With Dr. Sunitha Krishnan

"PROTECTED WORKMAN" ( Industrial Disputes Act, 1947)

 When we learn Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, there are some terms and definitions which require a lot of explanations. Even the courts have tried to interpret these terms in different situations in different ways. Hence an ordinary student will be confused in understanding these terms. The term ' Protected workmen' is one among those most confusing and much interpreted one.

Section 33 (3) reads as follows:

" Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (2), no employer shall, during the pendency of any such proceeding in respect of an industrial dispute, take any action against any protected workman concerned in such dispute--

(a) by altering, to the prejudice of such protected workman, the conditions of service applicable to him immediately before the commencement of such proceedings; or

(b) by discharging or punishing, whether by dismissal or otherwise, such protected workman,save with the express permission in writing of the authority before which the proceeding is pending.

Explanation.--For the purposes of this sub-section, a "protected workman", in relation to an establishment, means a workman who, being a member of the executive or other office bearer] of a registered trade union connected with the establishment, is recognised as such in accordance with rules made in this behalf.

Rule 61(1) of Industrial Disputes (Central) Rules, 1957, provides that every registered trade union connected with an industrial establishment shall communicate to the employer before the 30th April every year, the names and addresses of the officers of the union who are employed in that establishment who should be recognised as protected workmen. Rule 61(2) makes it obligatory on the part of employer to recognise such number of workers as provided u/s 33 (4) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, as ‘protected’ for a period of 12 months, within fifteen days of receipt of the proposal from the union.

How many protected workmen?

As per Section 33 (4) of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, the number of workmen to be recognised as protected workmen shall be one per cent of the total number of workmen employed therein subject to a minimum number of five protected workmen and a maximum number of one hundred protected workmen.

Where the total number of names received by the employer exceeds the maximum number of protected workmen, admissible for the establishment, u/s 33(4) of the Act, the employer shall recognise only such maximum number of workmen as “protected”.

Where there are more than one registered trade unions in the establishment, the maximum number of protected workmen shall be distributed among the unions in such a way that each union shall have representation as protected workmen in proportion to the membership of the unions. If the union is informed that the number of protected workmen allotted to the union is less than that proposed by the union; after submission of the list, the union will have to select from the proposed list the names of such persons who should be recognised as protected workmen and intimate the names to the employer within five days.

Rights of Protected Workmen

Section 33 (3) of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, provides that during the pendency of any conciliation procedure before a conciliation officer or a Board or of any proceeding before an arbitrator or a Labour Court or Tribunal or National Tribunal in respect of an industrial dispute, the employer should not initiate any action against any protected workman concerned in such dispute-

(a) by altering, to the prejudice of such protected workman, the conditions of service applicable to him immediately before the commencement of such proceedings; or

(b) by discharging or punishing, whether by dismissal or otherwise, such protected workman, save with the express permission in writing of the authority before which the proceeding is pending.

If any employer wants to take action against a protected workman during the pendency of a conciliation proceeding, before the Conciliation Officer, Board, Arbitrators, Labour Court, Tribunal or National Tribunal, he should get express permission from the conciliation Officer, Labour Court or Tribunal, as the case may be, by applying in form J. 

The Kerala High Court in an interesting dispute wherein a Workman who was already facing Disciplinary Action and was facing some proceedings for misconduct was nominated by the Union for recognizing as a 'Protected Workman'. The management declined their request, which lead to the Union approaching the Assistiant Labour Commissioner who passed an order in favour of the Union, granting protection to the nominated workman. The management challenged the said order by filing the Writ Petition.

The Single Judge of Kerala High Court [2010 III LLJ 811] held that “the choice of the individual officers, who are to be recognized as protected workmen has been left to the concerned Trade Union … and once the communication of the Union’s choice is sent to the employer, a mandatory obligation is cast on the employer that it shall recognize the workmen as protected workmen …. even if a Union Official is facing disciplinary action, that does not render him ineligible for being recognised as protected workmen”.

 The management preferred an intra-court appeal and the Division Bench [Justices C. N. Ramachandran Nair & K. Surendra Mohan, HLL Lifecare Ltd. v. Hindustan Latex Labour Union (AITUC),  W.A 1171 of 2010, decided on 3rd November, 2010], reversed the above said judgment of single judge and held that “it is upto the management to consider whether any of the office-bearers nominated by the union is undesirable or ineligible for recognition and if they find so for valid reasons, they are free to reject the nomination of such office-bearer. If the management declines to recognise any office-bearer as protected workman, it is for the Union to either contest the same by raising a dispute before the Labour Commissioner as provided under  sub-rule (4) of Rule 61 of the Rules whose decision shall be final or to send the name of another office-bearer for recognition as protected workman.. However, management is entitled to decline recognition as protected workmen to a person nominated by the union, if any disciplinary proceeding is pending against such workman. Union certainly cannot exercise their power under Rule 61(1) to give immunity to an employee against whom disciplinary proceedings initiated by the management are pending, by nominating his name for recognition as protected workman.”

 Therefore, according the new interpretation, an office bearer of the Union facing disciplinary proceedings is not entitled to be nominated by the Union for recognition as protected workman and the management is absolutely within their powers to decline recognition to such an office-bearer under sub-rule (2) of Rule 61.

In such cases the management should inform its intention to decline the name of a particular worker in the list, within 15 days, failing which it can be presumed that the management has admitted the proposal.

"അത് ഇമിറ്റെഷനാ , പൊന്നല്ല"

      കാമുകനോടൊപ്പം  ഒളിച്ചോടിയ മിനിമോള്‍ക്ക്‌ രേഖകള്‍ പ്രകാരം പതിനെട്ടു വയസ്സ് തികഞ്ഞിട്ടില്ല. കോടതിയില്‍ നിന്നും മജിസ്ട്രേട്ട്  മിനിമോളെ  നിയമ നടപടികള്‍ക്കായി ചൈല്‍ഡ് വെല്‍ഫെര്‍ കമ്മറ്റി അംഗങ്ങളായ  ഞങ്ങളുടെ അടുത്തേക്ക് അയച്ചു. അന്വേഷണത്തിനിടയില്‍  മനസ്സിലായ വസ്തുതകള്‍ നിയമങ്ങല്‍ക്കൊക്കെ അതീതമായി കൌതകകരമായിരുന്നു. 

      നാട്ടില്‍ തന്നെ ഒരു ജോലിയും ഇല്ലാതെ നടക്കുന്ന ഒരു ചെറുപ്പക്കാരനുമായി  അവള്‍ പരിചയമായി. പരിചയം പ്രേമമായി മാറാന്‍ കൂടുതല്‍ സമയമെടുത്തില്ല . പ്രേമം പെട്ടന്നങ്ങ് മൂത്തു.  അയാളുടെ മധുരമൂറുന്ന വാക്കുകള്‍ക്കായി അവള്‍ ദാഹിച്ചു. അതിനായി അയാള്‍ അവള്‍ക്കു ആരും അറിയാതെ ഒരു മൊബൈല്‍ ഫോണ്‍ സമ്മാനിച്ചു - ഒരു ജോഡി ഫോണ്‍ . എപ്പോഴും എത്ര വേണമെങ്കിലും വിളിക്കാം , ഏതുനേരത്തും  സംസാരിക്കാം. ചെലവെയില്ല!! . അച്ഛനും അമ്മയും അറിയാതെ അവര്‍ രാവും പകലും സംസാരിച്ചു. രാത്രിയില്‍ ഉറക്കം വരാതിരിക്കുന്ന കാര്യങ്ങളാണ്‌ അയാള്‍ പറഞ്ഞതധികവും. അതുകൊണ്ട് രാത്രി പുലരുവോളം അവര്‍ സംസാരിച്ചു കൊണ്ടേയിരുന്നു. അയാള്‍ ഒരുദിവസം അവളോട്‌ തന്റെ കൂടെ പോരാന്‍ ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു. 

        ഇത് കേള്‍ക്കേണ്ട താമസം അവള്‍ അഞ്ചു മാസത്തെ പരിചയം മാത്രമുള്ള  അയാളോടൊപ്പം പുറപ്പെട്ടു. വീട്ടില്‍നിന്നും അകലെ രാവണേശ്വരം എന്നിടത്തുപോയി അവിടെ അയാള്‍ കൊണ്ടുപോയാക്കിയ ഒരു വീട്ടില്‍ താമസിച്ചു. ഈ വീട്ടിലെ ആരെയും അവള്‍ക്കു അറിയില്ല.            

