KARNATAKA: SILK GROWERS, WEAVERS PROTEST DUTY FREE SILK IMPORT

T Yashawanth

BRAVELY facing the hot summer sun and the police blockade, sericulture farmers, reelers, weavers and many others who are dependent on sericulture farming staged a huge protest rally and conducted a public meeting at Bangalore to oppose the government of India’s move to import duty free raw silk from China.

About five thousand protesters from Kolar, Chickaballapur, Ramanagar, Mandya and other parts of southern Karnataka took part in this protest action. Along with them were considerable numbers from Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh. The protesters urged the GoI in one voice to stop the duty free silk imports.

Thousands of agitators assembled at Bangalore on February 18 and marched towards the Central Silk Board office where their procession turned into a public meeting, in which many leaders including CPI(M) MP and member of Central Silk Board, Basudeb Acharia, and All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) general secretary K Varadharajan addressed the agitating farmers.

In his speech, Basudeb Acharia said the prices of chemicals, fertilisers and other inputs are increasing while, on the other hand, the price of cocoon is getting down. This has been a result of the anti-farmer policy pursued by the UPA government. If Chinese silk is imported into India without imposing any duty on it, its price will go below the production cost of silk grown by the indigenous farmers. It will definitely affect the life and livelihood of lakhs of farmers, reelers and weavers. Acharia criticised the irresponsibility of the finance minister’s reply when this issue was discussed with him; he said that his government would import silk from China and not from America. Whether goods are imported from America or China is not the question here. The crux of the matter is whether such imports adversely affect our producers. To ensure super profits for a few industrialists and big traders, the government is evidently going against the farmers, reelers and weavers, Acharia said. He announced amidst the thunderous applause from the gathering crowd that he would raise the issue in the forthcoming budget session of parliament. He urged upon the government to ensure smooth conduct of the parliament session, unlike the last session which was jeopardised by its adamant attitude on the issue of a JPC probe into the 2G scam.

Addressing the gathering, AIKS general secretary K Varadharajan extended greeting to the agitators and said he had come there as a representative of two crore members from among the farmers in different states. He said the government is involved in with scams worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore, like the 2G and 3G scams, but is not ready to solve the problems of the struggling farmers. Rises in the prices of all essential commodities is another big contribution of this government while, on the other hand, farmers are committing suicide for not getting adequate price for their produce. Dr Swaminathan’s recommendations on minimum support price to include the cost of production plus 50 per cent of the cost remains as yet unimplemented. Whether it is a matter of imports or of exports, it is only the big traders and big industries who are getting benefited at the cost of farmers.

On this occasion, Varadharajan invited all the agitating farmers to the March to Parliament being organised by the AIKS in the month of March to protest against the UPA government’s pro-rich and pro-MNC policies.

G C Bayya Reddy, general secretary of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha (an affiliate of the AIKS) and organising convener of the All India Struggle Committee against Duty Free Silk Imports, said this protest rally was organised to convey our opposition to the duty free silk imports. Soon after the government’s notification on August 10, 2010 to import 2500 metric tonnes of raw silk of grade 3 and above, along with the already committed 7500 metric tonnes, the KPRS organised an all-India convention of farmers’ organisations, reelers and weavers, and the convention formed an All India Struggle Committee for the purpose. This struggle will continue until the government stops the import of duty free silk, he said.

Former CPI (M) MLA, G V Sreeram Reddy, also addressed the gathering. He said the government was telling a lie and misleading the nation when it said that duty free imports would benefit the poor weavers. More than 90 per cent of the weavers are labourers bound to serve one or another big weaving unit. In the name of weavers, in fact, it is the big traders and big industrialists who are garnering all the benefits, he said. He castigated the inaction of the BJP controlled state government of Karnataka and accused its sericulture minister of not being honest in understanding the difficulties of the silk growers.

