for promotion to the rank of DGP only once he is cleared of the case, the committee observed.
It was following the voluntary retirement of Siby Mathews and retirement of K P Somarajan that the promotions are being made. Both of them were IPS officers of the 1977 batch and were in the rank of DGP.
The New Indian Express
30 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Additional Director General of Police (Training) C S Pulikeshi has been denied promotion to the rank of Director General of Police.
A selection committee headed by Chief Secretary P Prabhakaran which met here on Monday decided to supercede the seniority of Pulikeshi, who is an IPS officer of the 1977 batch, as he had been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a corruption case pertaining to the Civil Supplies Corporation.
The committee also cleared the names of IPS officers of the 1978 batch ADGP (Vigilance) Netto Desmond, ADGP K S Balasubramanian (who is on Central deputation) and ADGP (Headquarters) K S Jangpangi for promotion to the rank of DGP. However, fresh postings are likely to be given to these officers only after the new government assumes office.
The selection committee, which also comprised of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K Jayakumar and DGP Jacob Punnoose, came to the conclusion that Pulikeshi is not fit for promotion as he had been chargesheeted by the CBI in a case pertaining to corruption in Civil Supplies Corporation while he was the chairman and managing director of the corporation. The name of Pulikeshi could be considered for promotion to the rank of DGP only once he is cleared of the case, the committee observed.
It was following the voluntary retirement of Siby Mathews and retirement of K P Somarajan that the promotions are being made. Both of them were IPS officers of the 1977 batch and were in the rank of DGP.
Thursday 24 March 2011
Pillai’s Somersault owing to complulsions
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
24 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The somersault made by Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai from his decision to contest the Assembly elections from behind the bars, seems to be ignited not only by the political pressure from the UDF camp, but also by the realisation that there remained legal hurdles which are hard to overcome.
Interpreting various provisions in the relevant Acts, senior lawyers point out that it would not be a cakewalk for Pillai who is undergoing oneyear imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case.
The legal opinion obtained by Pillai in his favour had pointed out that Pillai was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) of 1947, whereas the Representation of the People Act only disqualified a person convicted under the PC Act of 1988 from contesting the elections for a period of up to six years
after the end of the sentence.
However, countering this argument, another section of lawyers point out that Section 30 of the PC Act 1988 repeals and saves all provisions in the PC Act of 1947 and hence the legal opinion in favour of Pillai won't stand. Senior lawyers Thampan Thomas and Cheruniyoor Sasidharan Nair share the same view.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Pillai was originally convicted by the Sessions court for five years. But the Supreme Court had relaxed the conviction considering a prayer of Pillai to consider his illhealth.
Hence, if Pillai tries to exploit this concession
it would amount to
misrepresentation in the court.
The New Indian Express
24 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The somersault made by Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai from his decision to contest the Assembly elections from behind the bars, seems to be ignited not only by the political pressure from the UDF camp, but also by the realisation that there remained legal hurdles which are hard to overcome.
Interpreting various provisions in the relevant Acts, senior lawyers point out that it would not be a cakewalk for Pillai who is undergoing oneyear imprisonment in the Idamalayar corruption case.
The legal opinion obtained by Pillai in his favour had pointed out that Pillai was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act) of 1947, whereas the Representation of the People Act only disqualified a person convicted under the PC Act of 1988 from contesting the elections for a period of up to six years
after the end of the sentence.
However, countering this argument, another section of lawyers point out that Section 30 of the PC Act 1988 repeals and saves all provisions in the PC Act of 1947 and hence the legal opinion in favour of Pillai won't stand. Senior lawyers Thampan Thomas and Cheruniyoor Sasidharan Nair share the same view.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Pillai was originally convicted by the Sessions court for five years. But the Supreme Court had relaxed the conviction considering a prayer of Pillai to consider his illhealth.
Hence, if Pillai tries to exploit this concession
it would amount to
misrepresentation in the court.
Tuesday 22 March 2011
Akshaya to join Keltron in enrolment works
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
21 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Succumbing to stiff objection from various quarters, the State Government revoked its earlier decision which had denied Akshaya role in the enrolment works for the nation's flagship Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district and assigned the same to Keltron.
The government has now decided that Keltron and Akshaya will jointly do the enrolment works both in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts where UID enrolment had been piloted last month.
While Keltron will cover the urban areas in both these districts, Akshaya will cover the rural areas.
A modified government order in this regard was issued by the State Information Technology department the other day.
The Askshya entrepreneurs were up in arms against the earlier decision of the government to hand over the enrolment of UID in entire Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron. It was a jolt to the 200odd Akshaya entrepreneurs who were gearing up to take up the enrolment works following an earlier assurance from the government.
Enrolment to UID is quite an attractive affair as the UID Authority will pay around `38 for enrolling each person.
Akshaya entrepreneurs in Alappuzha district had already enrolled at least 1,000
persons.
"We are receiving a good response from the people towards UID enrolment. Even Akshaya entrepreneurs from other districts are coming down to Alappuzha district to get enrolled," said All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association president T S Chandran.
The association had earlier submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister against the decision to hand over the enrolment works in Thiruvananthapuram to Keltron.
It was after much dillydallying that the State Government had launched UID enrolment here on February 24.
Use of propriety software for the enrolment and ideological objections raised by certain quarters over the collection of personal data of individuals had indeed delayed the launch of UID enrolment in Kerala.
The UID project, popularly known as Aadhaar, envisages maintaining a data base of the personal information including biometric identification marks of all citizens of India and issuing an Unique Identification number and identity card to each citizen.