    ഇതിനിടയില്‍ അച്ഛനും അമ്മയും മകളെ കാണാഞ്ഞ് സകല ദൈവങ്ങളോടും ഒപ്പം പോലിസിനോടും സങ്കടം പറഞ്ഞു. നാലാം ദിവസം പോലീസ് ഇവരെ അറസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്തു കോടതിയില്‍ ഹജരക്കി. അപ്പോഴാണ് പതിനെട്ടു എന്ന കടമ്പ കടക്കാന്‍ ഇനിയും കുറച്ചു ദിവസങ്ങള്‍ ബാക്കിയുണ്ട് എന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കിയത്‌. എന്തായാലും അന്വേഷണത്തിനിടയില്‍ മിനിമോള്‍  വാവിട്ടു കരയുന്ന അമ്മയെ ചൂണ്ടി ഞങ്ങളോട് പറഞ്ഞു "ഇപ്പോള്‍ വേണമെങ്കില്‍ ഞാന്‍ അമ്മയുടെ കൂടെ പോകാം. പതിനെട്ടു വയസ്സ് തികയുമ്പോള്‍ ഞാന്‍ വീണ്ടും എന്റെ ഭര്‍ത്താവിന്റെ കൂടെ പോകും. ഞങ്ങള്‍ അമ്പലത്തില്‍ വെച്ച് താലി കെട്ടിയിട്ടുണ്ട്". ഇതും പറഞ്ഞു അവള്‍ ബ്ലൌസിനുള്ളില്‍ ഒളിപ്പിച്ച ഒരു താലി ഞങ്ങളെ കാണിച്ചു. ഇത് എത്ര പവന്‍ വരുമെന്ന് കാണിച്ചു മൊഴി രേഖപ്പെടുത്താന്‍ തുടങ്ങിയപ്പോള്‍ മിനിമോള്‍ ഒരു ഭാവ മാറ്റവും കൂടാതെ പറഞ്ഞു "അത് ഇമിറ്റെഷനാ , പൊന്നല്ല". ഇത് കേട്ട നിമിഷം ഒരച്ഛന്‍ കൂടിയായ ഞാന്‍ ആരും കാണാതെ എന്റെ കണ്ണ് തുടച്ചു . 

   എത്ര ലാഘവത്തോടെയാണ് ഈ കുട്ടികള്‍ ജീവിത പ്രശ്നങ്ങളെ സമീപിക്കുന്നത്...ആരൊക്കെയാണിതിനു കുറ്റവാളികള്‍ ? എല്ലാം ഒരുതരം ഇമിറ്റെഷനായി അവര്‍ കാണുന്നു . ഒരു ഇമിറ്റെഷന്‍ താലിയില്‍ കിടന്നാടെന്ടത് മാത്രമാണോ നമ്മുടെ മക്കളുടെ സ്വപ്നം ? 

  ( കുറിപ്പ്: കുട്ടിയുടെ പേര് ഒഴികെ ബാക്കിയെല്ലാം വാസ്തവവുമായി ചേരുന്നതാണ്. കുട്ടിയെ തിരിച്ചറിയാതിരിക്കാന്‍ കുട്ടിയുടെ പേരും ചില കാര്യങ്ങളും മാറ്റിയതാണ്.)

CHILD ABUSE IN INDIA - A GLIMPSE.

    Child abuse in India is increasing  by all means.This has become quite a common thing that it has lost its news value for the media. The children are being abused at homes, schools and even in public places. Disabled, especially mentally disabled children are being abused about 4 times, more than the other children.

   Children are also being abused at the so called "protection homes" like orphanagesetc. Most of the orphanages in India have became business centers. They are running not because of charity, but to accept income tax free donations and financial assistance from Government and other funding from philanthropists. They keep no empathy for the children.About 70 percent of the children who are in need of care and protection are being abused or neglected here. They bring children through some agents to increase the number of inmates and thereby increase the financial assistance. Nobody knows where these children are being sent or sold. There were a lot of complaints that even organs of these children are being sold in the market. Some private hospitals and doctors are after them.They usually keep the number of inmates confidential. These homes never register themselves under the JJ Act and they fight against these registrations.

   Adoption agencies are another centers of cruelty. There are places in India where they allow unwed pregnant ladies to deliver in their homes on a precondition that the child when born will be given to these centers. They get the written agreement or surrender deed well in advance. Some Notary Publics are more than thier paid employees for the attestation these deeds. Recently CARA in india has proposed that the surrender should be made in the presence of any CWC member. This proposal is being opposed by the adoption centers and they are on a fight against it.

    Our children should not have fear of their family. Family is place where they should get support, comfort, protection and care.  But instances are being reported that children are being abused at their homes. Fathers, close relatives are all involving in this cruelty. Children in high risk families, where there are alcoholic and violent parents are in constant fear even their homes.

    Child Labour is another form of abuse. All surveys show that the number is increasing. But surprisingly all the officials to curb this manace is turning deaf ears to it . The political parties and trade unions are also least bothered because these children are not vote banks. 

    We, as socially responsible citizens,  must bring out a better stronger awareness among the people about the vulnerable children.We have to create services to help children who have been neglected and abused; both mentally, and physically.We have to bring a service minded forum which will ensure child protection.( The present systems in JJ Act is only a bureaucratic set up which have proved it's limitations and failures.) We must think empathetically and make a difference to the life of these neglected beings.

നിങ്ങളുടെ ദുരിതം തിന്നു ഞങ്ങള്‍ കൊഴുക്കട്ടെ

 കുട്ടികള്‍ വില്പന ചരക്കുകള്‍ ആയിട്ടു ചരിത്രത്തോളം പഴക്കമുണ്ട്. ഇതിനു എതിരെ നിരന്തരം പോരാട്ടങ്ങളും ഉണ്ടായിട്ടുണ്ട്. എന്നാല്‍ കുട്ടികളുടെ ദുരിതം അനുദിനം കൂടിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നു എന്നത് ഭയപ്പാടോടെ നാം കാണേണ്ട കാര്യമാണ്. കുട്ടികളുടെ സംരക്ഷണം അവകാശപ്പെടുന്ന സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്‍ പലതും കുട്ടികളെ വില്പനക്കായും അവരുടെ അവയവ കച്ചവടത്തിനായും പ്രവര്തിക്കുന്നവയാണെന്ന് നാം  തിരിച്ചറിയാന്‍ വൈകുന്നു. ഈയിടെ ഈ ലേഖകന്‍ നടത്തിയ ചില അന്വേഷണങ്ങളില്‍ രാജസ്ഥാനില്‍ നിന്ന് മാത്രം നൂറു കണക്കിന് കുട്ടികളെ  കേരളത്തില്‍ എത്തിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടു എന്ന് മനസ്സിലാക്കാന്‍ കഴിഞ്ഞു . ഇതിന്റെ പിന്നില്‍ നിരവധി വ്യാജ സംഘടനകള്‍ , അനാഥാലയങ്ങള്‍ എന്ന പേരില്‍ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്ന സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്‍ എന്നിവര്‍ കൂട്ടായി പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നു. പല അനാഥമന്തിരങ്ങളും യാതൊരു വിധത്തിലുള്ള അന്ഗീകാരവും ഇല്ലാതെ പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്നവയാണ്. ഇവരെല്ലാം ചില മതങ്ങളുടെ മറ ദുരുപയോഗപ്പെടുത്തി ആളെ പേടിപ്പിച്ചാണ് നില നില്‍ക്കുന്നത്. ഇവര്‍ക്കെതിരെ നടപടി എടുക്കേണ്ടവര്‍ ഒന്നും ചെയ്യാതെ നിസ്സങ്കരായി നിര്‍ലജ്ജം ഇരിക്കുന്നു. പേരിനു പ്രവര്‍ത്തിക്കുന്ന ചൈല്‍ഡ് വെല്‍ഫെര്‍കമ്മറ്റി, സാമൂഹ്യ ക്ഷേമ വകുപ്പ്, പോലിസ് വകുപ്പ് എന്നിവര്‍ ഇതൊന്നും കണ്ടില്ലെന്ന മട്ടില്‍ പൊട്ടന്‍ കളിക്കുമ്പോള്‍ ഈ ദുഷ്ടന്മാര്‍ പാവപ്പെട്ട കുട്ടികളെ നിര്‍ബാധം വില്‍ക്കുകയും കൈമാറുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. ദത്ത് നല്കാന്‍ അധികാരപ്പെടുത്തപ്പെട്ട സ്ഥാപനങ്ങള്‍ കുട്ടികളെ വലിയ സംഭാവനകള്‍ വാങ്ങി വില്‍ക്കുന്നു. കാരയുടെ നിയമങ്ങള്‍ ഇവര്‍ വളച്ചൊടിക്കുന്നു. കുട്ടികളുടെ പേരില്‍ വിദേശ,സ്വദേശ ഫുണ്ടുകള്‍ സ്വീകരിക്കുന്ന സംഘടനകള്‍ ശീതീകരിച്ച മുറിയില്‍ ഇരുന്നു പട്ടിണി പാവങ്ങളായ കുട്ടികളെ ഓര്‍ത്തു ചില്ലി ചിക്കന്‍ തിന്നു കൊണ്ട് മുതലക്കണ്ണീര്‍ പൊഴിക്കുന്നു. പാവം കുട്ടികള്‍ അവര്‍ അറിയുന്നോ അവരുടെ ദുരിതമാണ് ഇവരുടെയൊക്കെ ജീവിതമാര്‍ഗം എന്ന്? 

