Govt Mega show for buying land from private holders when enough land in stock

Conveniently ignoring the thousands of acres of government land illegally held by private individuals and institutions, the Revenue Department is gearing up for a mega bash, Bhoomigeetham, in Kochi to raise money for buying private land for its ambitious 'Zero Landless' project.

Despite retrieving government land, which may come to 5000 to 10,000 acres of land in each district as per revenue sources, the government has become a laughing stock with the mega show titled ‘Bhoomigeetham’ to be held first at Ernakulam on August 31 and later at every district headquarters. According to revenue sources, about 2,500 acres of public land that could be taken back are spread over Nedumangad, Palode and Ponmudi regions in Thiruvananthapuram district, about 4,000 acres in  Nelliyampathy and Chittor areas in Palakkad. In Munnar and Devikulam areas in Idukki, more than 5,000 acres are in the illegal possession of many. The same is with Wayanad, which according to unofficial records  stands at about 4,000 acres of illegal possessions.  

Lands that have completed lease period and those that violated lease agreement, encroached lands, surplus lands that are not entangled in legal or other issues, Escheat lands (land which has no inheritors) and Bought-in-Land (authority of land that lies with the various departments) could have been earmarked for providing titles deeds to the landless. The government is conducting a Mega Show at a time when even surplus lands are being allotted in the name of private institutions. The officials maintain that the government does not have the courage to take back the land from major encroachers.  

The officials also alleged that the government by not retrieving land in the illegal possessions for such an ambitious project was only helping land grabbers. Instead of buying land from private holders, the money collected from the mega shows could have been used for building houses for the landless, the said and added it could have saved the face of the government.   

However, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said that the Mega show was conceived, aimed at the participation of the entire society in the zero land less project. ''There can be many criticisms about conducting such a show. The money that is collected  through the mega shows will be used for the Zero Landless project,'' he said. 

Noting that identifying land was the first priority of the government, Prakash said that only 10,000 acres of land was now needed as per the records for providing land to the applications received.  And here the officials note that if the government was stern, 10,000 acres was not that difficult. 

source: The New Indian express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/327941/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/28-08-2014#page/5/1

laproscopic Sterlisation: Docs denied medico-legal support

Doctors in the government sector performing laproscopic sterilisation are a worried lot with the government not providing medico-legal support if and when the persons subject to such surgery approach the court. Once the doctors face court cases, they only get support from the Professional Protection Scheme of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and that too only provided to life term members.

Noting that failures can happen in some persons who undergo laproscopic sterlisation, the doctors said that they were not getting the due support in most of the cases. IMA state secretary Dr A V Jayakrishnan said ''The doctors now perform laproscopic sterlisation at their own risk. They face mental trauma and physical strain when fighting the case individually at a time the sterilisation is being done as part of a national programme,'' he said.

Moreover, people file cases even after signing the approval letter that clearly states that they would avail the insurance amount as part of the national programme if there is a failure. Most of the people are said to file cases if they get a girl child after the sterlisation failure. If its a boy child, no cases are generally filed, the doctors said. Another thing pointed out is that the people who undergo sterilisation are asked to approach the doctor in case of any failure. But in most cases, they do not turn up but only approach the court.

Stating that fighting cases without any support was difficult most of the time, Dr Maya of the Women and Child Hospital, Thycaud, said '' it is really hard for fighting the case all alone. The only support that we get is from the IMA and that too only if a doctor is a life term member.''

source: The New Indian express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/326824/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/26-08-2014#page/6/1

Digitalisation of Land: A long road ahead for State

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the Government is preparing for online mutation (pokkuvaravu) across the state, the officials in the village, taluk and other revenue offices are quite apprehensive about its implementation as there is a dearth of qualified staff who can handle the documents online. Moreover, doubts have also been raised if online mutation would be fool proof.

Now being implemented in Palakkad district, the government says that it is being smoothly implemented in the district and no complaints have been raised till now. However, those who are apprehensive said that though Palakkad is claimed to be a success, the government was yet to prove it. They also pointed out the possibility of technical error when registration of documents are made online.

Stating that there was nothing to worry when online mutation was introduced, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash said that the online facility that was introduced in Palakkad district was functioning in a smooth manner. However, he pointed out that once the resurvey was completed, everything would be streamlined. ''Once the online mutation comes into force, there will not be any complaints with regard to land transactions,'' he said.

Once online mutation is completely introduced across the state, the government thinks of monitoring all land transactions and hopes that all suspicious land transactions in sensitive areas could be curbed. A document registered in one place can be checked at any place, which helps in checking bogus transactions.

However, the employees in the revenue department and the document writers forum have raised concern with regard to online mutation. Kerala Document Writers, Scribes and Stamp vendors Welfare Board member Mannoorkonam Sathyan said that there was not enough qualified staff in the revenue offices who can handle the documents online. Once the online mutation comes into effect, there are chances of more delay and extra financial burden on the part of the people, he said. Pointing out that around 50,000 document and scribe writers were in the state, he expressed his fear that the proposed reforms in the registration department will render them jobless and adversely affect their livelihood. However, he said that once all the offices are brought under the system, there would be more transparency.

Medical students allege anomalies in KUHS exam

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS), which is imposing exam fee that is said to be the highest among the other universities in the country for PG Exams, is alleged to be taking the students for a ride with the University not providing the basic services.

The PG Students allege that the University, which was charging a fee of about Rs 10,000 for the exam, was not having a centralised evaluation system and a unified scoring system. However, the University claims that the fees was not higher and the students were provided the best service. The students are also gearing up for an agitation, demanding transparency in the exam process.

Stating that no proper evaluation was taking place, Kerala Medical Postgraduates Association state president Dr M Anas said ''even though the University says that the valuation is foolproof because of triple evaluation, the marks that has been provided by the first evaluator will be mostly followed by the others. '' He said that the Association demanded a centralised valuation system, where there will be no victimisation.

Pointing out that they were denied revaluation, he said ''the PG exam conducted by KUHS is not different from the exams of other universities. When there is revaluation for all exams conducted by the different universities, why there is no revaluation for the PG course conducted by KUHS,'' he said.

''When the colleges were under the Kerala University, the fees was just Rs 2,000. But now the charges have reached about Rs 10,000 and the university has said that there will be a ten per cent yearly increase,'' Anas said.

Source: The new Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/325218/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/23-08-2014#page/6/1

Attakulangara School: HC stays all proceedings

The High Court has stayed all further proceedings, including the demolition of the boundary walls and other structures of the Attakulangara School, which is in the eye of a storm over the Trivandrum Development Authority's (TRIDA) plan to take over the land and build a bus bay and shopping complexes.

A bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A M Shaffique stayed the demolition, observing that there was total prohibition on the assignment of school property other than educational purposes.

The court pronounced the order on a petition filed by Tree Walk, a group of citizens who are for protecting the green cover of Thiruvananthapuram city.

In the petition, it has been stated that the proposal for the establishment of bus terminal and shopping complex by TRIDA will adversely affect the rich biodiversity maintained by the school and it was illegal. The petitioner had also contended that no environment impact assessment was conducted before undertaking the project. ''There are about 32 species of trees numbering about 100 in this compound. In addition there are herbal plants. The experts have already found that there are about 30 species of birds, 25 species of butterflies and more than 10 species of dragonflies in the school compound. This land in the heart of the city is the Green lung of the Trivandrum City and the last patch of greenery in the city,'' the petition said.
Source: The New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/321393/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/15-08-2014#page/17/1

Flouting rules, Kerala Govt allots surplus land for Society

The government has flouted land reform rules in providing surplus land to a Society in Malappuram for setting up a college at Rs 1,000 per acre per annum lease even when the value of land in the region stands at Rs four to six lakh per cent. Though the government has said that the surplus land has been provided in the name of public purpose, it is alleged to be against the existing land reform rules. 
The government in its order (G.O (M.S)No.342/2014/RD) dated August 8, 2014, says that an extent of 5 acres of land from the 7.45 acres of surplus land in Survey No.3/1 of Block No 78 in Wandoor Village has been given on lease of Rs 1,000 per acre per annum for 30 years to Indhiraji Memorial Society. 
The government is said to have neglected the recommendations of the State Land Board, which had pointed out that surplus lands should not be given to private societies even if public interest was involved in it as it would go against the spirit of KLR Act. As per the Act, if surplus land has to be used for public purpose, it should be in conformity with the main objective of the Act, which is agrarian reforms. Priority should be for providing surplus land to landless agriculture labourers, which has been flouted here. 
It has been alleged that when the value of land stood at about Rs 5 lakh per cent, the society has been granted land almost free of cost. It was also alleged that once the land is given on lease, the society will become the owners of the land in course of time, which was evident in most of the leased land cases.

Source: The New Indian Express 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/321393/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/15-08-2014#page/6/1

Salary delay: staff of Special Revenue offices in a fix

With Onam only a month away, Revenue employees deployed in temporary revenue offices opened for special purposes in the state are left in the lurch as they have been denied their salary due to non-extension of their services. The government has only given continuous service extension to the employees till June and the file for sanctioning the respective post is pending with the Finance department.

