Kerala   

Briefly

Petrol pumps remain closed

THRISSUR: A large number of petrol pumps in the district remained closed on Saturday following the strike call by the petroleum dealers' association. The strike was organised in protest against the reported directive of the Indian Oil Corporation to ban the sale of fuel at a pump in Chalakkudy. — Staff Reporter

FXB helpline

KOZHIKODE: Corporation Councillor Zacharia Hussain unveiled a special board giving details of the services provided by the helpline of the Kerala Chapter of Fracois Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) at the Palayam Bus Stand here. FXB India, Kerala Chapter programme coordinator, V.D. Mathai presided over the programme. Mr. Mathai said the services provided by FXB include HIV/AIDS determination test, free counselling, among others. He said counselling was expected to provide relief to the HIV infected persons who were passing through trauma. FXB personnel P. Mohan Kumar and V. Smita spoke at the inaugural session. For details contact Ph: 6571113, or the FXB office near the Veterinary Office. - Staff Reporter

IDA programme

KOZHIKODE: The Indian Dental Association (IDA), Malabar branch, will organise Prathyasha 2006, for providing dentures to those from below poverty line (BPL) sections. The screening of the beneficiaries will be held on August 13 at the IDA Hall at Ashokapuram. As many as 250 persons will benefit from the programme, IDA Malabar branch secretary C.C. Joseph said. For details contact Ph: 0495-2222904; 2724008. - Staff Reporter

Plea on bonus KOLLAM: M.S. Shyam Kumar, State president of the Kerala NGO Sangh, has called upon the Government to announce a bonus of 12.5 per cent to all Government employees irrespective of salary slabs. He was inaugurating the district committee meeting of the NGO Sangh. — Staff Reporter

Achutha Menon memorial speech

KOLLAM: Chief Information Commissioner Palat Mohandas will deliver the C. Achutha Menon memorial speech at a function organised here on August 16 by the Kollam chapter of the C. Achutha Menon Foundation to commemorate the 15th death anniversary of the former Chief Minister. The function will be held at the Public Library Hall. — Staff Reporter

Plea on bonus

KOLLAM: M.S. Shyam Kumar, State president of the Kerala NGO Sangh, has called upon the Government to announce a bonus of 12.5 per cent to all Government employees irrespective of salary slabs. He was inaugurating the district committee meeting of the NGO Sangh here on Saturday. The terms and conditions of the announced bonus show that a majority of the employees will not get the bonus. The announcement is tantamount to challenging the employees. Mr. Shyam Kumar said that whenever the Left Democratic Front came to power, the benefits of the employees were curtailed citing financial crisis. — Staff Reporter

Seminar on road safety

KOLLAM: The Karunya Yuvajana Vedi will organise a seminar on `Road Safety Awareness' here on Tuesday. The seminar, to be inaugurated by Minister for Agriculture Mullakkara Ratnakaran, is being organised as part of Independence Day celebrations. On the occasion, the vedi will distribute wheelchairs to the needy and educational kits to students from economically weaker sections. — Staff Reporter

Special packages from Indian

Thiruvananthapuram: Indian has announced special packages from Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode to Bangkok in Thailand and Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A release from the airline said the package, valid till September 30, includes airfare, hotel accommodation in star hotels, breakfast, sightseeing and airport transfers. Further details can be had from the toll free number 1800 180 1407, offices of Indian, website of the airline and approved travel agents. — Staff Reporter

Awards for village offices proposed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government proposes to institute State and district level awards for village offices which function efficiently and without corruption as part of its move to tone up the civil service. Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran, who announced this while inaugurating the fifth State conference of the Kerala Land Revenue Staff Association here on Friday, said that steps would be taken on a war footing to fill vacancies in the Revenue Department through promotions and fresh appointments. — Special Correspondent

Australian frigate calls at Kochi

KOCHI : The Australian frigate HMAS Ballarat arrived in Kochi on Saturday on a three-day visit to the city. HMAS Ballarat, under the command of Commander Malcolm Wise, is the eighth of the ANZAC class of frigates built for the Royal Australian Navy. The ship is capable of air-defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction and can counter simultaneous threats from aircraft, surface ships and submarines. - - Staff Reporter

Woman assaulted

THRISSUR: A woman studying for speech therapy course at Kolappully in Palakkad district has been admitted to Ashwini Hospital here after being assaulted by a group of persons, including an autorickshaw driver. According to preliminary information given by the hospital authorities, the 19-year-old woman, hailing from Vanchiyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, was assaulted when she was returning from her institute to the hostel in an autorickshaw on Saturday evening. The hospital authorities said the woman had told them that the auto driver attempted to sexually assault her. When she resisted, the associates of the driver tried to kidnap her in a jeep. The woman, whose condition is critical, is undergoing treatment in the hospital's intensive care unit. — Staff Reporter

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