A health related physical fitness programme among school children last year showed that not even 20 per cent of Kerala’s school children were physically fit.

What were tested under the total physical fitness programme was the capacity of heart and lungs, aerobic capacity, body mass index and flexibility of body. The tests covered 16.29 lakh children in 2008-09. Of them, only 19.61 per cent had minimum physical fitness. Only 4.1 per cent of the children could win more than 75 points (C Grade) in all tests.

Large number of girls were found to lack in abdominal strength. Only ten-year-old girls were better when considering the average scores. Girls were found to lose their abdominal strength as they grow. More than 53 per cent of the girls could not make the grade in tests of abdominal strength. The percentage was 68.3 among 15-year-old girls. Majority of them (64.82 per cent) lacked flexibility of body. Their percentage rose to 73.11 by the time they reached 15 years of age.

Boys were also found to lose their fitness as they grow. The State averages for those aged 10-12 was equivalent to D grade. (Only 474 boys and girls had won A grade in second round of tests conducted by State Testing Authority. A grade required more than 90 points.)The condition of others were worse. Nearly 54 per cent of boys had the necessary abdominal strength and 78.67 had strong upper body parts. Only 38.53 per cent fared well in respect of flexibility of the body.

This alarming situation is the result of lack of sufficient physical exercise. Students could not find time for physical activities as they move to higher levels of study. Girls kept away from physical activities because of societal inequalities and barriers.

Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan

V. S. Achuthanandan appears to be playing a new game to regain his position in party and remain as Chief Minister. The Chief Minister, who had earlier refused to take the cudgels against Constitutional Authority of the Governor, has now turned against the Election Commission of India, another Constitutional authority.

His remarks, questioning the powers of the Commission to deploy Central forces on the polling day, would not please anyone standing for free and fair elections in the country. However, it would sure please some leaders in the party, especially those from Kannur.

Mr. Achuthanandan knows that party State Secretary Pinarai Vijayan may not be able to continue in office after the next party conference, if it adopts the corrective measures proposes by the Polit Bureau. Polit Bureau member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has been weakened by the allegations surrounding the actions of his son. So, Achuthanandan could regain his position in the Polit Bureau from which he had been ousted for indiscipline, if he plays the cards well

So, ultimately the only losers would be those who stood by Achuthanandan believing that he would take principled stands.

His Highness Vidhyadhata

Any ruling dispensation would hope that the people should acknowledge their services. Kings made it mandatory for the subjects to acknowledge that they had everything because of the king’s grace. For example, the rulers of erstwhile State of Travancore was to be referred as Annadatavaya Ponnu Thampuran which roughly translates something like the beloved Lord, giver of our daily bread. The auto-suggestion by the people was intended to aid the perpetuation of their rule.

Those rulers also recognised the importance of inculcating such ideas from the childhood. So, children sang praises to the ruler of Vanchinad, the Vanchi bhoopathi, and celebrated his birthdays in school with much fanfare. To demonstrate the magnanimity of the prince, the children were given free food, avilum pazhavum, on the birthday.

Now, the Kerala government of the people, by the people and for the people is also endeavouring to do the same. The Education Department has issued directives to all schools that the students taking SSLC examination in March next year should be made to take a pledge before other students in the school assembly. They would pledge to win the examination and acknowledge the lover and encouragement being extended by teachers, parents, government and the people representatives (who include a range of personalities from Members of Parliament, who may not be even knowing that some of these schools existed, to the local panchayat members). The students should thank the government at least for the liberal valuation of their answer scripts.

When the Perumon Railway accident claimed 106 lives, the Railways claimed that the accident was the result of a tornado virtually lifting the bogies off the track. The Railway official, who conducted the inquiry, even distorted testimony of witnesses, to arrive at the conclusion. Though the railways was forced to order a re-investigation under public protest, the finding did not change. However, any school boy in Kerala knows that tornadoes do not occur in Kerala.

The investigations into the boat tragedy at Thekkady also seems to be taking similar course. The Chief Inspector of Boats have come up with the strange conclusion that one of the possible reasons for the tilting of the boat could be wind. Well Thekkady is not known for tornadoes or hurricanes. What sort of boat it would have been, if it would roll over if a strong wind hits it? We have to wait to seen whether the Collector, who has received the report, will accept this finding and what sort of story the Crime Branch would come up with. Then only will we know whether the official are “preparing the ground” for the judicial enquiry.

