Today: Remembering Fr. Thomas Kocherry

Thu, May 15, 2014 at 11:21 AM

Memorial meeting: 3 pm. Thursday ,15th May, 2014

Indian Social Institute (ISI) Lodi Road, New Delhi

Fr. Thomas Kocherry, leader of the fishworkers movement in India and well known anti-globalisation activist passed away on 3 May 2014 in Thiruvanthapuram, Kerala. He died a week before his 74^th birthday.

Tom (as he was fondly referred to) was known across the world as one of India’s most articulate and active defenders of the rights of traditional fishing communities and the protection of the coasts and seas. He was one of the founder leaders of the Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozilali Federation (KSMTF) National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) and the National Alliance of Peoples Movements (NAPM).  

Born on 10 May, 1940 in Changanassery, Kerala, Tom was ordained as a priest in 1971. Soon after, he went to work among refugees in Raigunj a border area of Bangladesh. In the 1970s, as the fishing community in Kerala began to organise and assert for their rights, Tom was right in the middle of the movement, leading hunger strikes and was sent to jail on numerous occasions on trumped up charges.

Despite his recent ill-health he played an active role in the struggle of the coastal community in Tamil Nadu against the Kudankulam nuclear project. He was also closely following the political developments leading up to the current elections. A few hours before he passed away he sent this article to the activist website, Countercurrents.http://www.countercurrents.org/kocherry030514.htm

The Delhi Solidarity Group (DSG) is organising a condolence meeting in his memory on Thursday, 15th May, 3 pm at Indian Social Institute (ISI).

We hope that you will attend and share your memories of him with us.

Max Hospital, Saket denies free treatment to Myanmar Refugee

 Fri, Feb 7, 2014 at 2:47 PM

Social Jurist writes to Delhi CM Refugee  is EWS Critical Heart Patient

To,

      Shri Arvind Kejriwal

      Chief Minister

      Government of NCT of Delhi

      IP Estate

      New Delhi-110002

      07.02.2014

   Sub: Myanmar refugee ( EWS Critical Heart Patient) Denied free treatment by Max Devki Devi Heart & Vascular Institute, Saket

Dear Shri Arvind Kejriwal ji,

           I would like to bring to your notice a shocking incident of denial of free treatment by Max Devki Devi Heart & Vascular Institute, Saket, New Delhi (in short Max Hospital, Saket ) to Mr. Thi Poeng, an EWS critical heart patient on the ground that he is a Myanmar refugee. Such a conduct on the part of the hospital is not only unethical and illegal but also in violation of orders passed by Hon’ble Delhi High Court and Hon’ble Supreme Court in Social Jurist PIL whereby this and the other similar hospitals are obliged to provide free treatment to EWS Patients to the extent of 10% I.P.D and 25% O.P.D .

           Mr. Thi Poeng, a resident of Plot No. 37, Sitapuri, New Delhi-110045 (Mobile No. 9650473224 ) is recognized as refugee under the Mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and is holding Refugee ID Card No. 513-09C00498 since 2008. His Family income is only Rs.2000 per month which he gets from UNHCR as a subsistence allowance on account of being an extremely vulnerable refugee family. The eligibility income limit for an EWS patient for receiving free treatment under EWS category from any identified hospital like Max Hospital, Saket is Rs. 8086 per month. Therefore, Mr. Thi Poeng is eligible for free treatment under EWS category from the said hospital.

           Mr. Thi Poeng complaining heart ailment contacted the undersigned on 05-02-2014 and requested for helping him in getting free treatment from Max Hospital. The undersigned accordingly  verified and recommended his case for free treatment to Max Hospital, Saket . Mr. Thi Poeng along with one Mr. Mang Kung approached Max Hospital, Saket same day. The hospital instead of providing free treatment denied him medical treatment saying that he is a foreign refugee. Thereafter, the undersigned talked to Mr. Mahesh, EWS Nodal Officer of the Max Hospital,Saket and requested him to provide Mr. Thi Poeng free treatment under EWS category. Mr. Mahesh told me that he would talk to the hospital management and revert back to me with response. I did not receive any call from Mr. Mahesh. However, I was informed by Mr. Thi Poeng that the hospital has asked him recommendation letter/Income Certificate from UNHCR office. Despite the fact that such a demand was unnecessary and illegal on the part of the hospital, Mr. Thi Poeng approached the office of UNHCR on 06-02-2014 and after great efforts was able to get a family income certificate which indicates that his family income is Rs. 2000 per month. After obtaining such certificate Mr. Thi Poeng again approached Max Hospital, Saket and requested for providing free treatment. The hospital even after taking the original copy of income certificate from  Mr. Thi Peong, flatly refused to provide him free treatment. At this stage, the undersigned called    Mr. Mahesh, EWS Nodal Officer on telephone and enquired as to why Mr. Thi Poeng was not been given free treatment under EWS category even after production of Income Certificate. Mr. Mahesh, EWS Nodal Officer, told me that hospital has decided not to provide free treatment to Mr. Thi Poeng as he is a foreigner refugee on Indian land . Thereafter, Mr. Thi Poeng came to my office and submitted a written complaint. The copies of the complaint dated 06-02-2014, Income Certificate from UNHCR dated 06-02-2014 and Refugee ID issued by UNHCR are enclosed hereto your ready reference.

