We'd set off from Maman's home at 7 AM. The tempo traveller was late by half an hour to reach the Foundation's office but we'd set out by 0830h finally. The day was bright, sunny and humid but the vehicle kept us nice and cool. We're to have breakfast enroute at Kazhakootam, which was changed to Attingal then Chathannoor and ultimately, Kollam as we'd to meet a deadline.
At Chathannoor, the revival of a fresh water pond was shown to the expert from New Delhi, who has given a very favourable response. The fact that the Panchayat showed a keen interest to take up the project helped tip the scales for the nod. The activities will definitely revive the unit, which has been lying idle for quite a while, mainly due to a lack of application of minds by the managers on the field with no clear directives from the top due to some misunderstanding- a sad fact that I acknowledge! It needs more of indulgence on my part!!
We reached the venue - the hall at the Public Library - in time with the meeting beginning as scheduled. The local patriarch graced the occasion and paid glowing tributes to PN Panicker's spectacular work in enlightening Kerala through his library and literary movements. This was followed by the team's audit of the e-literacy movement thus far. While encouraging progress has been made by many panchayats, what was alarming was that there were a few that haven't been able to rise to our expectations with respect to the 'speed of execution'. This tardiness needs to be arrested and steps are being evolved which will crystallise in the form of 'a simple but definitive action plan, with emphasis on achieving milestones failing which, penalties will be introduced' by Wednesday!
We accept it with all humility that it's not gonna be an easy task, especially, while asking elected representatives to provide time bound results as political ramifications need to be borne in mind. In other words, a few feathers will be ruffled in the process. Period!
Tailpiece.
(a) The evening boating on the Ashtamudi Lake was a soother but for the bright sun even after 1600h. Heard about the ecological threat to the flora and the fauna in and around the lake. Sad! Would the setting up of a dedicated 'Water Authority' help in the long run? The preliminary discussions have been initiated but it has to go a long way, the first and foremost being to get all the stakeholders, on board, together to agree to discuss the vexed problem!!
(b) Maman and I'd missed breakfast in the process of meeting the deadline of time. A late lunch, however, saved the day. But I ensured that the rest of the team did have their's on arrival at Kollam!
At Chathannoor, the revival of a fresh water pond was shown to the expert from New Delhi, who has given a very favourable response. The fact that the Panchayat showed a keen interest to take up the project helped tip the scales for the nod. The activities will definitely revive the unit, which has been lying idle for quite a while, mainly due to a lack of application of minds by the managers on the field with no clear directives from the top due to some misunderstanding- a sad fact that I acknowledge! It needs more of indulgence on my part!!
We reached the venue - the hall at the Public Library - in time with the meeting beginning as scheduled. The local patriarch graced the occasion and paid glowing tributes to PN Panicker's spectacular work in enlightening Kerala through his library and literary movements. This was followed by the team's audit of the e-literacy movement thus far. While encouraging progress has been made by many panchayats, what was alarming was that there were a few that haven't been able to rise to our expectations with respect to the 'speed of execution'. This tardiness needs to be arrested and steps are being evolved which will crystallise in the form of 'a simple but definitive action plan, with emphasis on achieving milestones failing which, penalties will be introduced' by Wednesday!
We accept it with all humility that it's not gonna be an easy task, especially, while asking elected representatives to provide time bound results as political ramifications need to be borne in mind. In other words, a few feathers will be ruffled in the process. Period!
Tailpiece.
(a) The evening boating on the Ashtamudi Lake was a soother but for the bright sun even after 1600h. Heard about the ecological threat to the flora and the fauna in and around the lake. Sad! Would the setting up of a dedicated 'Water Authority' help in the long run? The preliminary discussions have been initiated but it has to go a long way, the first and foremost being to get all the stakeholders, on board, together to agree to discuss the vexed problem!!
(b) Maman and I'd missed breakfast in the process of meeting the deadline of time. A late lunch, however, saved the day. But I ensured that the rest of the team did have their's on arrival at Kollam!
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