Kerala   

Briefly

Private bus stir from August 14

KOCHI: Private buses owners in the State will go on indefinite strike from August 14, protesting against the Government's `inaction' in taking steps to save the sector. Addressing mediapersons at the Ernakulam Press Club on Saturday, president of the Kerala State Private Bus Owners' Federation Khalid Mundapilly said that the frequent hike in fuel price, increase in cost of spare parts, dilapidated condition of roads, heavy fare concession being given to students and unchecked issuing of permits had resulted in private bus owners facing a crisis situation. — Staff Reporter

Ombudsman's directive

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ombudsman T.K. Chandrasekharadas has issued an order asking local self-Government institutions to demand the NOC from the Atomic Energy Commission before granting permission for setting up mobile telephone towers. This is in addition to the certificate from the Pollution Control Board. The order was issued on a complaint against the erection of a tower in Palazhi Kalmkolliparambu area of Olavanna panchayat. He also wanted the operators of existing towers to be told to submit within three months certificates from the Commission to the effect that their functioning was not harmful to the people. — Special Correspondent

Next Cabinet to take up paddy procurement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The next meeting of the Cabinet will take up fixing of the procurement price for paddy and the mode of procurement for decision. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan announced this at a meeting convened to discuss paddy procurement here on Saturday. He said the Government wanted to fix the procurement price and decide on the mode of procurement well before the harvest season. Delays had caused much loss to the farmers in the previous years.

— Special Correspondent

`Drop move to cut kerosene quota'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Swatantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation has urged the Central and the State Governments to abandon the move to do away with the kerosene quota for fishing boats. State president of the federation T. Peter said here on Saturday that the original quota for the purpose was 500 litres. — Special Correspondent

Jeweller robbed

Thrissur: Akkarapattakkal Jojan, who owns a jewellery shop at Puranattukara, has been admitted to a private hospital here on Saturday with injuries. The police said Jojan was attacked by a three-member gang, which arrived at his shop in a car at 11.45 a.m. He was robbed of 50 gm of gold, the police said. The Peramangalam police have registered a case. — Staff Reporter

Training in yoga

KOZHIKODE: The Patanjali Yoga Research Centre here will organise a yoga-training course for those aged above 40 from August 10. According to a press release from the centre, participants will be taught special yoga exercises for reducing cholesterol and controlling diabetes, asthma and back pain. Those interested may contact the centre, opposite Science Centre, Jafferkhan Colony Road (ph: 277 0352), before August 10. — Staff Reporter

Medical kits distributed

KOZHIKODE: Free medical kits and 250 wheel chairs were distributed by Lions Clubs International district 324-E5 region-6 at a function at Lions Hall in Kozhikode on Saturday.

The function and distribution of free wheel chairs were organised in association with Hope Charitable Trust and Sathyam Service Trust. K.T. Reghunath, past Lions District Governor and Joavan, executive director, Free Wheel Chair Mission, USA, were also honoured with Lions Seva Awards for their outstanding contributions in the field of social service at the programme.

K. Damodaran, Lions District Governor,-District 324 E; A. Jayathilak, Kozhikode District Collector; and Retnakumar Mallisserry also spoke. — Staff Reporter

Applications invited

KANNUR: The Chinmaya Mission Educational and Cultural Trust here will start a series of software and hardware programmes in collaboration with the Chinmaya Institute of Technology and Chinmaya Arts and Science College here.A press release here said the programme aimed at providing career-oriented training at affordable cost. The trust was currently offering short-term courses on hardware and networking, Internet programming, web designing and computer programming languages. The release said that the duration of each course would be 12 weeks. The last date for registration was August 16, the release said. Details are available on the website: www.chintech.org/srdc.

— Staff Reporter

Handloom exhibition inaugurated

KOLLAM: Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan inaugurated the Onam exhibition and sale of handloom products at the Press Club Maidan on Saturday. The exhibition is being jointly organised by the Kollam District Cooperative Bank, the Industries Department and the district panchayat. — Staff Reporter.

Showroom inaugurated

KOLLAM: The renovated showroom of Hantex at Chinnakada was inaugurated by Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan on Saturday. On the occasion, the first sale from the new showroom was inaugurated by Mayor N. Padmalochanan. — Staff Reporter

Bonus rate criticised

KOLLAM: The Kerala NGO Association says that the bonus announcement by the State Government for the employees was disheartening. In a statement here, district president of the association S. Ulhas Kumar said that in the past the Left parties had criticised the bonus announcements made by the previous UDF Government.

But the LDF Government has announced a bonus that is on par with that announced by the UDF Government. The LDF follows the policy of adopting double standard. While in the Opposition they talk something and change that stand on coming to power, Mr. Ulhas alleged. — Staff Reporter

Call to teachers

KOLLAM: B. Raghavan, MLA, has called upon teachers to oppose the move to stall the professional colleges Act.

He was inaugurating a dharna by the district unit of the Kerala School Teachers' Association (KSTA) in front of the office of the District Education Officer (DEO) on Saturday. The dharna was held to press the KSTA demands, including entrusting all recruitment in private schools to the Public Service Commission, solving the shortcomings in the wage revision, ensuring job security for teachers, closing down of all unrecognised schools.

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