Months ago a WhatsApp link was circulated in Kerala and its stated mission was - One India, One Pension. Each senior citizen would get Rs 10,000 pm
The message asked them to join a WA group.
This message was targeted at people above 55, including my parents.
Many people like my parents, who have mostly lived in Kerala, where the Govt works decently, believed ‘One India, One Pension’ is possible.
They said that other countries have it, so why not? True. Why not?
But Kerala is not India. India is not Scandinavia.
Being a journalist and having known of similar groups in other states, I warned them that this is a BJP/RSS-funded group.
They refused to believe that it could be BJP/RSS backed. I told them that they will begin to propagate soft BJP opinions closer to elections.
They did not see that only RSS-BJP could have funds to run such a micro group for each panchayat in each district.
Economics trumped my words. My father joined the group. Insisted I enroll my mother’s number too.
Why am I bringing it up now? An hour ago their FB page put out a post stating that the BJP state President K Surendran has assured his support for the OIOP scheme.
It said Surendran has assured that the pension scheme is going to materialise.
‘As BJP’s K Surendran has promised us our long cherished dream, you must step out to campaign & work for your local BJP candidate in the upcoming Panchayat polls.’
Ominously it adds, ‘we will help those who help us’
A thread: Today as PM Modi addressed the 90th b'day celebrations of Rev Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan of the Marthoma Church, a student decided to protest and resign from the church.
She wrote a letter critical of the misogyny in church, PM invite
Reproducing the letter below
I have been officially a member of Mar Thoma Church ever since my baptism at 4 months of age. This church gave me the confidence to stand and speak on public podiums; introduced me to music through church choir; taught me morals and inspired me to follow Christ and his ways.
This same church asked me to cover my head when I was 14 because I was a woman. At the age of 18 when I decided that I will not adhere to this tradition, I was mocked by the church members. They yelled at the Church vicar who supported my decision.
While #Kerala is better prepared than other states wrt #COVID19, things are falling through the cracks in the state.
This is the #Covid Isolation ward at Kasargode General Hosp on the 3rd floor. Cockroaches in the food. #coronavirusindia (1/n)
11 #COVID19 +ve patients were shifted from Kanjangad District Hosp in Kasargode dist where each of them were in separate isolation wards to the General Hosp where already there were 22 +ve patients. It includes one woman.
All of them are being made to stay together #coronavirus
While at the district hospital, each of the #COVID19 patients had separate water bottles, here all of them have to take from the 20 litre can.
There are only 2 toilets. Unsanitary surroundings. @CMOKerala@shailajateacher#CoronavirusOutbreak (3/n)