Though Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash has taken up the issue in the cabinet, the finance department is yet to take action. With the continuous sanction becoming an issue every six months, the leading unions – Kerala Revenue Department Staff Association (KRDSA) and the Kerala Land Revenue Staff Association (KLRSA) – have demanded a permanent solution to the issue.

As many as 5000 employees in special offices such as Land tribunal, land acquisition, National Highway are at the mercy of the government.

source: the New Indian express 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/320293/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/13-08-2014#page/5/1

Kerala Govt yet to act on Illegal LT Pattayams

The government is yet to act on the reports of Land Tribunal Pattayams (Title deeds or Purchase Certificates) under the illegal possession of certain institutions, trusts, companies and individuals even though the Land Board had intimated about widespread irregularities.

The Land Board is known to have sent a communication to the government more than two months back about the irregularity in LT Pattayams. In the communication, it was said that the LT title deeds that are generally given to cultivating tenants are now largely in possession of various companies, trusts, institutions and individuals. Moreover, the title deeds have been given for bulk land holdings of 100, 500, and 1000 acres of land respectively that exceed the stipulated ceiling limit as per the Kerala Land reforms Act.

Though LT pattayams had always been an issue for a long time, the Land Board is also blamed of having not done anything in this regard. Though Land Board itself could have taken action, the officials are said to be taking a lackadaisical attitude. 

Source: The New Indian Express 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/318102/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/09-08-2014#page/5/1

Prof facing trial in probables list of KUHS VC

A professor of medicine facing trial in a Vigilance court and who was earlier debarred by the Kerala University has found a place in the probable list for the Vice Chancellor of Kerala University of Health Sciences even as the the medical community calls for a non controversial persons with proven record of academic and administrative skills suitable for the university, students and the faculty in the VC's chair.

It is said that the name of the professor in the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, who is also accused of taking ''vindicative action'' against students, has found his place in the probable list because of his proximity to the Ruling Front and also closeness to the Chief Minister.

The Vigilance had in 2011 filed a charge sheet before the Thiruvananthapuram Vigiance Court against the professor and others in the purchase of vials and the trial is on. It should also be noted that the Kerala University in 2003 had debarred him as an examiner for destroying the answer sheets of students during the MBBS under graduate exam, when he was chief examiner.

source: The New Indian express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/316000/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/05-08-2014#page/4/1

Kerala Govt dupes pregnant women

When the pregnant women under the BPL category are to be provided free treatment under the Centre Government's programme – Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), the state government is hoodwinking the pregnant women and their families by charging them from the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana programme.

Instead of providing either one of the schemes, a majority of the Women and Children hospitals in the government sector include both the schemes for the treatment. In the case sheet, one can see the seal of both JSSK and RSBY, which means that the pregnant women are charged even when there is a provision for free treatment.

Though the government is aware that the poor patients are being taken for a ride, it is known that instructions have been given to the hospitals to go with the same policy of utlising both the facilities until a decision is taken. The government is learned to have instructed the hospitals superintendents for including both the programmes as it was found that only 30 per cent of the card holders of RSBY are utilising the scheme, which means that the government's share in the RSBY premium is getting wasted and the company is making gains.

As per the RSBY scheme, an amount of Rs 5,000 and Rs 6,000 is deducted for normal and Cesarian deliveries respectively from the insured amount. And most of the poor patients are not aware that they would get free treatment as per the JSSK scheme. It is only when they go for treatment in some other hospitals that they come to known that a certain amount has been deducted from their RSBY Card.

Source: The New Indian express 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/315376/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/04-08-2014#page/6/1

Assessment in Disability learning: New system flkawed

The assessment of children with learning disability by the Normal Medical Board, which does not have a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, for getting concessions is leading to many a confusion and improper evaluation. Earlier the assessment was done by a team of members that had a clinical psychologist and psychiatrist.

With the Normal Medical Boards having no clinical psychologists or psychiatrist in the panel, it is said that proper analysis could not be held. Stating that assessing learning disability and intelligence are very much complicated, Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists , Kerala region, president Dr S Satheesh Nair said that the new assessment method will only lead to ineligible candidates getting concessions.

''The normal medical board only consists of doctors in other specialisation rather than who have qualified in psychiatry. How can a doctor specialised in neurology or nephrology or any other area can assess the children for their disabilities?,'' he asked.

Earlier the certificate was given by the team that consisted of the school principal or a resource teacher, a clinical psychologist and psychiatrist. However, the government has decided to entrust the evaluation to the Normal medical Board stating that the system, was manipulated, by vested interests so that some children who do not require the provisions are availing the certificates.

Source: The New Indian Express 

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/315376/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/04-08-2014#page/4/1