          It is submitted that Max Hospital, Saket is totally unjustified in refusing free treatment to Mr. Thi Poeng under EWS category. I understand that the case of Mr. Thi Poeng who is not only a refugee but also belongs to an extremely vulnerable family deserves to be treated from human point of view also. I also understand that our Nation has an obligation to look after the interest of refugees like Mr. Thi Poeng and cannot be ignored at all.

           You are therefore requested to intervene in this matter on an urgent basis and direct Max Devki Devi Heart and Vascular Institute, Saket, New Delhi to immediately provide free treatment to Mr. Thi Poeng under EWS category.

                                                                                                                                    

With regards,

Ashok Agarwal, Advocate

Advisor,Social Jurist

M - 9811101923

Video address by Shri. Narendra Modi in NRI meet

Sun, Jan 5, 2014 at 2:16 PM
A special event by BJP on 6 Jan--S S Grewal
Chandigarh, 5 January 2014: (Rector Kathuria//Delhi Screen):

Host of the event Vijay Jolly Delhi and 
Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal Pb.

BJP party is hosting NRI Sammelan by Overseas Friends of BJP ( OFBJP ) for the first time, organizing “ OFBJP Global Meet - 2014 ” on Monday 6th Jan 2014 from 10.30 AM to 6.00 PM at BJP Central Office Auditorium, 11 Ashok Road, New Delhi. In a press statement here today, National BJP Leader Advocate, Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal said that all preparations have been completed for this mega event by Vijay Jolly National Convenor, Dr. Rajni Sarin, Amit Thaker Co-Convenor and Raj K Purohit Coordinator Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) and their whole team with a view to resolve the grievances of Indian Diaspora. Grewal stated that the Registration will be started at 9.30 AM and onwards ant the first session will be Conducted by Shri. Amit Thakar Co-Convenor. He said that at from 10: 30 AM to 11:15 AM Inaugural address by our BJP Hon'ble National President Shri Rajnath Singh ji. He said that from 11: 15 AM to 11: 35 AM Speech by Honored Guest Shri. Mahendra Chaudhary (Former Prime Minister of Fiji) & Honouring Lord Raj Loomba, CBE (Chairman Loomba Foudantion, United Kingdom ). Grewal stated that in Second session 11: 45 PM to 12: 00 PM the OFBJP Video Film "Bhajpa Ke Sadhe Kadam" Shall be Screened at that time. He said that from 12: 00 PM to 01: 00 PM session will be Conducted by Dr. Rajni Sarin, Co-Convenor "Introduction by OFBJP units" In the Presence of Hon'ble Shri Rajnath Singh & Hon'ble Shri Ram Lal ji National General Secretary Organisation. He said that the Lunch will be at 01.00 PM to 02: 00PM. Grewal stated that the third Session will be Conduct by Shri. Vijay Mehta OFBJP Central Committee Member on Indian Foreign Policy & its Directions. He said that from 02: 00 PM to 02: 30 PM Shri Jaswant Singh Senior Member of Parliament will adress the house. He stated that the fourth Session will be Conduct by Shri. Manjeet Lochav,  OFBJP Central Committee Member on India's Economic Policy. Grewal stated that at 02: 30 PM to 03.00 PM Hon'ble Shri. Arun Jaitiey Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha will Launch Global OFBJP Website compiled by Ritu Rathore. He said that the Cultural session will be Conducted by Shri Gajendra Solanki, Eminent Indian Poet. In this session Special Guest of Honor will be Shri. Venkaiyah Naidu Senior BJP Leader and will release Compilation of Veer-Ras Poem CD. He stated that the fifth joint session from 04: 00 PM to 04: 15 PM will be Conduct by Dr. Abhilasha Sharma OFBJP Central Committee Member. 

In this session the Role of Good Governance will be adress by Hon'ble Shri Nitin Gadkari Former National President BJP. Grewal stated that from 04: 20 PM to 04: 35 PM session will be Conduct by Shri. Bhupendra Kansal OFBJP Central Committee Member . He said in this session Hon'ble Shri Ram Lal ji BJP National General Secretary Organisation adress on BJP & its Ideological Commitments. He said that the Closing Session will be Conduct by Shri. Raj K Purohit, OFBJP Coordinator. He said that from 05: 15 PMto 05: 30 PM Video address by Shri. Narendra Modi, BJP PM Nominee and from 05: 30 PM to 06: 00 PM the Valedictory Address by Hon'ble Shri L.K. Advani ji Senior Leader of BJP. Grewal said that from the OFBJP dinner reception will also at 6th Jan 2014 from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm at Russian Center of Science & Culture, 24 Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi-1. He said that large number of NRI's will attend our BJP Party's NRI Sammelan from the world.