BeyondHeadlines

Tag: Kerala

8 year old Boy files Police Complaint to fight Gender Bias…

In God’s ‘own country’, Kerala, an eight-year-old boy in Kozhikode took police by surprise with a strange complaint— seeking ‘arrest’ of five girls, including his elder sister, for bullying and not playing with him during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“They are making fun of me because I am a boy. They are not allowing me to play ludo, shuttle, Police and Thief game with them”, Umar Nidar complained to the police.

The sweet, innocent boy approached the cops after his father asked him in a lighter vein to lodge a police complaint when the little told him about the behaviour of his sister and others. The children are related to the family and neighbours, police disclosed. The little boy was apparently annoyed at not being able to join his friends and play due to the lockdown.

The Civil Police officers U P Umesh and KT Niraz of Kasba Police station visited his house and resolved the ‘issue’ and advised the girls to take the boy along when they are playing. The complaint, scripted by the third standard student in English, was handed over to the above mentioned two police officials when they had visited the boy’s neighbourhood. They had come to inquire into another complaint on May 10.

“I have a complaint”, thundered Nidar as he handed over his complaint to the cops— Umesh and Niraz. As it was already late evening then, the policemen lovingly assured the boy that they would visit his house the next day to find a solution to his problem, Niraz said. The dutiful cops kept their words and promptly turned up at his house the next day.

“I told them (the girls) several times to take me along in their games, but they refused”, the little boy fumed. After listening to his genuine woes, the policemen called the other children and advised them to include Nidar also while playing, Niraz disclosed. The boy’s sister, who seemed to be pleasantly surprised said that they never thought her little brother would really hand over a complaint to the police.

The little warrior Umar stood his ground in fighting what he thought was gender bias and he was being singled out for being a ‘boy.’ So, Kozhikode is not just famous for the biryani! Kerala is not only the first literate state in India but it seems it is the most aware state as far as the gender issues and rights are concerned. Not only children are aware of their rights, but they redress the issues through legal means!

This amusing incident points out the churning and change happening in Indian society as we are moving towards gender equality. Gender equality has to be both ways. Nobody’s rights should be usurped – whether women or men. It is only then we can aspire for an egalitarian society!

After all, the United Nations is trying to achieve gender equality by 2030. Our beloved India takes a ‘small’ visionary step towards gender equality and the little Umar shows the way!

May 15, 2020
Who’re 21 PFI Activists Arrested from Narath, Kerala?

While police arrested 21 activists of Popular Front of India for alleged possession of weapons from a training center at Narath in Kannur District of Kerala, a fact finding committee revealed its findings about the burning case in a release. Beyondheadlines reproduces it here for the readers.

Following the news reports about the arrest of 21 Muslim youths under UAPA in Narath (Kannur dt.) by the Kerala police, a team of National Confederation of Human Rights (NCHRO) visited the place yesterday and today, met the relatives of the arrested, people living in the neighborhood of the place of arrest and police officers with a view to collect the facts regarding. The team members are: NCHRO National Secretary Reny Ayline (Trivandram), Executive Members Prof. A.Marx (Chennai), G. Sugumaran (Puducherry), Kerala state committee member Advocate M.Abdul Shukoor (Malappuram), Writer and Activist K.M.Venugopal (Kannur) and Journalist Mohammed Shabir (Mangalore).

All the youths arrested are sympathizers of Popular Front of India (PFI), a registered movement. They are conducting a program every year known as “Healthy People, Healthy Nation” in which they impart physical exercises, yoga, some martial arts as well as religious and moral education to young people. This year also they were conducting the program in a building owned by one Thanal Trust which is also a registered body under charitable trust act. This building is situated in a densely populated area in Narath behind the Falah English Medium High School. It is a half built building without proper doors for the windows and everything that happens within the four walls of the building are visible to everybody outside. All the youths who took part in the program were coming from the neighborhood villages and they used to return to their homes in the nights.

According to the eye witnesses of the arrest which includes Mr. P.M. Saleem, Mr. Abdul Jaffar, M. Abdullah, K.P. Mussam Kutty, all neighbors living around that building, a team of four police men first entered the building on April 23 around 12.30 pm. The people around thought that it might be a regular visit of the police who used to come there often in search of sand mafia who are very active in that area. But soon a large battalion of police came there and took all the people in the building with them.

The police version of the story goes like this. As per the FIR filed by them (Mayyil P.S. FIR No 276/13), these people were given instructions on bomb making and training in the use of arms. They were able to seize two country bombs, one sword, and some materials and instruments necessary to make the bombs. Accordingly cases were filed under sections 143, 147, 153(B), R/W 149 IPC, Sec 5(1)(a) r/w 25(1)(a) of Arms Act, Sec 4 & of ES Act and Sec 18 of UAPA) against all the 21 Muslim youths and remanded to custody.