Anyway, something seems to be amiss about the whole affair. Five Ministers rushed to the spot on hearing about the accident. (This was indeed not an exercise to curry favour with voters, for they knew most of the victims were from outside the State and that the Keralites would forget the accident before the next elections.) Of them, the Water Resources Minister was equipped with the information that the boat had the clearance of the Inspector of Boats. The very same authority is now saying that the boat could have met with the accident because of winds.

Now, see this report which says that the boat neither had a fitness certificate or insurance.

Related

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article27122.ece

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor

The Congress is bent on fitting Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Thaoor in the same mould as other Congressmen.

Congressmen have taken umbrage to Shashi Tharoor’s remark on the twitter about travelling cattle class  and party is thinking of imposing a code on conduct on him. Mr. Tharoor is a man used to walk in full suit and travel in the air-conditioned comfort of his car or airlines. Congressmen have made him to don khadi and do all sorts of thing like travelling in an open ‘rath’ during the electioneering in Trivandrum.

He is a man used to jet setting in business or executive class from New York to the Gulf and Israel. The Congress now wants him to travel cattle class and eschew five star comforts.  He has money and he wants to spent it openly, not knowing the hypocrisy prevalent in the Congress.

There are many crore-pathis in the Congress. However, they would not flaunt the money as long as they have to win an election. Instead they would wear khadi and even make it appear worn out. The money will remain safe in Swiss banks and you can spend it in Israel or Singapore (as the leftists do). Take a train and then fly helicopter. Mr. Tharoor could have spent a night a la A. K. Balan (Minister for SC and ST in Kerala) in a tribal hamlet in the eastern reaches of his Constituency and then flown to some five star hotel in Delhi. Nobody would have winked an eye.

It seems that Shashi Tharoor has a lot to learn about being an Indian politician. His Western style humour or sarcasm would not be politically correct in India. Holy cows are holy cows in India and you cannot consider them as one among cattle.

Related:  Shashi Tharoor and Kanjan Gupta

Humour in politics an occupational hazard!

Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga with Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan-- DIPR photo

Most newspapers in Kerala ignored the news though it concerned their fraternity. It was not because it lacked news value. For the words had come from none other than former president of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumaratunga. She spoke to the media at the Chief Minister’s Office in Trivandrum during a visit to Kerala. (The visit to V. S. Achuthanandan was described as a courtesy call).

She said that press freedoms were in peril in Sri Lanka. A large number of journalists had been killed in the last two years for making honest and legal criticisms. She herself feared for her life if she spoke freely though her own party was ruling the country.

The newspapers did not give much importance to these words though it came from former ruler of a neighbouring country. Though activities of the tigers in Kerala had often raised concerns in Kerala,the lack of freedoms in the neighbouring country hardly ever raised an eye-brow. Only Deepika reported her statement that the judiciary too could not function freely in her country.

Most of the killing of journalists in Sri Lanka too have not been reported  in India, even in the National media. Early this year, the outspoken editor of The Sunday Leader Lasantha Wickramatunga was done to death. Anticipating his murder, Wickramatunga had written an editorial about his (impending) murder which was published posthumously– something that made journalistic history. “No other profession calls on its practitioners to lay down their lives for their art save the armed forces and, in Sri Lanka, journalism,” he wrote.

“Let there be no doubt that whatever sacrifices we journalists make, they are not made for our own glory or enrichment: they are made for you. Whether you deserve their sacrifice is another matter. As for me, God knows I tried,” he concluded in his last editorial.

The list of persecuted journalists in Sri Lanka is long. Popular Sirasa Television reporter Paranirupasingam Devakumar was  killed, Keith Noyahr, a deputy editor at the English-language weekly The Nation, was abducted and beaten up, Iqbal Athas, the consultant editor anddefense correspondent of The Sunday Times, was threatened and forced to discontinue his column. Several journalists had been killed in Jaffna.

Many journalists have been imprisoned by the Government and news had been censored. The Government is also planning to revive the Press Council with the objective of suppressing the media.

CPI (M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan has every right to obtain information from government that would help him to defend himself in the SNC Lavalin case. The Opposition argument against that it devoid of merit.

