The Hindu : Kerala News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 23, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

SBT's net profit up

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM JULY 22. The net profit of the State Bank of Travancore (SBT) during the first quarter of the current financial year has gone up to Rs. 94.01 crores from Rs. 51.22 crores last year, thereby registering a phenomenal increase of 84 per cent. The net interest income went up by 28.74 per cent to Rs. 203.52 crores and the other income by 26.47 per cent to Rs. 136.50 crores. The Capital Adequacy Ratio that was 11.36 per cent in March 2004 improved to 12.34 towards the end of last month. The earnings per share are at the level of Rs. 188.02 (non- annualised) in the place of Rs. 102.44 during the same period last year. The aggregate deposits recorded a growth of Rs. 1,324 crores during the quarter that works out to 195 per cent and the savings bank deposits went up from Rs. 106 crores to Rs. 253 crores. The retail lendings grew by Rs. 39 crores, taking the share of retail advances in non-food credit from 48.63 per cent in March to 51.06 per cent in June. The housing loans increased from Rs. 71 crores to Rs. 97 crores and education loans from Rs. 11 crores to Rs 16 crores. The net non-performing assets declined from 1.39 in March to 1.06 in June. The major developments of the quarter included the introduction of the Real Time Gross Settlement Scheme for inter-bank transactions and the launching of new loan schemes like the rainwater harvesting scheme for farmers and the Bhavanasree housing loan scheme for those below the poverty line.

Kisan Sabha plans march

The Kerala unit of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) is organising marches to the State Secretariat and select Government offices in the districts to press for urgent action to prevent recurrence of farmers' suicides in the State. The march to the State Secretariat will be inaugurated by the CPI State secretary, Veliyam Bhargavan. The other major demands of the Kisan Sabha include waiver of farm loans, rescheduling of short-term loans into long-term loans and provision of Rs. 1 lakh to the family of each farmer who had committed suicide on account of debt burden.

Shortfall in July rain

Rainfall in July has been deficient by 55 per cent so far in the State, even as widespread rain was received under the influence of a trough over the northwest bay off the West Bengal-Orissa coast on Thursday. The Meteorological department director, M.D. Ramachandran, said the State would receive good rain if the trough moved south towards the Andamans. The monsoon had strengthened after it covered the entire country on July 18, he added. An excess rainfall of 30 cm was received in May and a normal rain of 69.5 cm in June. The normal for July was 78 cm, but only 32 cm had been received so far. However, if the precipitation received from January 1 till date was taken into consideration, the rainfall was exactly normal, he said.

KGOA demands pay revision

The Kerala Gazetted Officers Association (KGOA) organised dharnas in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram and the Collectorates in the other districts, demanding pay revision.

Railway employees' plea

The Southern Railway Employees Sangh has demanded the appointment of the Sixth Pay Commission, effecting of promotions promised by the Divisional Railway Manager, cutting short of the delay in the implementation of the cadre restructuring which has been accepted by the Railway Board, raising of the interest on PF to 12 per cent and fixing of the working hours of Railway Gatekeepers to eight hours a day. The Sangh had observed Wednesday as demands day to press these demands.

Coaching class

The Indian Agricultural Association proposes to organise a two-month coaching class for those who have applied for the post of Agricultural Assistants through the Public Service Commission. Short-term courses on agriculture-related subjects will also be conducted. The classes will be taken by teachers qualified in agricultural science and certificates approved by the Union Government will be given to those who complete the programme. More details can be had from the Association, PB No. 5019, Fort P.O., Thiruvananthapuram.

Gita Sathram begins

KOLLAM July 22. The eight-day-long Srimad Bhagawad Gita Sathram organised by the Kollam unit of the Asthika Samajam began at the Brahmana Sabha Hall here today. Said to be the first of its kind in the State, the Sathram was inaugurated by the chairman of the Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage (IISH), M. Sambasivan. The keynote address was delivered by the director of the IISH, N. Gopalakrishnan. For next seven days, dawn-to-dusk programmes based on the Gita would be held at the venue. These would include discourse and seminars. Well known preachers, heads of ashrams and spiritual leaders would lead the Sathram.

Seminar on

cashew sector

The N. Sreedharan Study and Research Centre is organising a seminar on `Cashew industry: problems and scope' on July 24 at the Public Library Hall. Those who will speak at the seminar include the CITU general secretary, P.K. Gurudasan; the Kollam MP, P. Rajendran; the CITU State secretary, N. Padmalochanan; the Capex chairman, D. Balachandran; the managing director of the State Cashew Development Corporation, George Mathai Tharakan; the State vice-president of the CITU, J. Mercykutty; the AITUC leader, K.P. Chandran, and the INTUC leader, N. Azhakeshan. The representatives from the private sector include Prakash Nair, Babu Oommen and G. Varghese.

Drama award

The Fine Arts Society (FAS), Kollam, invites opinion from the public for deciding the FAS Drama Awards 2004. Malayalam dramas staged from June 2003 to May 2004 are eligible to be considered for the awards. The opinions will be considered by an expert committee to take a final decision on the awards. The awards will be for the best drama, script, direction, lyrics, music, actor and actress. The opinion should be sent so as to reach the secretary, FAS, Kollam-691001 by July 31.

FDCA apprehensions

KOZHIKODE JULY 22. The Forum for Democracy and Communal Amity (FDCA), has expressed apprehensions on the communal and divisive sentiments being generated among the general public because of the ongoing discussions on the Narendran Commission report. In a statement here today, the chairman of the FDCA Kerala chapter, V. R. Krishna Iyer, said that while the commission has pointed out that Muslims and Latin Catholics have not got their due share in Government service postings, it has not provided a solution to rectify the anomaly.

Essay contest

The Kozhikode district Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation will conduct an essay competition for Plus Two and college students on `The end of education is character', on August 1, at the following centres. The Government Model Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode, the Higher Secondary School, Kokkallur, and the SGMSB School, Vadakara. The organisation district president, P. P. Bhaskaran, has requested those interested to be present at the venue on the day with registration slip duly signed by the head of the institution. Writing paper will be supplied by the organisers.

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