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From: "CHROkeralam" <chro1@rediffmail.com> Date: Fri Mar 25, 2005 Subject: KERALA: Maternal Mortality Rate High 1] The Hindu, March 24, 2005, Thursday Maternal mortality rate high THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One health indicator that shows Kerala in poor light is that of the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR). According to the National Family Health Survey II, though almost 100 per cent deliveries take place in hospitals in Kerala, the Maternal Mortality Rate in the State is 262 for every one lakh live births. In neighbouring Sri Lanka, where institutional deliveries touch 95 per cent, the MMR is just 60. Health researchers believe that there is a definite connection between the high MMR in the State and the trend of rising Caesarean sections. "We need to study further whether the high figure of maternal mortality is due to the increasing number of deliveries through C-sections. The proportion of C-section deliveries in the State and deaths due to anaesthesia complications or the surgical procedure need to be studied in depth," says Dr. Thankappan, Professor and Head, Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies (AMCHSS). An elective C-section delivery carries an increased risk of maternal death than a normal delivery. For example, the risk of maternal mortality for C-sections in the U.S. is 20 per one lakh live births as compared to 2.5 per one lakh for normal deliveries. About 140 women in the U.S. die every year following C-sections which are not medically indicated. "We do not have a reliable data on maternal mortality, and the reported MMR and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) are a gross under-estimation. An IMR as low as 10 and an MMR as high as 262 do not correlate," Dr. Thankappan says. http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/24/stories/2005032409150500.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 2] The Hindu, March 24, 2005, Thursday Course in astrology opposed KOLLAM, MARCH 23. The Bharathiya Rationalists Association has protested against the decision of the Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit to start a postgraduate course in astrology. In a statement here, the general secretary of the association, Sreeni Pattathanam, said that such a course would only serve to lead the younger generation into the dark ages. He even wondered whether there was a conspiracy behind such a decision. http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/24/stories/2005032412710300.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 3] KERALA: DYFI Human Chain Against Cola Majors New Indian Express, March 25, 2005, Friday DYFI human chain against cola majors PALAKKAD: The DYFI will organise a human chain from Plaachimada and Kanjikode, where the Coke and Pepsi plants are located, to the Collectorate on March 29 to protest against water exploitation by the cola majors and highlight the need to protect water resources. N.N.Krishnadas MP and K.D.Prasennan, chairman and convenor of the organising committee, told reporters here on Thursday that the chain would be formed at 4 p.m. A public meeting will be held at 5 p.m. They claimed that the chain would comprise nearly one lakh cadres. The public meet at Plaachimada would be attended by Subashini Ali, K.N.Balagopal, Sara Joseph and Sebastian Paul MP and the meet before the Pepsi plant would be attended by Medha Patkar, Sugathakumari and Josephine. http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20050324222142&Page=R&Title=Kerala&Topic=0& ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 4] RSS: KERALA: BJP-CPM Clashes Upsetting Life In Kodungallur New Indian Express, March 25, 2005, Friday BJP-CPM clashes upsetting life in Kodungallur town KODUNGALLUR: Frequent confrontations between the BJP and the CPM are hindering peaceful life in the temple town of Kodungallur in Thrissur district. Over the last fortnight, three DYFI workers and a BJP activist were injured in clashes. Things have reached a head with allegations of criminal-police nexus and corruption in police circles. According to the police, approximately 110 cases have been registered against the BJP/RSS and CPM/DYFI activists at the Kodungallur police station. In all, 137 persons were arrested, including BJP mandalam president Sreekumar in connection with the assault on DYFI activist Moideen Shyam. ???Conflict began with the BJP??™s move for a toehold in Kodungallur. Now they are trying to infuse a communal element by portraying the Muslim workers in the CPM and DYFI as NDF terrorists,??? says CPM Methala local committee secretary V.K. Balachandran. ???Some of the police officers are not averse to graft. There have been instances when we??