The event is being organised by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government. It is believed to the largest women's gathering in the world.
Lakhs of women lined up to take part in a 620-km 'wall' in Kerala
The wall stretched from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapuram
Organised by the state's Left Democratic Front government
Health minister K K Shylaja will lead the chain at Kasargod and CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat will be the last person at the end of the chain in Thiruvananthapuram
moment for feminist politics in Kerala, lakhs of women filled the roads from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram and took a pledge to protect the renaissance value and uphold gender equality.
Although the wall was organised by the state's Left Democratic Front (LDF) against the backdrop of the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala, the women's pledge reportedly had no reference to the shrine.
The women will form the wall from Kasargod in northern Kerala to the southernmost district of Thiruvananthapuram.
Health minister K K Shylaja will lead the chain at Kasargod and CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat will be the last person at the end of the chain in Thiruvananthapuram.
The participants will gather at the designated centers today at 3 PM, where a rehearsal will be held. The Wall will be formed between 4 and 4.15 PM, with participants taking a pledge to uphold gender equality and renaissance values.
The proposed wall was suggested at a meeting called by the Kerala government in the backdrop of frenzied protests by right-wing parties and a section of devotees over the state's decision to implement the September 28 top court order, allowing women of all ages to Sabarimala.
"Finding a solution to the issues faced by women is seen as part of the class struggle," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday, adding that ensuring gender equality was part of class struggle.
In Marxist ideology, class struggle is the conflict of interests between workers and the ruling class in a capitalist society.
"The protests by communal forces against women's entry in Sabarimala prompted the government and other progressive organisations to build Women's Wall in the state," Mr Vijayan had said, adding that all women, cutting across castes and religions, would join the wall "to save Kerala from the being dragged back into the era of darkness."
The Universal Records Forum, the team which records amazing feats across the globe, is also in the state.
The pledge for the wall, released by the Chief Ministers office on Sunday, calls for upholding gender equality and renaissance values. It also bats for secularism and to oppose the move to turn the state into a 'lunatic asylum.'
While senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has described the initiative as a 'wall of contradiction', UDF lawmaker M K Muneer had has termed it as a 'communal' wall for inviting participation only from 'progressive Hindu organisations'.
The event is organised by the ruling CPI(M), along with over 176 other socio-political organisations, including the CPI, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) and Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS).
The Nair Service Society (NSS), a prominent caste-based organization, RSS and the right-wing groups have opposed this move.
Here are 10 developments from the venue
1. Organisers claimed more than 50 lakh women, including actors and political leaders from across the state, came to support the 620-km Vanitha Mathil or the women's wall.
2.Women joined hands along the national highway (NH) to connect the south and north ends of the state for five minutes.
"Today's women wall formation was an aim to strengthen gender equality. Women should no longer be pushed into dark sides," CPM leader Brinda Karat said.
3. On Tuesday afternoon, Women from across 14 districts in Kerala reportedly started assembling by the side of the national highways by 3pm.
4. The event finally began at 4 pm and saw women of all ages thronging the venue.
5. Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja became the first block of the chain in Kasargod while CPI(M) PB member Brinda Karat formed the final block in Thiruvananthapuram.
6. The LDF government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said it won't allow Kerala to be taken back to the dark ages, and that women have equal rights.
7. With close to 50 lakh women attending the event, it is believed to the largest women's gathering in the world.
8. Swami Agnivesh was also seen greeting women forming the wall in Trivandrum. "Women's wall is a great opportunity. I have come here to participate in the event because I am a male feminist.The BJP's double standards have been exposed," he said.
9. Activist Tanuja called it the second renaissance. "The women wall wants to say aloud that we are equal. This is second rennaisance, a period where the new generation has come forward to discuss issues. The women's wall is a place for women to discuss their issues and create a new world where they are equals," she said.
10. CPM leader Rajeev termed the women's wall as an answer to all allegation raised by the opposition. "Women have participated for a common cause to protect the secular fabric of Kerala," he said.
The Kerala government has been facing heat from both the BJP and the Congress over its efforts to implement the Supreme Court verdict. The top court earlier struck down a ban that prevented women aged between 10 and 50 from entering the shrine dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, considered to be eternally celibate.
