Government liberalised rules for creative expression of staff: Chandy

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has clarified that the government order on creative expression by government employees was actually intended to dilute existing provisions.

He had frozen the order when reports to the contrary appeared in the media.

It was he who had directed the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department to review outdated conduct rules for employees when a teacher (S. Saralambika of Kothala Government HS) was denied permission by the Education Department to publish a Hindi book on copywriting.

The existing rules specified that government employees wishing to publish book or make a public speech should submit a copy to government for getting clearance from the government. The new rules proposed that the employee need only provide the details along with an undertaking that there was nothing against the government or nation in the proposed book or speech.

Clearance had earlier been granted for participation in Doordarshan and All India Radio programme. This was now being extended to private channels, and clearance would be granted on merit.

Mr. Chandy recalled that the two employees had been dismissed from service during LDF rule under the old conduct rules. One was well known cartoonist P. K. Mantri who used to do cartoons for Thaniniram newspaper. The other was well known scientist RVG Menon who wrote an article in a newspaper against government policy when he was Director of ANERT.

Development of districts
The Chief Minister refuted the criticism of SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan that development was centered in Malappuram and Kottayam districts. Overall development of all districts was the goal of the government. The Government had announced special packages for Kasaragod, Wayanad and Idukki districts. Several infrastructure projects had been taken up for Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode cities. An airport was being developed in Kannur.

Speaking to the media after a meeting of the Cabinet, he recalled that the government had implemented a policy to have a medical college in every district and a government arts and science college in Assembly constituencies without a college and a public health centre in every panchayat. Only four panchayat remained to have an Ayurveda dispensary.

He said that Mr. Natesan was orchestrating campaign of BJP and RSS to create divisions and enmities among communities.