   ഇവിടെ വേലിയാണ് പ്രശ്നം ! കാവല്‍ക്കാര്‍ തന്നെ ശത്രുക്കള്‍ !!! കുട്ടികളെ ചുട്ടു തിന്നുന്നവരെ നാം "ശിശു സംരക്ഷകര്‍" എന്ന് ഭക്തിയാദരപൂര്‍വ്വം വിളിക്കുന്നു

  .

BERTRAND RUSSELL

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, popularly known as Russell, was one of the most famous philosophers and mathematicians of our age.  He is generally recognized as one of the founders of analytical philosophy.  Apart from his contributions to logic and philosophy he dealt upon various range of subjects like education, history, Politics, literature, religion and social evils.  Many of his writings on a variety of topics in both sciences and humanities have influenced generations of readers.

Bertrand Russell was born on the 18^th May 1872 in Wales into an aristocratic British Family.  Though he was born in the aristocratic family, following the death of his father, mother and sister, he became an orphan at the tender age of three.  He was brought up by his grand parents along with his only brother.  He did not have initial schooling and was taught at home by governesses and tutors.  Later he went to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1890 and came out with flying colours obtaining distinction in philosophy.

Russell’s adolescence was very lonely and he often contemplated suicide.  He remarked in his autobiography that his keenest interests were religion and mathematics and that only the wish to know and study more about those kept him from suicide.

Bertrand, the Philosopher:  Along with G.E Moore, Russell is generally recognized as one of the founders of analytical philosophy.  His most influential contribution includes his Defense of Logicism – the view that in some important sense mathematics is reducible to logic – and his theories of definite description and logical atomism.  In 1903, he wrote ‘the Principles of Mathematics’.  The ‘Problems of Philosophy’ gives Russell’s views on philosophical subjects and the value of philosophical knowledge.  The History of Western Philosophy written in 1945 gives a general history of history.

The introduction of mathematical philosophy was written when Russell was in Prison.  Then comes “the Analysis of Mind in 1921 – the outcome of some lectures he gave in London which pictures the complexity of mind and thoughts.  Russell’s Paradox is the most famous of the logical paradoxes.  The paradox arises by considering the set of all sets that are not members of themselves.  Such a set appears to be a member of itself, if any only if it is not a member of itself, hence the paradox. 

Russell, the Activist:  Political and social activism occupied most of his time.  This resulted in his prodigious and seminal writings on various subjects all the more remarkable.  His views on religion were notoriously blasphemous.  He implied that religion is a comfort; we seek to excuse our terrible acts.  His message was that we should take responsibility for our own deeds and that “so far as I can remember there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence”.

Russell was a prominent anti war activist.  He was imprisoned for his anti war policies.  He campaigned against Adolf Hitler and was a staunch critic of Stalin totalitarianism.  Russell was a strong critic of the involvement of America in the Vietnam War.  On November 1969 he appealed to the Secretary General U Thant of the UN to support an international war crimes commission to investigate the alleged torture and genocide by the USA in South Vietnam.

Russell always stood for nuclear disarmament.  He played a public role in the Cuban Missile crisis and got in touch with Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev who assured him that his Government would give due respect to his sentiments.

In 1955, the Russell – Einstein manifesto was released which was a document calling for nuclear disarmament signed by 11 of the most prominent nuclear physiscts and intellectuals of the time.  In 1957, the first Pugwash conference was released by him.  He became the President of the campaign for nuclear disarmament in the year 1958.  His contact with Lionel Rogosin while the latter was filming his antiwar films Good Times, Wonderful Times in 1960 is a clear testimony to his yearning for a peaceful, war free world.

On 23 November 1969, he wrote to the Times Newspaper that the preparation for Show Trials in Czechoslovakia was highly alarming.  The following month he protested to Alexi Kosygin over the expulsion of Alexander Solzhenitsyn from the writers union which clearly portrays his commitment to social and literary injustices.

On 31^st January 1970 Russell issued a statement which condemned Israeli aggression in the Middle East and called for Israeli withdrawal from the territory occupied in 1967.  This was the final political statement or act of the activist.  It was read out at the international conference of parliamentarians in Cairo on 3 February 1970 the day after his death on 2^nd February.

Russell was a true lover of humanity.  His humane approach was evident in his famous quoting “No one can sit at the bedside of a dying child and still believe in God”.  According to him “ in the part of this universe that we know there is great injustice and often the good suffer and often the wicked prosper and one hardly knows which of those is the more annoying”.  He believed education was the key in conveying his social beliefs.  He, along with his wife Dora Black had opened an experimental school.

Recognitions:  In recognition of his all round services to the society he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1908 and reelected a Fellow of the Trinity College in 1944.  He was awarded the Sylvester medal of the Royal Society in the year 1934 and the de Morgan medal of the London Mathematical Society in the same year.  In 1963 he became the inaugural recipient of the Jerusalem Prize, an award for writers concerned with freedom of thoughts.

In 1949, he was awarded the order of merit.  Above all, in 1950, Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature “in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian and freedom of thought”.

He practiced what he preached.  He said that, “it is said that man is a rational animal.  All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this”.

On 2 February 1970, at the age of 97, death took away this humanitarian genius.  In accordance with his wish, there were no religious ceremonies.  His ashes were scattered over the Welsh Mountains.

Russell was indeed an extraordinary genius whom mankind witness once in generations.  His life was fruitful and wondrous.  His farsighted views on nuclear disarmament are very much relevant in the present national and international scenario. 

[ AIR, Kannur 5th June 2011]

"BHIMSENJOSHI SANGEETHAKOUSTHUBHAM" presented to Pandit Ramesh Narayan

"MEET OUR CANDIDATES" moderation on 6th April 2011

CHILD RIGHTS, CHILD LABOUR AND CHILD ABUSE

'The Children are the World's most valuable resource and the best hope for the future'.  Hence safe guarding and promoting the welfare of the children are the bounden duty of the state and the society.  Realising that caring and protecting the lives of children needed pivotal priority, the UN had formulated a declaration on the rights of the child. India is a party to the UN declaration.  Accordingly it adopted a National Policy on children.  The policy reaffirmed the constitutional provisions for adequate services to the children both before and after birth and through the period of growth to ensure their full physical, mental and social development.  India is also a signatory to the World declaration on the survival, protection and development of children. 

          In this context let us examine who is a 'Child'.  In common parlance, a child is a human being upto ten or twelve years of age.  But according to international law, a child means, every human being below the age of 18 years.  This age limit is taken as the person will be immature and his physical and psychological growth may not have attained maturity till then.  India has also accepted this concept and formulated enactments on the rights of children – Juvenile Justice (Care and protection of children Act 2000, and child labour (Prohibition and Regulation)Act, 1986. While the states are urgently formulating enactments regarding the rights of children, there are many sceptical persons who doubt whether the children are entitled to any rights when parents or guardians are looking after them.