Torrential rains, overflowing rivers and a series of landslides have resulted in death of 164 people in the state. Southern Railways and Kochi Metro have suspended their operations in flood-hit Kerala. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the flood situation in the state continues to be in danger and there is no respite of water overflowing from the rivers like Pampa, Periyar and Chalakudy. Four districts, Allappuzha, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur have been worst affected with this.Water rising in Periyar river. The water has reached Ambatkavu Metro station. The national highway has been damaged at many places from Chalakudi to Puthukaad. The water level at Idukki is 2402.25 feet..Southern Naval Command INS Venduruthy is setting up community kitchen for 3000 people at UC College Aluva in coordination with district administration.Many hospitals in the district cancelled routine operations and OPD on Thursday to cope with a surge in patients from neighbouring hospitals that were waterlogged amid severe staff shortage being reported from these hospitals.Life has come to a standstill in Kerala with flood and landslides leading to unforeseen miseries and chaos. The series of landslides and similar accidents caused over 50 deaths in the last two days alone even though the official death toll for the last one week was pegged at 86. Unofficial reports said that there were at least 97 deaths in the last one week. Over 1.67 lakh people are rehabilitated in 1165 relief camps functioning in the state.More than 600 persons are trapped in the fourth and fifth floor of Sree Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences (SNIMS), Chalakka, since Wednesday morning. This includes, 100 patients, 150 medical students, faculty, locals and even those who were involved in rescue operations.A total of 6679 persons have been shifted to relief camps in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. 1330 families are being housed in 63 relief camps.LSG minister AC Moitheen has directed that all local body offices shall function 24 hours to deal with disaster and to render assistance to the needy.The supplementary examinations scheduled to be held at Cochin University College of Engineering, Kuttanad on 16, 17 and 18 August will be conducted at School of Engineering in the Thrikkakara campus.The Centre today decided to send 35 more NDRF teams comprising nearly 1,000 personnel to shore up relief and rescue operations in rain-battered Kerala.Train services through Thiruvanananthapuram-Alappuzha-Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil-Tirunelveli will continue to be operated under suitable speed restrictions as required.Due to landslips, heavy rain, rising water level under bridges, all the train services on Thiruvananthapuram-Kottayam-Ernakulam and Ernakulam-Shoranur-Palakkad sections will be suspended till 4pm, Friday.The varsity has postponed all examinations scheduled till August 31. Also the centralized evaluation camps for third semester UG examinations scheduled to commence on August 17 has been postponed.Calicut University has rearranged the Onam- Bakrid holidays for affiliated colleges in view of the heavy rains. The colleges and study departments will remain closed from August 16 to August 29.Death toll in Kozhikode reached six today. One youth Rasnas Aslam drowned and the body of seven-year-old Muhammed Yasin recovered. Yasin had gone missing in stream two days ago Union Minister of State for Tourism Alphons Kannanthanam will reach Trivandrum at 7.20pm today. He will meet the concerned authorities for assessing the flood situation in the state and will join the working of Disaster Management Control room in Secretariat. He is rushing to Kerala under the directive from Prime Minister to coordinate the rescue operations.The Centre has decided to scale up flood rescue and relief operations in Kerala by deploying additional manpower and equipment. Acting on the instructions of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, cabinet secretary P K Sinha on Thursday chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review the prevailing flood situation and make further arrangements for continued and scaled up assistance to the state.As of now, 18 teams of NDRF, 9 columns and 8 teams of Engineering Task Force (ETC) of the Army, 22 teams of Coast Guard, 24 diving teams of Navy along with helicopters, aircrafts, boats, equipment, life buoys, life jackets, etc., have been dispatched to Kerala in rescue operations as well as evacuation of stranded people.The country's apex body to handle emergency situation on Thursday decided to scale up relief and rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala by involving the three defence services and other agencies, besides providing essential commodities to marooned people in 14 worst-affected districts.Kerala's most savage monsoon in a century has killed 324 people over the last nine days, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said, issuing a fresh rain alert for the battered state. Nearly 2 lakh people have been displaced. The state, battling floods and landslides, plunged deeper into crisis today, with hospitals facing shortage of oxygen and fuel stations running dry. Rescue efforts have been progressing on a war footing and Mr Vijayan said he has spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will reach Kerala this evening.