If he has obtained information relating to the Cabinet decision on the SNC Lavalin case from the Government under the Right to Information Act and presented it before the Supreme Court, his action is perfectly in order. However, P. C. George, MLA, has raised the question whether the information in question was actually released under provisions of the Act. This is a valid question and is to be looked into.

The Opposition leader Oommen Chandy, on the other hand, maintains that the release of the information under the Act on Cabinet decisions sets a bad precedent as not only Mr. Vijayan but also known offenders like Om Prakash would be able to get information beneficial to them in criminal cases.

In an open government, every citizen has right to get information and the rights of Mr. Vijayan is not different from that of Om Prakash. Moreover, it is the duty of the government not only to ensure successful prosecution of offenders but also to ensure fair trial. If government suppresses information, that would hamper fair trial.  It is the responsibility of the State to ensure fair trial in every case.

However, the problem is that governments are not only unwilling to ensure successful prosecution of known offenders with political connections but also aid them in various ways. The accompanying picture points to open political patronage to known offenders.

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Orupennum Randaanum, written and directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan, a feature film woven together from disconnected themes. The stories– Kallante Makan (The Thief ), Niyamavum Neethiyum (The Police), Oru Koottukaran (Two Men and a Woman), Pankiyamma (One Woman, Two Men)– are based on independent short stories written by Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai.

Because of this, the film lacks thematic unity. Adoor tries to resolve this by referring to the climate of crime that was prevalent in the 1940s against the back drop of the World War II and giving the film the tile ‘A Climate of Crime’. Yet, his limitations are obvious. He has to use the written word to introduce the viewers to the ‘climate’ and indicate progress from one theme to another through separate titles. The filmography of the master film maker proves inadquate to knit the themes together.

Praveena, who plays the role of Pankiyamma in the fourth episode, has won Kerala State award for acting. However, acting by Ravi Vallathol and Manoj K. Jayan in the same episode is equally good.  Nedumudi Venu also keeps his reputation as actor.

Adoor is again trapped in his pet themes of half-witted people of yester-years and confinement. As usual he pays attention to detail, in recreating the bygone era with appropriate settings, and technical perfection. (He seems to have paid attention to even the underwear of his characters. However, at least once modern wear is seen through– may be an oversight by one of his assistants). Naturally, the sound track and photography is good. The frames are compact, in frame and sequence. However, it is not clear why shots are framed in such a manner that body parts are cropped off in an unflattering way. It does not add either to composition or harmony.

At the end of the film you will fail to suppress a laugh. But one cannot be sure whether your laughter would be at the predicament of the two men or the director.

The report of the expert committee on reforming legal education system in Kerala may shock budding politicians and political parties.
It says that law students, if they are serious of studies, could have very little leisure or vacation and cannot afford to indulge in political party activities. It wants the government to revamp legal education with classes and internship throughout the year. This should be a shocker to the budding politicians who join the Law Academy Law College in Trivandrum to continue as student leaders and graduate into politics.

The report says nothing about need for additional law colleges. It proposes separation of professional legal education from regular universities even while acknowledging that legal curriculum encompasses almost all subjects in varying degrees. It suggests that each of the nine law colleges in the State should develop into autonomous universities. Imagine nine vice chancellors and appurtenances.

But for these, the report contain solid recommendations which needed to be implemented without delay to improve the quality of lawyers produced by our law colleges. Of course, politics will have to take the backseat.

The Hindu has more about the report.

Kerala is becoming increasingly prone to disasters. Unsteady monsoons and unwise land use have made the State prone to floods and land slips. The deterioration of environment is also leading to disasters on the health front also. However, the State is ill-prepared to meet such eventualities.

It is several years now after the State began preparing district disaster management plan. However, these are not yet ready. The State level management plan is at the draft level. Things has not progressed  much with regard to turning the Institute of Land Management into an Institute for Disaster Management. It lacks a proper faculty and other facilities.

Though the Disaster Management Authority with the Chief Minister as chairman was formed two years ago, it met only a few times. The Chief Minister even appears to be unaware of the failure of the Authority to put in place any plans for prevention and management of disasters.

The Dam Safety Authority is also in a limbo though at least a few dams in the State needs its attention. Safety plans including dam break analysis and inundation studies are wanting in the case of major dams.

On the health front, diseases are spreading as the fundamental causes remain unaddressed despite improvement in health facilities especially in the private sector.