Reddy further said the GoI has taken steps to import raw silk at the rate of Rs 2,700 per kg by reducing the import duty to 30.66 per cent which would further bring down the raw silk rate to Rs 1900 per kg. This will make the China silk available at Rs 120 to 150 per kg in the Indian market. He said this government is still contemplating to reduce the import duty on China silk to just 5 per cent in the immediate future to benefit the big traders and big industries.

At the end of the public meeting, Central Silk Board chairman Hanumanthappa was given a demands chater from the leaders of the All India Struggle Committee against duty free imports. He said he would discuss all the issues involved with the prime minister and convey to him the concerns of the farmers.

KPRS president Maruthi Manpade and other leaders of the Struggle Committee also spoke on the occasion.

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/

KERALA: LABOUR WELL LOOKED AFTER IN KERALA LDF DISPENSATION

P K GURUDASAN

WHEN the Left Democratic Front (LDF) assumed office in Kerala in May 2006, the labour scenario in the state was in a total disarray. Retrenchment of workers, lockouts, layoffs, closures etc were quite common phenomena. As a result of all this, thousands of workers, both in the traditional sectors as well as in modern industries, were rendered jobless. Suicides and starvation deaths were reported from the plantation sector. Thus the prime concern of the new LDF government was to bring the derailed labour front back to the tracks.

LDF GOVT’S MEASURES

In this scenario, the government of the LDF felt the necessity of concentrating more on the enactment of new labour laws besides the enforcement of the existing ones. For several years prior to 2006, there were no new labour legislations in the state. Considering the gravity of the situation, the LDF government enacted a series of legislations.

Among these measures, the most important ones are the Shops and Commercial Establishment Workers Welfare Fund Act, Kerala Small Plantation Workers Welfare Fund Act, Kerala Handloom Workers Welfare (Cess) Act, Kerala Jewellery Workers Welfare Fund Act, Kerala Recognition of Trade Union Act, and Non-Keralite Residents Welfare Act, etc. In addition to the above new legislations, amendments were made to several of the existing legislations so as to enhance the benefits to the labour.

The Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments Workers Welfare Fund Board, which started functioning in the year 2007, provides a series of benefits including pension to more than 10 lakh workers employed in the shops and commercial establishments. A noteworthy feature of this enactment is that it provides maternity benefits equivalent to that of 12 weeks’ salary to women employees. So far more than 4 lakhs workers have been enrolled in the scheme. The Kerala Small Plantation Workers Welfare Fund Board aims at enlisting plantation workers, numbering about 2 lakh, who were not entitled to the benefits under the Plantation Labour Act 1951. The welfare of lakhs of jewellery workers, who were till now a neglected lot, is now being looked after by the Jewellery Workers Welfare Fund Board.

The Kerala Recognition of Trade Unions Act is an epoch making legislation, the object of which is the streamlining of the functioning of trade unions. Besides preventing the multiplicity of trade unions, the act aims at an enhancement of the bargaining power of the working class. The setting up of the Non-Keralite Residents Welfare Board was a long standing demand of the lakhs of Keralites who work abroad and in other parts of the country.

The state’s Labour Department is currently administering 15 welfare fund boards of this kind and five welfare schemes. The government of the LDF aims at bringing the entire workforce under one or another welfare scheme

Revision of minimum wages for various sections of workers is another area where the LDF has concentrated much of its attention. Accordingly, it has reconstituted the Minimum Wages Advisory Board. Minimum wages were either revised or are in the process of revision in 70 sectors. These sectors include the plantation workers and cashew workers who constitute a considerable section of the workers in traditional industries.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

In order to maintain harmonious industrial relationships, the LDF government has constituted an Industrial Relations Board (IRB) in which prominent leaders of all the central trade unions and representatives of industry are members. All the major issues confronting the labour and industry are being discussed in the periodical meetings of the IRB and appropriate solutions are arrived at.

The Industrial Relations Committees (IRCs), functioning in Kerala, are effective forums to settle the labour disputes arising in the respective sectors. These IRCs are functioning in sectors like coir, cashew, toddy, textiles, motor transport etc.