Many other states are far ahead in the enrolment process.
The New Indian Express
21 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: Succumbing to stiff objection from various quarters, the State Government revoked its earlier decision which had denied Akshaya role in the enrolment works for the nation's flagship Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district and assigned the same to Keltron.
The government has now decided that Keltron and Akshaya will jointly do the enrolment works both in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts where UID enrolment had been piloted last month.
While Keltron will cover the urban areas in both these districts, Akshaya will cover the rural areas.
A modified government order in this regard was issued by the State Information Technology department the other day.
The Askshya entrepreneurs were up in arms against the earlier decision of the government to hand over the enrolment of UID in entire Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron. It was a jolt to the 200odd Akshaya entrepreneurs who were gearing up to take up the enrolment works following an earlier assurance from the government.
Enrolment to UID is quite an attractive affair as the UID Authority will pay around `38 for enrolling each person.
Akshaya entrepreneurs in Alappuzha district had already enrolled at least 1,000
persons.
"We are receiving a good response from the people towards UID enrolment. Even Akshaya entrepreneurs from other districts are coming down to Alappuzha district to get enrolled," said All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association president T S Chandran.
The association had earlier submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister against the decision to hand over the enrolment works in Thiruvananthapuram to Keltron.
It was after much dillydallying that the State Government had launched UID enrolment here on February 24.
Use of propriety software for the enrolment and ideological objections raised by certain quarters over the collection of personal data of individuals had indeed delayed the launch of UID enrolment in Kerala.
The UID project, popularly known as Aadhaar, envisages maintaining a data base of the personal information including biometric identification marks of all citizens of India and issuing an Unique Identification number and identity card to each citizen.
Many other states are far ahead in the enrolment process.
Friday 18 March 2011
Curbs on emigration to Bahrain, Yemen
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
19 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Central Government has imposed restrictions on emigrations to strife-torn Bahrain and Yemen. The Centre had earlier imposed a similar restriction on emigrations to Libya.
The Overseas Indian Affairs Department has directed the Protectors of Emigrants to impose a temporary ban on emigrations to Bahrain and Yemen for one month.
''We have received the communication in this regard the other day and hence, we are not giving any emigration clearance to these countries these days,'' Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvananthapuram Pradeep A said.
The Centre had earlier issued a twomonth ban on emigrations to Libya.
However, though the Centre had imposed a ban on granting emigration clearance, it is not applicable to those who do not require emigration clearance. Emigration clearance is now applicable only to those who had not passed SSLC. Hence, many are still going to the troubleaffected West Asian countries, sources said.
The emigration officials at airports are briefing those going to these countries about the situation prevailing there. ''We are asking those going to the troubled countries to postpone their journey until the situation gets back to normal. However, many are forced to go in order to retain their jobs,'' said Port Registration Officer at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Vimal.
Mystery over the death
Meanwhile, mystery shrouds the death of Stephan Abraham, of Pathanamthitta district, in Bahrain on Wednesday. Though the initial reports suggested that Stephan suffered bullet injury when security forces fired at agitators from helicopters, the company authorities are suspicious about this.
M D Mathew, chief executive officer of Almoayyed Contracting Firm, where Stephan was working as a security official, said that though he had taken the statements of other workers about the incident, they did not mention about the presence of any security personnel or firing from the helicopter in the locality at the time of the incident. ''It is suspected that the bullets had entered the room through the windows. But the source of the bullet remains mysterious. Hence, we are seeking a detailed probe into the incident,'' Mathew told 'Express' over phone from Bahrain.
He said that the body of Stephan would be brought back by Sunday. The Almoayyed firm will take care of the family of Stephan, Mathew said. Stephan, who was earlier serving in the Indian Army, had also taken part in the Kargil war. He had joined the security wing of Almoayyed, which is a leading firm in Bahrain, around oneandahalf years ago.
The New Indian Express
19 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Central Government has imposed restrictions on emigrations to strife-torn Bahrain and Yemen. The Centre had earlier imposed a similar restriction on emigrations to Libya.
The Overseas Indian Affairs Department has directed the Protectors of Emigrants to impose a temporary ban on emigrations to Bahrain and Yemen for one month.
''We have received the communication in this regard the other day and hence, we are not giving any emigration clearance to these countries these days,'' Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvananthapuram Pradeep A said.
The Centre had earlier issued a twomonth ban on emigrations to Libya.
However, though the Centre had imposed a ban on granting emigration clearance, it is not applicable to those who do not require emigration clearance. Emigration clearance is now applicable only to those who had not passed SSLC. Hence, many are still going to the troubleaffected West Asian countries, sources said.
The emigration officials at airports are briefing those going to these countries about the situation prevailing there. ''We are asking those going to the troubled countries to postpone their journey until the situation gets back to normal. However, many are forced to go in order to retain their jobs,'' said Port Registration Officer at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, Vimal.
Mystery over the death
Meanwhile, mystery shrouds the death of Stephan Abraham, of Pathanamthitta district, in Bahrain on Wednesday. Though the initial reports suggested that Stephan suffered bullet injury when security forces fired at agitators from helicopters, the company authorities are suspicious about this.
M D Mathew, chief executive officer of Almoayyed Contracting Firm, where Stephan was working as a security official, said that though he had taken the statements of other workers about the incident, they did not mention about the presence of any security personnel or firing from the helicopter in the locality at the time of the incident. ''It is suspected that the bullets had entered the room through the windows. But the source of the bullet remains mysterious. Hence, we are seeking a detailed probe into the incident,'' Mathew told 'Express' over phone from Bahrain.
