Kerala - Thrissur   

`Surplus land to be given to the landless'

Staff Reporter

Welfare of tribal people to be ensured, says Rajendran

MOMENT OF PRIDE: Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran inspects the Independence Day parade at Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur on Tuesday. — Photo: K.K. Najeeb

THRISSUR: The 60th Independence Day was celebrated in the district with Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran unfurling the National Flag and inspecting the Independence Day Parade at Thekkinkadu Maidan in the morning.

Speaking at the function, Mr. Rajendran said that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government will ensure that all the landless people in the State will be given the surplus land in the possession of the Government. He stressed that the Government would take all steps for the welfare of the tribal people in the State.

The Minister gave the assurance that the LDF Government would work towards ensuring social justice to people from all walks of life. Later, taking part in a video conferencing programme organised at the Collectorate in which officials from the Revenue Commissionerate and all the District Collectors in the State participated, the Minister said that steps would be taken to wipe out corruption in the Department.

The Minister spoke to the officers at the Revenue Commissionerate, Thiruvananthapuram and all District Collectors in the State through the video conferencing facility.

The Minister also visited the house of Neetha James, widow of the late Major James Thomas, who was honoured posthumously with the Keerti Chakra this year. Major James Thomas was killed in an encounter with Pakistani infiltrators near a border post in Poonch on January 28, 2006.

Call against terrorism

Our Staff Reporter writes from Kottayam

Public Works Minister P.J. Joseph on Tuesday called for a concerted effort to generate public opinion against increasing incidents of extremist activities.

Speaking on the occasion of the 60th Independence Day celebrations organised by the district administration here, Mr. Joseph pointed out that most of the countries which had come out of the colonial yoke during the past half century had gone back to dictatorships after a brief period of experimenting with democracy. "However, it goes to India's credit that even after six decades, we are still a vibrant democracy, going from strength to strength. Extremism should not be allowed to destroy what we have earned during the past several decades," he said.

According to him, while the country could rightly feel proud of achieving political independence and maintaining it, the next logical step would be achievement of economic independence. One of the key elements in achieving it was ensuring food security.

Self-sufficiency in food should not be misunderstood as food security, he said.

Stressing the need to harness emerging technologies to maximise food production, the Minister also pointed out that the focus should now be on value-added products in the agriculture sector. Food processing should be identified as an emerging area so that the income from farm products could be increased and farming community empowered, he said.

Mr. Joseph also called for focussed attention in increasing energy production. Energy security was one of the basic needs for achieving economic independence, he said and added that a long-term strategy for infrastructure development in energy sector should be finalised.

Various platoons from police, NCC, and Scouts and Guides and band sets from town schools participated in the ceremonial parade. Cultural programmes by students were also presented.

Police medals

Chief Minister's police medals were presented to R. Balakrishnan (Head Constable, Changanassery police station), T.S. Rajagopalan Nair (Head Constable, Chingavanom), M.C. Baburajan (Constable, Ayarkunnam) and Rajasekharan (Sub Inspector, Armed Reserve Camp) on the occasion.

Prizes for the best performance at the ceremonial parade went to Armed Reserve Camp (Police) Kuriakose Elias College, Mannanam (NCC-Senior), Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya (NCC-Junior), MT Seminary Higher Secondary School (Scouts) and Mount Carmel Girls Higher Secondary School (Band Music).

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