The LDF government has demonstrated in practice its commitment to put an end to several unhealthy trends that are prevailing on the labour front. Accordingly, the labour ministry of the state was able to stop the mafia type activities followed by an independent trade union in the Cochin port. The timely intervention of the labour ministry helped the various agencies that were operating in the Cochin port, to regain their confidence.

The LDF government took particular care in enforcing the labour laws to the advantage of the working people. It has ensured higher rates of bonus, performance allowance etc, to the workers. Minimum welfare pension has been raised to Rs 400 per month from the earlier Rs 110 and Rs 120 existing in 2006. Almost all the existing labour disputes were settled through tripartite discussions.

The plantation sector was one of the worst affected during the tenure of the previous Congress led government of the United Democratic Front (UDF). As many as 22 major plantations were closed down, as a result of which more than 25,000 workers were rendered jobless. Making effective use of the tripartite machinery, the LDF government got a majority of them reopened. Discussions are in progress for reopening the remaining plantations also. For the purpose of bringing the plantation owners to the negotiation table, the LDF government provided several concessions to them such as waiver of arrears of agriculture income tax, plantations tax, minimum demand charges of electricity etc. A series of other relief measures, such as repair of the dwelling houses of the workers, educational assistance to their school going children, improvement in the drinking water and electricity facilities, free ration, health care etc, were also provided.

The LDF government has been conscious about skill development among the jobseekers in the state. In order to promote skill development, the LDF government started 38 new industrial training institutes (ITIs) during the first four years of its tenure. It has also decided to start 10 more new ITIs during the year 2011-12. In this connection it is worth mentioning that till 2006 there were only 34 ITIs in the state. The LDF regime has also started modern trades in the existing ITIs and upgraded all of them for the purpose.

The implementation of the Rastriya Swasthya Bheema Yojana (RSBY) is vested with the state’s labour department. The scheme is being implemented in the state by integrating the same with the Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) so as to provide the benefit to more sections of people. In addition to the families that have been declared to be below-poverty-line (BPL) by the central government, the LDF government has extended the benefits of the scheme to another 25 lakh families by treating them as BPL. Thus the scheme would benefit 35 lakhs of families. The premium in respect of those additional families is being paid by the LDF government. Besides, it has extended the benefits under the scheme to those above-poverty-line (APL) families as well, who are willing to pay the premium. A notable feature of the scheme the LDF government has introduced this year is the provision of giving to those 35 lakh families additional benefits of Rs 70,000 for treatment of serious ailments like heart disease, kidney disease, cancer etc.

CASHEW INDUSTRIES

A review of the activities of the labour department in Kerala during the tenure of the LDF government will be incomplete without saying a few words about the cashew industry in the state. As we know, cashew industry is the most important one among the traditional industries of Kerala. This industry employs more than three lakhs workers, 98 per cent of whom are women hailing from the lower strata of the society, especially the SC/ST communities. The industry forms the backbone of the economy of Kollam and adjoining districts. No doubt, the cashew industry has almost regained its past glory now. Gone are the days of unemployment and starvation among the cashews workers. The state owned Cashew Development Corporation and CAPEX provided employment for 284 days and 260 days respectively during the fiscal 2010-11. Minimum wages have also been ensured to the workers, besides the enhanced rates of bonus.

One of the major problems confronting the cashew industry is the shortages of raw cashew nuts, as a result of which the industry has to depend on imports. In order to overcome this difficulty, the LDF government has constituted an agency, called the Kerala State Agency for the Expansion of Cashew Cultivation (KSACC). Large scale cashew cultivation has been started under the auspices of the agency. The state government has already approached the government of India for the setting up of a cashew board, with its headquarters at Kollam, for the overall development of the cashew industry. During the last four years, the LDF government provided Rs 221.19 crore as budgetary support to the cashew industry.