He said that the body of Stephan would be brought back by Sunday. The Almoayyed firm will take care of the family of Stephan, Mathew said. Stephan, who was earlier serving in the Indian Army, had also taken part in the Kargil war. He had joined the security wing of Almoayyed, which is a leading firm in Bahrain, around oneandahalf years ago.
Thursday 17 March 2011
N0RKA gearing up to face any eventuality
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
17 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: WITH three-month emergency being clamped in the West Asian country of Bahrain, the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) Department is once again gearing up to meet any eventuality.
The crisis in Bahrain followed the recent mass eviction from another West Asian nation Libya and the NoRKA Department had made elaborate arrangements in New Delhi and Mumbai for a trouble-free transit of the evictees to their home towns.
Following the crisis in Bahrain, top officials in the NoRKA Department are in constant touch with the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs as well as the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry.
It is estimated that there are nearly three lakh Indians in Bahrain, one-third of which is Malayalis.
“The feedback we have received from the Centre is that the situation in Bahrain is so far not so alarming. Especially following the intervention of the troops from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Bahrain administration seems to be gaining control over the agitators and there is no need for any immediate eviction of Indians,” sources in the NoRKA Department said.
“The Centre would initiate any measures such as mass eviction from another country only as an extreme step as diplomatic matters are concerned,” sources added.Besides Bahrain, the agitations in Yemen and Oman are also matters of concern for India as there is considerable number of Indians in these countries.
Either the NoRKA Department or its field agency NoRKA-Roots had not yet received any personal requests from Malayalis from these countries seeking help.
Recruiting Agents Association of Kerala president and a businessman in Bahrain B Vivek said that there was no major cause for concern for the Indians in Bahrain for the time being as things were quite under control.
“Since the communication systems were slightly affected many are not able to keep be in touch with their relatives. However, with the intervention of troops from Saudi Arabia things are quite under control,” he said adding that things were expected to be back to become normal in the coming days.
Express had earlier reported that the unrest in the West Asian countries may affect the job prospects of thousands of Indians, including Keralites. It would even have its repercussions on Kerala economy as remittances from NRKs constitute about 25 percent of the total deposits received by the banks in the state.
The New Indian Express
17 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: WITH three-month emergency being clamped in the West Asian country of Bahrain, the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) Department is once again gearing up to meet any eventuality.
The crisis in Bahrain followed the recent mass eviction from another West Asian nation Libya and the NoRKA Department had made elaborate arrangements in New Delhi and Mumbai for a trouble-free transit of the evictees to their home towns.
Following the crisis in Bahrain, top officials in the NoRKA Department are in constant touch with the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs as well as the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry.
It is estimated that there are nearly three lakh Indians in Bahrain, one-third of which is Malayalis.
“The feedback we have received from the Centre is that the situation in Bahrain is so far not so alarming. Especially following the intervention of the troops from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Bahrain administration seems to be gaining control over the agitators and there is no need for any immediate eviction of Indians,” sources in the NoRKA Department said.
“The Centre would initiate any measures such as mass eviction from another country only as an extreme step as diplomatic matters are concerned,” sources added.Besides Bahrain, the agitations in Yemen and Oman are also matters of concern for India as there is considerable number of Indians in these countries.
Either the NoRKA Department or its field agency NoRKA-Roots had not yet received any personal requests from Malayalis from these countries seeking help.
Recruiting Agents Association of Kerala president and a businessman in Bahrain B Vivek said that there was no major cause for concern for the Indians in Bahrain for the time being as things were quite under control.
“Since the communication systems were slightly affected many are not able to keep be in touch with their relatives. However, with the intervention of troops from Saudi Arabia things are quite under control,” he said adding that things were expected to be back to become normal in the coming days.
Express had earlier reported that the unrest in the West Asian countries may affect the job prospects of thousands of Indians, including Keralites. It would even have its repercussions on Kerala economy as remittances from NRKs constitute about 25 percent of the total deposits received by the banks in the state.
Wednesday 16 March 2011
No sweet 'home' for Home minister
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
16 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Rajan case, Naxal Varghese case, Chalai and Poonthura riots, Marad massacre, police actions at Muthanga and Sivagiri, ThankamaniUdayakumar custodial tortures the list of law and order issues that figured in the previous election campaigns is long. To his credit, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has not left behind any major embarrassing situation for the government at least on electioneve. However, the campaign may be vitiated by the CheriyathuraKasargod police firings which claimed several lives, Sampath custodial death, chopping of Prof T J Joseph's palm and the political violence in Kannur.
Kodiyeri made various initiatives in the Police Department, including the enactment of new Kerala Police Act and the Kerala AntiSocial Activities Prevention Act, strengthening of community policing system by giving it legal sanctity, forming Home Guard and Student Police units and streamlining the recruitment process in the department. He also brought in cosmetic changes in the police like replacing the riflecarrying sentries in front of police stations and setting up of visitor's desk at the police station. However, he did not make any remarkable improvement in the law and order situation in the state.
The vital statistics of the Kodiyeri reign reveal the following. Nearly 2,000 murders, over 30,000 incidents of harassment against women and children, 12 custodial deaths, over 30 complaints of custodial torture and robbery of valuables worth over `300 crore. There is a huge trust deficit between the people and the police.
