The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 29, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

PCC poll panel expanded

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM FEB. 28. The campaign committee of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) headed by Thennala Balakrishna Pillai has been further expanded. The new entrants are Eby George, K.P. Nooruddin, N. Ramakrishnan, Capt. (retd.) P.K.R. Nair and Peelipose Thomas. The next meeting of the committee will be on March 5. The chairman's telephone numbers are 0471-2311300 and 2310332 and 94471-37130. The KPCC acting president, P.P. Thankachan, has nominated the following persons to the publicity committee headed by K.P.Kunhikannan: Thalekunnil Basheer, T. Saratchandra Prasad, Joseph Vazhakkan, Ajay Tharayil, E.M. Augusthy, Palode Ravi, Pandalam Sudhakaran, Peelipose Thomas, P. Vijayadas and Ajeeb M. Sahib.

KSEB clears DA proposal

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) employees will get two more instalments of dearness allowance (DA) along with their salaries for March, payable in April. The Electricity Minister, K. Muraleedharan, had announced this earlier in the week, but the decision was formally taken only today at a full-board meeting of the KSEB. Four DA instalments had actually fallen due for KSEB employees. The additional monthly expenses on account of the sanctioning of two DA instalments will come to Rs. 1.35 crores, according to the KSEB Chairman, T. M. Manoharan. Pensioners too would get the benefit, he added. The arrears payable to the employees will be deposited in their Provident Fund accounts.

Nayanar demands probe

The former Chief Minister, E.K. Nayanar, has demanded a high-level inquiry to find out how Malabar Cements incurred a loss of Rs 12 crores during the last two-and-a-half years of United Democratic Front (UDF) rule. In a statement issued in Thiruvananthapuram today, he said that it had showed profits of Rs. 9 crores during the Left Democratic Front Government's period. He stated that the Malabar Cements' case showed how the UDF was destroying public sector undertakings. He alleged that the indiscriminate purchase of spare parts for pocketing commissions and the award of contracts to `benamis' of those in power were understood to be the reasons for the loss.

Association welcomes decision

The Kerala Land Revenue Staff Association has welcomed the Government's decision to pay the salary till March 31 of the staff of all temporary offices of all departments, other than that of Irrigation, which have not been given continuity order.

Temporary appointments

The Animal Husbandry Department proposes to make temporary appointments to the post of Veterinary Surgeons. The applications of eligible candidates with personal details, Veterinary Council and Employment Exchange registration and photo copies of certificates should reach the Director of Animal Husbandry, Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram 33 before March 12. The applications can be on white paper. The covers should be superscribed `Veterinary Surgeon Appointment'.

MLA to attend seminar

The secretary of the Congress Legislature Party, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, has been selected to the three-member team that would attend a parliamentary seminar organised in London by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The seminar will be held in the British Parliament House. Mr. Radhakrishnan will leave for London via Doha on March 2.

KSTEU protest

The pro-CPI Kerala State Transport Employees' Union (KSTEU) has protested against, what has been described as, the unilateral winding up of the workers' welfare fund started in 1971 by the KSRTC management. They felt that the management could have taken the unions into confidence before winding up the fund.

Interest slashed

The Bank of Baroda is slashing interest on housing loans to individuals. The revised rates are 7.50 per cent for five years, eight per cent for over five and up to ten years and 8.25 per cent for over ten years. The revised rates will be applicable for all loans under floating rate option from March 1.

V. Rajagopal takes over

PALAKKAD FEB. 28. V. Rajagopal, who was Divisional Commercial Manager of Thiruvanathapuram Railway Division, took over as Divisional Commercial Manager of Palakkad Railway Division here today. He is a native of Akathethara in Palakkad town.

Traders take out rally

The Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti took out a mammoth rally in the town to mark the beginning of their three-day State conference here today. The rally, which began from the Kanikkamatha High School ground, ended with a public meeting at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. The conference was inaugurated by the Finance Minister, K. Sankaranarayanan, and presided over by the Samiti president, T. Nasrudeen.

Neurological Society meet

KOZHIKODE FEB. 28. Specialist doctors in neurology, neuro-surgery, neuro-radiology and neuropathology are attending `Malabar Neurocon, 2004, the tenth annual convention of the State chapter of the Neurological Society of India, which began at Kadavu Resorts, near here, today. The convention features talks by experts on advances in treatment and surgery in neurology. The meet will end tomorrow.

BSP to contest 10 seats

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today announced that it would contest from 10 seats in the State in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, its State president, Col. (retd.) Viswanathan, was quick to admit that it hoped to win a seat only in the next Lok Sabha poll. Speaking to mediapersons here today, the BSP State president said, "We do not hope to win any seats from the State this year but we are confident of winning a seat in the next poll

Mamata Banerjee may visit State

KOCHI FEB.28. The Kerala Pradesh Trinamool Congress will field its candidate from the Wadakkanchery Assembly constituency during the forthcoming elections. This was announced by the Kerala Pradesh Trinamool Youth Congress State president, Antony Vellattukara, at a press conference here today. He said that the Trinamool Congress leader, Mamata Banerjee, would visit the State after the announcement of the party candidate's name.

Memorial meeting

KOZHIKODE FEB. 28. A memorial meeting for the late cartoonist B.M. Gafoor will be held under the auspices of the Thapasya Art and Literary Forum at the Sree Padmanabha auditorium in Kadalundi, near here, at 4.30 p.m. tomorrow.

Prizes for winners in the B.M. Gafoor memroial cartoon and drawing competitions will be distributed at the function by M.B. Tanveer, son of the cartoonist. B.M. Sushara, novelist, will be the chief guest at a get-together of Thapasya members to be held in the afternoon.

Training

MALAPPURAM FEB. 28. The need for educational institutions to inculcate entrepreneurial spirit in students was emphasised by the District Collector, M. Sivasankar, while inaugurating an entrepreneurship development programme sponsored by the district panchayat at the MES Engineering College at Kuttippuram here today. He said special care had to be taken to encourage the students who had the potential to emerge as successful entrepreneurs. M. Achuthan, college Principal, was the moderator.

Reservation

KANNUR FEB. 28. The reservation-through-credit card system has been introduced in Kannur railway station in association with Andhra Bank. A press release issued by Andhra Bank here today said that all types of Master/Visa credit cards and debit cards would be accepted for reservation. Production of identity cards for Tatkal reservation is not necessary for credit card-holders.

Cultural unit

A cultural wing of employees of the District Treasury here will be inaugurated on Sunday. A press release here today said the District Collector, K.S. Srinivas, would inaugurate the Cultural Union of Treasury Employees at the GVHSS Jubilee Hall at 10-30 a.m. This would be followed by cultural programmes organised by the Treasury staff.

Varsity fete

PALAKKAD FEB. 28. The inter-zone arts festival of the University of Calicut will be inaugurated at the Government Victoria College here on March 7. The stage competitions will be inaugurated at Fort Maidan on March 8.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala