The Hindu : Kerala News : Readers' Mail

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Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Readers' Mail

Can we transform the State?

Sir, — We should be glad that the Education Minister nurtures certain laudable dreams about the State. (Educationplus, March 14). Among other things, he emphasises the following points: Kerala should be elevated to the status of an international education destination; we should have international quality institutions in higher education; our universities are now in limbo; nothing innovative is being done in our universities; and the academic quality of our institutions should be raised.

All great thoughts indeed. Is there any magic formula that can effect the transformation? We have to analyse why we are in such a plight. No institution can attain quality unless we have competent people to man it.

Are we prepared to analyse dispassionately and see that the best talents reach the various official bodies of the universities? Do men and women of great academic calibre have the opportunity to arrive at significant positions in the Syndicate, senate and board of studies? Does too much of politicisation blocks the way of really deserving academic experts? Is it not true that every ruling party tries to fill the various offices with its own henchmen?

That is at the secondary level. The primary level selection comes as lecturers in colleges. At that stage, do the most meritorious candidates get selected? Is not the selection based on money power or caste distinctions?

If we should attain international levels of quality, we should have an open mind to learn how they attained it. No great educational institution or centre of excellence is known by the strength of the teacher politics or student politics of the Kerala style. When narrow personal or group interests are allowed to reign, we may not be able to realise the dream of scaling global heights in quality.

We should be able to attract the best brains in the country, give them academic freedom and stop political interference in innovative enterprises in education. The human material is the most significant factor in ensuring quality. The Indian symbol of the Guru has great relevance today. To begin with, we should have real Gurus: men and women of quality, competence and integrity. Impartial administration and sound financing are the other important factors.

B.S. Warrier,

Kochi.

Aggressive marketing

Sir, — Marketing has never been as competitive and aggressive as it is now. The effects of globalisation and privatisation have trickled down to the lower strata of the Kerala society and the standard of living has improved. In order to keep pace with the rapid changes, our marketing gurus are racking their brains to spread their nets wider to include lower income groups as well. As the gulf between income and spending widens beyond critical levels, whole families commit suicide or resort to some illegal means of money-making.

Credit cards, car loans, insurance policies, money chains, zero interest loans on consumer goods and loan melas are all forcefully finding their way into middle class Kerala homes, thanks to the easily exploitable jobless youth force here. The average government employee is effortlessly roped in by these young entrepreneurs who market their products creating an ambience of easy purchase. As the money value depreciates faster and the Government finds it harder to live up to the employee's financial expectations, people resort to a loan culture, thereby creating delicate finances. As a result, a month's salary drains faster, leaving families cash strapped after the 15th or the 20th. This is a burning issue for minority social engineers who try in vain to make themselves heard in the melee.

It is the need of the hour for social organisations to unite and make a collective attempt to stall the phenomenon. The public, especially the low-income groups, should be made aware of the hidden traps in the market and the end scenarios. Similarly, educational planners should think about ways to train children for inculcating the spirit of saving and low spending. A small effort in this direction would make a big difference in the social climate of the State.

Dr. K.P. Jai Kiran,

Thiruvananthapuram.

Water conservation

Sir, — It is high time an action plan for the Bharathapuzha was formulated. Temporary check-dams have already been constructed in the river stretch from Parali to Chamravattom using sandbags.

The Ottappalam and Cheruthuruthy check-dams constructed with people's participation have proved to be a great success. These check-dams are primarily intended for water conservation for the lean months of March, April and May. There are proposals with the Government for construction of 16 check/sub-surface dams in the river from Parali to Chamravattom.

Execution work for a check-dam at Parali and a sub-surface dam at Mundaya has started in full swing. The Bharathapuzha Protection Samiti is not taking concerted efforts in check-dam construction since it is against water conservation. The same is the case with the Kerala Sastra Sahithya Parishad. It is the lack of will on the part of people's representatives that hampers water conservation structures in the Bharathapuzha. The Water Resources Ministry is yet to understand the importance of water conservation.

T.N.N. Bhattathiripad,

Thrissur.

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