KL This Week: Govt Forms Panel to Ensure Safety of Health Workers and Hospitals

NewsClick brings you important developments from Kerala during the past week including the boat accident in Tanur which killed 21 people, the brutal murder of Dr Vandana Das while on duty in Kottarakara in the Kollam district and the protest of the jewellery workers’ union against the policies suppressing the workers in the sector. 

HIGH COURT TAKES COGNISANCE OF TANUR BOAT TRAGEDY

The Kerala High Court has taken suo-motu cognisance of the Tanur Boat accident which killed 22 persons, including 11 members of one family on May 7. The boat was carrying around 40 people, many more than its capacity, leading to the drastic accident. 

The high court directed the Collector of Malappuram district to submit a report on the incident. The court came down heavily on officials including port authorities, tourism development and local self-governance for negligence.

The owner of the boat, the driver and those who helped the owner go into hiding have been arrested by the police. 

The chief minister held an urgent meeting after visiting with 10 Cabinet ministers at the accident spot and announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased. The government has also ordered a judicial probe into the accident. 

DOCTOR KILLED WHILE ON DUTY 

The postgraduate doctors across Kerala partially withdrew their strike after the assurance from the minister of health about ensuring the protection of health workers and hospitals. However, they continued to boycott the outpatient services.

Health Minister Veena George announced the formation of a committee to study the problems faced by the PG doctors and house surgeons. 

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and ministers Veena George, and V N Vasavan paid tribute to Dr Vandana Das.

Dr Vandana Das was stabbed to death by a patient, Sandeep, a doctor with a history of alcoholic usage brought to the Kottarakara Government Taluk Hospital for a medical checkup by the police. The killing came as a rude shock even as the health workers have repeatedly raised concerns about workplace safety. 

Several leaders of different political parties including former ministers P K Sreemathy and K K Shylaja visited the residence of Dr Vandana located in Kottayam to offer condolences to the family. 

JEWELLERY WORKERS PROTEST

The Jewellery Manufacturing Workers’ Union affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) held a protest march to the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram for various demands. 

The union urged the state government to ensure the payment of 0.1% cess from the owners of jewellery shops towards the welfare board to ensure the timely disbursal of benefits to the members of the board. 

The workers flagged their hardships with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) suffocating the sector, ensuring an e-way bill for jewellery and anti-worker policies of the Union government. 

KPCC YET TO INITIATE REORGANISATION

The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) is yet to initiate the reorganisation of the party structure. The reorganisation of the party and other wings are pending for a long time with the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in less than one year. 

The KPCC has entrusted the district congress committees (DCC) to finalise the local-level reorganisation including those of the booth committees.

The party has also decided to hold frequent meetings of senior leaders to sort out internal issues. Senior leaders and members of parliament (MPs) including K Muraleedharan and Shashi Tharoor have been locking horns with the public on different issues. 

CYCLONE MOCHA BRINGS RAINS

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains till May 17 as Cyclone Mocha has intensified over the Bay of Bengal. 

Though no specific warning was issued to fishermen, the IMD has issued yellow alerts for Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts.