The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

`Export subsidy should stay'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM MARCH 13. The Kerala State Cooperative Marketing Societies Association has called for continuing the rubber export subsidy. Its president, G. Sugunan, said in a statement today that the price of rubber had increased only with the commencement of export. With the assistance provided by the Central and the State Governments, it was possible to export 55,000 tonnes of rubber last year. It was much more than the exports made during the previous years. Kerala accounted for 94 per cent of the rubber produced in the country. The stability of the State's economy depended to an extent on the price of rubber. The subsidy was responsible for the export and the increase in the price of rubber. Now there was an interest abroad in the rubber from India. If the subsidy was continued, it would be possible to make exports in future also and that in turn would give a boost to the agricultural sector in general, he added.

CPI(M) contention questioned

The BJP has questioned the CPI(M) State secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan's contention that his party had adopted an uncompromising stand against the Emergency declared by the Indira Gandhi Government till the very end. In a rejoinder today, his counterpart in the BJP, K. Raman Pillai said that it was ``half truth and misleading''. He stated that it was a fact that the CPI(M) had opposed the Emergency initially. But it backed out when the violation of civic rights increased. It also did not cooperate with the direct action launched against the Emergency by the Lok Sangharsh Samithy. The CPI had at the same time supported the Emergency fully. The CPI(M) was still associating closely with that party. How could they claim to have opposed the Emergency?, he asked.

Protest against Centre's neglect

The Kerala Congress(Jacob) leader and the Water Resources Minister, T.M. Jacob, has urged the people to protest against the Centre's neglect of the State. Inaugurating the valedictory function of the Yuvajana Munnettta Yatra organised by the Youth Front (Jacob) here on Friday, he said the Centre was showing gross injustice by the drastic reduction of drought relief to the State. He asserted that the BJP's political hopes would not bloom in Kerala. The `lotus' in particular cannot bloom because of the drought and water shortage. He charged the Centre with having done nothing for the youth. As job opportunities in the Government sector were dwindling, grants should be provided to youngsters to find self-employment. The Government should also stand guarantee for assistance from financial institutions for the purpose, he said.

Latin Catholics warn parties

The Latheen Katholikka Aikya Vedi has asked those concerned not to take the votes of the community for granted this year. In a resolution adopted at a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram today, the Vedi said nobody should consider the community as a vote bank for the coming elections. It added that the members of the community would support only those who worked sincerely for protecting the interests of the community, stood for implementing the Narendran Commission report and were prepared to give clear assurances to pursue it in future. The meeting also set up a high power committee with A. James Fernandes as chairman to interact with the candidates in constituencies in which the members of the community were a decisive force and advice them as to who to support.

ISO for four SBT branches

Four more branches of the State Bank of Travancore (SBT) have received the prestigious ISO 9001 : 2000 certification. They are the SSI branches in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Alappuzha and the NRI branch in Attingal. The NRI in Ernakulam and Thiruvalla, the SSI branch in Kottayam, the commercial branch in Chennai, the Foreign Exchange Department in Ernakulam and the Credit Department at Head Office have already been awarded the certification. The SBT is trying to get the certification for more of its branches.

Special train to clear extra rush

The Southern Railway will operate a special train between Nagercoil and Chennai Egmore to clear the extra rush of passengers. It will leave Nagercoil at 3-30 p.m. tomorrow and reach Chennai at 6-30 a.m. on March 15. It will take the Madurai, Tiruchi and Villupuram route.

Takes charge tomorrow

S.L. Winston who was Chief General Manager Telecom, BSNL, Kerala Circle, has been promoted and posted as Advisor (Production) in the Department of Telecom, New Delhi. An official press note said in Thiruvananthapuram today that he would take charge on Monday. He was CGM, Kerala, for the last one year.