          In this context, Child Rights can be defined as the fundamental, vital freedoms and the inherent rights of all human beings below the age of 18.  These rights apply to every child irrespective of the child's parents/legal guardian's race, colour, sex, creed or other status.

          The convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is a treaty that lays out the rights of children and the standards to which all governments must aspire in order to promote these rights.  The best interests of the child are always the primary consideration.

          The CRC confers the following rights on all children across the world.

-       a child should be protected against all forms of discrimination and punishment.

-       A child has the right to survival and development.

-       A child should be protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

-       A child has the right to education, housing, healthcare and all forms of mental and physical well being.

-       A child should have the right to participation, to expression, information, thoughts and religion.

-       The child should be protected against child labour, drug abuse, sexual exploitation, sale, trafficking and abduction.

-       He / she should not be subjected to torture, deprivation of liberty.

-       He / she should not be forced to take part or indulge in armed conflicts.

          While all children need protection irrespective of their social, economic or even geographical location, some children like the homeless children migrant children, street and runaway children, orphaned or abandoned children, working children, child beggars, disabled children are more vulnerable than others and need special attention.

          A recent UNICEF report on the state of the World's children under the title 'Childhood under threat' concerning about India, states that millions of Indian children are equally deprived of their rights to survival, health, nutrition, education and safe drinking water.  It is reported that 63% of them got to bed hungry and 53 % suffer from chronic malnutrition.

          According to another UN report

-       Between 15-20 million children are victims of bonded labour.

-       An estimated 2 million children world wide are sexually exploited every year.

-       3 lakhs children are actively participating in armed conflicts.

Child Labour

          Child labour is quite rampant in India inspite of the Acts prohibiting the social menace.  The children from poor families are employed in fire and match factories, glass factories, hotel, etc.  The children are being paid meagre wages or at times no payment at all.  The unscrupulous employers find this practice very easy to carry on as the children are not capable or collective bargaining and also are not aware of their rights or entitlements.  Sometimes they are forced to content with some food.  The children will have no will to complain about their condition and the exploitation is carried on.  As the years go by the children end up as bonded labourers with nowhere and will to go and seek better employment.  The children working in match, fire-works, brick klins industries do not have protection from occupational hazards.  Longer periods of work without rest with meagre wages – their health gets ruined from a lustre less childhood, they grow stunted in body and mind.

          The enforcement of relevant Act – Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986 and provisions under various labour enactments prohibiting employment of children gets defeated when the employers engage them under covert means.  In spite of there being acts prohibiting child labour the number of children employed is escalating .  In the 1991 census, the number of such workers in India was 11285349 and in the year 2000 it was seen increased to 12666377.

          These datas clearly indicate that the enforcing machinery should be much more vigilant.  Above all, a social awareness against this social evil is required so as to locate the 'child labourers.  Child labour undoubtedly is a form of child abuse and violation of human rights.

          Sexual exploitation of children is another evil that is devouring the conscience of the society.  According to UN reports an estimated 2 million children are being subjected to sex abuse all over the world.  They are exploited in homes, work places and streets.  The children are not safe even within the four walls of their homes as incest is widely reported.  Most of the cases go unreported and unnoticed.  The children who are sexually abused, in most cases are not aware of the fact that they are being ill treated or their human rights are being violated.  In Indian social set up, the children are taught to respect their elders.  The children look at the elders with reverence.  So they think that whatever the elders do are the right things. Even if some of the victims do complain they are left unheeded by the elders.  The conservative puritan social set up of India makes the elders reluctant to discuss about sex and they incidence of sexual abuse of children are least discussed in the family or social circles.  This attitude too contributes to the increasing number of sexual abuses of the children.  The victim's silence encourages the abusers to carry on with their clandestine activities.

          Tourists spots like Goa, Kovalam, Puri and other coastal belts are places where sexual abuses of children are increasingly rampant.  The  parents of children of poor families are lured by tourists with money and they entrust their children to these people. Sexual abuse of the children thrive in the lodges where the tourists stay.  It is very difficult to nab the culprits as the parents/guardians of the children or the hotel owners rarely co-operate with the authorities.

          Sexual exploitation leaves the children wounded and scarred physically and psychologically.  Many of these traumatised children end up as prostitutes later in their life.  The violent childhood experiences at a tender age leaves them to juvenile delinquency and serious psychological disorders like depression, suicidal tendencies, etc.

          In order to curb this social evil the government is taking efforts to improve the implementation of its Juvenile Justice System through functionaries like the Juvenile Justice Boards, Child Welfare Committees, Police and Caretakers in the various institutions under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

          Of course, there are a number of enactments to stop the violence towards the children.  But it is a fact that no rule or act can completely eradicate social evils.  Only through sustained public awareness or public movement can we bring a drastic change in the condition of these hapless children.  As we all know, how public awareness campaigns contributed to the success of Family Planning in India.  The awareness of having small family is so welcomed by the people that they look down on persons having a larger family.  NGOs, school teachers and other social activists can play a crucial role in bringing light these social evils.  A good teacher should be able to identify an abused child when he notices a change in the behavioural pattern of his wards.  It is the duty of every individual to try to identify and locate when human rights violation against children are committed.  They should also come forward to save these hapless marginalised children and inform the relevant authorities – the CWC members – so that the culprits are punished and the children are rehabilitated in the appropriate care homes.

         

         

          There are complaints that the children are subjected to different types of abuses even in some Orphanages, where they are supposed to be taken care of.  There are orphanages and adoption centres considering children as a commodity to make money by way of accepting charity from philanthropists, grants from government agencies and in some places even collecting huge donations for adoption from parents, misinterpreting certain provisions of J J Act. Many of these institutions are being run not for rescuing the children, but to make money and power using the strength of these poor lives. The children at many orphanages are subjected to cruelty.  The law is very much weak in this area due to several reasons.  There are no effective inspection machinery to check the activities of orphanages and adoption centres. The authorities of these organisations themselves behave like self governments. Our Laws are quite helpless before these power blocks.

        It is not that the children have no rights, but it has turned out that those who are supposed to protect and safeguard the interests and rights and thereby the welfare of the children have become the torturer and tormenters.

[ Paper presented by the author in the National Seminar on HUMAN RIGHTS, held at S N College  Kannur on 25^th November 2010,sponsored by University Grants Commission, New Delhi.]

NATIONAL SEMINAR ON HUMAN RIGHTS Sponsered by UGC, New Delhi - Paper presentation on Child Rights, Child Labour and Child abuse- on 25th Nov 2010

Adoption - Legal and social perception.

 

Parenthood is the greatest blessing in one’s life.  In olden days there was a belief that if one is not blessed with a ‘Puthra’  he is not free from the NARAKA named “PUM” .  We see  the practices of performing "’Puthrakameshti’   to have a biological child.  Like parenthood the family is the dream of every child.  We have several stories of adoption in our mythologies.  Sita or Janaki in Ramayana was an adopted child of King Janaka.  According the ancient belief,   ‘Kanyadan’ is also to be performed by every parent to attain  heavenly bliss.

Due to many reasons beyond ones control,  there are couples who cannot have their own child. But if they have a will,  they can enjoy parenthood by adopting a child. The child gets a family life and the parents enjoy the heavenly bliss in such cases.

There are several legally authorised  homes  in our country, which take care of children who are devoid of parents. To hold the hand of one such child and make him a member of the family, is a most beautiful feeling and a service. The sad part is that this is  not welcomed by many cultures and families.  Many people may agree to the idea of adopting a child. But there are a lot of people who are not having a biological child and desiring to have a child to be cared and protected, show reluctance to adoption due to the cultural barriers and some social stigma imposed upon them.

Adopting A Child In India- its legal aspects.

Every countries have their own rules of adoption.  Rules for adoption is a way to make sure that the  child has a secured and bright future. Let us examine the very important rules and procedures existing in our land.

 

Who can adopt?

• 
  
  A couple who wants to give a child a loving family and healthy environment, can adopt.
• 
  
  One can adopt a child under the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act 1956 and under Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 and amended in 2006.
• 
  
  Must have a reasonable and regular source of income to support the needs of the child within the family.
• 
  
  The couples should be free from  major illness that can come in the way of parenting.
• 
  
  Neither of the parents should have a criminal record.
• 
  
  The composite age of desirous adoptive couple shouldn’t exceed 90 years for infants.
• 
  
  Single parent can adopt up to 45 years of age.
• 
  
  The age difference between the parent and the adopted child should be at least 21 years.
• 
  
  If the parent is single, there should have additional family support.

