MUTHUKANNU PAGES

Status of Prisons and their Reformative Role. The Prison System as the Police is a legacy and continuation of the Colonial content  .Some tinkering then and there have been carried out by the Governments on adhoc basis.A major over haul and reformation are still elusive. Recommendations for Jail Reforms are pending for acceptance for decades with the Government. The tier-system of jails: sub-jails, District Jails and Central Jails do not have adequate facilities and infrastructure commensurate with the Prison population.The Personnel are from psychological point of view regard themselves as an extension of the police force. The convicts lodged in prison have to be treated as patients referred/admitted to hospital for treatment and care. The Theories of Criminology speak volumes about the idea behind punishment.From a holistic point Prison are meant for redemption and reform. In practice they act as centre for hardening criminal and in most cases the tendency to form group an

Traffic and Pedestrian Rights It is an open secret that the traffic situation in Puducherry is chaotic.The National Data for road accidents place the Territory in higher risk category. Given it's demography and extent of territory the number of vehicles plying on the road is disproportionate and unmatching. History records that the Territory  consisted of a good number of villages in the past.  Over a period of time , the Rulers conceived and  planned the Town as a City, like the one at Chandigarh.Bullock Carts , Carts drawn by other animals, hand drawn carts etc.,  i.e. indigenous type of means of transport were opersted widely and used in tandem with the environment and size of the Region without causing traffic snarl and pollution. The population was also manageable and their preference was walking.It was the favourite means of movement. People carried  on their day to day routine and undertook pilgrimage and other avocations of daily life without embarking on vehicles.

Boating and Lakes in Puducherry ! Knowledgeable people in Puducherry know about the Lakes in the Region and their water source.About 86 Lakes found in the Union Territory. They are fed by river flows from Tamilnadu. Catchment areas are only in the neighbouring State. Traditionally inland fisherman occupation dependent on these Waterbodies and local back waters. Hand nets and spread nets, sometimes called fan nuts have been used in the past and whenever they brim with the flow. Other lifeforms,  aquatic and birds have their livelihood and life support from the lakes. Catamarans also used rarely and sparingly not affecting or disrupting the Waterbodies. Without giving serious thought about the  precarious conditioning  of lakes at present and the disappearance of feeder channel or encroachment committed by Medical Colleges,  Engineering Colleges,  Industries , Recreational activities and Hotels, the well thought out and laid structures for collection of rain water and harvesti

 Slackness in Ground Water Management in Puducherry. Recently the print media and visual media in Puducherry published / broadcast news about the visit of the Lieutenant Governor along with officers drawn from different Departments at K.V.Textile - the newly opened Stores near Ellaipillaichavady. The Governor on inspection found traffic congestion in the absence of adequate parking space provided by the Shop.Tube well dug without permission and Planning Authority's Permission not obtained for the Construction.Works even were in non-completion. The Shop was ordered closure and the premises sealed. There are numerous points of contention. 1.Whether all constructions are approved by PPA? 2.Whether the Ground Water Authority gives permission for tapping and using ground water for domestic/commercial purposes? 3.Whether the Traffic Police gives permission ? 4.Whether the Municipality accords permission? Are these Departments and others exercising supervisory functions and o

Farmers Rally and Nationwide Strike for Assertion and Settlement of their Long Pending Demands. We may know that more than 130 Agriculturist Associations in the Country have been coordinating their struggle, 'Village Strikes', since June 1 pressing the Government at the State and Centre to concede to their just livelihood demands.As a mark of protest, farm produces like Vegetables, Food Grains and milk were dumped on the National Highways  to draw the attention of the Governments for settlement.In order to intensify their movement they have declared "Bharat Bandh" on 10th June and sought Solidarity support from the people. Their demands include, *Enhancement of Minimum Support Price for farm produce. *Increase in Procurement Price for milk. *Waiver of farm loans. The above demands are not new.They have been demanding for a permanent solution and struggling for too many decades.In fact then Governments at the States and Centre had some time implemented loan

(This reflection was in the draft stage written about a decade ago after learning about the environment disaster at Thiruvandarkoil, Puducherry) Newspapers in Puducherry, Yesterday carried a news item that in an industry(MNC) , manufacturing components for Windmills in Thiruvandorkoil, puducherry, employing about 2000 workers, mostly contract labourers, fire broke out and engulfed the factory and adjoining Villages, in which lac worth of properties were lost. The news item did not mention the name of the Industry but detailed the accident occurred in the yard of the Industry, where plastic and other wastes generated during the manufacture of the Windmills got dumped in the open for years, without timely clearance and disposal by the Company. The fire service units in the State requisitioned could not douse the fire, as a result assistance from neighboring Villupuram and Cuddalore Districts of Tamilnadu also sought and combined their effort, to put out the blaze for the last tw