The Employees State Insurance corporation (ESI) scheme is being administered in the state through the labour department. The ESI department achieved tremendous growth during the tenure of the incumbent LDF government --- in terms of the number of insured persons as well as of the infrastructure facilities. The number of insured persons rose to 6.7 lakhs from 3.45 lakhs in 2006. Upon the request of the state government, the ESI Corporation has sanctioned a medical college at Kollam. The construction work is already in progress. It has been decided to reserve a certain percentage of seats in this medical college for the children of workers who are members of the ESI scheme. A dental college also has been sanctioned at Ezhokone. It is heartening to note that the ESI Corporation has agreed to start nursing colleges also, which will be attached to the 12 ESI hospitals. In order to provide super speciality treatment to the beneficiaries, 63 super specialty hospitals have been empanelled.

Kerala has already framed the rules under the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act. For the purpose, the LDF government has constituted the State Social Security Board. It is in the process of identifying the schemes to be taken up under it.

As a result of its persistent efforts, the LDF government has been able to maintain a peaceful labour climate in the state. Kerala has now earned the reputation of being an investor friendly state, which is reflected in the launch of several new projects such as the Smart City, Vallarpadam Transhipment Container Terminal, Vizhinjam Harbour etc. The state’s labour department is moving ahead with its slogan of "better production, quality production and high productivity" in all sectors in Kerala. However, the LDF regime’s intention is to achieve this goal without compromising on any of the legitimate rights of the working class.

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/

ON KERALA LDF GOVT’S EFFORTS TO MAKE POLICE PRO-PEOPLE

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

THE police have a significant role to play in democratic governance, while undertaking duties pertaining to maintenance of law and order and investigation of crime. It is the police system in a country that ensures a peaceful social order and makes this order function in a legitimate way. But, unfortunately, the people at large consider this administrative machinery --- and rightly so --- as an oppressive tool in the hands of the rightist governments. On the one hand, these governments make use of the police force to meet their vested political interests and, on the other hand, they let the police on the loose to crush the masses if and when the latter protest against their anti-people policies. This approach of the rightist forces vis-à-vis the police force and its use has always been a butt of severe criticism. On the contrary, Leftist governments have always had a different approach on the matter. The Leftist perception of the police is of a force that is service oriented. Whenever in power, Leftist governments have never compromised on this perception.

REFORMS IN KERALA

Like the previous Leftist governments that came to power in Kerala, the incumbent government of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) too has made several efforts to reform the police system. These efforts were not just confined to modernisation of the police force, but also aimed at making it more people-friendly. In this regard, over the last four and a half years, the Left Democratic Front has been able to implement all that was promised in its election manifesto of 2006. Our overall efforts resulted in reducing the gap between the police and the people.

The suggestions given by the report of the Police Reforms Commission, headed by Justice K T Thomas, which were implemented to forge the concept of Community Policing, have been a milestone. It will be recalled that this commission was appointed during the tenure of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government when A K Antony was the chief minister. Even though the commission had submitted its report to the UDF government itself, the latter was reluctant to implement its recommendations. However, when the LDF came to power in May 2006, it realised the progressive character of the suggestions the report had given and considered the issue of their implementation very seriously.

One of the steps the LDF government took was to introduce the concept of Student Police Cadet as a basic programme that would bring students to the basics of policing and make them disciplined and responsible citizens. It has successfully implemented this programme in three schools and would soon try it out in other districts of Kerala.

During the UDF rule, Kerala was reeling under the stranglehold of various mafias. The unholy nexus between the mafia gangs and the UDF leaders helped these anti-socials to establish their network in the state. These mafia groups had had their way even during the daytime, leading to the popular demand for a stringent law to check their menace. While the UDF government, during the last phase of its tenure, introduced a law to check the activities of criminal gangs, it took no effective steps on its basis. It did not put a single anti-social element behind the bars under the new law. On the other hand, the LDF was bold enough to pass a legislation by which the police can act stringently. In order to curb all kinds of human rights violations and to rein in the mafia gangs, the LDF government, without any delay, passed a new strong law with sufficient checks and balances. Its enforcement made the people of Kerala free from the clutches of the mafia groups; a regime of peaceful life returned to all parts of the state.