Agencies For Adoption – In India CARA is the central agency to regulate adoption. They formulate the principles for adoption.

Application – Prospective adoptive parent(s) should register themselves with the local RIPA / LAPA or Adoption coordinating Agency or with the State Adoption Cell

The Adoption – A home study report of the prospective adoptive parents will be prepared by the social worker of the Agency. To allay the fears and apprehensions of the prospective adoptive parent(s), pre-adoptive counseling sessions will be undertaken by the social worker during the preparation of the home study report. Assessing the ability of a couple to parent a child not born to them is of crucial importance in a successful adoption. Therefore, their suitability to care for an unrelated child is assessed through this home study and counselling. Documents relating to the financial and health status of the prospective parent(s) will be part of the Home Study Report.

The Agency will make a suitable reference from amongst the admitted children legally free for adoption. If no suitable child is available, the family will be referred to the ACA.

After the Home Study has been accepted and approved, a child will be shown to the parent(s). The agency will take care to match a child meeting the description, if any, desired by the parent(s). In case of placement of older children (above the age of 6), both written and verbal consent of the child will be obtained.

 

Post Adoption

Many parents are found to be reluctant to inform the child that they are adopted. In many cases it is found that the practice have created problems in their future life. So it is better that the parents should convincingly inform the child about the adoption in the very early stage.

Adopting a child is a service which is above any rules and regulations. Adoption give pride and protection to a child who till few moments back was an orphanage.  The adoption is a two way process – it gives happiness of child hood  and parenthood at the same time.

'കുറുക്കനങ്ങാടി'

'കുറുക്കനങ്ങാടി'എന്ന് കേട്ടാല്‍ പിണറായിയിലെ പുതിയ തലമുറ എന്ത് ചിന്തിക്കുമെന്ന് അറിയില്ല. എന്നാല്‍ ഒരു കാലത്ത് വളരെ പ്രചാരത്തിലുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ഒരു പേരായിരുന്നു ഇത്. ഇപ്പോള്‍ കൊമ്പൌന്ടെര്‍ ഷോപ്പ് എന്ന് അറിയപ്പെടുന്ന സ്ഥലത്തിന്റെ പഴയ പേര് കുറുക്കനങ്ങാടി എന്നായിരുന്നു. അവിടെ കൃഷ്ണന്‍ നായര്‍, രാമന്‍ നായര്‍ എന്നീ രണ്ടു സഹോദരന്മാര്‍ നടത്തി വന്നിരുന്ന ഒരു കച്ചവട സ്ഥാപനമുണ്ടായിരുന്നു. (ഇവരില്‍ കൃഷ്ണന്‍ നായരുടെ മകന്‍ കുഞ്ഞനന്തന്‍, രാമന്‍ നായരുടെ മകന്‍ ബാലകൃഷ്ണന്‍ എന്നിവര്‍ എന്നോടൊപ്പം പഠിച്ചിരുന്നു)  ഈ സ്ഥാപനത്തിന്‍റെ ഉടമകളിലാരോ കുറേക്കാലം ഒരു കുറുക്കനെ വളര്‍ത്തിയിരുന്നു എന്നാണ് പഴമക്കാര്‍ പറഞ്ഞു കേട്ടത്.സത്യമോ എന്നറിയില്ല. എന്തിന്‍റെ പേരില്‍ ആയാലും ഈ സ്ഥലം അന്നു കുറുക്കനങ്ങാടി എന്ന പേരില്‍ തന്നെ ആയിരുന്നു അറിയപ്പെട്ടത്. ബസ്സ്‌ സ്ടോപിനു പോലും അന്നു ആ പേര്‍ ആയിരുന്നു പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നത്. പിന്നീട് ഗോവിന്ദന്‍ വൈദ്യര്‍ എന്ന കൊമ്പൌന്ടെര്‍ ഇവിടെ പ്രശസ്തനായത്തോടെ 'കുറുക്കന്‍' സാവധാനം വിസ്മ്രിതിയുടെ കാട്ടിലേക്ക് പോയി മറഞ്ഞു.

വിദ്യാരംഭം കരിഷ്യാമി സിദ്ധിര്‍ ഭവതുമേ സദാ

Kizhakkumbhagom School

 എന്റെ ആദ്യ വിദ്യാലയം. ഒരു നാടന്‍ സ്കൂള്‍ ആയിരുന്നു അന്നത്. ഇന്നും മാറ്റങ്ങള്‍ ഒന്നും വന്നിട്ടില്ല. ഇപ്പോള്‍ സ്കൂളിന്റെ സ്ഥല വിസ്ത്രിതി കുറെ കൂടി  കുറഞ്ഞിട്ടുണ്ട്. ആയിരത്തി തൊള്ളായിരത്തി അന്‍പത്തി അന്ചിലാന്നു ഞാന്‍ ഈ വിദ്യാലയത്തില്‍ എത്തുന്നത്‌. ചന്തുകുട്ടി  മാസ്റ്റര്‍ ആയിരുന്നു ഹെഡ് മാസ്റ്റര്‍ . മനജേരും ഒന്നാം ക്ലാസ്സിലെ അധ്യാപകനും അദ്ദേഹം തന്നെ. പിണറായി പോസ്റ്റ്‌ മാസ്റെരായിരുന്നതും അദ്ദേഹം തന്നെ ആയിരുന്നു. ആ പ്രദേശത്തെ ഒരു പ്രധാനി.  ഏഴു മാസം  പ്രായം കൂട്ടിയാണ്  ഈ സ്കൂളില്‍ എന്നെ  ചേര്‍ത്തത്. അച്ഛന്റെ ബനദ്ധുവായ ഗോവിന്ദന്‍ മാസ്റ്ററുടെ വെണ്ടുട്ടായി സ്കൂളില്‍ ചെര്‍തെക്കുമോ എന്ന ഭയം കൊണ്ട് ഒരു ദിവസം ചന്തുകുട്ടി മാസ്റ്റര്‍ പിടിച്ചു കൊണ്ട് വന്നു ചേര്‍ത്തതാണ്.  സ്നേഹം കൊണ്ടുള്ള ഒരുതരം അധികാരം ഉപയോഗിച്ച്! 

സ്കൂള്‍ അതി വിശാലമായ ഒരു പറമ്പിന്റെ  നടുവില്‍ . നിറയെ കുട്ടികള്‍ .കുട്ടികള്‍ക്ക് കളിയ്ക്കാന്‍ ആവശ്യത്തിലേറെ സ്ഥലം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ചില ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ രണ്ടു ഡിവിഷന്‍. അധ്യപകെരെല്ലാം നാട്ടില്‍ അറിയപ്പെടുന്നവര്‍ .

ഒന്നാം ക്ലാസ്സ്‌ വെറും നിലത്താണ്. കുട്ടികള്‍ ഒരു പലകയില്‍ ചമ്രം പടിഞ്ഞ്‌ ഇരിക്കും. ചന്തുകുട്ടി മാസ്ടരുടെ വലിയ ശബ്ദം നാടാകെ കേള്‍ക്കും. സ്ലൈടും പെന്‍സിലും ഒന്നും ഇല്ല. നിലത്തു പൂഴി വിരിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട് . വിരല്‍ കൊണ്ട് പൂഴിയില്‍ അക്ഷരമാലകള്‍ വിരിയിക്കണം. പഠിപ്പിച്ചത് തെറ്റിച്ചാല്‍ ഒരുനുള്ളു പൂഴി തുടയില്‍ ഇട്ടു ഒരു തിരുമ്മല്‍ . ഒരു പരാതിയും ഇതിനെതിരെ ഒരു കുട്ടിയോ രക്ഷിതാവോ പറഞ്ഞതായി അറിയില്ല.