But not only the parents and relatives of the accused but also the neighbors mentioned above told us that no such armed training took place there, all the physical exercises and classes were very peaceful. One of the neighbors M. Abdullah said that he used to send his wife for the religious classes conducted there. The only Hindu living near the building one Suthish s/o Raghavan also said the same. He also denied that any bomb making arms trainings were imparted to them. The Jamath member Mussam Kutty and the principal of Falah English Medium School Mr. P. Mustafa also said that the programs were very peaceful and no such arms training were given to the inmates.

We also met the President of the Narath Grama Panchayat Mr. K.V. Mamy and a ward member Abdul Salam Haji. The former is a member of CPM and the later that of IUML. They also said that no such arms and bomb making trainings are possible in their panchayat limit. Nothing of that sort happened they said. The president also attended a training program conducted by the Thanal trust few weeks back known as ‘Happy Family’ in which Dr Ashraff, a psychiatrist took classes for women. Thanal trust also used to distribute school kits to poor children and conduct ‘School Chalo’ programs to school drop outs. The President also said that there prevailed a political enmity between PFI and IUML because the front was responsible for the defeat of the IUML candidate in the last Panchayat election.

We visited the houses of at least four accused persons and met their near and dear. They all said that all the accused were brought from the Thanal trust building on April 23 to the police station on a promise that they will be sent back after an enquiry. Only in the evening they came to know through the media that so many serious cases are foisted against them. No such arms and bombs were seized either in the building at the time of arrest or in their houses during searches. Some of their statements:

C.P. Musa, Former Teacher, Kottancherry : “My son Fahad (27) is a B.Com graduate. He owns a Travel Agency. He is also a franchise holder of Western Union Money Transfer and people living in foreign countries use to send money to their relatives for building houses through him. As a teacher I can say that he is a very good student, he is very pious, use to pray 5 times a day, fast two times a week. He is a sympathizer of PFI. The police searched my house and also my son’s travel agency. They found nothing incriminatory. They took only a copy of the Holy Quran and a marriage cd from my son’s office. We came to know his arrest through the media.”

A.P. Umar, Muzhappillangadi : “My son Rickas (22) is studying M.B.A. He is not a member of any organization. I came to know his arrest only through the media. Some political opponents must have given false information to the police. Police came to my house but found nothing.”

C.P. Mustafa, Auto Driver, Muzhappillangadi : “My son Jamsheed (20) is a student of civil engineering. Two days back I met him in the prison. He said that one investigating officer told him that if he accepted the charge, they would give him 2 lakh rupees in cash and a new house”

M. Sanfaras, Manager in a private company in Bangalore : “My brother Rshid (22) is a +2 student. Our father is no more. They raided my house and found nothing. My brother had no connection with any organization. My mother and other family members came to know about his arrest only through the media.

Mr. Kalyattu Surendhiran, the station officer of the Mayyil police station denied the allegations of the relatives of the accused. He said that it was true that arms and bomb making trainings were given to the accused. When we asked him that how such clandestine activities are possible in such a crowded place and that too in a open building without window doors he was not able to give a proper reply. When we asked him about what sort of bombs were seized from them, he said that they were giving training to make “something like bombs” and two of which were ceased by them. When we asked about other incriminating materials seized he showed a register in which it was stated that a CD about ‘love jihad’ and a pamphlet on the role of Sangh Parivar in blast cases were ceased. The pamphlet ‘Spoadana Bheekatrathayil Sangaparivarathinte Paghu’ was written by one Jalarudin Vazhakkad and published by Jamathe Islami. Earlier it was published as a serial in the magazine ‘Praboadhanam’. When we pointed out that these are not banned documents and are available freely in the market, he replied, “may be”.

We also met the Dy. S.P. P. Sugumaran and Inspector P. Balakrishnan in the former’s office they told that UAPA is evoked on them not for the bombs seized there, but the mind set of certain Muslims are such that these laws are to be used against them. “Kerala is a beautiful country and there is no majority / minority problem here. There is no problem with the Christian minority, however Muslim minority are not like that” said the Dy. S.P. “We have arrested them not only for bomb making. We have seized there 172 in-discriminating documents which necessitated the application of UAPA” said the Inspector. But that list of 172 ‘incriminating’ documents contain only items like Indian currencies, ID cards, paper cuttings..etc. The Dy. S.P also said that he had received a complaint from the local mosque committee that the activities in that building are to be watched. But when we met a Jamath member he denied that any clandestine activities took place in that building which we have already quoted.

Our Observations :

1. The Supreme Court directions given in D.K. Basu case were not followed in these arrests. The police has lied to the court that the parents were informed about the arrests by phone where as they came to know about it only through the media.

2. It was not at all possible that any training on the use of arms and bomb making can be imparted to the youths in such a crowded and open place and that too in a building without doors for the windows. Such physical and moral training classes are conducted by PFI in the same place at least for the past three years and no complaints were received by the police about any clandestine activities. When the police visited there once they didn’t find anything. All the neighbors living around the building also deny such allegations. We also wonder what sort of arms training could have been given to at least 21 people with a single sword and a few wooden sticks. It is ridiculous to say that some freely available pamphlets and compact discs are shown as incriminating materials. Since nobody had seen the police ceasing “something like bombs” in the building we strongly believe that the bomb story is hoaxed by the police to justify their action and malign the movement.

