Even as the political class is engaged in a heated debate over the proposed reshuffle of the Oommen Chandy Cabinet and the pending approval of new Plus Two batches, the Nair Service Society (NSS) appears to have decided not to make any overt move to influence the outcomes of two of the issues close to their heart
But the recent visit made by Mr. Chandy to Perunna and his consultations with the NSS chief G. Sukumaran Nair has once again brought the focus back on the NSS leadership who still remain tight-lipped over the issues.
It happens so that two of the names that are doing rounds as the top contenders for induction into the Cabinet — Kerala Congress (B) leader K.B. Ganesh Kumar and Congress leader and Speaker G. Karthikeyan — have close relations with the organisation and its leadership. With no vacant spots existing now in the Cabinet, induction of a new face may result in axing some other friends in the Ministry.
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Sources close to the leadership say there has been no perceptible change in the attitude of the NSS towards the UDF government, and as such the basic thinking was to ensure a healthy continuation of the present dispensation. As such they would like the UDF leadership to desist from any move that may bring complexities in the delicate inner party and intra party relations within the UDF that may topple the applecart.
“The leadership would like the Chief Minister to limit the restructuring effort to the minimum so that no new complexities would emerge in the working relationship he has with Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala,” says a senior person. Going in for a major reshuffle would result in the emergence of new interest groups and new players in the relative tranquillity existing in the UDF and the Congress, they believe.
On the education front, the NSS believes that the government has a skewed prioritisation in going in for the new Plus Two Schools, upgradations, and additional batches.
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Instead, the government should have sorted out the vexed issue of excess teachers by amending the present student–teacher ratio.
In his discussions with the Chief Minister last Sunday, the NSS general secretary stressed the need to amend this in accordance with the ratio stipulated in the Right to Education Act (RTE), i.e 30 students per teacher for LP section and 35 for UP and HS sections.
The excess teachers then should be allowed to continue as protected staff.
“The government desisted from amending the ratio on account of the financial liability that it will have to incur on account of the changed student-teacher ratio. However, they have no qualms in sanctioning more Plus Two seats which will turn the public school education system topsy-turvy in the near future,” the source says.