ഞാന്‍ ഓലയില്‍ നാരായം കൊണ്ട് എഴുതി പഠിച്ചത് ഇവിടെ വെച്ചാണ്. അതും ചന്തുകുട്ടി മാസ്റ്ററുടെ വിദ്യ. എന്റെ ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ ഞാന്‍ മാത്രമേ ഈ വിദ്യ പഠിച്ചുള്ളൂ. ഇതിനു എഴുത്തോല  എന്ന ഒരു തരം ഓല വീട്ടില്‍ നിന്നും കൊണ്ട് വരണം. അതില്‍ നാരായം കൊണ്ട് ഹരിശ്രീ ഗണപതയേ നമ: എന്ന് തുടങ്ങി എഴുതി  പഠിക്കണം. എന്ത് കൊണ്ടോ വേറെ ആരും ഓല കൊണ്ട് വന്നില്ല. ആരെയും  നിര്‍ബന്ധിച്ചതുമില്ല. അങ്ങിനെ ഈ പരിപാടി  ഞാന്‍ ഒറ്റയ്ക്ക് നിര്‍വഹിച്ചു പോന്നു. നിലത്തെഴുത്ത്  എല്ലാവരും ഒരുമിച്ചും. ഒരു സ്കൂള്‍ അധ്യാപകന്‍ എന്ന നിലക്ക് മാതൃക ആയിരുന്നു ചന്തു കുട്ടി മാസ്റ്റര്‍.നാട്ടില്‍ ഏതു കാര്യത്തിലും മുന്‍പില്‍  ഉണ്ടാകും.( എന്റെ മൂത്ത  സഹോദരി  ജാനകിയെച്ചിയുടെ കല്യാണം നടത്തിയതിനു പിന്നില്‍ അദ്ദേഹം സജീവമായിരുന്നത് ഇന്നും എനിക്ക് ഓര്‍മയുണ്ട്. എല്ലാ വീടുമായും ഇതുപോലൊരു ബന്ധം അദ്ദേഹം വെച്ചിരുന്നു . അത്ബുധമായി  കണ്ട ഒരു കാര്യം ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ ഹെട്മാസ്റെര്‍ എല്ലാ ദിവസവും കുട്ടികളെ സ്വന്തമായി ഓട്ടോറിക്ഷ ഓടിച്ചു സ്കൂളില്‍ കൊണ്ട് വരുന്നു എന്നതാണ്. അതും ഒരു ജനകീയ ബന്ധം തന്നെ. നല്ല ഒരു മനുഷ്യന്‍ ഇപ്പോഴും അവിടെ തുടരുന്നത് സ്കൂളിന്റെ ഭാഗ്യമാവാം). 

സ്കൂളില്‍ വാര്‍ഷിക പരിശോധനക്കായി ഇന്‍സ്പെക്ടര്‍ വരും.അപ്പോള്‍ ചന്തുകുട്ടി മാസ്റ്റര്‍ നാട്ടിലെ  ബീഡി കമ്പനികളിലെല്ലാം  പോയി കുറെ കുട്ടികളെ കൊണ്ട് വരും.സ്കൂള്‍ ആകെ മോടി പിടിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കും.വലിയ ഒരു കസേല കൊണ്ടുവന്നു പ്രത്യേകമായി വെക്കും. ഒരു ഉത്സവം പോലെ.! പട്ടയിട്ട ശിപായി യുടെ കൂടെ ഇന്‍സ്പെക്ടറുടെ വരവ് ഇപ്പോഴും അതേപോലെ ഓര്‍മയുണ്ട്. ഗോവിന്ദന്‍ നായര്‍ എന്ന്  പേരുള്ള  ഇന്‍സ്പെക്ടറുടെ ഗമ യോടെയുള്ള വരവ് ! എല്ലാ ക്ലാസ്സിലും വന്നു പലതും ചോദിക്കും. എല്ലാവരും പേടിച്ചു നില്‍ക്കും. ഉച്ചയാവുമ്പോള്‍ സ്കൂളിന്റെ അടുത്ത വീട്ടിലെ  താലെടതതി തലയില്‍ വലിയ കുട്ടയിലാക്കി ഭക്ഷണം കൊണ്ടുവരും.ഹെഡ്മാസ്റ്ററുടെ വീട്ടില്‍ നിന്നും ചുമട് ആയി വരുന്നതാണ്.  അതിന്റെ ഒരു  കൊതിപ്പിക്കുന്ന മണം സ്കൂളാകെ  പരക്കും . ഉച്ചയോടെ പിന്നെ സ്കൂളിനു അവധി ആണ് . കുട്ടികള്‍ എല്ലാവരും പോകും. ഇന്‍സ്പെക്ടര്‍ ഗമയോടെ ഇരുന്നു ഭക്ഷണം കഴിക്കും. ചുവന്ന പട്ടയിട്ട ശിപായി മാറി നിന്ന് അതെ സമയം തന്നെ കഴിക്കും. ബാക്കി മാസ്റെര്മാരെല്ലാം പരികര്‍മികളായി നോക്കി നില്‍ക്കും.പരിശോധനയുടെ ഫലമൊന്നും അറയില്ല. ഒരു അത്ഭുതത്തോടെ ഞങ്ങേളെല്ലാം ഈ മഹാസംഭവം കാണുമായിരുന്നു. ഒരുപക്ഷെ അന്നു നാട്ടിലെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ഒരു സംഭവമായിരുന്നു സ്കൂള്‍ പരിശോധന. എല്ലാ കുട്ടികളും നല്ല കുപ്പായം ഇട്ടു കുളിച്ചു വരുന്ന ഒരു ദിവസം!

രണ്ടാം ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ കുഞ്ഞിരാമന്‍ മാസ്റ്റര്‍ ആയിരുന്നു.അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ മകന്‍ ദിവാകരന്‍ എന്റെ കൂടെ ഇതേ ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. ഇയാള്‍ പിന്നീട് വൈദ്യുതി വകുപ്പില്‍ ടെപുടി ചീഫ് എഞ്ചിനീയര്‍ ആയി റിട്ടയര്‍ ചെയ്തു ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഗള്‍ഫ്ല്‍ ആന്നുള്ളത്. ഞങ്ങള്‍  സ്ലൈട്ടും പെന്‍സിലും ഉപയോഗിച്ച്  തുടങ്ങിയത് രണ്ടാം ക്ലാസ്സിലാണ് .

മൂനാം ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ അച്യുതന്‍ മാസ്റ്റര്‍ ആയിരുന്നു.മുടി മുഴുവന്‍ വെളുത്തു വെള്ള മാത്രം ധരിച്ചു വന്നിരുന്ന അദ്ദേഹം ഒരു കര്‍ശനസ്വഭാവക്കാരന്‍ ആയിരുന്നു. ഈ കൊല്ലമാണ്‌ എന്റെ അനുജന്‍ ഗോവിന്ദന്‍ കുട്ടി  ഇതേ  സ്കൂളില്‍ ചേരുന്നത്. മൂന്നാം  ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ എത്തിയപ്പോള്‍  നോട്ട് ബുക്കും കടലാസ്സു പെന്‍സിലും ഉപയോഗിച്ച് തുടങ്ങി.

നാലാം ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ വി . രാമുണ്ണി മാസ്റ്റര്‍. സൌമ്യന്‍. നാട്ടിലെ ഏക വായനശാലയുടെ നടത്തിപ്പുകാരന്‍ അദ്ദേഹമായിരുന്നു . വായിക്കും,വായിപ്പിക്കും. ബിമല്‍ മിത്ര യുടെ വിലക്ക് വാങ്ങാം എന്ന നോവല്‍ ജനയുഗം വാരികയില്‍ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ചു തുടങ്ങിയപ്പോള്‍ അദ്ദേഹമാന്നു വായിക്കാന്‍ പ്രേരിപ്പിച്ചത്. എല്ലാ ദിവസവും കുട്ടികളെ കൊണ്ട് ഡയറി എഴുതിപ്പിക്കും.

