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Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

Bodies to be brought soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JUNE 5. Steps were on to bring the bodies of the two victims of the terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia to their native places in the State, the Norka Minister, M. M. Hassan, today said. The victims were: Pradeep Kumar of Kalavoor in Alappuzha and Jain Jose of Mala in Thrissur. He said the local administration of Saudi Arabia had given the clearance and that the embassy was trying to get their death certificates from the hospital. The bodies were likely to be brought to Kerala on June 8 or 9.

Panel for disease control

The Government has set up a management committee for implementing the cattle disease control programme in the State. The Agricultural Production Commission is the chairman and the Local Administration Secretary, Member Secretary of Planning Board, Director of Animal Husbandry, Dean of Veterinary and Animal Science College, Chairman of Milma or his nominee, Technical Adviser of NDDB and the Director of Dairy Development the members of the committee. The Coordinator of the animal diseases control programme who will be of the position of Additional Director in the Animal Husbandry Department will be the member convener. The committee should hold review meetings every three months. The cost of the five-year programme is estimated to be Rs. 34.18 crores. The programme is being implemented as part of an agreement signed by the State Government and the NDDB.

`Do not close polytechnics'

The CPI(M) State secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan, has urged the Government to immediately withdraw its decision to close down ten polytechnics. In a statement today he said the polytechnics were set up as part of a move to give job-oriented education. The institutions in the Government sector enabled the poor students to study at concession rates. The closure of these institutions would prevent brilliant poor students from pursuing technical studies. Most of the institutions under closure threat were in Idukki, Wayanad and Kasaragod districts and offered 30 subjects including bio-medical engineering and medical electronics. It was on the ground that they did not have the AICTE's approval that the Government was planning to close them down. The AICTE was holding back its recognition because the facilities laid down by it were not being provided in these institutions. It was the Government's duty to provide the facilities, he added.

`Check smuggling of rubber'

The chairman of the Kerala State Cooperative Marketing Societies Association, G. Sugunan, has urged the Government to take steps to check the smuggling of rubber, which is on the increase all over the State. In a statement here today, he said the excise and the police were providing all help for the smuggling. The role of some political leaders was also suspect as such large-scale smuggling was not possible without political patronage. He said the high sales tax rate prevailing in the State was the reason for the increase in smuggling. It was 12.65 per cent as against 4 per cent in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. In Kerala, a cess of Rs. 1.50 per kg of rubber had also to be paid to the Rubber Board. In effect it meant that 13 per cent tax had to be paid for sending the rubber out of the State. The two States were also adopting other underhand methods. They included fixing of a price of Rs. 20 per kg when the actual price was Rs. 60. The 4 per cent tax was being collected only on this amount. He questioned the role being played by the Rubber Board. The prices announced by it differed in Kerala and other States.

Protest against appointment

The Kerala Gazetted Officers Association took out a demonstration before the Directorate of Animal Husbandry today to protest against the appointment of an IAS officer as its director. It charged the Government with having made the appointment bypassing the special rules when eligible and qualified persons were available in the department itself. It further reduced the already limited promotional avenues, which the technical personnel of the department had, the Association added.

Rainwater harvesting

The Cooperation Minister, M. V. Raghavan, has asked the cooperative societies to implement the rainwater-harvesting programme of the Government. In a press release here today he asked the societies to adopt harvesting measures on their own, educate their members and provide financial assistance to them to implement the programme.

New course in taxation

The Centre for Taxation Studies (CTS), an autonomous institution under the Kerala Government, would launch a Diploma in Sales Taxation (DST) beginning this academic year. The course is a one-year distance education programme open to all individuals who have passed the SSLC examination. Prospectus and application form for the course can be had on payment of Rs. 50 by from the Registrar, CTS, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 018. The last date for receipt of applications is July 5.

SNDP Yogam Council put off

ALAPPUZHA JUNE 5. The SNDP Yogam Council to be held today at Cherthala was postponed following the absence of quorum. Only four members of the 13-member council were present today. The date for the next meeting would be decided later, said SNDP sources. The SNDP Yogam president, C. K. Vidyasagar, and the general secretary, Vellappally Natesan, were present. A large posse of police was present outside the venue.

Former Principal killed

KOLLAM JUNE 5. A former principal of the Thalasserry Brennan College, Ramachandran Nair, was run over by a car at Ochira near here today. He was 73. After retirement from the college he was leading the life of an abstinent. He had authored several books and conducted religious discourse. He was staying at a lodge in Ochira.

Call for collective resistance

KANNUR JUNE 5. The CPI(M) leader, P. Jayarajan, MLA, has called for collective resistance against the moves to deprive the organised sections their rights in the name of globalisation. Inaugurating a two-day State conference of the Kerala Private Pharmacists' Association (KPPA) at Thalasserry near here today, Mr. Jayarajan said the working class should collectively move to oppose the efforts to rob the rights it had secured through struggles. The ruling sections were now intolerant to the very idea of strikes for protecting the rights of the working people, he said. The Janata Dal(S) leader, K. P. Mohanan, MLA, presided over the inaugural function.

Ban on sand-mining

ALAPPUZHA JUNE 5 . The Chengannur Sub-Collector, Sanjeev M. Kaul, has banned sand-mining and transportation of sand in Chengannur, Mavelikara and Karthikappally taluks in the district. In an order today, the Sub-Collector said those who had a licence from the Mining and Geology Department for mining should get the passes signed by the Sub-Collector.

Website launched

KOLLAM JUNE 5. The Labour Minister, Babu Divakaran, today inaugurated the Bysel.net, a web-based platform for buying and selling goods and services. The site provides detailed information on a wide range of goods including second hand products and real estate.

Pre-paid cards

Another set of BSNL's pre paid SIM cards have arrived for distribution to those who had booked for the same from the BSNL's Kollam and Punalur counters on February 25. Those with booking coupons with serial number up to 2025 will be issued the cards. The coupons and original ID card will have to be produced at the counters for getting the cards.

Office-bearers elected

Alfred V. Samuel (ESI Model Hospital, Kollam) and Thomas Muthalaly (ESI Dispensary, Kadambanad, Pathanamthitta) have been elected State president and State secretary respectively of the Kerala Government Insurance Medical Officers Association (KGIMOA). They were declared elected at the State conference of the KGIMOA held here on May 30, a statement issued here said.

Award for student

KOZHIKODE JUNE 5. M. Shamil of Government Model High School here, who scored high marks in the SSLC examination, has been selected for the award instituted by the Lions Trust Kerala for the student from a Government school getting the highest marks. The award which carries a gold medal, Rs.10,000 and a citation will be presented to Shamil by the Education Minister, Nalakath Soopy, at a programme to be held here on June 12.

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