Adulteration in Edible Oils- What is Government's responsibility? Amidst other news items, the appearance of  special coverage on manufacturing of adulterated edible oil racket bust creates public attention  and  has been lost. As we all aware that consumption of oil in household on d essential and a necessity. Taking advantage of the massive market open before them the traders are utilising the opportunity and in full gear dump products sacrificing quality endangering public health and safety.Business turn over has been the primary focus and priority keepin aside credibility and business ethics. News item published in print media and visual media on large scale adulterated oil trading create ripples and settles downafter some time.The recent seizure of  15000 litres of adulterated edible oil from a large-scale manufacturing unit in Madurai is the second such serious exposure in the City. The modus operandi includes essence imported from Malaysia used to convert palmolein

Art of Parenting In the  Indian context, the joint family has been a traditional social organisation. It is a system or an institution as some thinkers /sociologists define or describe. With the framework of institution,  the  management and upbringing of  children to  a desired level is a continuous and constant process  that require  close scrutiny and involvement by the parents. A day to day assessment  for better growth  and healthier development of children - the future citizens , is a sinequanon. However, in most cases the tendency is only adhoc and routine.From a practical point of view the responsibility and entire burden rests with the female member.The role of bread-winner is either symbolic or titular. Minute details of parenting coming from elders have not been listened and adhered to. The parents distance from the advice and some retort it as outdated. Right from rising from the bed early and cleaning;  provision of balanced diet and training in healthy nature

ATM Fraud- Moral Degeneration The Union Territory has recently exploded with the news of ATM Fraud.The ramifications believed to have been National and International.The perpetrators of the Cyber Crime reported by the press reveal politicians and educated.The involvement of a Doctor and staff of the Government /University really speak volumes of moral degeneration and sinking ethics in the Society. People of all walks of life, who have been using the facilities of Card Transaction -the  much talked Digital Banking without fully understanding the nuances have been victimised.Their hard earned money has been siphoned and are deeply worried and distressed. Even  the suffered are not conversant with the grievance redressal mechanism including the Cyber Crime Police .Once again the Case, that is high profile will move at snail's pace.The inherent nature of the Investigation System will have to face different impediments and may get interlocked beyond expression.We may be reminded

Privatisation of  Education and Exploitation The structural Adjustment Program dictated by the World Bank and other International Financial Institutions  made deep inroads into the economy of our Country since 1990.  One major aspect of the LPG directions is with regard to  easing of State Control and shirking of  responsibility over education. Many number of Colleges especially in the field of Engineering  Technology and Medicine sprang up in quick succession. The founders are mostly politicians and business people, who wielded power and pelf have grabbed the opportunity and established their hold cleverly. Even  entrepreneurs in other field had diversified their business and made hay when it shined. The Government Schools and Colleges  that were the only hope of middle classes and poorer sections of  the Society before the on set of the globalisation  slowly declined as Government started pulling out of providing financial assistance for infrastructure and creation of posts in e

Martyr's Day Remembering the tragic death of M.K. Gandhi on every 30th January and observing it as Martyr's Day by all have become a mere ritual.Those who opposed to the ideas of peaceful co-existence of Hindus and Muslims and other faiths also gather on the day.It is sheer pretension and hypocrisy. we have had enough words spoken.What we require deeds to match manifest action on the ground upholding practice is the need of the hour.The necessity is now a felt need as the people who started the politics of hatred with the bullet by finishing Mahatma are in the portals of power and continuing their agenda with impunity against all sections of democratic and secular forces opposed to their ideals.As civil society having faith and allegiance to the democratic and secular fabric of the Indian society will have to indicate and isolate such forces and do not allow them to take part in the Day.There shall be no compromise with such regressive forces and have to resist their ideo

Public Health Care Delivery System in the Union Territory of Puducherry- A few hard facts. The Union Territory of Puducherry declares itself as proud and reeling out statistics, amongst other things, having two Hospitals and a Medical College under the Government Sector.One more Women and Children Hospital also in its fold.However, their performance are gradually declining. Sanitation  In the first instance, the sanitation in and around the Hospitals need improvement, in relation to the number of patients visiting daily for treatment and their companions.The pathetic condition prevailing in the Ampitheatre/Mortuary are worth indicating.The Section is ill-equipped and often the people in duty fleece the relatives of the dead inhumanely. Duty Doctors The Doctors on duty during OPD hours are not punctual.They have their own time.Except some conscious people, others, especially Specialists are available in Private Medical Institutions on appointment.Disappointed patients from fo

Tuticorin Struggle is neither a caste conflict nor religious one.It is a struggle for livelihood.An inevitable struggle for clean air and potable water forced upon the people way back in 1994, when the Sterilite Industry laid its foundation and the Government of Tamilnadu supported in all ways by providing electricity, land and water. The water was facilitated  to be drawn from Tamiraparani river.  In a way, the Government did not listen to the  reservations expressed by people from different walks of life and reasonable concerns  stated in strong terms by the environmental activists then. Further without deep analysis and examination on the background of the copper smoldering plant  which  was driven away by Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, one after another, comprehending the danger and potential environmental calamity it posed. There is no perceptional difference among the political parties and in a sense are united and interested subjectively in locating the di