- "Kerala is facing its worst flood in 100 years. 80 dams opened, 324 lives lost and 223139 people are in about 1500+ relief camps," read a tweet from the Chief Minister's Office.
- "I spoke to the defence minister this morning and asked for more helicopters," Mr Vijayan told a news conference in state capital Thiruvananthapuram earlier today. "In some areas, airlifting is the only option ... thousands are still marooned," he said, adding that he planned to send 11 more helicopters to the worst-hit places.
- An alarming situation has developed in Alapuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta, where roads have become completely submerged. Almost all parts of Thrissur and Chalakudy towns are under water. Water has even started entering relief camps. More boats and four choppers have been deployed in the area.
- This morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "Had a telephone conversation with Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan just now. We discussed the flood situation across the state and reviewed rescue operations. Later this evening, I will be heading to Kerala to take stock of the unfortunate situation due to flooding."
- Though the met office has said he rainfall will continue till Saturday, the intensity has lessened slightly.
- Twelve more teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been sent to Kerala, reported news agency Press Trust of India. Altogether, 35 teams are expected to reach the state by evening. The Coast Guard has stationed three ships at Kochi.
- Domestic airlines have been asked to keep a check on air fares for flights operating to and from Kerala. Telecom operators have announced free call and data services and other relief measures for a week for users in Kerala.
- Kerala is being ravaged by torrential rains since August 8, which has triggered landslides and floods. It has disrupted air, rail and road traffic in several places. Public transport has practically disappeared from most parts of the state.Around 2 lakh people are living in 1,568 relief camps across the state.
- Many parts of Kochi have been flooded. Aluva is one of the worst-affected areas.Fresh landslides were reported from southern Kerala's Idukki and the northern districts of Malappuram and Kannur.
- Popular tourist destinations like Munnar and Ponmudi are almost cut-off because of bad roads due to landslides. Except for official vehicles, no other vehicles are allowed to enter Munnar. People have also been asked not to visit the Sabarimala hill shrine as the water level in the rain-fed Pampa river is high.
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Issuing an “orange” alert, the India Meteorological Department announced the arrival of the first tropical storm of the season, cyclone Ockhi over the districts in South Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep. The name Ockhi is coined by Bangladesh, which in Bengali means ‘eye’. According to Hurricane Research Division, tropical cyclones are named to provide ease of communication between forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts, watches, and warnings. Cyclones forming in the North Indian Ocean basin are named by the Indian Meteorological Department. The next cyclone will be named by India and it will be called ‘Sagar’.
How did cyclone Ockha form?
The deep depression in the south of Kanyakumari and west of Sri Lanka, intensified and resulted into a cyclonic storm. According to Skymet, the cyclone moving at a speed of 38 kmph, was located at Latitude 7.5°N and Longitude 77.5°E, around 55 km south of Kanyakumari, 120 km southwest of Thiruvananthapuram, 480 km east-southeast of Minicoy and 340 km west-northwest of Galle in Sri Lanka and is moving towards Lakshadweep island.
How will this impact Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep?
IMD has issued a heavy rainfall warning over south Kerala and Tamil Nadu for the next 24 hours. High speed winds gusting to 85 kmph are also expected over the next two days in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Lakshadweep, meanwhile, has been kept on a high alert with wind speeds reaching upto 100 kmph, starting from tonight.
Heavy rains have already lashed parts of Kerala and people have been advised to stay indoors. Many educational institutions in the state were shut down owing to bad weather conditions. The IMD report has also added that power and communication lines may break down in south Kerala and Lakshadweep. South Kerala’s Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram districts as well as adjoining districts of south Tamil Nadu such as Kanyakumari, Tutukudi and Tirunelveli are put on high alert.
Fishermen have been advised not to go out into the sea along south Tamil Nadu coast for the next 24 hours and along the south Kerala coast for the next 48 hours
Cyclone Ockhi has claimed at least 12 lives so far even as it intensified into a ‘severe’ cyclone on Friday, causing heavy rains in the coastal areas of Kerala and south Tamil Nadu. Over 200 fishermen from Kerala, who were left stranded in the sea because of inclement weather conditions, were brought safely to the shore by yesterday night.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has already warned that “high waves” towering 3-4.9m would be seen 10 km off Kerala’s coast from 6.30 pm to 11.30 pm.With the Kerala government issuing an alert for all coastal districts, IMD director general K J Ramesh told The Indian Express that the worst impact of the cyclone is likely to be over by today evening.
