The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 21, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

Pensioners take out march

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JAN.20. The Kerala State Service Pensioners Union took out a march to the Raj Bhavan today to protest against what it described as the move by the Centre and the State Governments to back out of their commitment to the pensioners in due course. The action was also to press demands such as medical scheme, welfare fund, festival allowance equal to bonus, the enactment of a pension law and revision of pension. The representatives of the Union submitted a mass petition containing its demands to the Governor at the end of the march.

`Cabinet studying panel report'

The Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, today told the Assembly that the Narendran Commission report on reservation for the backward classes has been placed before the Cabinet for consideration. Replying to a submission moved by the Janata Dal leader, Neelalohitadasan Nadar, the Chief Minister said that the Government had been seized with the gravity of the backlog in filling up reservation. The commission had submitted its report a few months back, he added. Mr. Nadar pointed out to the urgency in implementing the report, which would be a benefit for the backward classes, particularly for those belonging to the Muslim community. In reply to another submission moved by the Congress member, Prayar Gopalakrishnan, he said that the Government would examine the scope of reviving the pensioners' medical benefit scheme after examining its financial implications.

Departure of train postponed

The departure of the Thiruvananthapuram - Gorakhpur Raptisagar Express train has been further postponed. It will leave only at 7 p.m. tomorrow instead of at 4.45 a.m. as announced earlier due to the late running of the pairing train.

Allotment of rice

The State Government has allotted the 25,000 tonnes of rice sanctioned by the Union Agricultural Ministry to the State under the Sampoorna Rozgar Yojana Schene (Special component) among seven drought-affected districts. Palakkad gets the lion's share of 6,000 tonnes of it. The share of the other districts is as follows - Kottayam, Kozhikode and Malappuram 3,500 tonnes each, Kannur and Kasargod 3,250 tonnes each and Wayanad 2,000 tonnes. The Government has asked the District Collectors to collect the rice from the Food Corporation of India godowns and distribute it under the food for work scheme.

Funds to revive textile industry

The Government proposes to include funds in the budget for the comprehensive revival of the State's textile industry, which is facing several problems. This was stated by the Industries Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, while inaugurating a workshop on `Recent trends in textile testing' organised jointly by the State Textile Corporation and the Centre for Applied Research and Development in Textiles in Thiruvananthapuram today. Government was pledge-bound to act as the saviour of the traditional textile industry.

Two drowned in Kallada river

PATHANAMTHITTA JAN. 20. Two Plus Two students of the SNV Higher Secondary School at Angadickal South drowned in the Kallada river at Enathu, near Adoor, today. The bodies of Praju (17) and Rejo (17) were fished out of the river near the Enathu bridge by sand-mining workers this afternoon.

Woman killed

in accident

KOTTAYAM JAN. 20. A 65-year-old woman was killed when she was hit by the Ernakulam-bound Venad Express at Moolavattom this morning. According to the police, Ammini, wife of Raghavan, Kizhakke Vattiyattu House, Moolavattom, was returning home after visiting a neighbour when she was hit by the train. The accident occurred at 8.15 a.m.

Silver Jubilee celebrations

KOCHI JAN. 20. The four-day Silver Jubilee celebrations of Kerala Bahai Annual Winter School would be officially inaugurated at the YMCA Camp Centre at Aluva, on January 23 by the District Collector, Gyanesh Kumar. The celebrations will begin with a `unity feast' at 6 p. m. on January 22. More than 300 Bahai families from all over Kerala are expected to participate. Classes and workshops in which papers will be presented on various aspects of Bahai faith will be part of the celebrations.

Farm club meeting

PATHANAMTHITTA Jan 20. The Tourism Minister, K.V.Thomas, will inaugurate the district-level convention of farm clubs at Royal Auditorium here on Thursday. K.K. Nair, MLA, will preside over the meet.

Admission list

The provisional selection list for the general nursing course at the District Nursing School here has been published today. The list is available at the Nursing School office, the District Medical Office and at the District Information Office, according to an official release here today.

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