3. We are much worried about the way in which rumors are spread against the arrested youths by the intelligence through the media. Some sixty lakh rupees found in the account of one accused is focused as large illegal foreign money is involved in this act. Actually he is involved in a travel business and holds a consultancy for admission in self-financing engineering and medical colleges. He receives money from migrant labors in foreign countries to build houses through a friend of him. The police were not able to find anything illegal in that account. Few days back one newspaper has published that the Narath accused are involved in Coimbatore serial bomb blast case. All the accused are young people and most of them were school going children when Coimbatore incident took place and some of them have not even born at that time. A Kish identity card seized from one of the accused is also projected as related to some anti-national activities. But having a Kish ID is a normal thing used as an intermediary pass to move to UAE for those who have no permanent visa to that country.

4. Except one all other 20 young men arrested were not at all involved in any other pending cases.

5. It is very sad that Kerala police has foisted such false cases against these innocent youths at a time when there is a widespread concern is expressed throughout the nation on the arrest of innocent Muslim youths. Most of them had been kept in prison for so many years and then released as they are innocents. Not only their prime youthful years were lost in prison but because of the stigma attached to them because of this arrest, they are not even able to get good jobs and a decent livelihood. Recently the Supreme Court also has condemned this. The press council chairperson Justice Markandey Katju had expressed concern about spreading such false propaganda against innocent Muslim youths in the media. He has also proposed an institution known as ‘The Court of Last Resort’ to extend help and save such innocent youths languishing in Indian Prisons. It is no one’s position that those who plant bombs should go unpunished. As the editor of Tehelka magazine Shoma Chaudhri has written, “do not make false arrests and breed fresh despair, triggering new cycles of hate and revenge. In the clever calculations men make about security and State, they underestimate the power of human despair. When you lose faith that a system will play fair by you, it can breed fatal recklessness. It can make you abdicate from the rules that cement human relations. Despair can turn you from citizen to perpetrator. From the hunted to the hunter. Despair can be a deadly weapon”. Even parties like CPM have now raised this issue. Recently the CPM leader Prakash Karat took a list of 22 Muslims to President Pranab Mukherjee and demanded the Centre take immediate steps to help such victims of “State-led injustice”. The demands included fast-track courts; rehabilitation and compensation for those falsely jailed; and a review of the UAPA Act.

Our Demands:

1. We strongly believe that all the allegations against these youths are false and the fake case foisted against these innocent youths should be immediately withdrawn and those arrested should be unconditionally released. Special care should be taken to allow the students to write their examinations.

2. We cannot find any logic to evoke a draconian act like UAPA in this case. Since nationwide concern is expressed against this act we demand that UAPA should be repealed immediately.

3. The case against these 21 youths was deliberately foisted with a view to harass them and spoil the name of PFI. By spreading rumors against these innocent youths an anti-national stigma is attached to them which will spoil their future. It is alleged that during interrogation, the police had chosen the poorest among them and offered two lakh rupees and a new house in exchange for accepting the charges and becoming an approver. We demand a judicial enquiry in this arrest by a sitting High Court judge. The police officers responsible for foisting this case should be punished and the innocent youths should be given compensation.

4. Kerala is the state with highest literacy rate and the political, civil rights and trade union consciousness among the people are larger when compared to other states. We humbly issue a call to the political parties, writers and other intelligentsia to condemn the indiscriminate use of draconian laws as UAPA against innocent youths.

5. From our conversation with the higher police officials we understand that they are biased against the Muslim minority in the state. We demand that sensitization programs should be conducted to revenue and police personnel on problems faced by minorities, dalits and adivasis. Also sufficient number of officials from minority communities are to be posted in areas in which they are largely populated.

June 4, 2013
Victims of Endosulfan to Launch Massive Agitation Against State Govt.

BeyondHeadlines News Desk

KASARAGOD – In the pretext of chief minister’s visit to the town, the families of Endosulfan victims have geared up the protest against the apathy of government of Kerala towards resolving various issues pertaining to consequences of usage of the deadly pesticide.

Mothers of Endosulfan victims have been agitating from last eleven days, along with the support of eminent social and cultural activists and various organizations like Endosulfan Satyagraha Samiti, Kasaragod People’s Forum. Now, they have decided to launch a massive protest on 3 May and to submit memorandum to the chief minister Oommen Chandy, who will be visiting the town on 10 May.

According to protestors, the state government has failed to fulfill its assurances on an enhanced relief and rehabilitation package in a time-bound manner.

Dr. Mohana Kumar Y S, a physician practicing in the area since 1982 and associated to Pesticide Action Network (PAN), who was pioneer in highlighting this issue in way back 2001 by keeping the record of the cases coming to his clinic for treatment, told newzfirst.com, “Though National Human Rights Commission has directed to pay the compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the deceased and Rs. 3 lakh to the survivor, even after one and half years no government is bothered to implement it. State govt. is showing finger at Central govt. while central govt. itself has a minister of agriculture (Sharad Pawar), who bats for Endosulfan industry.”