CITU criticises Antony

KOLLAM MARCH 13. The CITU general secretary, P.K. Gurudasan, has said the communal appeasement policies of the UDF Government has been further exposed with the RSS general secretary, Mohanrao Bhagwat, praising the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony's stand on the Marad issue. Inaugurating the 24th State conference of the Kerala State Financial Enterprises Staff Association here today, Mr. Gurudasan said Mr. Antony had won similar praise earlier from the leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Praveen Togadia. In such a situation how could one expect the Antony-led Government to be different from the BJP-led Government at the Centre. Both the Governments were adopting policies aimed at suiting the Hindutva interests. Things have come to such a pass that the UDF Government was not capable enough to dare the forces of communalism, he said.

`LDF, UDF taking people for a ride'

KANNUR MARCH 13. The BJP former State president, C.K. Padmanabhan, has said that both the LDF and the UDF are trying to take the people of the State for a ride with their common stand against the BJP and the NDA Government. Mr. Padmanabhan said at a party function here today that the NDA Government's development agenda would reflect in the coming election in the State. The parties carrying ideas of pseudo-secularism could not stomach the `inflow' of large number of members of minority communities into the BJP, he said. Mr. Padmanabhan said the State Government had failed to provide a clear picture of the drought situation in the State to the Central Government.

Shrimp farmers' meeting

KOLLAM March 13 . The Marine Products Export Development Authority will organise a shrimp farmers' meet here on March 16. The event would mainly deal with brackish water aquaculture, shrimp disease prevention and management measures. The district panchayat president, Aisha Potti, will inaugurate the meet.

Roller skating camp

The Kollam Roller Skating Club will conduct a roller skating coaching camp in Kollam from March 20. The club would also organise similar camps at Punalur and Karunagapally. The training session would be for one hour from 5 p.m. Those above four years of age can register for the classes. Details can be had over phone: 2706905 or 2705214.

Tax exemption sought

KOZHIKODE March 13. The Kerala State Security Association of Ex-servicemen has appealed to the Government to exempt security agencies from service tax. The State general convention of the Association here today urged the authorities concerned to proceed against those security agencies operating without licence. N.V. Shanmugham (retd. Colonel) was elected president, K.T. Aravindakshan, general secretary and K. Ayyappanezhuthachan, treasurer, of the Association.

Annual ritual

The four-day `andu nercha' of Tathoor Suhadha will begin with the hoisting of the ceremonial flag by the Samastha Kendra Mushavara member and local khasi, Sayyed Thahirul Ahdal Thangal, at 9 a.m. at Tathoor tomorrow. Talking to presspersons here today, the organising committee office-bearers said a Dikr-duaa meeting to be held at 8 p.m. tomorrow would be attended by various Muslim scholars.

Houses gutted

KOTTAYAM March 13. Seven houses at Kattiparambil Colony, near Kanjikkuzhy, here were gutted in a fire that ravaged for nearly two hours. The residents lost everything they had, in the fire. According to Fire Force personnel, the fire started from the house of one Kochumon, probably from the kitchen. The houses at the puramboke colony were all thatched and the fire spread fast under the scorching sun. Five Fire Force vehicles brought from Kottayam, Pala and Changanassery were pressed into service to bring the fire under control. According to preliminary reports, the damages have been put at Rs. 5 lakh.

Appointed

ALAPPUZHA March 13. The State Government has appointed D. Vijaya Kumar as the chairman of the Kayamkulam Spinning Mill. Mr. Viajaya Kumar was formerly the secretary of the Alappuzha District Congress Committee. He is at present the working committee member of the Ayyappa Seva Sanghom. The director board members of the mill include the DCC president, C. R. Jayaprakash and the IUML leader, Kochubava.

Foundation Day lecture

KANNUR March 13. The former Supreme Court Judge, K.T. Thomas, will deliver the eighth Foundation Day lecture of the Kannur University on the Thalassery campus on March 16. A press release from the university here today said the topic of the lecture was `Fundamental rights and fundamental duties.' The function would be held at 11 a.m. The Vice-Chancellor, P.K. Rajan, would preside. The chief guest would present gold medals to rank-holders in the university examinations in 2002-03. The Vice-Chancellor would present mementos to employees retired from the university.

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

Kerala