Kodiyeri had allowed his party cadre to exert pressure on the cops as a result of which Left activists forcibly released political activists from police stations. The Police Department was politicised in transfers, postings and routine policing. His political bosses forced Kodiyeri to act against IG Rishiraj Singh for raiding the digital studio of IG Tomin Thachankary's wife. Thachankary, connected with a section in the CPM top brass, was also given a key posting as IG Kannurrange, despite a strict directive from Chief Minister that the tainted officer should not be posted in key posts. The proLeft cadre in the police also gained more strength with the silent blessings of Kodiyeri. He held the Vigilance portfolio but failed to wipe out corruption from the government, especially the Police Department.
Kodiyeri landed in a number of controversies, including the lavish refurbishing of his official residence. He was also haunted by the alleged nexus of his son Bineesh with shady characters like Sabarinath, Omprakash, Madathil Reghu and even a foreign call girl, hifi reception allegedly organised by controversial business man Xavy Mano Mathew during his elder son Benoy Kodiyeri's marriage and the 'poomoodal' ritual at the Kadampuzha Devi temple in his name.
The New Indian Express
16 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Rajan case, Naxal Varghese case, Chalai and Poonthura riots, Marad massacre, police actions at Muthanga and Sivagiri, ThankamaniUdayakumar custodial tortures the list of law and order issues that figured in the previous election campaigns is long. To his credit, Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has not left behind any major embarrassing situation for the government at least on electioneve. However, the campaign may be vitiated by the CheriyathuraKasargod police firings which claimed several lives, Sampath custodial death, chopping of Prof T J Joseph's palm and the political violence in Kannur.
Kodiyeri made various initiatives in the Police Department, including the enactment of new Kerala Police Act and the Kerala AntiSocial Activities Prevention Act, strengthening of community policing system by giving it legal sanctity, forming Home Guard and Student Police units and streamlining the recruitment process in the department. He also brought in cosmetic changes in the police like replacing the riflecarrying sentries in front of police stations and setting up of visitor's desk at the police station. However, he did not make any remarkable improvement in the law and order situation in the state.
The vital statistics of the Kodiyeri reign reveal the following. Nearly 2,000 murders, over 30,000 incidents of harassment against women and children, 12 custodial deaths, over 30 complaints of custodial torture and robbery of valuables worth over `300 crore. There is a huge trust deficit between the people and the police.
Kodiyeri had allowed his party cadre to exert pressure on the cops as a result of which Left activists forcibly released political activists from police stations. The Police Department was politicised in transfers, postings and routine policing. His political bosses forced Kodiyeri to act against IG Rishiraj Singh for raiding the digital studio of IG Tomin Thachankary's wife. Thachankary, connected with a section in the CPM top brass, was also given a key posting as IG Kannurrange, despite a strict directive from Chief Minister that the tainted officer should not be posted in key posts. The proLeft cadre in the police also gained more strength with the silent blessings of Kodiyeri. He held the Vigilance portfolio but failed to wipe out corruption from the government, especially the Police Department.
Kodiyeri landed in a number of controversies, including the lavish refurbishing of his official residence. He was also haunted by the alleged nexus of his son Bineesh with shady characters like Sabarinath, Omprakash, Madathil Reghu and even a foreign call girl, hifi reception allegedly organised by controversial business man Xavy Mano Mathew during his elder son Benoy Kodiyeri's marriage and the 'poomoodal' ritual at the Kadampuzha Devi temple in his name.
Tuesday 15 March 2011
Chandy pops up as new target of Achuthanandan
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
15 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: While digging out the alleged corruption in the palmolein import deal, comrade V S Achuthanandan would have never ever dreamt that the case would create this much repercussions in Kerala politics.
Though K Karunakaran was the target of Achuthanandan while he took up the issue two decades ago, the deadly cannon in the form of palmolein case has already fired on Keralacadre IAS officer P J Thomas and is now ominously trained at UDF's prospective Chief Minister candidate Oommen Chandy.
P J Thomas was shown the door recently by the Supreme Court from the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner as he was an accused in the palmolein case. Thomas, who was a former Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in Kerala, is the eighth accused in the case.
Now it seems to be the turn of Oommen Chandy who is the 23rd witness in the case. With the new twist in the twodecadesold case coinciding with the upcoming Assembly elections, the LDF hopes to take maximum advantage out of it. Hence, the LDF cadres need to be thankful to Achuthanandan for digging out the scam.
The LDF has already gained political advantage over the UDF from the Idamalayar corruption case in which Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai was sentenced to oneyear imprisonment. The Idamalayar case was also fought by Achuthanandan. The fresh developments in the ice cream parlour case involving IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty was also a setback to the UDF.
Achuthanandan, while being the Opposition Leader, had raised the allegation of corruption in the import of palmolein by the then Congress government led by K Karunakaran during early 1990s. Around 15,000 tonnes of palmolein were imported from Singaporebased Power and Energy Corporation to Kerala. The LDF Government which came to power afterwards ordered a Vigilance investigation into it.
The Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau had filed chargesheet in the case in 2001 against eight persons, including Karunakaran, the then Food and Civil Supplies Minister T H Musthafa and P J Thomas. The case, however, remained caught in a legal tangle for nearly a decade after Karunakaran approached the Supreme Court and stayed the proceedings. With the death of Karunakaran, the stay got vacated and the case is once again in the limelight.
Though the actual target of Achuthanandan was Karunakaran, the latter did not face any major backlash in his career owing to the palmolein case, it has caused damage to unintended figures such as Oommen Chandy and Thomas.