According to a joint bulletin issued by IMD and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) released yesterday, the severe cyclonic storm, centred over Lakshadweep, is likely to further intensify in the next 12 hours. At least 10 locations on the islands would witness high waves ranging from 4.8-7.4m in the next 24 hours, along with “heavy to very heavy rainfall”, said the bulletin.
Various units of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and the Indian Navy have been engaged in the relief work and have been working strenuously to bring out the stranded people.
There is a possibility of “huge waves” occurring in nine districts of Kerala on December 2, according to Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services. Alerts have been issued in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kochi, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod.President Ram Nath Kovind took to Twitter to express his concern about the damages caused due to the cyclone. He wrote, “Thoughts with families, especially children, in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Lakshadweep, other regions affected by rains and cyclonic conditions. Confident local authorities, emergency services and civil society will rise to the occasion. And that citizens will help one another.”
The death toll from the cyclone has gone up to seven in Kerala, with five bodies being fished out from the sea on Saturday. At least 47 fishermen, who were rescued, have been admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram medical college
As the bodies of fishermen Xavier Louis, 57, and Christy Selvadasan, 51, lie in coffins in the aisle of St Thomas Catholic church in Poonthura, in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district, outside, a group of women huddled under a makeshift shelter feverishly count the rosary beads wrapped around their fingers. Occasionally, one of them would let out an anguished wail — “God, give back our men from the sea” — drowning out the priest’s prayers inside.
Selvi, 42, is among them. Her husband Xavier, 42, had gone fishing in a small boat on Wednesday night with a few other men from the village. He hasn’t returned yet. “She has been here since Friday. Her husband was the family’s bread- winner. He had to go fishing every day for the family to eat something,’’ says Besty, Selvi’s relative. Metres away, Selvi’s five children squeal as they chase each other on the sandy beach.
The fishing village of Poonthura has been waiting for its men since Thursday, when cyclone Ockhi battered the southern coast of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, leaving hundreds of fishermen who had ventured into the sea on Wednesday stranded.
While 435 fishermen have been rescued in the last three days, 99 are still reportedly missing, 30 of them from Poonthura. However, the control room set up by the state government to monitor rescue operations said 117 fishermen from the state were still missing. With two bodies being recovered so far, Poonthura is bracing for the worst, with family members of those missing turning up at the church to share each other’s grief.
As many as 531 fishermen, stranded in the choppy waters off the Kerala and the Lakshadweep coasts due to Cyclone Ockhi, have been rescued, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said today. So far 393 people from Kerala have been rescued, Mr Vijayan said, as the state government announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh to the family of those who died in the storm.
Rescue operations are still on with Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard's coordinated efforts in Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam coastal area. In Tamil Nadu, 60 fishermen are still missing and the Navy has been called in for their rescue.
The Tamil Nadu government has also requested the centre to deploy helicopters of the Navy and the Coast Guard for the search and rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, distressed family members of missing fishermen blocked the National Highway in Thiruvananthapuram's Poonthura alleging rescue operations have been inadequate.
Most of the deaths by Cyclone Ockhi were caused by trees uprooted by destructive winds raging at 130 km per hour. In Sri Lanka too, the cyclone killed seven people.
Torrential wind and rain unleashed by Cyclone Ockhi has shut down schools in Chennai. Tourists in Kochi have been told to stay away from popular beaches where huge waves are pounding the shore.
The fishermen of Poonthura either go in small mechanised country boats or the big trawlers. While the country boats, with five or six men on board, usually venture into the sea every afternoon and return early next morning, the large boats spend days at sea. Most of the missing fishermen from Poonthura are those who went in the smaller boats.
Also Read | Death toll rises to 12 as heavy rains lash Kerala, Tamil Nadu
They had ventured into the sea on Wednesday evening and since they were slated to return early the following morning, most of them had only taken a meal each and a few litres of water.
Joseph Kennedy, a boat owner, says, “It will be difficult to survive the storm for more than 48 hours in the sea. If they stay conscious, they can survive by clutching on to the vessel wreckage. But if they lose consciousness, the chances of survival are very slim,’’ he says. Kennedy, 53, owns two boats and had sent both into the sea. “Thirty two of my men went in six boats, including mine. Of them, 17 could be saved and we are still trying to locate the others,’’ he says.
