CAT urges Foreign Office to review K M Meena's promotion
KM(M)Stand on Indian Schools vindicated
NEW DELHI - Giving a fitting reply to the Indian big business in Oman, especially the corrupt coterie of Non Resident Indians who have bribed a senior official with woman wine and money to get K M Meena transferred from Muscat as the Indian Ambassador, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has issued a strong ruling asking the MEA to review its decision tnot to promote the diplomat to a senior position. The strongly worded ruling against the MEA official, especillay the controversial one who was acting on behalf of the big Indian shaikhs, indicates that K M Meena may come back to MEA service as he had had resigned from diplomatic services in protest against the alleged harassment by his superior Abhayankar. In his petition, Meena had raised serious question marks about the personal integrity of his senior diplomat, who has favoured a private Indian businessman in Oman to get undue favours in the form of allowing private school in violation of Omani education rules and the Indian government advise to various missions abroad. The CAT was briefed about the alleged visit of Abhayankar to a night club in a Five Star Hotel in Muscat and the billing of his randevouz to the Government account. Abhayankar had transferred Meena to Vietnam, which the latter refused to accept. The CAT ruling is a warning that truth and justice will finally prevail upon evil does, whatever be their financial position and influence.
You Too Ajith Kumar!!
- Total Volta face by the new ISM President
- MUSCAT - The sudden and unexpected change in the attitude of new Indian school Muscat president A.N. Ajith Kumar is baffling members of the Indian community who have placed high hopes on the new president who was assigned the task of protecting the community interest and liberating the community schools from the clutches of vested interests. With all due respect to the positive things that Mr.Kumar did for the cause of Indian community, some of the recent actions of by Mr.Ajith Kumar A.N., especially his decision to issue a "termination" letter to M.M.Joshi, the principal of ISM and his stubborn position against using the ISM fund to support the building of a community school in Seeb, are apparently against the community interest. These actions of the new ISM President are supporting the business lobby that is not keen to see the smooth functioning of community schools. More
- November 29, 2002 .
Ambassador not leaving as per the doomsday predictions
Meeana, fighting the mighty till the last drop of blood
June 20, 2003 Many doomsday predictors who are eagerly waiting for the early exit of the Indian Ambassador, K.M.Meena, the patron of Indian Schools from Muscat will have a heart break to know that he is not leaving as per their predicted schedule. Some journalists who are covertly working for the private businessman-school lobby has been taking all pain to fix the date for the ambassadors exit from Muscat so that the private business lobby can continue to loot the Indian community, especially ordinary parents. The doomsday predictors even offered him a new place of appointment "for his valuable service to the Indian community." Bribing even the ambassadors dog and servants, the business lobby has been covertly monitoring his movements, the people he meets and even other minute details of his daily programmes. KM reporters received several frantic calls from the well wishers of the business community to know when is the ambassador leaving! "You know better, is he leaving? when is he leaving?" asked at least ten people who are close to the business groups interested in schools. More
Be more Democratic in dealing with Indian Community issues.
KM gives due to credit to the Indian community leaders who have worked hard to set up schools and colleges for the development of education. Contrary to what is projected in your reports, KM correspondents are not claiming credit for any benefit that the ordinary parents might have gained from school fee reduction. We have very high regards to the positive role played by leading Indian businessmen like Dr.P.Mohammed Ali, the Khimji family and other Indians in various fields including education. KM feels proud that the first private medical and engineering colleges in Oman are started due to the initiative and business acumen of a Malayali businessman. More
Discussion Forum KM
KM November 23, 2002.
With whose Permission KM is writing ...asks New KM. As an Indian Citizen KM correspondents have every right to write about his community living in any part of the world.
Here is the Answer Dear newkeralamonitor.com friends, Members of the Indian Community in the Gulf. Following are just a few recent messages posted by concerned parents, students and members of the Indian community about serious issues affecting them. As their voice is not heard in any other media in this part of the world, Kerala Monitor.com gives them a platform to express free and frank opinion, without fear or favour. There are hundreds of such messages received by KM editor. We will keep on adding new messages, from the past, if required. Some of the board members, businessmen and other influencial people who are campaigning against KM should not feel uncomfortable when all the messages are made public, sometimes with their names!!!!!November 22, 2002. Email from a parent of Indian School (Name withheld for security reasons) Full Report
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Indian School Nightmares continue?
