DOCTORS' DILEMMA

Putting an end to the private practice of Medical college teachers is a progressive and bold decision taken by the health minister which will do a lot in helping the people in getting better service of these doctors. Poor people are the most beneficial as the rich can afford the expensive private hospitals. Teaching and OP are presently done by these doctors as a ritual as their mind is always busy calculating the patients waiting in their private consulting rooms. Some of them even conducting surgery at private hospitals during duty time in Medical college. Now the things will change and the medical college students also can expect better classes.

Stopping of private practice will not affect the private patients as there are enough retired doctors in the field.

With the pay hike the doctors are getting handsome pay packets but they do not seem to be happy. It is quite natural as Government cannot compensate the huge earnings they made from private practice. Other than the salary the doctors have a social commitment as their study was part financed by the people. So they should stop grumbling and dedicate their time to attend the poor patients coming to the medical college hospitals. Most of their private patients are the OP patients of the hospitals who do it as a short cut to enter hospital or the in patients who do this for getting prompt and better treatment there.

First the doctors should realize the REALITY that they are getting a large clientele of private patients only because of their label as doctor in the medical college and the reputation they build throughout their career in Government service. So none of them will dare to resign and start private practice. So the Health Minister can very well proceed. Only thing the minster has to take care is to arrange all the ancillary facilities such as scan etc. and ensuring its uninterrupted and smooth functioning in the hospitals to optimum utilize the extended service of these doctors.

Law may not be forbidding doctors from taking money but the doctors must see that the patients are so poor and coming to their private practice only because they are not getting treatment from the same doctors at the hospitals. Doctors, you are the saviors of the poor patients. “So do not fix your attention on what your fee is to be. A worry of this nature is likely to harm the patient, particularly if the disease be an acute one. Hold fast to reputation rather than profit”.

Sr. ABHAYA MURDER

The visuals of the narco-analysis in the TVs show all the three accused admitting to have committed the murder of Sr. Abhaya. Their statement reveals that one of them opened door for the other two to enter the convent and Sr. Abhaya has seen two of the accused in a comprosing position and so they hit her on the head and thrown her in the well.

Let us go back little. The Indian Express has brought out a news that the test results have been manipulated and corrected at the Public Health Laboratory Trivandrum. The test was smear test and vaginal swab testof Sr. Abhaya to ascertain any sexual assault. The news created a commotion and paved the way for re-emergence of the forgotten murder case.

What was the relevance of the test at the Public Health Lab? What was its bearing on the case? If the result was positive it meant that something happened before she was put in the well. Any mention about any such act was not in the Narco CDs shown in the TVs? There was allegation that the CDs were doctored. The legal adviser of the Church was also strongly arguing in the TV that the CDs have been manipulated. Whether the act for which tests were conducted was the part missing?

Insult to Former President

Honesty is viewed as weakness today. Our former President, Shri APJ Abdulkalam was insulted by a foreign airliner at our airport. How the foreigners dare do it in our own soil? They got the courage knowing well that our politicians are opportunists devoid of pride, integrity and honour. And also knew that if it is US they will even kneel down.

The incident took place on 21st April and the authorities hushed it up for 3 months till the lid was blown up by some patriots when they took up it in Parliament. Why no action was taken immediately and kept it a secret?

The men in charge of Presidents security and his protocol personnel were responsible for this shame. They should have informed the airlines well in advance the journey of Dr. Kalam and his status as VVIP and sorted out all the problems. Secondly once the airlines insisted for physical check they should have immediately informed the Bureau of Civil Aviation or any authority and should not have allowed our former President to undergo this humiliating experience. And another important question. Why was he arranged in foreign airlines rather than in our national carrier Air India? Now the airlines have apologized, stating in the same breath they have not done anything wrong but only their duty. Will their apology wash away the national disgrace?

Dr. Kalam, being a thorough gentleman did not care much but it was our duty to guard the honor of former President and thereby our nation. Our earlier gentlemen presidents, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Dr. Radhakrishnan did not have to face such ordeals as the values were not denigrated then. We dont need honest Presidents but shrewd ones who can hold the Bills and bargain for good living and security after retirement.

Self Financing Colleges

Union Minister Kapil Sibal seems to be really serious in clansing the education system in India. He asked UGC to direct all deemed universities to file all the details about them. Let us wait for the mystery about the deemed universities unravel.

Kerala education minister can do the same thing in Kerala. We have a lot of Self Financing Colleges and nobody knows how many. Some have agreed to abide by the Government admission policy and some are on their own.Neither the Govenrment nor the university exercise any control over them. Some claim protection as mnority institution and some as deemed univsersities. Same Faculty may not be qualified and sometimes the qualified ones may be shown as teacher many colleges simultaneously.

All these SFCs should be asked to have websites showing infrastructure availability, assets,funds and resources and information regarding admission criteria and process of admission,fee structure, faculty position,nature of appointment,faculty's names and photographs,visiting faculty and all needed for a student to know. Like UGC proposes to do the University website should have a link to the web sites of all the colleges to facilitate the students for easy reach. After deemed universitite Mr. Sibal will turn this side, why cant we do it today?