“The issue of compensation has become more political than humanitarian; the Kerala congress, who assured many things during last assembly elections, too has started singing the same tune of Congress led union government, after coming to power in Kerala. Family of victims, who believed oral announcements of ministers that the loans borrowed by victims’ family are waived off, had stopped paying installments; but, they are now undergoing ‘recovery’ harassment from banks.”

According to DYFI leader, Jayanand, “In order to prove that there are no harm effects of Endosulfan, Department of health-Government of Kerala is hell bent to amend the report of committee; most of the assurances have remained over the papers. DYFI will observe a day-long hartal on 5 May in areas falling under the worst affected 11 Panchayat.”

Insisting on implementation of relief and rehabilitation packages, Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishath Kasaragod district unit too expressed solidarity with the mothers’ agitation, and has demanded that the State government should initiate steps to solve the problems faced by their families.

The Plantation Corporation of Kerala, a main culprit of Endosulfan disaster as alleged by victims, has washed its hands by referring the Mayee committee report which had said that no link had been established between the health problems in Kasaragod district and Endosulfan. Earlier, Shivaraman Committee and Calicut Medical College studies had confirmed that Endosulfan as the cause for Congenital problems, physical deformities, gynecological problems and cancer is prevalent in these villages.

The victims have suffered over 20 years of aerial spraying of Endosulfan over the cashew plantations from 1977 to 2000. (Courtesy: Newzfirst)

May 1, 2012
Actor and Son of BJP Leader Carried Largest Land Scam of India

Akela for BeyondHeadlines

Bollywood Actor and Jayant Mhalagi have allegedly encroached around 650 Acres of Forest and Agricultural land and have developed a private hill station without obtaining required permission from Authorities. The duo has not only cheated the farmers and NRI’s from America, Dubai, Singapore, Goa, Kerala and Nagpur but have also caused very serious damage to the environment.

The proper investigation into alleged misdeeds of the two can uncover one of the biggest land scams in India. The Accused have Named their Porject ‘Mini Mahabaleshwar’. The Girivan a private hill station is situated at Hotale village near Kolvan of Mulshi taluka of Pune district. Approximately at 2400 feet above sea level and 400 feet above the Lonavala hill station.

The visit to the place (Girivan) last week revealed rampand dadagiri of security guards.

According to plot owners the Jayant Mhalagi who is the son of very reputed former BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Rambhau Mhalagi and film actor Vikram Gokhale started project in year 1989-1990. The Mhalagi is the managing director (MD) and Gokhale Chairman of the Girivan Group of Industries. The Mhalagi did these activities under banner of “Sujata Farms private limited”.

They allegedly encroaches 650 acres farmers (agricultures) and forest lands and started selling lands claiming as they are actual owners. More than 1050 persons from America, Dubai, Singapore, Goa, Nagpur, Kerala, Mumbai and Pune have bought land till now. Among them 250 persons are from Mumbai and 400 from Pune. Politicians, bureaucrats, bankers, doctors, engineers, share brokers and retired central agencies officials have invested their money in the project.

“I bought land on name of Rambhau Mhalagi thinking his son Jayant will be honest but I was wrong. I have been cheated. The Mhalagi have no paper of the land,” said MS Joshi who bought 18 acres land and run a resort in Girivan.

The Mhalagi and Gokhale have not only encroached farmers land illegally; they have als encroached few acres of forest land and sold it to investors. Keeping environmental norms aside, the have also cut down down more then Hundred trees. 18 kilometers of road were also constructed after cutting down trees and greenery of forest. Interestingly, Mhalagi constructed this road on lands of plot owners but takes “road tax” Rs 6000 per year.

“Mhalagi constructed road in my land and demands “road tax” to me,” said Arun Deshmukh, a plot owner.

The scam came in light in 2005 when a farmer Ganesh Jauhari smell something fishy and demarcated his land. He was shocked to know that his land was sold. The other farmers started demarcation of their lands and then Mhalagi and Gokhale (who fights against corruption in reel life) showed their real face.

In Typical Bollywood style the reel life heros turned Gunda’s in real life and hired personal security guards to threaten farmers. The guards posted on the entrance started threatening farmers and stopped their entry to their lands. The farmers have their Kuldevi (Bhairavnath and Waghjai) temples inside Girivan. In October 2010 the farmers tried to perform special pooja but security guards did not allowed them. After brief altercations the farmers registered a complaint in Paud police station 11 security guards were arrested.

Sources told this reporter that Mhalagi and Gokhale divided their roles to manage farmers and government machinery. The Mhalagi managed farmers, sarpanch, tehsildar, district collector and police and Gokhale uses his influence in Ministry of Maharashtra. The whole government machinery knows about this scam but did not dare to take action. The local officials did something but on papers.

What did government authorities?

1- Slowly- slowly investors came to know about illegality of Girivan. More than 17 farmers complained in writing to the Tehsildar against Girivan. The farmers had complained that A- Girivan management had changed the route of natural water so they are losing their agriculture. B- The management had encroached their lands and rounded by iron wire and C- the management have constructed road on their land and also not allowing using it.