DECLINING CRIME RATE

Kerala is now witnessing a drastic reduction in the grave criminal acts. On an average, Kerala once had 20 political murders per annum. This rate has now come down to six. The national level recognition that Kerala has received for several consecutive years as being the most law and order friendly state in India vindicates the LDF government’s efforts in this direction.

Crime investigation and the maintenance of law and order have been made separate tasks in all the major cities of Kerala and officers were appointed exclusively for both the purposes. The crime branch was revamped during the period by creating separate wings for homicide and hurt, organised crime and economic offence wings. About Rs 13 crore were spent during the past four years for making crime investigation scientific and modern, and the Forensic Lab was strengthened. For the first time in Kerala, a Cyber Forensic and Digital Analysis Cell was established. Adequate assistance was solicited from the central government in view of the skill and expertise of Kerala police in the area. Twenty four new posts were created to strengthen the functioning of the Forensic Lab. For speedy communication, mobile phone connections were provided to all police personnel in Kerala.

Measures were taken to increase the strength of police personnel in the state. In the past it was the lack of adequate police personnel that often hindered the process of investigation and the maintenance of law and order. The LDF government has appointed about 12,000 new police recruits in the past four and a half years. To avoid delays in recruitment, steps were taken to report in advance the vacancies that would occur in a year. Steps have been taken to form an India Reserve Battalion comprising 1000 police personnel. About 3000 home guards, recruited from among the ex-servicemen, were appointed to assist the regular police force in emergency situations. This has been helping the police force to spend more time on duties pertaining to crime investigation. The LDF government took steps and was able to increase the presence of women in the state’s police force. Ten per cent of the police force now consists of women police personnel, which is a worth-emulating model for the whole country. Also, steps have been taken for direct appointment of women sub-inspectors.

The LDF government has been successful in tracking, identifying and nabbing the elements that were active in terrorist related activities in Kerala for some time now. When compared to other regions in India, which are facing the menace of terrorism on several fronts, the LDF government of Kerala has been maintaining a safe and secure environment around establishments like the VSSC, Technopark, InfoPark, Ezhimala Naval Academy, Cochin Port etc. Nowadays it is confronted with threats to our security via sea also. In this backdrop, it has decided to form the Coastal Vigilance Committees, which would function under the coastal police stations and with the active involvement of the fishing community and the organisations that work for them.

Kerala has been able to draw national attention in dealing with the cyber crimes. The LDF government anticipated the menace of cyber crimes quite early and took measures to strengthen its cyber crime cell. A police station was opened in Thiruvananthapuram exclusively for this purpose. Within a short period, this cell proved itself as being one of the best in India, when it successfully dealt several cyber crimes of a complicated nature. Soon, cyber cells were formed under the control of the district Superintendents of Police (SPs), which were headed by Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) in the Crime Detachment wing. Fake e-mail cases and the financial scam involving some Nigerian citizens were some of the noted cyber crimes which the cyber cell investigated successfully.

The LDF government always had the people in view whenever it gave shape to a new law. Outdated jail and police laws of Kerala were reformed and its efforts won the appreciation of experts in the field, who also termed it as a role model for the whole country.

COMPREHENSIVE JAIL REFORMS

The highlight of the reforms in the Jail Department was the implementation of a jail law. The government was able to bring in a new, unified and comprehensive jail law by replacing the old one that had got outdated long back. The law was modified in tune with the times and now has a uniform nature.

Before bringing in the new jail law, the LDF government made efforts for modernisation of the jails in Kerala. The noteworthy steps among these are revision of the prisoners’ wage, reconstitution of jail advisory committees, and job training and assistance for higher studies in jails. In central jails, permission was granted to the prisoners to use FM Radio. Also, coin-box operated telephones were installed in the central jails and in the open jail at Nettukaltheri. Overcrowded jails were a real security threat and a serious human rights violation. A study conducted by the state’s Public Works Department in 2005 revealed that the capacity of the jails in the state was about 3000 where about double of the number were lodged in jails. Therefore new jails were opened in order to double the capacity. Parole rules were relaxed. Using the constitutional provisions, the LDF government has released 486 prisoners from various jails.