The New Indian Express
15 Mar 2011
THIRUVANATHAPURAM: While digging out the alleged corruption in the palmolein import deal, comrade V S Achuthanandan would have never ever dreamt that the case would create this much repercussions in Kerala politics.
Though K Karunakaran was the target of Achuthanandan while he took up the issue two decades ago, the deadly cannon in the form of palmolein case has already fired on Keralacadre IAS officer P J Thomas and is now ominously trained at UDF's prospective Chief Minister candidate Oommen Chandy.
P J Thomas was shown the door recently by the Supreme Court from the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner as he was an accused in the palmolein case. Thomas, who was a former Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in Kerala, is the eighth accused in the case.
Now it seems to be the turn of Oommen Chandy who is the 23rd witness in the case. With the new twist in the twodecadesold case coinciding with the upcoming Assembly elections, the LDF hopes to take maximum advantage out of it. Hence, the LDF cadres need to be thankful to Achuthanandan for digging out the scam.
The LDF has already gained political advantage over the UDF from the Idamalayar corruption case in which Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai was sentenced to oneyear imprisonment. The Idamalayar case was also fought by Achuthanandan. The fresh developments in the ice cream parlour case involving IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty was also a setback to the UDF.
Achuthanandan, while being the Opposition Leader, had raised the allegation of corruption in the import of palmolein by the then Congress government led by K Karunakaran during early 1990s. Around 15,000 tonnes of palmolein were imported from Singaporebased Power and Energy Corporation to Kerala. The LDF Government which came to power afterwards ordered a Vigilance investigation into it.
The Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau had filed chargesheet in the case in 2001 against eight persons, including Karunakaran, the then Food and Civil Supplies Minister T H Musthafa and P J Thomas. The case, however, remained caught in a legal tangle for nearly a decade after Karunakaran approached the Supreme Court and stayed the proceedings. With the death of Karunakaran, the stay got vacated and the case is once again in the limelight.
Though the actual target of Achuthanandan was Karunakaran, the latter did not face any major backlash in his career owing to the palmolein case, it has caused damage to unintended figures such as Oommen Chandy and Thomas.
Monday 14 March 2011
State told to conduct security audit of websites
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
14 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Concerned over the increasing attacks on Kerala’s cyber space, even from the Pak Cyber Army (PCA), the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has directed the State Government to conduct a security audit of websites of government departments and organisations.
The Computer Emergency Response Team-Kerala (CERT-K) has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the security audit of government websites by engaging audit agencies and take corrective measures in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
The State IT Department has also directed CERT-K to conduct awareness programmes for all heads of government departments.
“There are more than 250 websites of various departments and organisations under the State Government, and most of these sites are vulnerable to hacking owing to weak security features. Over the past couple of years more that 100 websites of the State Government departments and organisations were hacked. The source of many of these cyber attacks was traced to Pakistan, especially the Pak Cyber Army,” said CERT-K director Mahesh I C.
Pak Cyber Army is a group of Pakistani hackers who caught attention by hacking more than 200 Indian websites, including that of the Central Bureau of Investigation, in December 2010, and posting pro-Pakistan and anti-Indian contents.
During the 2011 New Year eve, the cyber experts in the country were on a high alert following a threat from PCA to hack various Indian websites, including those of Kerala Government.
Union IT Secretary S K Sharma has directed the State Government to conduct a security audit of all the websites of the government departments and organisations.
The IT Ministry also directed that all the government websites should be hosted only on servers of government agencies such as the National Informatics Centre to ensure security.
“We have informed all the department heads about the Central alert and the need to initiate corrective measures,” said IT Secretary K Suresh Kumar.
CERT-K, which was formed on the lines of CERT-In an year ago, has already corrected defacement of over 100 government websites including that of NORKA-Roots, Arogyakeralam, Directorate of Technical Education and Cochin Port Trust.
The Government is also looking into the scope of granting legal powers to CERT-Kerala so that they could even probe into the overseas links of the hackers, said Suresh Kumar.
According to Mahesh, the most frequent type of cyber attack on state government websites was SQL injection where the administrative username and password of a website is hacked and malicious contents posted on the site.
“Weak security features are found to be the major factor that facilitates hacking. CERT-K is giving proper directions and training to the government officials on cyber security,” Mahesh said.
CERT-K is also developing a Defacement Tracking Software that would function as a watchdog against hacking of government websites round the clock, Mahesh said.
The New Indian Express
14 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Concerned over the increasing attacks on Kerala’s cyber space, even from the Pak Cyber Army (PCA), the Union Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has directed the State Government to conduct a security audit of websites of government departments and organisations.
The Computer Emergency Response Team-Kerala (CERT-K) has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the security audit of government websites by engaging audit agencies and take corrective measures in accordance with the guidelines prescribed by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
The State IT Department has also directed CERT-K to conduct awareness programmes for all heads of government departments.
“There are more than 250 websites of various departments and organisations under the State Government, and most of these sites are vulnerable to hacking owing to weak security features. Over the past couple of years more that 100 websites of the State Government departments and organisations were hacked. The source of many of these cyber attacks was traced to Pakistan, especially the Pak Cyber Army,” said CERT-K director Mahesh I C.
Pak Cyber Army is a group of Pakistani hackers who caught attention by hacking more than 200 Indian websites, including that of the Central Bureau of Investigation, in December 2010, and posting pro-Pakistan and anti-Indian contents.
