THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government will set up a board to select chief executive officers of public sector undertakings, Industries Minister Elamaram Karim has said.

Mr. Karim said in reply to questions in the Assembly on Friday that the board would comprise subject and management experts and technocrats. Unscientific management, negligence and appointment of directors on political considerations on the board were some of the main reasons for the crisis gripping PSUs.

The onus for the crisis cannot be placed on the employees alone.

In its efforts to streamline the functioning of PSUs, the Government has decided to appoint experts at the helm and retain the units in the public sector.

The board will advertise vacancies, conduct interviews and prepare a panel of candidates for appointment, he said.

The land and assets of sick PSUs will not be sold to private entrepreneurs.

The Government policy is to revitalise PSUs including Keltron. The land of closed PSUs will be used to attract new investors for other ventures.

The Government has directed the heads of PSUs to report the vacancies. PSUs can sustain through cross-selling.

The KSEB will buy the products of United Electrical Company, Kerala Electricals Limited, Traco Cables and Transformers and Electricals Kerala Limited.

Similarly, the Health Department will procure the medicines produced by the Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals.

The department has also agreed to buy the products of Hantex. The KSEB has already offered to advance Rs.5 crores to TELK, he said.

Specific revival projects

The Government will review the functioning of each unit and prepare revival projects that suit their needs.

Steps will be taken to help the Travancore Titanium Products to tide over the crisis. A revival project for the Balaramapuram Spinning Mill is being worked out. As many as 18 projects were approved at the Global Investors Meet in Kochi.

The total investment of these projects was Rs.337.70 crores and they produced 3,354 job opportunities.

The KSIDC had spent Rs.546.95 lakhs for organising the meet and Rs.165.58 lakhs was spent for promotion.

Industrial promotion units with the aid of the Central Government would be set up at Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur.

As many as 46,314 small-scale industrial units were set up in the State during the past five years with an investment of Rs.97,111.65 lakhs. These units had generated 17,0248 jobs.

Reimbursement sanctioned

"The Government has sanctioned medical reimbursement of Rs.5,000 each for the victims of endosulfan. They will be given free travel facility too. A sum of Rs.5 lakhs has been sanctioned to the District Medical Officer of Kasaragod for the medical reimbursement scheme and Rs.2 lakhs for travel concession," Health Minister P.K. Sreemathi said.

Nod for private practice

Permission for private practice has been granted to certain doctors according to the rules. The Government is examining a proposal to set up a commission for the welfare of women and children, she said.

Fisheries Minister S. Sarma said that a workshop of scientists, subject experts, trade union leaders and those working in the fisheries sector would be held on July 21and 22 as an initiative to frame a fisheries policy.

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