KL This Week: 4 Lakh New Students Join Government Schools in New Academic Year

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the important developments in Kerala during the past week, including solidarity protests supporting the protesting wrestlers, the delay in the onset of the southwest monsoon and the reopening of schools after the summer vacations. 

SOLIDARITY FOR PROTESTING WRESTLERS

After the protesting wrestlers were forcefully detained while taking out a march to the new Parliament building, several youths, women and workers’ organisations have extended their support to the former’s agitation. Film personalities from the state have also expressed solidarity with the wrestlers. 

Actors including Tovino Thomas, Suraj Venjaramoodu, and Shane Nigam have expressed their anguish over the manner in which the Delhi Police and the government of India have treated the wrestlers who brought fame to the country in the Olympics and other international events. 

The Students Federation of India, Democratic Youth Federation of India, All India Democratic Women's Association and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) have announced candlelight marches and protests across the state on June 4. The organisations have sought action against the president of the Wrestling Federation of India president and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on sexual harassment allegations.

MONSOON DELAY EXPECTED, 2 DIE IN LIGHTNING INCIDENTS

Though the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains in the state until June 6, the arrival of the southwest monsoon seems to have been delayed. The IMD has announced the onset of monsoon in the Lakshadweep islands.

The criteria for the onset of the monsoon – strengthening of westbound winds and distribution of clouds between Kerala and Lakshadweep – have not been recorded so far. The IMD had predicted the arrival of the monsoon by June 4. 

But, rain-related incidents have led to the loss of lives across the state in the past week. In Wayanad district, a 32-year-old woman lost her life to a lightning strike while she was retrieving dried clothes from her terrace. In a similar accident, a 38-year-old woman was killed in Kozhikode and another woman was injured. In Thodupuzha of Idukki district, 11 quarry workers were injured in a lightning strike. 

VILLAGERS HEAR RUMBLINGS FROM UNDERGROUND 

The residents of Chennapady village in Kottayam district have reported hearing rumbling sounds from underground. The neighbouring hamlets also raised flags after hearing similar loud noises.

Though no change in the ground surface or the environment was explicitly visible, the residents are afraid of a repetition of such incidents and the impact. The government has instructed the Department of Mines to investigate the phenomenon. 

The Centre for Earth Science (CES) is expected to conduct a detailed study on the scientific reasons behind the incident. 

SCHOOLS REOPEN, DECISION TO INCREASE WORKING DAYS FLAYED

Pravesanolsavam, the festival to mark the beginning of the new academic year, was held with much fervour on June 1, with the chief minister inaugurating the festival in Government Higher Secondary School in Malayinkeezhu in Thiruvananthapuram district. 

The number of students in class I to X is around 42 lakh in the 15,452 schools which include 13,564 government and aided schools. Around 4 lakh new students have joined the government schools in the entry-level classes, while another 6 lakh students will join the higher secondary section shortly. 

However, the increase in the number of working days to 210 days has attracted criticism from school teachers' associations and renowned writer N S Madhavan. He asked the government to reduce the number of working days and demanded that children not be robbed of their childhood.

The Left-backed Kerala School Teachers’ Association (KSTA) also criticised the move to increase the number of working days. The association has sought a change in the academic calendar based on scientific studies. 

KPCC LEADER ARRESTED FOR 'BANK FRAUD'

After a farmer purportedly died by suicide on May 30 as a large amount was availed as a loan in his name, the former president of the Pulpally cooperative bank and former general secretary of the KPCC has been arrested by the police for manipulating the documents.

The farmer had availed a loan of Rs 80,000 pledging his land, but the president K K Abraham and secretary of the bank, Ramadevi, are accused of forging the documents and availing a loan of Rs 25 lakhs. Abraham resigned as the president of the bank and as general secretary of the KPCC after the incident.  Both have been arrested and remain jailed now