അഞ്ചാം ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ കണ്ണന്‍ മാസ്റ്റര്‍. ശാന്തന്‍ , കുലീനന്‍, പണ്ഡിതന്‍ എല്ലാം എല്ലാം. ഹെട്മാസ്റെരുടെ  മൂത്ത സഹോദരന്‍. എന്നാലും ഹെട്മാസ്റെര്‍ വരുമ്പോള്‍ എഴുനേറ്റു നില്കുന്നത് ഞങ്ങള്‍ കണ്ടിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഓരോ പദവിയെയും അന്ഗീകരിക്കാന്‍ പഠിപ്പിച്ച ദീര്‍ഘദര്‍ശി . ഈ ക്ലാസ്സില്‍ ആണ് ആദ്യമായി ഇംഗ്ലീഷ് അക്ഷരമാല എഴുതാന്‍ തുടങ്ങിയത്. അഞ്ചില്‍ മറ്റൊരു ക്ലാസ് ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അത് ബാലന്‍ മാസ്റ്റര്‍ . കണ്ടാല്‍ സുന്ദരന്‍ ,  എരുവട്ടി അധികാരിയുടെ മകന്‍ .

ഇതെല്ലാം മാസ്ടെര്‍ മാരുടെ കാര്യം.

എന്റെ സഹപാഠികള്‍.  പെണ്‍കുട്ടികളെ ആരെയും ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഓര്മിക്കുന്നില്ല; എന്റെ ബന്ധുക്കളായിരുന്ന ചിലരെ ഒഴിച്ച്.ബാക്കി  പലരും പല പണിക്കും നേരത്തെ പോയി. ചിലര്‍  കല്യാണം കഴിച്ചു.  അന്നു പെണ്‍കുട്ടികളോട് സംസാരിക്കാന്‍ എന്തോ വിലക്ക് ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നതായി ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഓര്‍ക്കുന്നു. ആരും പരസ്പരം സംസാരിച്ചതായി ഓര്‍ക്കുന്നേയില്ല.

ആന്ങ്കുട്ടികളില്‍ പലരെയും കാണാറുണ്ട്.  രാമുണ്ണി, മുകുന്ദന്‍, ശ്രീധരന്‍, ബാലൂട്ടി എന്ന ബാലകൃഷ്ണന്‍ , ദിവാകരന്‍  അങ്ങിനെ പലരെയും. ഓരോരുത്തരും ഓരോ തുരുത്തില്‍! ഓരോ തരത്തില്‍ !! എല്ലാവരും ഇപ്പോള്‍ കാണുമ്പൊള്‍ വളരെ സ്നേഹം കാണിക്കുന്നു. 

ഈ സ്കൂളിന്റെ ഓര്‍മകളില്‍ ഏറ്റവും ഒര്മിക്കപെടുന്നത് ഓരോ കൊല്ലത്തെയും നവരാത്രി ആഘോഷമാന്നു. മഹാനവമിയുടെ തലേ ദിവസം തന്നെ പൂജക്കായി  പുസ്തകം ഏല്പിക്കും. പിന്നെ വിജയദശമി വരെ പഠിക്കാന്‍ പാടില്ല എന്നൊരു വിശ്വാസം ഉണ്ട്.അത്  സന്തോഷത്തിനു വക തരുന്നതാണ് .  രണ്ടു ദിവസത്തെ ആരും വഴക്ക് പറയാത്ത  കളിക്കാലം! പൂജ ചെയ്തിരുന്നത് ചന്തുകുട്ടി മാസ്റ്റര്‍ തന്നെ ആയിരുന്നു. അലങ്കരിച്ച പൂജ മണ്ഡപം.പലതരം പൂജ ദ്രവ്യങ്ങള്‍. . ചന്ദന തിരിയും മെഴുകു തിരിയും എരിയുന്ന മണം. ഒരുതരം ഉത്സവം. വിജയദശമി ദിവസം പൂജക്ക്‌ വെച്ച പുസ്തകം തിരിചെല്‍പ്പിക്കും.  അപ്പോള്‍ ഗുരു ദക്ഷിണ കൊടുക്കുന്ന ഒരു പതിവുണ്ട്. ഓരോരുത്തരും വീട്ടില്‍ നിന്ന് ഏല്പിക്കുന്ന ദക്ഷിണ നല്‍കി ഗ്രന്ഥം വാങ്ങും. എന്നാല്‍ ചില വിദ്വാന്മാര്‍ വീട്ടില്‍ നിന്ന് കൊടുത്തത് പാതി എടുത്തു ബാക്കി മാത്രം സ്കൂളില്‍ കൊടുക്കും. ഇത് പിന്നീട് പിടിക്കപെടുകയും ചെയ്യും. കാരണം സംശയം തോന്നുന്ന കേസ്കള്‍ ചന്തുകുട്ടി മാസ്റ്റര്‍ വീട്ടില്‍ തന്നെ പോയി അന്വേഷിക്കും. എന്നാലും ഇതില്‍ പറ്റിക്കുന്നത് ഒരു രസമായി കണ്ട രാജു വിനെ പോലുള്ളവര്‍ ഓരോ നവരാത്രി കാലത്തും എന്റെ ഓര്‍മയില്‍ തെളിയുന്ന ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ !

ഇപ്പോള്‍ നവരാത്രി ദിവസം പല യോഗങ്ങളിലും ക്ഷണിക്കപെടുംപോഴും വിദ്യാരംഭം നടത്തുമ്പോഴും ഞാന്‍ എന്നെ ആദ്യാക്ഷരം പഠിപ്പിച്ച  കിഴക്കുംഭാഗം സ്കൂള്‍ മനസ്സില്‍ ഓര്‍ക്കാതെ തുടങ്ങാറില്ല. അതെ ചന്തുകുട്ടി മാസ്റ്റര്‍ എന്റെ കൈ പിടിച്ചു ഓലയില്‍ എഴുതിപ്പിച്ചതും  എന്റെ മൂര്‍ധാവില്‍ കൈ വെച്ചുകൊണ്ട് ഉച്ചത്തില്‍ ചൊല്ലിതന്നതും! -  "വിദ്യാരംഭം കരിഷ്യാമി  സിദ്ധിര്‍  ഭവതുമേ സദാ " - എന്റെ കൈയില്‍, എന്റെ ഓലയില്‍, എന്റെ മനസ്സില്‍ എന്റെ പന്ചെന്ത്രിയങ്ങളില്‍ ആദ്യാക്ഷരം കുറിച്ച ഗുരുവിനെയും ഈ സരസ്വതീ ക്ഷേത്രത്തെയും !! 

"വിദ്യാരംഭം കരിഷ്യാമി സിദ്ധിര്‍ ഭവതുമേ സദാ "!!!..................

The Right to Information Act, 2005.

‘No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.’ Abraham Lincoln.

 

The Right to Information Act, 2005 is a part of fundamental rights under Article 19(1) of the Constitution, which says that every citizen has freedom of speech and expression. The people cannot express themselves unless they know what’s happening in the systems that govern them. We were governed by a very old law namely ‘Official Secrets Act’ which says that everything with the government should be confidential. This Act existed in India till the passing of the RTI Act in year 2005. “Democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information which are vital to its functioning and also to contain corruption and to hold Governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed” says the preamble of the Act.

But it is quite unfortunate that the Government authorities are still hesitant to part with the information under their control. The officials as well as the political administrators see this progressive legislation as a spot in their eye and they are slowly trying to bring out amendments weaken the legislation. As stated in the preamble, the Act envisages a transparent governance. The Act covers not only the Executive, but the judiciary and the legislature also. It extends to all central, state and local government systems including those bodies owned, controlled or substantially financed by government and also those Non-government organizations substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by government. Information relating to any private body that can be accessed by a public authority also comes under the ambit of RTI Act, 2005. So the entire system is against the Act. The appeal case against the orders that the Act applies to Supreme Court is a matter of discussion.

Section 4(2) of the Act says that “it shall be the constant endeavor of every public authority to provide as much information suo motu to the public at regular intervals through various means of communication, including internet, so that the public shall have minimum resort to the use of this Act to obtain information“. The aim is the change of mindset from maintenance of Official Information in Secret to Maximum Voluntary disclosure of information. The public authority means all the above institutions.

The RTI Act defines “Information” as any material in any form, including records, documents, memos, e-mails, opinions, advices, press releases, circulars, orders, logbooks, contracts, reports, papers, samples, models, and data material held in any electronic form. “Right to Information” also covers Inspection of work, documents, records; taking notes, extracts, or certified copies of documents or records; and taking certified samples of material. It implies that any citizen can exercise his right to even insist that a particular civil work be performed in his presence.