Rajesh K, 42, says he is lucky to be alive. “I did not go fishing on Wednesday because I had to attend a function in the church. We haven’t seen the sea this angry in a long time,’’ he says. Priest Deepak Anto says the villagers have decided to set off on search operations on Sunday morning. “If everything else fails, our men will leave in small groups, in 60 mechanised country boats. But frankly, there isn’t much hope. Only the luckiest will survive this situation,’’ he says.
So far, the death toll from the cyclone has gone up to seven in Kerala, with five bodies being fished out from the sea on Saturday. At least 47 fishermen, who were rescued, have been admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram medical college. State Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma said, “The rescue operations will continue on Sunday. We have decided to conduct an intensive search from Thiruvananthauram to Kochi.’’ She said she was hopeful of more fishermen being rescued.
The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to each of the families of the victims. Fishermen who had lost their vessels and fishing nets in the tragedy would also be compensated.
In Lakshadweep, five fishing boats were damaged earlier today at Kalpeni island as water level rose due to heavy rains. Coconut trees have been uprooted in various places and houses damaged in eastern Kalpeni and Minicoy, official sources said, adding the extent of the damage was being assessed. 31 relief camps have been opened in the 10 inhabited islands. So far, 1,047 people have been evacuated to the relief camps.
Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district, one of the worst affected, still remains largely powerless with more than a thousand people stranded in rescue centres. The district has received moderate rainfall this morning and a few low lying areas there are still inundated. 4,000 power lines in the district have been damaged by the cyclone and officials said it may take close to a week for the entire power supply to be restored. The Tamil Nadu government has released Rs. 25 crore to restore power supply in the district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured to provide adequate help to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami during a telephone conversation between the two last night. The Tamil Nadu government has said it will soon seek central funds for the damage caused by Cyclone Ockhi.
A Central Water Commission advisory yesterday said the west-flowing rivers in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, Alapuzzha and Ernakulam were likely to rise over the next 24 hours and then slowly fall as the rains reduced. Seven people have been killed in the state.
The advisory also said that the Amaravathi and Bhavani rivers and their tributaries in the Cauvery basin were also expected to receive sufficient flows, increasing the water levels in the Amaravathy, Moyar, Pilloor and Bhavanisagar dams in the Nilgiris, Coimbatore and Erode districts of Tamil Nadu.
The Somasila and Kandaleru projects in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh were also likely to receive "significant inflows" due to the depression, which was likely to affect the southern parts of the state from December 5 onwards.
"There is a likelihood of a rapid rise in the water levels of the Suwarnamukhi and Kalingi rivers in Chittoor and Nellore districts," the commission said.
The storm has been named Ockhi by Bangladesh which means "eye" in Bengali. In 1999, more than 8,000 people were killed when a cyclone battered the eastern state of Orissa.
The LDF Government in Kerala, which rolled out the red carpet for Sharjah ruler Dr Sheik Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, has put forward a dossier of seven-point co-operation agenda before the visiting dignitary. The decision has also been welcomed by Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has taken an unusual step to please the Royals in Gulf for building Nava Keralam, his dream project to build a new Kerala .
A total of 149 Indians serving prison terms for minor and financial offences in Sharjah will be released following the amnesty declared here by the Emirate’s visiting ruler Sultan Bin Mohammed Al- Quasimi.
the Sharjah government has also chose to consider very seriously the demand that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had put before him on Monday - to construct a family city and a Kerala cultural centre over 20 acres of land in Sharjah.
Al Qasimi made the announcement after accepting the honorary DLitt conferred on him by the University of Calicut at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday.
The announcement came in response to a request by Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking the release of Keralites who had completed three years of their jail term in Sharjah.
According to a joint communique issued by the Sharjah and Kerala governments, those facing punishment for minor offences and financial misappropriation would be given pardon as per the general amnesty.
Al-Quasimi was honoured with an honorary D.lit Degree from Calicut University at a function held at Raj Bhavan here. Governor Justice (retd) P Sathasivam conferred the degree.
Sharjah also agreed to open an institution of higher learning for Arabic studies and research and set up a chain of skill development centres for imparting training to those seeking jobs in the Gulf region.
“This was announced by Al-Quasimi during his one-to-one meeting with Vijayan”, the communique said.
