Dear readers, Keralamonitor.com follows a different editorial policy from other contemporary media. While we like to criticise others, we also welcome criticism from you. And we are glad to publish such reactions from the members of Indian community in the Gulf. If necessary, we will give replies here. You can react to these letters. Send your entries to editor@keralamonitor.com

Angry Readers React to Keralamonitor.com Reports

School Teachers Unhappy about Management Skipping Bonus

Dear Sir

Four years ago, the Management of Indian School, (Name edited) introduced the
practice of giving an annual bonus to the teachers. The bonus was given
around Diwali time.

Since most teachers are hard up, they eagerly look forward to this bonus
each year. This year, Diwali came and went - no bonus was given. Teachers
thought that at least before the school closed for the winter holidays they
would get the bonus. School has closed, still no sign of bonus. And not even
a word of explanation from the Principal.

Another system was also in place. If a teacher did not take a single day's
leave in an academic year, he/she was given a token of appreciation of R.O.
20/-. This used to be given along with the bonus. This year, even this
amount has not been given.

Yet, the school had enough money to lay an expensive lawn on its grounds.
You know how expensive it is to maintain a huge lawn in the Gulf. Every day,
hundreds of gallons of water are sprinkled on the grass to keep it alive.

The school has enough money to do this, but no money to pay the teachers
their meagre bonus. Some people are saying that the bonus money has been
spent on making the lawn!

This is how the teachers' hard work is recognised by Indian School, (name edited)

There are teachers who work throughout the winter holidays to coach the
Board Exam classes- but they never get any extra money for this. Teachers
who do not teach Board classes at least enjoy a full month of paid vacation
in December, but the teachers of Classes 10 and 12 work through December
without leave or compensation thereof. Yet, without fail, every year the
senior school teachers produce brilliant results in the Board Exams, and
this helps the school to attract more and more students, thereby increasing
its income and profit. But, no financial reward is ever given to any
teacher.

We congratulate you for fearlessly publishing the truth.

Yours faithfully

The above message was posted by Sorrow Educators

Kerala Monitor Sources are Ridiculous says an angry Reader

Dear Sir,

Your web site is full of news items marked as "watch this space" and some of the news items are months old. Are these news headlines based on facts or you are using this to keep
viewer interests alive. If you find time and inclination to go after real facts you may find
how ridivulous your sources are.

First of all take the caseof the lawn in front of an Indian School.

Did you check who paid the cost for the same-if not it is worth trying.
You talk about 'bonus' for school teachers.By supporting the
'discontented'teachers you are giving credence to the idea that schools are
profit centres and every one is entitled to bouns.Have you
contacted any school teachers in the whole Sultanate to check whether any of
them received this benefit from their schools.

You promote the case of Mr.Sugahan Gopalan-as the original promotor of
the KSEB school.He claims to have arrived in Oman 26 years back as a
bachelor of 19 years.What has been his experience in running a school.
How come he,all of a sudden,became the final authority on schools.
He has been ridiculing everything about schools in Oman without any base.He
suspects the qualifications of Principals,Teachers,Committee Members etc and
spreads rumours that all these people have 'bogus' certificates of merit.Has
he anything to prove his allegations.

He ridicules one principal having a liquor permit.Have you checked with
other schools and principals in Oman-managing Indian Schools.Almost everyone
has the permitand many hundreds of teachers- including lady
teachers hold permits.These permits are issued as per the regulations of the
Sultanate only the misuse of such facilities are punishable under
the law.

Your report on Diplomatic staff importing liquor and doing business is
extremely hurting the whole community and the people of India.Please
pass the proof you have of these activities to the concerned authorities in
India for necessary action.

Regarding the case of the boy who lost partial eye sight please check with
the schoo authorities on this issue.

All the Indian Schools in Oman cover their studens and the staff for
accidents ,death etc by insuring with reputed companies.
The insurance company pay the schools the sum they find adequate under the
circumstances and the school- being the holder of the policy- pay the
affected student/staff- in front of witnesses-through recorded
documents.Your assertion that the school boards collect 50,000 as insurance
fee is wrong.the board has nothing to do with the collection
ordisbursements and the individual schools collect premium (R.O.1 to
R.O.1.50 per student per annum).When more than one incident is to be
settled by one school the Insurance company pay the total amount to the
school and the school disburses the amount to the afected.

In these procedures the Embassy or any other offices are involved and the
legal heirs -in the case of death- are paid as per the rules.
Most of the time legal formalities delay the release of payent by insurance
companies to the heirs.

It is my sincere wish that you meet some administrative offiials of schools
and the insurance companies in this regard-BECAUSE you can,if you decide,
help many affected persons get their payments without getting muddled in
legal procedures- both in India and in the Gulf.

You may benefit considerably if you investigate how cases which are three to
four years old are still pending with Indian government departments.
If you persue any policies you may find the clauses which determine the
compensation insurance companies pay- as in India.From R.O.50 to
R.O.5000(death) are the range of compensation.

Many times it is the so called 'men of charector"who delay the proceedings.
I do sincerely hope that you will not let your portal carry on the way
some newspapers back home blackmail people without searching for
truth/facts.
best wishes

Nanda Kumar, Chala

I am an Indian working in Oman for the past 23 years+. During my stay in Oman I have never come across any Indian Ambassador whose name being discussed on to this extend as what is happening the case of HE K M Meena. May be the common man, the Lower Middle Class and the Lower Class came to know about the Indian Embassy and the Ambassador only after HE Meena's arrival in Oman.

Keep up the good job you are doing Your Excellency, we the ordinary Indians are behind you.
All the best to Kerala Monitor for the good job you all are doing.

Best Regards.

T A Prakaas
prakash@omantel.net.om

Harishchandran Says Kerala Monitor is financed by the ISI?

Sir,
Thanks to the newkerala monitor I now know who
your finaciers are.You can abuse and publish venomous
stories about patriotic Indian leaders in editorials
and colomns because you people work in times of
Oman.but you have no right to publish cartoon type
picture of prime minister Vajpayee in Kerala mnonitor
because it is read by many educated and informed
Keralites who are not in the payroll of Madhyamam or
Vatican

Harischandran