The Hindu : Kerala News : State to seek special package for farmers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 15, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

State to seek special package for farmers

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 14. The Cabinet today decided to send a Ministerial delegation to New Delhi seeking a special package for farmers of the State.

The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, told presspersons after a Cabinet meeting that the delegation would seek financial assistance, loan write-off and interest concessions to the farmers. It would also press for the drought relief assistance of Rs.2,840 crores it had sought from the Centre during the time of the National Democratic Alliance Government.

Mr. Antony said the delegation would consist of the Agriculture Minister, K.R. Gouri, the Revenue Minister, K.M. Mani, and the Finance Minister, K. Sankaranarayanan.

Mr. Antony said the State had made no efforts to hide the fact that farmers were committing suicide in the State. This fact had been stated in bold letters in a memorandum submitted to the Centre seeking drought relief. However, the State had so far received no money from the Centre other than normal allocations from the National Calamity Contingency Fund.

He said the CPI(M) MPs should fight for the State's case in Parliament. "No rivalries in Delhi, please. Let us have our fights confined to Kerala," he said.

The Chief Minister said the State Government was preparing separate packages for farmers and fishermen. The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, had been saying that the Left parties had their reins on the Central Government. So they should strongly press the State's case.

Replying to questions, he said the Governor had not yet given his assent to the Kerala Self-Financing Professional Colleges Bill.

"It is not good that the legislation is delayed." The Bill was brought on the basis of general consensus on the subject.

Referring to the representation made by the Transport Minister, R. Balakrishna Pillai, to the Union Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad, the Chief Minister said the State was hopeful of higher allocation for the State's railways.

Mr. Antony said the Government was waiting for a policy decision on the recommendations of the Narendran Commission report from the United Democratic Front (UDF).

All constituents had been asked to communicate their opinion at the next meeting of the UDF liaison committee.

He said the Cabinet had approved the appointment of 24,88 laboratory assistants in higher secondary schools who had joined the schools before March 28, 2003.

The Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs would be setting up a training centre to prepare nurses for the examination conducted by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools.

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