Sharjah has also accepted in-principle the state’s proposal for giving international driving licence to those who seeking jobs in the Emirate, the release said.
A joint committee consisting top officials of Sharjah and Kerala would be set up to work out an action plan to implement projects agreed to by both sides.
The Kerala government also offered land for construction of a permanent building for the UAE consulate in the state capital.
The Sharjah Family City project, cultural centre and International Education Complex to be set up by Kerala in Sharjah were some of the other projects under the active consideration of the Sharjah government, the release said.
Later, giving a lecture, Al-Quasimi hailed the harmony among the people of Kerala and wanted them to preserve it.
“I saw a dance yesterday. I was very happy to see three sects of people dancing together with love. I hope that will remain always,” he said.
Al-Quasimi, who reached here on September 24 on a five- day visit to the state, promised he would be back within a year to celebrate the fulfilling of promises he had made.
The ruler met the chief minister at his official residence in the morning. He also met the council of ministers yesterday and discussed various issues pertaining to Kerala and Sharjah.
As many as 149 Indians, languishing in Sharjah jails for various non-criminal offences, will be released soon, UAE Supreme Council member and Sharjah ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi announced on Tuesday.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan requested Union Minister for External Affairs to secure the release of Indian citizens who have been sentenced to jail in civil offences in Middle East countries. Sharjah had agreed to release 149 Indian prisoners on the request made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to Sharjah ruler H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, during the recent visit of H.H to Kerala.
In this context, CM suggested that, citing this humanitarian gesture of Sharjah, if the Indian Government takes up the issue with other Emirates in UAE, we may be able to secure the release of a large number of similarly placed Indians. CM requested the MEA to consider this step & direct the diplomatic missions in UAE & other middle eastern countries to pursue it. The Amnesty for Indian prisoners, who have completed three years in jail for civil cases, was announced by the Sharjah ruler after accepting an honorary doctorate conferred on him by the University of Calicut at a function held at the Raj Bhavan here. A Joint Communique, issued by the Sharjah ruler and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said as many as 149 Indians, who are mainly involved in minor civil cases, would benefit from the Amnesty which was announced following a request by the Kerala CM that Malayalees who are in jail in labour-related and visa cases, be released so that they can return home. In response to the CM's request, the Sharjah ruler said, "several Keralites and also people from other countries are imprisoned in our jails on the charges of various crimes. The Chief Minister requested me to send them back to their native places. But, I asked him why should we send them back. We are freeing all of them, who are not committed serious crimes, and we are ready to help them find jobs there itself." The joint communique said three projects -- an affordable housing scheme for Keralites, a cultural centre and international schools -- were under the active consideration of the Sharjah Government. Follow up action would be taken in these three projects which would benefit a large number of Keralites settled in Sharjah. Besides, several other projects in IT, skill development, medical tourism and infrastructure development, were also discussed during the visit. A high-level official team, with representation from both the sides, would be constituted soon to prepare an action plan for implementing several projects. Kerala also promised to provide land free of cost to the UAE consulate here for constructing its own building.
The Kerala High Court has given a clean chit to CM Pinarayi Vijayan, acquitting him of all charges, as per the latest TV reports. Harish Salve, Senior Advocate, represented Pinarayi Vijayan in the High Court. According to TV news reports, the judgment has over 100 pages and more details will be made available shortly.Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and two others in the SNC- Lavalin case saying that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could not prove the accused guilty. In 1995, the Kerala state electricity board under the Congress-led UDF government took up a hydraulic infrastructure project with a Canadian Company SNC-Lavalin to renovate the hydraulic power stations at Pallivasal, Sengulam, and Panniar during 1995-1997 in the Idukki district of Kerala. According to the Memorandum signed by G. Karthikeyen the then Power Minister, the funds for the renovation were to be arranged by SNC-Lavalin from the Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada, and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
The deal resulted in an alleged net loss of Rs 374.50 crores to the state exchequer. In 1996, Pinarayi Vijayan, the then Power Minister proposed to provide a grant of Rs 100 crores to Malabar Cancer Centre and award Rs 374 crores for a 100MW project without tender. The final follow-up agreement with SNC-Lavalin regarding the renovation of PSP project was signed by Pinarayi Vijayan of Left Democratic Front, after they took office winning the majority in the Legislative Assembly in 1996, in February 1997.The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) later found out that Canadian company Lavalin was not the original equipment manufacturer and the goods were supplied by other firms at a much higher cost resulting in exceeding expenditure. Post CAG report, Kerala High Court ordered a CBI inquiry against Pinarayi Vijayan and others in January 2007. In 2009, the CBI filed a progress report on the investigation accusing Pinarayi Vijayan of hatching a criminal conspiracy while he was serving as the electricity minister between May 1996 to October 1998.
