The Hindu : Kerala News : Inconvenience during VVIP visits

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 08, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala

Inconvenience during VVIP visits

Last week, the day after the Prime Minister's motorcade took a wrong turn at Asan Square in the State capital, vehicular traffic was closed for a long time before the convoy took the roads on its route. The traffic police, after their nightmarish experience the previous evening, were intolerant and resentful, judging by the way they drove away vehicle owners who enquired with them about the time when traffic would be restored.

Gone are those days when VVIPs would travel in topless vehicles, receiving ovation from people who line up on either side of the road, as during the Nehruvian era. In these days of terror threats and acts of terrorism, providing foolproof security to VVIPs is of paramount importance. The best solution to avoid public harassment lies in constructing a helipad on the Raj Bhavan compound so that VVIPs can safely reach the destination from the airport.

K.K. Thampi

Pettah

Easy availability of loans

The causes of farmers' suicide are not thoroughly analysed. Hence, no real data are there to understand the menace. Farm loans can be had even if the borrower does not own land. Loans are granted without properly vetting their use, and hence, most of them are misused. When due for repayment, the family decides to commit suicide, and loans become a social evil.

Every loan, whether small, medium or large, must be granted based on a data sheet designed by the bank. It should have minimum details, such as survey numbers of land, area, location, ownership, crop, time needed for harvesting, whether the crop depends on irrigation or rain, if prior arrangement is there for marketing, the price estimated, money expected and schedule of repayment. In Kerala, loans are easily available and misused.

Hence, if suicides have to be stopped, bank loans, including those for education, must be granted on certain acceptable parameters, which must be monitored at frequent intervals.

P.M.G. Pillai

Thiruvalla

Permanent house numbers

In many case, the house number in the ration card is different from that in the election ID card. People do not know which one is right.

There should be a permanent number for a house. Is it necessary to change the house number every five years? These changes of wards and house numbers with every election create problems for the public and the local administration.

Building tax in panchayats is collected door to door by lower division clerks. Most houses are locked during office hours. Even if these are opened, people may not be able to pay money at short notice. If the tax is collected in bimonthly instalments, along with electricity bills, it will have more than one good. Every local self-government can achieve 100 per cent collection every year. The workload of self-government employees can also be mitigated.

T. Biju

Kollam

Violence continues

The domestic violence Act seeks to give relief to women oppressed in their marital homes. The law is in addition to the protection available under the Indian Penal Code.

Protection to women against harassment at the workplace is provided in the Supreme Court guidelines.

Despite three laws, violence against women continues. But in another sphere of cognizable offence, there is passive prevention of women's entry into the legislature.

The lawmakers effectively prevent entry of women to complement their work in legislative offices.

Cannot the Supreme Court have occasion to bring out similar guidelines to the executive authority to facilitate exercise of democratic rights by competent women at least at this late time?

Will it not help men-folk when women democrats eventually bring out laws to protect them in reverse legislation?

V. Ganapathy

Thiruvananthapuram

Sports lottery

The proposed sports lottery to mobilise Rs.400 crore for the development of sports infrastructure in the State is welcome. But after introducing the lottery on November 14, the draw will be held only on January 15. The time-lag may result in a slow process of lottery sale, as the Government has decided not to run any other lottery during the period. So, mini-draws of the sports lottery during the period and a final super bumper draw on January 15 should be done. Hope the authorities will do this.

N.S. Madhu Ranjan

Thiruvananthapuram

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