"I WILL NOT SHOW INJUSTICE TO TRUTH" - Oommen Chandy

                        With the LDF in Kerala baying for his resignation on the solar panel scam, a defiant chief minister Oommen Chandy rejected their demand, saying it was part of a political conspiracy by the CPI-M-led opposition and if he stepped down now, he would be doing an "injustice to truth."  "I am not a person who wants to cling to power at any cost. But, if I resign now, I will be doing injustice to truth," Chandy, in the eye of a storm triggered by the scam, told reporters after a cabinet meeting here today. Expressing confidence of overcoming the present crisis, he said it was now a political issue and "we will fight it out."  "Party high command, state congress party, ministry and ruling UDF is united on this issue," he asserted. Chandy said the charges against him were part of a political conspiracy by the CPI-M led LDF opposition, because all their agitations against the UDF government after it came to power failed to click. 
                       The conspiracy started after the arrest of a personal staff in the chief minister's office, he said. "After that the LDF thought, it was a chance to target me and the UDF government", he said adding "we will not yield to their political designs." On the 12-hour strike called by the opposition today demanding his resignation, Chandy said it was a challenge to people and government would not tolerate violence in the pretext of agitation. Chandy also rejected the statement of the complainant in the solar case, Sreedharan Nair, that he had met the chief minister and discussed solar project.Investigation into the case was progressing in the right direction and "all accused in the case would be brought before law," he said. 
 
                             The scam pertains to alleged cheating of several persons to the tune of crores of Rupees by one Saritha Nair and her accomplice Biju Radhakrishnan by offering solar panel solutions. An actress Shalu Menon has also been arrested in connection with the case. It took a serious political turn with the arrest of one of Chandy's close personal aides, who has alleged links with the accused. Two other employees in his personal staff have also been removed in connection with the scam.

CM receives UN Award

                            Bahrain 27-06-2013: CM today received the UN Public Service Award from UN Under Secretary General Wu Hongbo in a splendid ceremony at the national theatre here. The UN award is considered as Oscar Award for public service.  
                Thousands of malayalees in Bahrain congratulated CM on receiving the prestigious award. The malayalees present at the function welcomed the CM with a huge round of applause.  
             The award was presented at the plenary session of the convention based on the theme 'Transformative e-Government and Innovation: Creating a Better Future for All conducted by UN public forum held from June 24 to 27. Representatives from 80 countries participated in the function. 600 applications were considered for the award. Various successful experiments done in governance in different countries were submitted for UNPSA.  
             UN noted that the Mass Contact Programme of Oommen Chandy was a model for the whole world to emulate. CM pointed out that democracy is strengthened when the distance between people and officials is shortened and added that he always laid stress on decreasing this gap. When a leader gets close to people more transparency is ensured and it stops corruption.  
             The next stage of MCP is totally IT driven . It will help in increasing the reach of e- governance. All petitions are to be submitted online. Bahrain Deputy Prime Minister Muhammad ibn Mubarak Al Khalifah was the chief guest of the function.

congratulations, C M

Approval for Teacher’s Package

Thiruvananthapuram 28-09-2011: The Teacher’s Package has been approved by the Government, said CM while briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting. Teacher’s Bank involving 8076 teachers will be formed in the district level. Posting will be given to 3389 teachers working without salary from June.
All the teachers who were posted this year in the vacancies that arose due to death, resignation, promotion and retirement will be given recognition. The y will get salary from the day they joined th service.
The Teacher’s Bank of 8076 teachers are formed out of the 2987 protected teachers who became permanent after the expiry of their protected period, 1700 teachers who lost their job due to the division fall and 3389 teachers working without salary.
The Teacher’s Bank will be formed in the revenue district level. The vacancies that arise while implementing the new teacher-student ratio will be filled from the Teacher’s Bank in each school.
From now on those who have passed the Teacher’s Eligibility Test will only be posted as teachers. All the specialist teachers in schools will be pooled into the Teacher’s Bank and their service will be extended to all schools. In the future these vacancies will be reported to PSC.
ADHAR cards will be made mandatory form next year to fix the extra post that arises due to the new teacher – student ratio. Strict action will be initiated against the school authorities who blow up the number of students. The teachers working in that school will be considered for the vacancies that arise as per the new ratio. The next priority will be given to a teacher from the Teacher’s Bank. The rest of the vacancies should be filled according to seniority. The postings in aided school can be made only with the consent of the Government. From now on the salary can be drawn only by the Head Master of the school.
The 1641 teachers working in Government schools in the protected category will be send to the Teacher’s Bank and will be posted in aided schools.
When the Teacher’s Package is implemented there will not be a single teacher in the state working without salary, said CM

Kerala CM opens 24x7 Call Centre

Thiruvananthapuram 01-09-2011: Now people from anywhere from the world can lodge their complaints directly to the Chief Minister of Kerala.
The 24 hour Public Grievance Redressal Cell call centre was inaugurated by the CM at his office today in the presence of his ministerial colleagues, Members of Legislative Assembly and senior officials as part of the 100 day programme.
CM said that the grievance of the people won’t be left unattended and added that every possible effort will be made to resolve the sufferings of the people. The call centre is a step towards this goal.
Government doesn’t claim that all the problems of people will be resolved. If in any case a complaint remains unresolved, then the petitioner will be informed as why his complaint cannot be resolved. The Government has ensured full support from all the officials for the successful functioning of the call centre, said CM.
The first petition that came up was of the son of C.S Suresh Kumar a KSRTC driver who died while on duty of cardiac arrest. Though he died driving, his act of courage saved the life of people in the bus as he applied the brakes in time. The file regarding the recommendation for Jeevan Raksha Pathak for Suresh Kumar was pending. This complaint was taken up and the CM has directed the GAD secretary to complete the formalities and forward the recommendation to the Central Government today itself.
The second petition was regarding A.C Smitha who went missing in 2006 in Dubai in just two days after reaching there with her husband. Till now no progress has taken place regarding the complaint lodged with police. CM has directed DGP to hand over the case to Crime Branch.
Call Centre
The 24x7 call centre would facilitate people to register their grievances and complaints directly to the Chief Minister’s Office by telephone. The call centre would function 24x7 and can be accessed on 1076- toll free number, for BSNL customers. Those using other services will have to dial 1800 425 1076 for accessing the service. People calling from abroad have to fix the code 0471 before the too free number.
The call centre is in addition to the existing provisions to lodge complaints with the CM’s Office.