On October 31, 2006 Tehsildar wrote a letter (copy available with Author) to the farmers that he visited the place (Girivan) and found correct their complaints. For this Tehsildar have given warning in writing (copy available with Author) to the Girivan.

2- On August 30, 2007, a plot owner Smita Joshi demanded information through right to information (RTI) to the district collector asking provide papers of the Girivan. On September 28, 2007, collector office replied (copy available with Author) that he have no papers related Girivan.

3- On December 10, 2007, Member of Parliament (MP) Shivaji Adhalrao Patil

wrote a letter (copy available with Author) to the Hotale village “Sarpanch” informing that he has written a letter to then district collector Prabhakar Deshmukh demanding inquiry in to the matter. Patil had asked that if anyone found guilty take necessary action on them.

4- On January 25, 2008 Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Sharad Bajirao Dhamale also written a letter (copy available with Author) to the Tehsildar complaining Girivan illegally has constructed a gate and not giving permission to enter the farmers inside. Look in to the matter and take action but Tehsildar did nothing.

5-On April 30, 2008 plot owners and farmers met then superintendent of police (SP) Vishwas Nangre Patil and gave a complaint in writing (copy available with Author) demanding inquiry and action in to the matter but Patil also did nothing.

6- On December 18, 2008 revenue department fined Rs 75 lakh to the Girivan as he illegally dogged a mine. The Tehsildar warned (copy available with Author) that this last warning to stop the illegal activities in Girivan.

7- On July 2, 2009 development officer, Panchayat committee, wrote a letter (copy available with Author) to the Mhalagi that he has constructed 493 square meter land illegally on name of Sujata forms private limited. Mhalagi had forged the documents but not submitted the original papers. The Panchayat asked to produce original papers neither construction will be declare illegal.

8- On December 18, 2009 the forest department informed (copy available with Author) to Smita Joshi that he has registered offence against Girivan for illegally encroaching on forest land.

“I have received complaint. Matter is under investigation,” said P Bhalekar, forest officer.

9- On September 6, 2011 farmers (land owners) complained in general meeting (Lok Shahi Din) of district collector. The collector ordered (copy available with Author) to the revenue department to inquire in to the matter and take action on Girivan.

The cheated plot owners formed Girivan plot owners association five years back and now have 250 members.

The plot owners said…

1- “I have filed a case in consumer court. Shocking, Mhalagi told the court that I have never bought the land and have encroaches on the land. Mhalagi took money of total 18 guntha but registered only 13 guntha. He have no documents of one guntha land,” said Dr RN Chaturvedi, president of association.

2-Mhalagi and Gokhale have cheated to us with collaboration of government officials. Now we want justice,” said Arun Deshmukh, vice president of association. Seven years back Deshmukh bought 14,000 square fit lands, in which Mhalagi encroaches 1000 square fit land and constructed the road.

3- “I collected all documents that prove that Girivan is illegal. I will show on time,” said a plot owner, retired from central investigative agency.

4- “I feel like prison inside Girvan. If I try to walk in morning or evening the security guards objects that why I am roaming? I am shocked to know that Girvan is illegal,” said a woman plot owner who did not want to publish her name as Girivan management will harass her.

5- “If project falls in agriculture land then how Mhalagi and Gokhale developed him. Why not they have demarcated their land till now. They are qualified gunda,” said a plot holder who is also member of Girvan management.

Author visited farmer Ganesh Jauhri’s residence. His mother Sita Bai told that he is out of city for a week.

The other side

The management of Girivan replied to our query that, “our Project is absolutely legal. In our project there is no forest land. The land in project (Girivan) falls in Agriculture category. We have not cut trees. We have planted thousands of trees in the project with the help and assistance of the forest department. The revenue department has claimed an amount from us towards royalty. The matter is pending in the Court.”

“Everything is legal in our project. Some persons are defaming our project. They are creating nuisance. I challenge that if any person prove that we have encroaches forest land we will pay the double land. The some plot holders have illegally developed their plots,” said Vikram Gokhale,” chairman of the Girivan.

(Akela is working with MID DAY as Principle Correspondent)

April 16, 2012
Solidarity is New Mantra for Change in Youths

Mubassir Ali, BeyondHeadlines

Change comes from within. To uplift Muslim community in particular and society in general Muslim youths in Kerala have joined hands together. They are expressing their solidarity for all round development of the community and society.

Solidarity is the mantra of new age Muslims of the state. The youth have understood that only they can change their world and for this purpose they have come together in form of movement named ‘Solidarity’.

Started on May 13, 2003 in Kerala Solidarity is basically a youth movement that believes in channeling the revolutionary spirit of the youth creatively into constructive efforts that result in the betterment of the society as a Whole.

As the name suggest, Solidarity is a platform where all able Muslim youths join together and then work for upliftment of all sections of society. When popular front of India chopped off hands of a professor Solidarity came forward by donating blood to him. The Mantra is stay united and fight for the right causes.

P.I. Naushad, President of Solidarity Youth Movement says that sole objective of movement is to liberate the generation of youth from the immorality and debauchery and to transform them in to a radical vanguard fighting for the betterment of society.