Rates of Crime in States (All the figures are percentage ratios.)
Sl No	States	Murder	Attempt to Murder	Theft
1.	Andhra Pradesh	2.9	2.2	29.6
2.	Arunachal Pradesh	4.8	2.7	31.2
3.	Chhattisgarh	4.5	3	24
4.	Goa	3.1	1.4	50.7
5.	Maharashtra	2.4	1.7	32.8
6.	Delhi	3.1	2.3	122.2
7.	Kerala	1	1.2	16.1

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/

ON KERALA LDF GOVT’S EFFORTS TO MAKE POLICE PRO-PEOPLE

Kodiyeri Balakrishnan

THE police have a significant role to play in democratic governance, while undertaking duties pertaining to maintenance of law and order and investigation of crime. It is the police system in a country that ensures a peaceful social order and makes this order function in a legitimate way. But, unfortunately, the people at large consider this administrative machinery --- and rightly so --- as an oppressive tool in the hands of the rightist governments. On the one hand, these governments make use of the police force to meet their vested political interests and, on the other hand, they let the police on the loose to crush the masses if and when the latter protest against their anti-people policies. This approach of the rightist forces vis-à-vis the police force and its use has always been a butt of severe criticism. On the contrary, Leftist governments have always had a different approach on the matter. The Leftist perception of the police is of a force that is service oriented. Whenever in power, Leftist governments have never compromised on this perception.

REFORMS IN KERALA

Like the previous Leftist governments that came to power in Kerala, the incumbent government of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) too has made several efforts to reform the police system. These efforts were not just confined to modernisation of the police force, but also aimed at making it more people-friendly. In this regard, over the last four and a half years, the Left Democratic Front has been able to implement all that was promised in its election manifesto of 2006. Our overall efforts resulted in reducing the gap between the police and the people.

The suggestions given by the report of the Police Reforms Commission, headed by Justice K T Thomas, which were implemented to forge the concept of Community Policing, have been a milestone. It will be recalled that this commission was appointed during the tenure of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government when A K Antony was the chief minister. Even though the commission had submitted its report to the UDF government itself, the latter was reluctant to implement its recommendations. However, when the LDF came to power in May 2006, it realised the progressive character of the suggestions the report had given and considered the issue of their implementation very seriously.

One of the steps the LDF government took was to introduce the concept of Student Police Cadet as a basic programme that would bring students to the basics of policing and make them disciplined and responsible citizens. It has successfully implemented this programme in three schools and would soon try it out in other districts of Kerala.

During the UDF rule, Kerala was reeling under the stranglehold of various mafias. The unholy nexus between the mafia gangs and the UDF leaders helped these anti-socials to establish their network in the state. These mafia groups had had their way even during the daytime, leading to the popular demand for a stringent law to check their menace. While the UDF government, during the last phase of its tenure, introduced a law to check the activities of criminal gangs, it took no effective steps on its basis. It did not put a single anti-social element behind the bars under the new law. On the other hand, the LDF was bold enough to pass a legislation by which the police can act stringently. In order to curb all kinds of human rights violations and to rein in the mafia gangs, the LDF government, without any delay, passed a new strong law with sufficient checks and balances. Its enforcement made the people of Kerala free from the clutches of the mafia groups; a regime of peaceful life returned to all parts of the state.

DECLINING CRIME RATE

Kerala is now witnessing a drastic reduction in the grave criminal acts. On an average, Kerala once had 20 political murders per annum. This rate has now come down to six. The national level recognition that Kerala has received for several consecutive years as being the most law and order friendly state in India vindicates the LDF government’s efforts in this direction.