During the 2011 New Year eve, the cyber experts in the country were on a high alert following a threat from PCA to hack various Indian websites, including those of Kerala Government.
Union IT Secretary S K Sharma has directed the State Government to conduct a security audit of all the websites of the government departments and organisations.
The IT Ministry also directed that all the government websites should be hosted only on servers of government agencies such as the National Informatics Centre to ensure security.
“We have informed all the department heads about the Central alert and the need to initiate corrective measures,” said IT Secretary K Suresh Kumar.
CERT-K, which was formed on the lines of CERT-In an year ago, has already corrected defacement of over 100 government websites including that of NORKA-Roots, Arogyakeralam, Directorate of Technical Education and Cochin Port Trust.
The Government is also looking into the scope of granting legal powers to CERT-Kerala so that they could even probe into the overseas links of the hackers, said Suresh Kumar.
According to Mahesh, the most frequent type of cyber attack on state government websites was SQL injection where the administrative username and password of a website is hacked and malicious contents posted on the site.
“Weak security features are found to be the major factor that facilitates hacking. CERT-K is giving proper directions and training to the government officials on cyber security,” Mahesh said.
CERT-K is also developing a Defacement Tracking Software that would function as a watchdog against hacking of government websites round the clock, Mahesh said.
Saturday 5 March 2011
End of the road for PJ Thomas
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
05 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court verdict quashing PJ Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) will not only take away the much-coveted post from him, but may also see an end to his civil service career.
Thomas, who attained the retirement age of 60 in January this year, was appointed CVC in September last. Hence he got nearly four years of extension in service. The term of the CVC is for four years from the date of appointment or until 65, whichever is earlier.
Meanwhile, sources point out that as per the Central Vigilance Commission Act even if there is a directive of the Supreme Court, the President is the only competent authority to remove a person from the post of CVC. But since the SC has quashed the very appointment of P J Thomas as the CVC, there is no question of expelling him from the post, it is pointed out.
Ineligible for any Government job
The Act also says that a person who had held the post of CVC will be ineligible for any further appointment, including that of any diplomatic assignment or employment to any office of profit under the State or Central Governments.
PJ Thomas, an IAS officer of 1973 batch, had held various sensitive posts in the state as well as in the Centre. Prior to his appointment as the CVC, P J Thomas was serving as the Telecom Secretary at the Centre. He had served as the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education) and Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala.
The New Indian Express
05 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court verdict quashing PJ Thomas as the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) will not only take away the much-coveted post from him, but may also see an end to his civil service career.
Thomas, who attained the retirement age of 60 in January this year, was appointed CVC in September last. Hence he got nearly four years of extension in service. The term of the CVC is for four years from the date of appointment or until 65, whichever is earlier.
Meanwhile, sources point out that as per the Central Vigilance Commission Act even if there is a directive of the Supreme Court, the President is the only competent authority to remove a person from the post of CVC. But since the SC has quashed the very appointment of P J Thomas as the CVC, there is no question of expelling him from the post, it is pointed out.
Ineligible for any Government job
The Act also says that a person who had held the post of CVC will be ineligible for any further appointment, including that of any diplomatic assignment or employment to any office of profit under the State or Central Governments.
PJ Thomas, an IAS officer of 1973 batch, had held various sensitive posts in the state as well as in the Centre. Prior to his appointment as the CVC, P J Thomas was serving as the Telecom Secretary at the Centre. He had served as the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education) and Chief Electoral Officer in Kerala.
Friday 4 March 2011
Thomas faces criminal conspiracy charges
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
04 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: P J Thomas, who was shown the door by the Supreme Court from the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner, is facing criminal conspiracy charges in the palmolein case. Thomas, a former Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in Kerala, was arraigned as the eighth accused in the case.
He was even summoned to the Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in Thiruvananthapuram in April, 2003. He appeared before the court and took bail. Hence a person on bail in a corruption case was holding the highest post of the Vigilance machinery of the nation.
It was ‘Express’ which first reported that the stand of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P.Chidambaram that Thomas had been given a clean chit in the palmolein case was baseless. ‘Express’ reported on September 9, 2010 that the CVC was still an accused in the corruption case. Had the Supreme Court not intervened, a precedence would have been set for tainted officials to stake claim to the much coveted post.
The palmolein scam pertains to the import of 15,000 tonnes of palmolein from the Singapore-based Power and Energy Corporation to Kerala under the ‘rupee clearance scheme’ at the time of the K Karunakaran-led Congress Ministry during 1991-95. The investigation had found that the state exchequer suffered a loss of `2.3 crore in the deal. Thomas was then Kerala’s Food and Civil Supplies Secretary.
The irregularities were first brought to light in 1993 by the then Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan. A subsequent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India also pointed out corruption in the palmolein import.
A probe conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) concluded that there were irregularities in the Palmolein deal.
P J Thomas had been arraigned as the eighth and last accused in the case. K Karunakaran, the then Civil Supplies Minister T H Musthafa, former Chief Secretary S Padmakumar, former Additional Chief Secretary Zacharia Mathew, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation former managing director Jiji Thomson, former Director of the Malaysian firm V Sadasivan and his personal assistant S. Sivaramakrishnan are the other accused in the case.
The VACB had filed charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Thomas and Jiji Thomson. But since the Centre did not grant prosecution sanction, the charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act were later withdrawn and the two IAS officers were charged under Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, for which the nod of the Centre was not required.