Message: I totally agree with the dead wood method. it is the management that needs changing, if it is producing DEAD WOOD then one need to take away the root itself before the end result it NILif the school has to provide a good breed of students then it has to start from the principals office and then to the teachers and class rooms,to ensure the end result of the student is a good one and a great HONOUR to the school iteself. If the children know there is discipline maintained, there is a dress code to follow and they cannot get away with their whims and fancies. Above all if the Parent knows he or she cannot come and convince the Principal to take back their children even if they have done wrong and unworthy to even consider being in the school, then ultimately everyone will get the message and abide by the rules. Discuss
UNICEF supported satellite schools take root
OUAGADOUOGOU, 17 January (IRIN) - An initiative which aimed at achieving "maximum" enrolment of children in schools has so far enabled some 100,000 children attend school in the 230 three-class satellite schools which have been built in the country since 1995, through help of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Full Time
Yours faithfully
The above message was posted by Sorrow EducatorsKerala 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.
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.
Special Report March 23, 2002
Ministry of External Affairs Fact Finding Team on Indian School issue
Due to the continuing dispute between the Indian Ambassador and a few members of the new board of directors appointed by him to rectify various problems of 14 Indian schools in Oman and to decide whether a new school should be run by the private parties or as Indian community school, a two member fact finding committee from the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi -Mr. Abhyankar, special secretary (Middle East) and Rajat Mitter (joint secretary, Gulf) has been send to Muscat. They met members of the board of directors, the school patron Indian Ambassador and other concerned parties. Even though the delegation was sent to discuss a number of issues including the Hajj Committee, the Indian School issue was one of the topics discussed there.Full Report
St.Josephs Centenary celebrations begins
Kerala University Youth Fest 2004 begins
Jan 19 Thiruvananthapuram: Once again the capital city is witnessing the colourful performance of talented college students. The Kerala University Youth Festival 2004, which was inaugurated here at the Senate Hall today at 6.p.m.would end on 24th. "More than 1000 participants from around 80 colleges are competing in various venues for the next six days. There are students from arts, science and engineering colleges who are competing in various items. More
Meena's Parting Gifts to Galfar Mohammed Ali and Kanaksi Khimji
Indian Embassy revokes MoU of Indian School Al Ghubra, Indian School Wadi Kabir
MUSCAT - The Indian Embassy has formally revoked two controversial Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) signed by one of the former Indian Ambassadors Ranjith Guptha with Galfar Mohammed Ali and Kanaksi Khimji, two private businessmen who have been controlling the two public schools as private schools. The Indian School Al Ghubra and Indian School Al Wadi Kabir are formally send a communication from the Indian Ambassador K.M.Meena, saying that the embassy is revoking the MoU since it violated the local rules. The Indian Embassy was not involved in the school activities and would not like to be part of any controversies or liabilities that may arise from its operations by a private party.