Global Investors Coming to Kerala

The memories of the catastrophic end of the earlier Global Investment Meet are still live in our minds. It came with much noise and celebration promising flow of billions of dollars making Kerala an El Dorado. Forget the billions not a single paise came as investment here so far. Another pompous show in the name of investment is in the offing. This time a little change in the name, World Investors Meet to be held on 24th and 25th in Kochi. All the development corporations or agencies of the Government of Kerala are in this conclave.

Everybody knows that considering the unique geographical features, (Kerala is full of streams, rivers, lakes, hills, and forests) and because of the dense population it is ideal only for small industries. Land cannot be procured for large industrial units like in Singur, which had become the Waterloo of West Bengal Marxist party. Our predecessors having this vision have started industries suited to our condition and which produce our essential requirements. Most of these factories are in public sector and are now either closed or on the verge of closure. What we need is to revive these factories rather than going for new big industries.

All the existing units are viable and will cater to the basic needs of Kerala which will contribute a lot in the economic growth of our state. M/s. Kerala Soaps Ltd. can easily produce all the soaps needed for Kerala and Kerala Detergents & Chemicals can meet the need of detergents for washing clothes. The products can be sold through rations shops and other cooperative public distribution systems. Kerala Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. can produce most of the medicines supplied to Government Hospitals which at present we buy from outside on exorbitant costs. We need a lot of clothes for school uniforms, as linen in hotels and hospitals. Even with all our textile mills working in full steam we may find it difficult to meet the demand. Further many existing units can diversify. M/s.Travancore Titanium Products can start manufacturing Paint,M/s. Kerala Ceramics sanitary wares and M/s. Alind electric wires and cables, all in huge demand in Kerala. TELK, KEL can produce transformers and like and United electrical all types of meters. A lot more can be done in other units with innovative ideas.

This time investers seem to go to rural areas also, with search of land in progress. We had many industrial estates and mini-industrial estates in rural areas which are now lying idle. Why cant we revive it instead of going for new units? If the intention is genuine and real estate business is not the hidden agenda let our developers woo the investors improve the existing facilities.

Dr. Shashi Tharoor Replies

Same day Dr. Shashi Tharoor Repies.

" Thank you for this thoughtful note..........................."

LETTER TO MR. SHASHI THAROOR

Congratulations on becoming member of Union Cabinet and assumption as Minister of State for External Affairs. Being a citizen of Thiruvananthapuram, I am happy that our representative has become a Central minister.From your speeches and talks it appears that you have ideas and want to do something for Thiruvananthapuram and Kerala. Your words seem to come from your heart and reflect a sense of sincerity and we feel you are different from the career politicians who fill us with hollow promises.

It is to be understood that the situation in Kerala is peculiar and unique. The mindset of people in power here is not conducive to actual development of the state. Be it ruling party or opposition (they comfortably switch over the position every five years thanks to the common man who does not have any alternative), they are not willing to address the real issues, instead passing time making hue and cry over silly things. Their action is superfluous.An excellent example is the High Court bench. All the political parties in Kerala, ruling party of the State and ruling party of Centre, want the HC bench in Thiruvananthapuram and fighting for it but it is not materializing for the last 2 years. Each one is blaming others but not prepared to ascertain the exact reasons and find a solution and the HC bench is still elusive.Vizhinjam Port, nobody knows whether it will materialize at all. Railway development is crawling at snails pace. All are crying for more trains forgetting that trains need track to run and Kerala does not have double lines even in half of its total lines. Kuttanad and Idukki packages if executed properly will be a boon for the agricultural sector in Kerala. But it is not taken up in the right perspective.

Kerala is a consumer state depending others for everything. Is it not an irony that State Public sector factories manufacturing the much needed items like soap, detergents, medicines, clothes etc. remain closed here? All these prove beyond doubt that even if Centre extends all help and financial assistance development will not take place unless the Authorities possess a positive approach and show a will.

Here comes the role of the opposition party. Presently and all these years no opposition parties have conceived any plan of action for the development of the state. They are not seriously thinking about their responsibility as an opposition but remain inactive criticizing the Government. May be they are afraid that the credit will be cornered by the ruling party.

What we need is an efficient opposition party putting constructive and creative suggestions and working hard for getting them executed. Even if the ruling party is averse to development the opposition can force them to do.From the past experience it appears that most of our representatives do not have any vision or action plan. Those who possess some ideas do not get any chance to present it in proper forum. Lack of proper orientation is the root cause.

All the MPs should find out the problems and issues pertaining to their respective constituencies and present it before State party forum with possible solutions and suggestion for overall development of their constituencies and the State. The party forum after proper discussion among them will consolidate it and submit definite proposals to the concerned ministries in Centre through the MPs and they doing the follow-up. Actual developmental activities can be done only through this way.

It is felt that since you are close to the High Command in Delhi you can use your good offices to make the expectations of Keralites turn into reality. Our state is rich and full of resources. My only concern is its development which could be done easily with the help of people like you having positive mindset.

SENT ON 4th JUNE 2009