Naushad says that we now know that only empowered youth can create a better country. So all our efforts are to prepare youth for a social revolution. Participation of empowered youth in political sphere can surely make a Proud Nation.

Talking about the movement Naushad said that solidarity is working for development of Minorities, Dalits and backward peoples. They had made around 1200 homes for poor. They are struggling for the backward area of Cochin called mattancherry, for victims of Endosalfan and fighting from the drinking water problems at rural areas of Kerala.

Solidarity movement is picking up daily life issues of locals. They are fighting for food, water and light. for ex Solidarity is running a project for south Cochin in kerela. In south Cochin lack of drinking water, shelter, job, educational backwardness, abject poverty and resultant issue like drug addiction and moral decay. Solidarity with help of well wishers intends to tackle each of issues in its comprehensive Cochin project.

Solidarity has also plans to organize agitations to make government take note of the plight of these unfortunates and to make sure that they provide these citizens with their fair share of assistance.

In this area called mattancherry builders are making their project and poor are losing their homes as well as jobs, solidarity is helping them for shelter by getting model project from surat and other part of country.

He told that water scarcity becomes worst in summer in Kerala. Families searches kilometers for drinking water. This causes health, social and family problem and places barricades before overall growth of generation, and it has never been addressed by government and non government bodies. Solidarity has implemented project for drinking water problem in 50 villages where government projects are insufficient or unavailable. Now this project has accepted taken by many of the panchayat and implemented in their areas.

Solidarity Youth Movement has organized numerous marches (including parliament march), solidarity has hosted speeches from human right and environmental activists, they made lot of protest and workshops for it with numerous public participation. Solidarity in the midst of all these efforts to get endosulfan banned, has also offered support to thousands of people negatively affected by the toxic pesticide where nearly 500 deaths and chronic health problems are attributed to past use of pesticide in cashew plantations. They provided medical treatment, housing, free rationing of food item, and education, employment and community development to the victims as part of their Endosalfan rehabilitation project.

Solidarity is also working for social justice specially to victims of government torture and injustice. They had organised protests in support of Binayak Sen, Soni sori and Abdul Nasir Maudany. Naushand said that silence of youth is root cause of injustice in India.

Naushad Believes that running out of the system is not the option rather be in system and fight for rights, The system can never be changed from outside. The change comes from within and youth need to come in system directly or they should involve in system to make it better. And if you feels that there is something wrong and system then don’t start blaming the system which is a big problem of our youth, we need not to blame the system we need to make the system better for us and country.

April 7, 2012
Kerala Fails to Pass the Test

Despite excellent literacy rate and presence of quality institutions, Kerala students are lagging behind in competitive tests. Is it due to declining quality in education?

Dr. S. Remadevi

At a recent seminar at Thiruvananthapuram, the general refrain among speakers was why Keralities, despite having better education avenues, are not figuring in the list of successful candidates for all India competitive exams.

Many speakers said it is myth to say that Kerala is an oasis of learning as there is a steady decline in the quality of education. Experts blamed successive governments for the condition of education in the state.

One of the major reasons is financial constraints faced by the sector. There has been a quantitative expansion of the sector but this has also added to its financial woes. This has hit the efforts on upgradation and modernisation of the sector. The state has not been able to properly take care of the existing infrastructure. Also there has been a dearth of ideas as to how to go about quantitative and qualitative expansion of the sector.

The decline of the quality of education in government-run schools has resulted in the mushrooming of schools in the private sector

The State has around 13,000 schools of which 4,500 are Government schools while about 7,500 are private-aided and some 800 private-unaided schools.

“About 30 per cent of the children who complete primary schools do not reach the necessary achievement levels in literacy and numeracy,” say Dr K.K. George and Dr K.K. Krishnakumar of the Centre for Socio Economic and Environmental Studies (CSES).

According to media reports, the dropout rates in secondary schools are high. This is particularly true for

“Only about 50 per cent of the students who appear for the examination get through in spite of liberal valuation and provision for grace marks. Only one-third of the children who join the first standard manage to pass the matriculation examination,” they said.

There were reports in the media which showed how even 10th pass students were not able to spell their names correctly.

The large-scale drop-outs in the secondary schools as also the high percentage of failures at the matriculation level, the low average marks scored etc., are manifestations of the low-level of preparation of students and their consequent inability to cope with even the modest sifting procedures.

But a recent study has brought out that the per-pupil expenditure on secondary education is very low compared to other States. The per-pupil expenditure on secondary education in Kerala is only Rs 4,659, as against the all-India average of Rs 5,668.

In higher education also, the situation is not very encouraging. Kerala lags behind other States not only in qualitative terms but also in quantitative terms SC/ST. students. (Courtesy: Sopan Step)

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect BH’s editorial policy.

March 29, 2012
Congress Nominee G Karthikeyan Got Elected as Speaker in Kerala

BeyondHeadlines News Desk

New Delhi: After coming to power with a slim majority last month, Oommen Chandy-led UDF government in Kerala today passed its first trial in the assembly with Congress nominee G Karthikeyan getting elected as the speaker of the house. A senior legislator and former minister, Karthikeyan defeated CPI(M)’s A K Balan securing 73 votes against the latter’s 68.

