Social media offers opportunities to layman to get connected with the rulers and vice versa. A picture of the high-end Low Floor buses owned by the public sector Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) caught the attention of Kuttan Pillai, a farmer who is active in the social media.
The KSRTC is in dire financial situation (it tops the 58 loss making PSUs in Kerala with losses running to Rs 508 crore) and owes its employees salaries and other arrears. Despite its monopoly over major routes in the State, KSRTC buses do not get proper maintenance and are dumped in garages.
Recently, the Human Rights Commission had to intervene on behalf of a bed-ridden former worker of the corporation who was denied his monthly pension and benefits even after seven years after his retirement.
It is in this background that Pillai, sent a message through the social media to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking his permission to allow the former to undertake the cultivation of snake gourd in these parking lots. “Respected Sri Pinarayi Vijayan, I am a farmer and mainly into cultivation of snake gourds. Since the moment I saw this picture, I feel this is an ideal place to cultivate snake gourds. If you give me permission, I am ready to launch farming operations on a lease basis in the space between the parked buses. The farming operations could be launched in 30 days.” Says Pillai in his message to the chief minister.
Pillai’s message to Vijayan was retweeted hundreds of times by other farmers and environmentalists who expressed their desire to be part of the snake gourd cultivation. Since messages received in the Chief Minister’s Office are closely monitored by a special cyber wing, it is certain that Pillai did it with purpose and he meant business. Over to the Chief Minister.