But in November 2013, Pinarayi Vijayan and the other accused were discharged from the case. The Congress-led UDF then moved the high court to seek an early hearing of the revision petition challenging the CBI court’s decision. They alleged it was Vijayan who finalised the deal with the Canadian company. Almost three months later, the CBI filed a revision petition in the high court. Crime magazine editor Nandakumar too moved the high court against exoneration of Vijayan and the others.
”Truth has triumphed, justice has prevailed,” Kerala Minister G.Sudhakaran told media reporters immediately after the verdict.
CPI (M) Kerala Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told TV reporters,” It is the Chandy government that went after Pinarayi Vijayan and they had his name wrongly included in the SNC-Lavalin case. Now the Kerala High Court has given a clean chit to Pinarayi Vijayan and has even observed that CBI attempted to target him in a most unfair manner. That the CBI has wrongly targeted a leader of Pinarayi’s stature is most unfortunate and this has been noted specifically by the court. Now it is clear that the case itself was a fabricated one against Pinarayi Vijayan. We are a corruption-free political party and the intent of the CBI was to destroy the party’s corruption-free image. This verdict is a great win for Pinarayi Vijayan and the party. ”
The SNC-Lavalin case came under the radar after CAG’s report in 2009 which pointed out several irregularities in the deal. Harish Salve, who had represented Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan when the Lavalin case came up before the Kerala High Court in March 2017, rubbished CBI’s allegation of corruption and conspiracy in the SNC-Lavalin deal as a fabricated story. Salve also referred to the agreement with the Canadian company Lavalin as one that had been carried out with good intention at a crucial time when the state was reeling under a severe power crisis.x
The SNC-Lavalin case goes a long way back to the time when Pinarayi Vijayan was Power Minister in the state and he had signed with a Canadian company called SNC Lavalin in1997. The controversy grabbed headlines in 2005 when the CAG had pointed out several irregularities in the deal and that the funds promised for the Cancer Hospital in Malabar did not materialise. Further, CAG also reported a loss of Rs 347 to the state exchequer.
Following the controversy around the deal, the case was handed over to the CBI by the Oommen Chandy-led UDF government in 2006. The CBI case diary was submitted before the Kerala High Court in 2008 and the following year, the CBI filed a charge sheet against Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC-Lavalin case, in which he was listed as the seventh accused.
GST or Goods and Services Tax+ , set to launch on July 1, is a multi-stage, destination-based tax that will be levied on every value addition.Set to revolutionise the way India does its taxes, GST will be levied on value additions+ at each stage of the production cycle - buying raw materials, processing, manufacturing, warehousing and sale to customers - the monetary worth added at each stage to achieve the final sale to the end customer will be taxed. The final consumer will thus bear only the GST charged by the last dealer in the supply chain, with set-off benefits at all the previous stages.Goods & Services Tax (GST) is an indirect tax throughout India to replace taxes levied by the central and state governments. It is introduced as The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Second Amendment) Act 2017, following the passage of Constitution 122nd Amendment Bill. The GST is governed by GST Council and its Chairman is Finance Minister of India. Under GST, goods and services will be taxed at the following rates, 0%, 5%, 12%, 18%, 28%. There is a special rate of 0.25% on rough precious and semi-precious stones and 3% on gold.[1][2]
The GST regime is set to be in force from 1st July 2017 with a special midnight session in the Central Hall of the Indian Parliament to commemorate the occasion.