Every Public Authority shall designate as many Public Information Officers (PIO) in all the administrative units or Offices under it as may be necessary to provide information to persons requesting information”. PIO is also required to help any person making the request orally to reduce the same in writing. The Act further stipulates that “every public authority shall designate an Officer at each sub-divisional or other sub-district level as Assistant Public Information Officer (APIO) to receive the applications for information or appeals under this RTI Act for forwarding the same forthwith( within five days) to the respective PIO or 1st Appellate Authority or Information Commission. The Burden of proving that PIO/APIO has acted reasonably and diligently in discharge of his functions or obligations under RTI Act will be on the respective PIO/APIOPIO may seek assistance of any other Officer as he or she considers it necessary for the proper discharge of his or her duties. Section 5(5) of RTI Act says that such Officer will be deemed as PIO for the purposes of providing the information requested. The Burden including liability for Penalty on defiance of information will stand transferred to the Deemed PIO. This particular clause indicates the joint responsibility to be kept by each Public Authority.

The Request for information has to be submitted to PIO or APIO in writing or through electronic means in English, Hindi or local language of the area with a Fee of Rs. 10/-. (There is no fee for persons Below Poverty Line). PIO can demand additional sum of Rs. 2 for each page created or copied for giving it as information to the requester or Rs. 50/- per diskette/floppy if the same is given in electronic form. Incase if Inspection of work is requested no fee is chargeable for the first hour, but Rs. 5/- each for every subsequent hours. This fee is also exempted for the persons of BPL group. Section 6(2) of RTI Act makes it clear that a person requesting information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details.

The Act mandates that the PIO shall provide the requested information as expeditiously as possible, but in no way later than 30 days. However the public authorities can take 5 days more to part with the information sought, if such request is made through APIO. But in any case where the requested information involves the question of “life or liberty”, such information should be given within 48 hours. Where the information relates to a “third party” as defined under the Act, the maximum time is forty days. However the act again says that non furnishing within the above stipulated period shall be deemed as refusal.

Though the Right to Information Act aims at complete transparency in the governmental system, it is also equally important that the strategic information pertaining to the State and any personal information devoid of larger public interest be exempted from disclosure. Accordingly Section 8 (1) of the RTI Act bars the disclosure of the following information.

a)      Information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offense;

b)      Information which has been expressly forbidden to be published by any court of law or tribunal or the disclosure of which may constitute contempt of court;

c)       Information, the disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature;

d)      Information including commercial confidence, trade secrets or intellectual property, the disclosure of which would harm the competitive position of a third party, (unless larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information);

e)      Information available to a person in his fiduciary relationship, (unless the larger public interest warrants the disclosure of such information);

f)        Information received in confidence from foreign Government;

g)      Information, the disclosure of which would endanger the life or physical safety of any person or identify the source of information or assistance given in confidence for law enforcement or security purposes;

h)      Information which would impede the process of investigation or apprehension or prosecution of offenders;

i)        Cabinet papers including records of deliberations of the Council of Ministers, Secretaries and other officers. (However, after the decision is taken and the matter is complete or over, the decision, the reasons thereof and the material leading to the decision shall be made public);

j) Information which relates to personal information the disclosure of which has no relationship to any public activity or interest, or which would cause unwarranted invasion of the privacy of the individual unless larger public interest demands its disclosure

Further, Section 9 of the Act insists that any information that infringes the copyright of any person other than the State should not be disclosed.

The third party should be heard before any information pertaining him is given. He has a right to appeal against the decisions of the PIO.

This Act is very brief that it contains only thirty plus sections and two schedules. But this can be termed as the most powerful and self contained Act that the Independent India has brought out.

Even though five years have elapsed after passing the Act, we are facing a lot of challenges in the implementation. Few are narrated below for discussion and for our vigilance.

1. The real information stake holders-the deprived masses are not educated and they are more concerned in their basic fight for survival than how the benefits of RTI Act can be made to reach them.

2. Appointment of information commissioners-persons with impeccable integrity should be appointed. It is difficult for a bureaucrat who has guarded information till now to cope up with the new requirement overnight.If the appointment of the commissioner is not made properly the very spirit of the act will be defeated. In Kerala the Government appointed an active office bearer of a Ruling political party as the State Information Commission.

3. Attitude of authorities and personnel in public life has not changed.

4. The citizens are not well trained to use this powerful weapon in the proper way. No serious efforts are being taken by the governments to educate the citizens. Now there are so many unnecessary and silly applications made by ill educated. By projecting these applications, the government the legislature,judiciary and the executive are making attempts to make amendments in the Act.

It is the duty of all the responsible citizens to be vigilant against such attempts.

PINARAYI

My journey started from Pinarayi - a small village of Kannur district in Kerala state. When I started my journey the village was economically poor. But the people were very much politically committed and were very cooperative.( History_ The formation of communist party in kerala was taken place in Pinarayi.).  During my early childhood days the following persons were the most well known personalities in the area for various reasons.

• N E Balaram (Communist leader, Writer, critic and journalist-Later he became the Minister in Kerala Govt.)
• Pandyala Gopalan Master
• T V Achuthan Nair.
• T V Govindan Master.
• N Govindan Vaidyar (popularly  known as Compounder-The place 'compounder shop' is after his name.)
• Cherayi Anandan
• Nehru Shankaran Master
• Munshi Shakaran Master. 
• Kootterichi Govindan Master. 

There were two very senior retired officers. They were called one as "Collector" (He was a Rtd.Deputy Collector of that time) and the other as "Thukdi" (he was a retired R D O of that time. There was a bus stop in between Pinarayi and Mambarm as "Thukdi gate" after his name.) Their names were Kelu Nair and 'Rao Bahadoor' Kunhiraman Nair respectively.

There was an School Inspector from this place namely Govindan Nair, but he was later settled in Kadiroor. My father was a retired M S P Officer. There were only two popular persons from MSP in the area. One was my father, P C Kannan Nair and the other was one Kunhiraman who conducted a shop at olayambalam as MSP shop.

The economy of this village was depending upon agriculture, beedi making and handloom weaving. Manglore Ganesh Beedi Company was the major player in Beedi industry. Sadhoo Beedi and Wadhyar Beedi was also there. Later due to the implementation of Beedi and Cigar Act, by the Govt. the Mangalore Ganesh Beedi closed down their units overnight and the workers were left jobless. The formation of Kerala Dinesh Beedi under the sponsorship of the Government of Kerala are all the part of the history of Kerala economy. Toddy tapping for making jaggery and fishing was also the vocation of few. The fish found in this area was famous during that time.

Kizhakkumbhagam L P School was my starting point. Chadukutty Master was my first coach. The other coaches in the school were V Ramunni Master, V Kunhiraman master, N Achuthan Master, Kannan Master (elder brother of Chandu kutty master) and Balan Master. The coaches were very sincere efficient and effective. The school had the privilege of campus recruitment at that period. The students were taken by the beedi manufacturers and handloom weavers for job. Boys for beedi and girls for handloom. There was no social stigma for this during that period. Everybody promoted this also. Among the students in my class only two including me went for high school and college studies. This figure will give a picture of the the economic and social structure of the area on those days.

There were a lot of small "KAVU" in this area and Theyyam were performed in all the Kavus. In my child hood days I remember that there will be at least one fight between two rival groups in all Kavus on the day of Theyyam. Some people were keeping ready to fight on those days. But there were no political fight on those days. These fight were based upon some personal issues. Kannachankandi, Mutteryveedu, and Kaitheryputhiyedath were the important Kavus in the area.

Next phase of my journey was through the R C Amala Basic U P School, Pinarayi. Sri. T V Narayanan Master, (Popularly known as Nanu Master, Brother of T V Achuthan Nair) V Madhavi Teacher (Wife of Nehru Shankaran Master), T V Govindan Nair, T Raman Master, N Balan Master, Mukundan Master, T Mukundan (Drawing ) Andy Master were my coaches there. Phalgunan Master (Ball bat star), Raghavan Master, Janaki teacher, and Narayanan Master were in lower primary section . We had a craft teacher - Krishnam Master - Handloom weaving was the only craft work taught there.  In this School I had  very good experiences in my journey. I made my first speech during this period. I represented the school and participated in an elocution competition. I have shared the prize with U P Jayarajan the famous writer.
The training got from this great institution is ever remembering in my life!

I enjoyed a lot of love and affection from this small village.!! 

I OWE a lot to the starting point!!!