THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former Defence Minister and senior Congress leader A K Antony on Friday opined that ‘family bars’ are on a rise in the state. “As per a report, every home is becoming a bar in the state,’’ he said, while inaugurating the valedictory function of the golden jubilee celebration of the Kerala Secretariat Association.
“According to some reports, about 30 per cent of the households in the state have now become bars. This is not a good trend and will only lead to destruction,” he said.
Antony said there should be a concerted effort from everyone in fighting corruption. “It does not mean that we can completely get rid of corruption in society, but our small efforts can bring about at least some change,” he said. Noting that Western culture was having much influence on social and family relations, Antony said that service organisations as well as political and caste-based organisations should have to come forward to strengthen family bond. ‘’The state is now facing increasing destabilisation of families. Number of divorces has increased in the state,’’ he said and called upon the service, political and caste-based organisations to take out campaigns for strengthening family relations.
The Congress leader called upon the employees to come forward to do something useful to society apart from concentrating on their service issues.
Stating that service organisations in the state were well organised, Antony pointed out that the employees had been able to fight for their rights and get their due benefits. ‘’When the employees are well organised in the state, it is not like this in other states and even at the Centre. Dismissing an employee from service is not that easy here as in other states as they are well organised,’’ the former Union Minister said.
Health Minister V S Sivakumar, K Muraleedharan MLA, Thampanoor Ravi, Association president A K Mustafa and general secretary T Sreekumar were among others who addressed the function.