Crime investigation and the maintenance of law and order have been made separate tasks in all the major cities of Kerala and officers were appointed exclusively for both the purposes. The crime branch was revamped during the period by creating separate wings for homicide and hurt, organised crime and economic offence wings. About Rs 13 crore were spent during the past four years for making crime investigation scientific and modern, and the Forensic Lab was strengthened. For the first time in Kerala, a Cyber Forensic and Digital Analysis Cell was established. Adequate assistance was solicited from the central government in view of the skill and expertise of Kerala police in the area. Twenty four new posts were created to strengthen the functioning of the Forensic Lab. For speedy communication, mobile phone connections were provided to all police personnel in Kerala.

Measures were taken to increase the strength of police personnel in the state. In the past it was the lack of adequate police personnel that often hindered the process of investigation and the maintenance of law and order. The LDF government has appointed about 12,000 new police recruits in the past four and a half years. To avoid delays in recruitment, steps were taken to report in advance the vacancies that would occur in a year. Steps have been taken to form an India Reserve Battalion comprising 1000 police personnel. About 3000 home guards, recruited from among the ex-servicemen, were appointed to assist the regular police force in emergency situations. This has been helping the police force to spend more time on duties pertaining to crime investigation. The LDF government took steps and was able to increase the presence of women in the state’s police force. Ten per cent of the police force now consists of women police personnel, which is a worth-emulating model for the whole country. Also, steps have been taken for direct appointment of women sub-inspectors.

The LDF government has been successful in tracking, identifying and nabbing the elements that were active in terrorist related activities in Kerala for some time now. When compared to other regions in India, which are facing the menace of terrorism on several fronts, the LDF government of Kerala has been maintaining a safe and secure environment around establishments like the VSSC, Technopark, InfoPark, Ezhimala Naval Academy, Cochin Port etc. Nowadays it is confronted with threats to our security via sea also. In this backdrop, it has decided to form the Coastal Vigilance Committees, which would function under the coastal police stations and with the active involvement of the fishing community and the organisations that work for them.

Kerala has been able to draw national attention in dealing with the cyber crimes. The LDF government anticipated the menace of cyber crimes quite early and took measures to strengthen its cyber crime cell. A police station was opened in Thiruvananthapuram exclusively for this purpose. Within a short period, this cell proved itself as being one of the best in India, when it successfully dealt several cyber crimes of a complicated nature. Soon, cyber cells were formed under the control of the district Superintendents of Police (SPs), which were headed by Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) in the Crime Detachment wing. Fake e-mail cases and the financial scam involving some Nigerian citizens were some of the noted cyber crimes which the cyber cell investigated successfully.

The LDF government always had the people in view whenever it gave shape to a new law. Outdated jail and police laws of Kerala were reformed and its efforts won the appreciation of experts in the field, who also termed it as a role model for the whole country.

COMPREHENSIVE JAIL REFORMS

The highlight of the reforms in the Jail Department was the implementation of a jail law. The government was able to bring in a new, unified and comprehensive jail law by replacing the old one that had got outdated long back. The law was modified in tune with the times and now has a uniform nature.

Before bringing in the new jail law, the LDF government made efforts for modernisation of the jails in Kerala. The noteworthy steps among these are revision of the prisoners’ wage, reconstitution of jail advisory committees, and job training and assistance for higher studies in jails. In central jails, permission was granted to the prisoners to use FM Radio. Also, coin-box operated telephones were installed in the central jails and in the open jail at Nettukaltheri. Overcrowded jails were a real security threat and a serious human rights violation. A study conducted by the state’s Public Works Department in 2005 revealed that the capacity of the jails in the state was about 3000 where about double of the number were lodged in jails. Therefore new jails were opened in order to double the capacity. Parole rules were relaxed. Using the constitutional provisions, the LDF government has released 486 prisoners from various jails.

Rates of Crime in States (All the figures are percentage ratios.)
Sl No	States	Murder	Attempt to Murder	Theft
1.	Andhra Pradesh	2.9	2.2	29.6
2.	Arunachal Pradesh	4.8	2.7	31.2
3.	Chhattisgarh	4.5	3	24
4.	Goa	3.1	1.4	50.7
5.	Maharashtra	2.4	1.7	32.8
6.	Delhi	3.1	2.3	122.2
7.	Kerala	1	1.2	16.1

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/