Another Sad Day!
Published November 9, 2009 | 
It is not long before the heartbreaking scenes of crying faces and dead bodies from the Thekkady Boat Mishap have begun to fade from our minds. Families who were enjoying their reunions holidaying together, found themselves brutally separated by death. Parents who took their children out on a Kerala holiday, on a summer vacation treat, had to return back to their native places without them. Their children were no more alive to get back to school 
While a huge section of people blamed the Kerala Government for overlooking safety measures, few called it fate and the state bid a tearful adieu to the boat tragedy victims. And for those who suffered the impact, those who felt the stings of death casting its shadows on their loved ones, had literally no words to say. What was gone was gone forever. No Kerala Government could bring their dear ones back!
Just as the dark shade of this tragedy was losing color, here comes another one which takes us all the way back there. 35 days after 45 tourists drowned in Thekkady Lake, the people of Kerala witnessed yet another sad day when a ferry capsized in Areekode village in Malappuram district. And this time, it was 8 student souls who were returning happily from school who were called to rest. As a mark of respect, schools in the Malappuram District was granted a day’s holiday and a dawn to dusk hartal was observed on Thursday (5th November) in Areekode.
While the status of the Thekkady boat tragedy is that the 6 accused are out on bail and that there is really no tangible action to button down the real culprits, K.P. Rajendran, the State Revenue Minister has finally taken a call to action in the light of this incident. Collectors of all the 14 districts have been asked to submit reports on the ferry services operating in their area of control.
The main problem as identified by a former official is that, though the government departments are the ones approved to oversee ferry service operations, the reality is that the village councils take initiative as they view it as their duty to the people. Hence, the problem lies in the sanctioning and allocation of funds for ferry service operations.
It looks like people are tired of reminding the Government to do its duty and the Government is still waiting for someone to remind them!