The votes received by the rival candidates tallied the strength of their respective coalitions, which stood at 73-68 after the nominated Anglo-Indian member Ludy Luiz joined the treasury benches. Luis took oath as MLA along with the 140 elected members yesterday.

The result was announced by pro tem Speaker N Sakthan who presided over the proceedings. 61-year-old Karthikeyan, a six-time legislator, was elected in the April 13 assembly polls from Aruvikkara segment in Thiruvananthapuram District. His experience, ability and acceptability within and outside the ruling coalition worked for his selection as speaker, whose job is crucial considering the slender majority the government commands in the house.

Karthikeyan has served as minister in some of the previous UDF governments handling important portfolios like Power, Civil Supplies and Cultural Affairs. He entered politics through the Congress’ campus wing, Kerala Students Union, and later headed the Youth Congress in the state.

June 2, 2011
UDF Wrests Power in Kerala

Thiruvanathapuram, May 13 (PTI): Congress-led UDF today managed to wrest power from the ruling CPI(M)-controlled LDF in Kerala with a wafer-thin majority of two seats in the 140-member Assembly, in the closest poll battle in the state in three decades.

UDF won 72 seats, crossing the magic figure of 71 required for a simple majority as against its rival LDF’s 68.Led by CPI-M stalwart, 87-year-old V S Achuthanandan, the LDF succeeded in staving off the anti-incumbency trend against the government, which was reflected in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls and civic elections last year, in which the UDF had stolen march over the Left front.Even as LDF lost, the CPI(M) emerged as the single largest party with 45 seats while Congress, which contested 82 seats, had to be content with a poor tally of 38 seats.

Today’s outcome gave the slenderest majority to either of the coalitions that ruled the state alternately in the last three decades. In 2006, the LDF won 98 seats and UDF 42.The Indian Union Muslim League and Kerala Congress (Mani), which command good following in the Muslim and Christian dominated areas, contributed significantly to UDF”s victory.

However, the minor partners of the coalitions like JSS and CMP drew a blank.The BJP once again proved an electoral flop in the bipolar polity of Kerala despite the saffron party pooling its resources in a handful of seats in north and south.Prominent UDF candidates, who romped home, include its Chief Ministerial probable Oommen Chandy, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan (Cong) IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty and Kerala Congress leader K M Mani (Pala).CPI(M) veteran V S Achuthanandan, whose high spirited campaigning helped the LDF arrest the onslaught of the rival, scored a hat-trick of wins from the red bastion Malampuzha with a margin of over 23,000 votes.

While most of his cabinet colleagues won, Devaswom Minister Ramahandran Kadnapally (Cong-s), Water Resources Minister N K Premachandran (RSP)and Youth Affairs Minister V Surendran Pillai fell by the wayside.Veterans humbled by the voters included 92-year-old K R Gowry Ammma (JSS) and M V Raghavan (CMP), both UDF partners.LDF maintained its sway over the northern districts, except the Muslim League-dominated Malappuram.While UDF put up good showing in the Christian heartland Central Travancore, the trend was mixed in the south including the state capital.

May 13, 2011
Didi Ends Left Rule, Amma Says ‘No Karuna’

New Delhi, (Express News Service), Among the decisive leads so far, one was foregone — Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, with Congress piggybacking, is all set to end the 34-year-old rule of the Left Front.

More surprisingly, J Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK has already ruined the hopes of the scam-hit DMK and Congress combine. The telecom graft has swept the incumbents out of Tamil Nadu.

At the threshold of much-needed change in West Bengal, Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee simply said: “I will be happy if people triumph.”

In Kerala, the question remains whether the LDF will be able to buck a nearly 30-year trend in which the electorate has alternately returned to power the LDF and the UDF. Early trends don’t suggest so with the UDF slightly ahead of the Left.

In Assam, the ruling Congress appears to be emerging as the single largest party in contention for a third successive term, while in Puducherry too it looks headed for a third term.

In the 294-seat Assembly in West Bengal, the 34-year-old regime of the Left front is set to crumble with Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress ahead in 210 seats. The Left Front is leading in 66 seats.

Trinamool Congress alone is leading in 177 seats, well above the halfway mark of 147 that may enable Mamata Banerjee form a government on her own. Her ally Congress was ahead in 33 seats while CPI(M) was ahead in 48.

AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa is set to become Chief Minister for the third time in Tamil Nadu after worsting DMK in the keenly-contested elections in which the 2G scam was a major issue.

AIADMK alliance was ahead in 194 seats and DMK combine in 36. AIADMK alone is leading in 136 seats, which well above the half-way mark.

Kerala has witnessed an interesting duel between the ruling Left Democratic Front led by CPI(M) and the Congress-led United Democratic Front. The UDF is ahead in 73 seats in the 140-member assembly. The LDF was leading in 67.