An action-taken-report prepared by the Congress Government in Kerala in January 1995 in response to the CAG’s report also stated that though the Singapore-based firm had sent a letter to the then Chief Minister K Karunakaran in November 1991, offering to import palmolein under the rupee clearance scheme, the letter was neither put up to the Chief Minister nor seen by him before Thomas sent a proposal to the Centre for the import of 15,000 metric tonnes of palmolein. The name of the Singapore-based firm was also specified in the letter.
The ATR also mentions that the proposal forwarded by Thomas was accepted by the Centre and it formed the basis for the entire palmolein import deal.
Moreover, Thomas had made the proposal to the Centre much before the State Cabinet accorded sanction for the proposal. While Thomas sent the letter to the Centre on November 18, 1991, the State Cabinet granted its nod only on November 27, 1991.
The New Indian Express
04 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: P J Thomas, who was shown the door by the Supreme Court from the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner, is facing criminal conspiracy charges in the palmolein case. Thomas, a former Food and Civil Supplies Secretary in Kerala, was arraigned as the eighth accused in the case.
He was even summoned to the Inquiry Commissioner and Special Judge (Vigilance) in Thiruvananthapuram in April, 2003. He appeared before the court and took bail. Hence a person on bail in a corruption case was holding the highest post of the Vigilance machinery of the nation.
It was ‘Express’ which first reported that the stand of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P.Chidambaram that Thomas had been given a clean chit in the palmolein case was baseless. ‘Express’ reported on September 9, 2010 that the CVC was still an accused in the corruption case. Had the Supreme Court not intervened, a precedence would have been set for tainted officials to stake claim to the much coveted post.
The palmolein scam pertains to the import of 15,000 tonnes of palmolein from the Singapore-based Power and Energy Corporation to Kerala under the ‘rupee clearance scheme’ at the time of the K Karunakaran-led Congress Ministry during 1991-95. The investigation had found that the state exchequer suffered a loss of `2.3 crore in the deal. Thomas was then Kerala’s Food and Civil Supplies Secretary.
The irregularities were first brought to light in 1993 by the then Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan. A subsequent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India also pointed out corruption in the palmolein import.
A probe conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) concluded that there were irregularities in the Palmolein deal.
P J Thomas had been arraigned as the eighth and last accused in the case. K Karunakaran, the then Civil Supplies Minister T H Musthafa, former Chief Secretary S Padmakumar, former Additional Chief Secretary Zacharia Mathew, Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation former managing director Jiji Thomson, former Director of the Malaysian firm V Sadasivan and his personal assistant S. Sivaramakrishnan are the other accused in the case.
The VACB had filed charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Thomas and Jiji Thomson. But since the Centre did not grant prosecution sanction, the charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act were later withdrawn and the two IAS officers were charged under Section 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code for criminal conspiracy, for which the nod of the Centre was not required.
An action-taken-report prepared by the Congress Government in Kerala in January 1995 in response to the CAG’s report also stated that though the Singapore-based firm had sent a letter to the then Chief Minister K Karunakaran in November 1991, offering to import palmolein under the rupee clearance scheme, the letter was neither put up to the Chief Minister nor seen by him before Thomas sent a proposal to the Centre for the import of 15,000 metric tonnes of palmolein. The name of the Singapore-based firm was also specified in the letter.
The ATR also mentions that the proposal forwarded by Thomas was accepted by the Centre and it formed the basis for the entire palmolein import deal.
Moreover, Thomas had made the proposal to the Centre much before the State Cabinet accorded sanction for the proposal. While Thomas sent the letter to the Centre on November 18, 1991, the State Cabinet granted its nod only on November 27, 1991.
Wednesday 2 March 2011
Malayalis caught in the widening West Asian gyre
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
02 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The insurgency looming large over the West Asian countries is casting a shadow over the overseas job prospects of Indians. Since Keralites constitute a major chunk of the NRI population, the impact on Kerala will be worse in case of an exodus from more Gulf countries.
The Centre has imposed a temporary ban on emigration to Libya. With the internal crisis spreading to Bahrain and Oman, chances of the Centre imposing restrictions on emigrations to these countries could not be ruled out. Owing to the unrest in Bahrain, issuing of visas by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in Bahrain is also learnt to have been affected.
An exodus of Keralites from these countries will badly affect the state’s economy as deposits from Non- Resident Keralites constitute about 25 pc of the total deposits received by the banks in the state. The total NRE deposit in Kerala last year was Rs 36,886 crore.
‘’Recently, we received a direction from the Centre not to issue emigration clearance to Libya,’’ said P K Sasikumar, Assistant Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvananthapuram.
‘’So far, there are no directions regarding restrictions on emigration clearance to other countries.
But we are advising the applicants for emigration clearance to Oman and Bahrain on the present situation in those countries,’’ he said.
Recruitment sector sources said if the insurgency spreads to more countries, the outcome would be disastrous for countries like India.
The state had witnessed a mass exodus following the recent global recession and the Gulf war of the 1990s. As a result, many Malayalis were rendered jobless.
According to rough estimates, over 20 lakh Malayalis are working in West Asian countries. The Malayali population in Oman comes to around four lakh. Bahrain has over one lakh Malayalis.
“The situation in Bahrain is not alarming. In Oman, it seems that the agitation is turning aggressive,” said Recruiting Agents Association of Kerala president B Vivek.
The New Indian Express
02 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The insurgency looming large over the West Asian countries is casting a shadow over the overseas job prospects of Indians. Since Keralites constitute a major chunk of the NRI population, the impact on Kerala will be worse in case of an exodus from more Gulf countries.