™ve had to approach senior officials to get justice. Sreekumar??™s arrest was a farce,??? says CPM area secretary M.A. Vijayan. The RSS and the BJP leaders have another story to tell. Sreekumar says his party was forced to retaliate after BJP men were assaulted repeatedly by CPM/DYFI activists, the latest victim being Yuva Morcha activist Shilji, which led to the attack on Shyam. Sreekumar alleges that ???NDF terrorists??? have infiltrated into the CPM and are creating problems. ???We hit back after we were attacked 12 times in a row. Police are siding with them,??? he says. The clashes also point to a growing social problem in the region. Seventy-five percent of the youths involved in the attacks, police say, are between the ages of 18 and 23 ??“ unemployed and alcoholic. Trade has also been hit. The Kodungallur Merchants Association pegged losses during the February-end BJP-sponsored hartal at Rs 8 crore. The Kodungallur police station, with a total strength of 34, including a Sub-Inspector and an Assistant Sub-Inspector, is short-staffed to cover one municipality, three panchayats and six villages. Police also have to keep vigil on the sensitive coastal region. And all this with just one jeep. Police sources say that even minor issues are being politicised in the region. ???In most cases of assault, parties take over the victims even before the family members or we can have a look-see. An all-party decision was taken recently to remove party flags from puramboke land. Even this is being flouted.??? But Thrissur Superintendent of Police T. Vikram says that incidents have come down. ???We??™ve changed the Sub-Inspector, in addition to deploying ten extra Armed Reserve Police personnel. Also, we are probing the possibilities of posting more officers.??? Other moves are on to put a full stop. Mahatmaji Seva Kendra is planning an anti-liquor, anti-unemployment campaign with an eye on preventing communal and political incidents. ???Police are soft on the criminal mafia. We have to alienate criminals,??? says CPI area secretary K.G. Sivanandan. The Merchants Association is planning an all-party meet on the issue. http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20050324221650&Page=R&Title=Kerala&Topic=0& ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5] New Indian Express, March 25, 2005, Friday Floral tribute to MP Paul: Church refuses CPM outfit's request THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CPM, the self-proclaimed protectors of Christian minorities, suffered a major jolt when the Latin Catholic Church turned down the request of the Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sanghom (Pu Ka Sa) to offer floral tributes to the departed radical writer M.P.Paul marking the beginning of the sanghom??™s three-day state meet here. Paul, a known critic of the established Church and champion of proletarian literature, was buried at the Themmadikuzhy (burial ground for those Christians who have been suspended from active participation in Church sacraments within the Church) near the cemetery of St Joseph??™s Church, Palayam. When the office-bearers of the Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sanghom, CPM??™s cultural outfit, sought the permission of the parish Church to offer floral tributes at the tomb, the Church authorities reportedly told them that the Church had no problem if they have the prior permission of Paul??™s family members. Accordingly, the Sanghom workers got in touch with Paul??™s daughter and writer Sara Thomas. She wrote ???a letter of consent??™ to them informing the Church that she was all happy with the Sanghom??™s decision. However, when the Sanghom workers approached the Church with the letter, it said that the Church could not permit anyone to offer floral tribute at a tomb. ???If you want to pay tributes, you can offer prayers,??? the parish priest reportedly told the Sanghom workers forcing them to offer tributes at a specially-erected platform at the meeting venue. Had the Church permitted the Sanghom request, a long list of communist leaders, including CPM central committee member M.A.Baby, communist ideologue P.Govinda Pillai, Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan, Pirappankode Murali, O.N.V.Kurup, who attended the inaugural session, would have visited the Church cemetery to pay tributes to Paul. http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20050324222425&Page=R&Title=Kerala&Topic=0& ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Confederation of Human Rights Organizations (CHRO) 3, Rams' Cottage Ambalathumukku Pettah Thiruvananthapuram-695024 Kerala South India Ph.: 0471-2476262 www.humanrightsindia.com www.humanrightskerala.com |
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