In Assam, Congress was ahead in 72 seats out of a total of 126. BJP and AGP were leading in seven seats each and Bodoland Peoples Front leading in five seats.

Congress, which contested alone, gets absolute majority this time unlike last time when it had only 53 seats and had to depend on support of Bodo People’s Front.

In the 30-member assembly in Puducherry, DMK-led alliance was ahead in 10 seats while AIADMK was leading in five.

The counting in four states and one Union Territory began at 8 am sharp on Friday to read the fates of some very heavyweights in the country and of an impregnable red fort that has so far scoffed at change but is now besieged.

For the Congress and the UPA, grappling with a credibility and an image problem — clouded by corruption and battered by hostile court judgments — today’s verdict from four key states could well be their mid-term trust vote.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Tamil Nadu where, locked in an alliance with the ruling DMK for seven years, the verdict will be read in the context of the 2G scam that’s been the UPA’s weakest spot. The drama around the setting up of a JPC, the arrest of former minister A Raja and a string of corporate executives, and the bail plea of DMK leader Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi — expected to be decided on Saturday — will all be seen in the context of who is triumphant tomorrow.

In West Bengal, the end of its 34-year reign could force the CPM to reimagine itself, its ideas and agendas in national politics. It will severely erode its power to serve as the glue of a non-Congress, non-BJP formation, and trigger debate in the ranks over the leadership that plunged the party from the historic high of 2004 and 2006 to a new low.

But in Kerala, with 140 seats, it’s the prestige of the Congress that’s at stake, being locked in a direct fight with the Left Front, especially as there has been a pattern of alternating power with the Left. Any break in that pattern would impact on Congress morale.

With Bihar Assembly results recently having squeezed the Congress, the south is something it boasts about as a place where it has its bases intact. A Kerala victory for the Congress is almost vital as it is the only significant state going to the polls this time where the Congress is the driving force of the alliance.

Assam, with 126 seats, the largest of the north-eastern states, is one where the incumbent Congress faces a divided Opposition. It looks Tarun Gogoi is heading for a third time as chief minister. This signals the return of activity on the peace process, very much a work in progress.

Kadapa (MP) and Pulivendula (MLA) in Andhra Pradesh, if they reinforce the late YSR’s son and wife as popular mass leaders, would have serious repercussions not only on the ruling Congress in the state, but also, by possibly rocking its Andhra boat, on its game plan for the Centre.

Overall, if the Congress, even if riding piggyback on its allies, is able to package the results as a “mandate” in its favour, it will help it to battle the resurgent Opposition, help secure the loyalty of the DMK and the TMC as it enters the second half of its stint at the Centre.

The BJP has no visible stakes in this election, but any flags it can plant on the ground in Kerala, West Bengal and Assam at a time of such political flux can only be advantageous. It’s also hoping to see the Left out of power in both states and then package itself as the only “real” opposition in the Centre. The Left, since 1996, has often been the major roadblock to the BJP’s plans to establish a bipolarity which makes it a default option as an Opposition, a diminution in the Left’s strength will only help the BJP in the long term.

With Jayalalithaa and Mamata set for wins, with Mayawati and Naveen Patnaik already settled as Chief Ministers, and to some extent Nitish Kumar, the options that the electorate have will go well beyond the proverbial Third Front and into a Fourth Front, which doesn’t necessarily see itself as aligned to either the Congress or the BJP or even the Left.

May 13, 2011
Congres to Return to Power With Comfortable Majority in Assam

BeyondHeadlines News Desk

New Delhi: Tarun Gogoi has led the Congress to a hat-trick victory in Assam with the electorate giving a clear verdict on him. The Congress is all set to win a comfortable majority with the party already winning 45 seats and leading in another 20.

The majority mark in the 126-member Assam assembly is 64. Despite winning a majority, the Congress is set to form the next government with its present ally, Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), led by Hagrama Mohilary, a former militant.

Gogoi has proved he is the Congress’s best mascot in Assam by leading the party to victory from panchayat to parliament in all the elections, barring one, since 2001. He has proved once again that the people of Assam have no alternative to him at this juncture when the state is seriously trying to buy peace with rebel outfit Ulfa.

The opposition, regional party AGP, which went all out against Gogoi, accusing his government of being neck-deep in corruption, has shown a dismal performance and may reduce its tally of 24 seats in the 2006 assembly election. The AGP’s expected tally is 23, but the party has won just five and is leading in 16 seats.

Despite roping a battery of central leaders, including Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the BJP failed to reach its 2006 tally of 10 seats and may have to content with about five seats only.

The biggest surprise in this election was the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), led by perfume baron Badaruddin Ajmal. The party is all set to emerge as the third force in Assam politics after the Congress and the AGP. The AIUDF has already won eight seats and is now leading in five others. Its 2006 tally was 10 seats.

Prominent AGP leaders who lost the election include party president Chandramohan Patoway and former president Brindaban Goswami. Former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who contested from two seats, has lost the Samaguri seat to Congress minister Rockybul Hussain. Mahanta is, however, leading in his traditional Barhampur constituency in Nagaon district.

May 13, 2011