The reform process in indirect tax regime of India was started in 1986 by Vishwanath Pratap Singh by introduction of Modified Value Added Tax (MODVAT).[3]
Goods and services tax (GST) taxes including central excise duty, services tax, additional customs duty, surcharges, state-level value added tax and Octroi.[4][5] Other levies which are currently applicable on inter-state transportation of goods are also likely to be done away with in GST regime.[6][7]
The following taxes will be bound together by the GST:
Central Excise Duty
Commercial Tax
Value Added Tax (VAT)
Food Tax
Central Sales Tax (CST)
Introit
Entertainment Tax
Entry Tax
Purchase Tax
Luxury Tax
Advertisement tax
Service Tax
GST will be levied on all transactions such as sale, transfer, purchase, barter, lease, or import of goods and/or services. India will adopt a dual GST model, meaning that taxation is administered by both the Union and State Governments. Transactions made within a single state will be levied with Central GST (CGST) by the Central Government and State GST (SGST) by the government of that state. For inter-state transactions and imported goods or services, an Integrated GST (IGST) is levied by the Central Government. GST is a consumption based tax, therefore, taxes are paid to the state where the goods or services are consumed not the state in which they were produced. IGST complicates tax collection for State Governments by disabling them to collect the tax owed to them directly from the Central Government. Under the previous system, a state would have to only deal with a single government in order to collect tax revenue.
Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN)
"Goods and Services Tax" Network (GSTN) is a nonprofit organization formed to create a platform for all the concerned parties i.e. stakeholders, government, taxpayers to collaborate on a single portal. The portal will be accessible to the central government which will track down every transaction on its end while the taxpayers will be having a vast service to return file their taxes and maintain the details. The IT network will be developed by private firms which are being in tie up with the central government and will be having stakes accordingly. The known authorized capital of GSTN is ₹10 crore (US$1.6 million) in which Central Government holds 24.5 percent of shares while the state government holds 24.5 percent and rest with private banking firms.
Advantages and disadvantages of GST
Advantages of GST
1. GST is a transparent Tax and also reduce numbers of indirect taxes. With GST implemented a business premises can show the tax applied in the sales invoice. Customer will know exactly how much tax they are paying on the product they bought or services they consumed.
2. GST will not be a cost to registered retailers therefore there will be no hidden taxes and the cost of doing business will be lower. This in turn will help Export being more competitive.
3. GST can also help to diversification of income sources for Government other than income tax and petroleum tax.
4. Under Goods and Services Tax, the tax burden will be divided equally between Manufacturing and services. This can be done through lower tax rate by increase Tax base and reducing exemptions.
5. In GST System bothe Central GST and State GST will be charged on manufacturing cost and will be collected on point of sale. This will benefit people as prices will come down which in turn will help companies as consumption will increase.
6. Biggest benefit will be that multiple taxes like octroi, central sales tax, state sales tax, entry tax, license fees, turnover tax etc will no longer be present and all that will be brought under the GST. Doing Business now will be easier and more comfortable as various hidden taxation will not be present.
In the amended Bill a cap Of 18% GST will be applicable on Goods and Services through the country.
Because of this Prices of Those Goods and services on which we used to pay taxes below 18% will be increased.
For example right now we pay around 4-5% Tax on packaged foods. But after GST the total tax on these products will definitely go up which will increase its retail price. Similarly Jewelery, Mobile Bill, Credit Card Bill, Services rates will also go up.
And Prices of those goods and Services on which we used to pay taxes above 18% will be reduced.
Fr example taxes will be reduced on Mini SUV for which we are paying 30-40% Tax right now. After GST it will be reduced to 18%. Similarly Consumer goods like AC, Refrigerator and Transportation cost will also go down.
More than 150 Countries have implemented GST and each of them faced Rise in Inflation for next 3-5 Years.
Disadvantages of GST
1. Critics say that GST would impact negatively on the real estate market. It would add up to 8 percent to the cost of new homes and reduce demand by about 12 percent.
2. Some Economist says that CGST, SGST and IGST are nothing but new names for Central Excise/Service Tax, VAT and CST and hence GST brings nothing new for which we should cheer.
Updates About GST
1. You can enroll for GST online by visiting government website – https://www.gst.gov.in/
2. There will be four tax slabs of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. Luxury and demerit goods will be taxed at 28% plus cess.
3. Unlike aother countries where GST has already been implemented, India opted for dual GST – SGST and CGST, administered by State and Centre respectively.
4. Threshold for GST has been set to 15 Lakh for North east and Hill states, and 20 Lakh for other states.
5. Many Tax Experts say that 1st July 2017 is the best case scenario for Implementation of GST in India