A copy of the communication has been send to the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of External Affairs New Delhi adopted an approach that the former ambassador Ranjith Gupta signed the MoUs in his private capacity and not as the ambassador of India. The agreements were made on plain paper and do not carry the official seal of the embassy of India. Since the local ministry of education argued that the agreement was signed by the embassy and it should not be dragged into the controversy. The schools are advised to cooperate with the board of directors for the smooth transfer of power and other formalities. Since the embassy signed the MoU, it has the right to revoke it too, said sources.More Interesting Indian School Stories
"The income of the schools from collection of fees and any other source will belong to the Association and to no other party," says the agreement. "The Association assumes responsibility for meeting from its own resources any excess of expenditure over income. In the event of income exceeding expenditure, such excess will belong to the Association to be disposed off in any manner it wishes," says clause 4 of the agreement. The Board says that the local rules prohibit using community schools from functioning for profit. " Full Report
- Patron may revoke the Memorandum of Understanding between Indian Embassy, Indian School Al Ghubra
May 29, 2002
The protracted battle between the mighty Indian business lobby of Muscat and the firmly determined one-man army of the Indian Ambassador K.M.Meena has taken a new turn as a leading private school is going ahead with a proposal to introduce day- school schedule, giving scant regard for the School patron's opinion. Even though the idea of changing the school timing to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. was totally rejected by the patron, the Indian Ambassador K.M.Meena, the school management has started conducting an opinion survey among the students and parents about the same. More
The Minister of Tourism and Culture, Shri Jagmohan today inaugurated a special exhibition at National Museum entitled ‘Cultural Treasures: Textiles of the Malay World’ from the collection of the Islamic Arts Museum, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The High Commissioner of Malaysia . Dato S.K. Choo was also present on the occasion. Full Report
School Fees Increased Three Times without Patrons Approval
MUSCAT - The Board of Directors (BoD) and the patron have made a comprehensive report on the fee and non-fee structure of Indian School Al Ghubra, one of the two "private" community schools. The report compares the Schools current fee structure with the fees as per the agreement between the then Indian Ambassador Renjith Guptha and P.Mohammed Ali on 22nd January 1992. As per the agreement, like other schools admission fee was only RO 10. This has been raised to RO 30, an increase of RO 20. "This is the highest charged by any Indian community schools in Oman and there is no justification for this hike." Full Report
Indian School Student Dies due to Reckless Driving by School Bus Driver
In a tragic school bus accident at the International Indian School, Jeddah (IISJ) last week’s, a 15-year-old Maiyada Naushad Khatib was killed. This is the third time a child has died as a result of alleged carelessness on the part of bus drivers working for IISJ. More
Six Year old Student dies in Accident in front of Indian Jibroo School
Muscat _ A six year old student of Indian school Jibroo has died in a tragic accident in front of the school involving the vehicle he used to travel. An Arab driver, Kabir, who used to take small children including the victim in his vehicle hit the boy who was running out of the campus after the school period. The boy Hasnain Ali, son of Sujath Hussain Beemani, from Bombay was hit by the taxi driver who was hired by the Indian School Bus contractor to pick up children from the school. More
First Kerala Syllabus School in Muscat started by Sugathan Gopalan: former KCC Secretary General
Still searching for his cooking range kept at KCC kitchen
Dubai - Mr. Chandra Mohan, former General Secretary and Vice President of the Kerala Cultural Centre (KCC) has told Keralamonitor.com that he is surprised to see many people who originally opposed the very idea of a Kerala syllabus school occupying prominent positions in the Indian School Darsait Management Committee Full Report
Letters to KM
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. Full Report
Now where should we go? writes illegally sacked Indian school teachers
By now all of you must be aware of the long story of the termination of the two teachers of Indian school Muladha. We were asked to leave by 24-06-2003 without any valid reason! We were so shocked to receive the termination letter signed by the principal which just stated that our service with the school is being terminated due to unsatisfactory service. Full Report
November 28, 2002
KM Replies to allegations of criminal record
Editor KM
Why our journalists support the poor? We have a criminal background?
Here is the Answer Dear Members of the Indian Community in the Gulf.
It was reported by keralamonitor.com (KM) that the management committee meeting of ISD was adjourned after heated discussions. "We would like to inform our readers that the information given by KM is absolutely wrong and totally baseless. What kind of journalism is this? Working hand-in-glove with an individual to protect him? they asked. While they have raised such doubts about the credibility of our report, the new monitor has not touched other crucial issues which are discussed in the report. They have not disputed the fact that nearly 300 students could not pay fees on time; the plan to convert six class rooms into a lab; that the teachers day celebration was held in a Five Star Hotel. They have not reacted to any other aspects raised by Sugathan Gopalan. Except targeting him personally, the so called parents and community leaders remain silent about the crucial issues raised by KM. We reiterate our policy that KM i s not with anybody -we uphold some basic principles! More
'School of the Future' Programme launched in Dubai
'Dubai -July 2, 2002. The Launch of The School of the Future.' the first such educational platform,of its kind to address issues related to the school of the future with educators, principals and school administrators.
Commenting on the sponsorship, Piers Burton, Head of Corporate Marketing for the MMI group, stated that the forum was an important step forward in developing the administrative and planning facilities of Dubai, and in carrying out the challenging tasks of meeting the needs of the educational revolution of the 21st century. More