The Centre has imposed a temporary ban on emigration to Libya. With the internal crisis spreading to Bahrain and Oman, chances of the Centre imposing restrictions on emigrations to these countries could not be ruled out. Owing to the unrest in Bahrain, issuing of visas by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) in Bahrain is also learnt to have been affected.
An exodus of Keralites from these countries will badly affect the state’s economy as deposits from Non- Resident Keralites constitute about 25 pc of the total deposits received by the banks in the state. The total NRE deposit in Kerala last year was Rs 36,886 crore.
‘’Recently, we received a direction from the Centre not to issue emigration clearance to Libya,’’ said P K Sasikumar, Assistant Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvananthapuram.
‘’So far, there are no directions regarding restrictions on emigration clearance to other countries.
But we are advising the applicants for emigration clearance to Oman and Bahrain on the present situation in those countries,’’ he said.
Recruitment sector sources said if the insurgency spreads to more countries, the outcome would be disastrous for countries like India.
The state had witnessed a mass exodus following the recent global recession and the Gulf war of the 1990s. As a result, many Malayalis were rendered jobless.
According to rough estimates, over 20 lakh Malayalis are working in West Asian countries. The Malayali population in Oman comes to around four lakh. Bahrain has over one lakh Malayalis.
“The situation in Bahrain is not alarming. In Oman, it seems that the agitation is turning aggressive,” said Recruiting Agents Association of Kerala president B Vivek.
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Government chooses Keltron; ignores Akshaya
Arjun Raghunath
The New Indian Express
01 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a jolt to the Akshaya entrepreneurs, the State Government has decided to handover the enrolment to the Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron.
The Government had earlier announced that Akshaya would be entrusted with the task of enrolling general public and Keltron would be enrolling government officials to the UID, popularly known as Aadhaar.
However, according to an order issued by the State Government the other day, UID enrolment is being launched in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts on a pilot basis and the enrolment in Thiruvananthapuram will be done by Keltron and that in Alappuzha by Akshaya.
The Akshya entrepreneurs across the state are up in arms against the government decision.
"We have already taken up the matter with the Chief Minister and other top officials," said T S Chandran, president of All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association.
The enrolment agency will get Rs 38 as enrolment charges for enrolling each person to the UID. It was when the Akshaya entrepreneurs were expecting to earn considerable revenue from the UID project, they received the jolt.
Many Akshaya entrepreneurs in the district had even undergone training by the UID Authority in enrolling individuals. Steps for procuring necessary hardware like biometric readers were also progressing.
It is alleged that the enrolment in Thiruvananthapuram was given to Keltron owing to the vested interests of ceratin officials. Earlier, there were allegations that Keltron was playing the role of middleman in various government projects and thereby gaining undue profit.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Akshya centres are spread across the district and hence it will be able to reach out to the masses without much effort, whereas Keltron do not have such a strong network.
However, Keltron managing director Prasanna Kumar said that Keltron would be able to carry out the enrolment without much difficulties.
"Keltron have been successfully carrying out the election identity card project. Hence, we will be able to do the UID enrolment directly. We have already initiated steps in this regard and the enrolment will begin soon," he said.
Akshaya centres in Alappuzha have already begun the enrolment and are getting a good response from the people, T S Chandran said.
The enrolment to the UID was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan the other day.
The Unique Identification Project has been caught up in controversies in Kerala while many other states had already gone far ahead in enrolling citizens.
The New Indian Express
01 Mar 2011
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a jolt to the Akshaya entrepreneurs, the State Government has decided to handover the enrolment to the Unique Identification (UID) Project in Thiruvananthapuram district to Keltron.
The Government had earlier announced that Akshaya would be entrusted with the task of enrolling general public and Keltron would be enrolling government officials to the UID, popularly known as Aadhaar.
However, according to an order issued by the State Government the other day, UID enrolment is being launched in Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha districts on a pilot basis and the enrolment in Thiruvananthapuram will be done by Keltron and that in Alappuzha by Akshaya.
The Akshya entrepreneurs across the state are up in arms against the government decision.
"We have already taken up the matter with the Chief Minister and other top officials," said T S Chandran, president of All Kerala Akshaya Entrepreneurs Association.
The enrolment agency will get Rs 38 as enrolment charges for enrolling each person to the UID. It was when the Akshaya entrepreneurs were expecting to earn considerable revenue from the UID project, they received the jolt.
Many Akshaya entrepreneurs in the district had even undergone training by the UID Authority in enrolling individuals. Steps for procuring necessary hardware like biometric readers were also progressing.
It is alleged that the enrolment in Thiruvananthapuram was given to Keltron owing to the vested interests of ceratin officials. Earlier, there were allegations that Keltron was playing the role of middleman in various government projects and thereby gaining undue profit.
Moreover, it is also pointed out that Akshya centres are spread across the district and hence it will be able to reach out to the masses without much effort, whereas Keltron do not have such a strong network.
However, Keltron managing director Prasanna Kumar said that Keltron would be able to carry out the enrolment without much difficulties.
"Keltron have been successfully carrying out the election identity card project. Hence, we will be able to do the UID enrolment directly. We have already initiated steps in this regard and the enrolment will begin soon," he said.
Akshaya centres in Alappuzha have already begun the enrolment and are getting a good response from the people, T S Chandran said.
The enrolment to the UID was formally inaugurated by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan the other day.
The Unique Identification Project has been caught up in controversies in Kerala while many other states had already gone far ahead in enrolling citizens.
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