THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Government proposes to revamp the State lottery with a view to countering the threat posed by paper lotteries from outside the State, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac told the Assembly on Wednesday.

Dr. Isaac, who was responding an Opposition motion seeking adjournment of the proceedings to discuss the crisis in the lottery sector on account of the heavy influx of paper lotteries from outside the State, said the Government would soon come up with new lotteries, overhaul the prize structure, issue tickets to agents on loan, take back unsold tickets and grant incentives to lottery agents to promote the State lottery.

The Finance Minister said the Government also proposed to turn the Commercial Taxes Department into a professional outfit and opt for grant of licences for lottery sale for a reasonable period instead of the present practice of granting licence every month.

A specific portion of the sales proceeds would be added to the Lottery Agents' Welfare Fund and adequate money spent on publicity, he said.

Dr. Isaac said the Government asked the Vigilance to look into allegations that private paper lottery operators were violating Section 4 of the Lotteries Act. The Vigilance would submit its report in a fortnight. The Government would take action against persons and agencies found guilty of violation of the law. Steps had already been initiated to realise the tax due from online and paper lottery operators, he said.

Earlier, seeking leave for the adjournment motion, V.D. Satheesan (Congress) alleged that the Government was closing its eyes to breach of Lotteries Act by the private paper lottery sellers. He demanded to know why Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who mounted repeated attacks on the last Government for its handling of the lottery operators, was observing silence when the lottery operators were minting money at the expense of the State lottery.

He was joined by Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy who pointed out that the matter was very serious and could not be brushed aside. Responding to their questions, the Chief Minister said the Government fully understood the spirit with which the Opposition had raised the issue in the House and assured the House that action as promised by the Finance Minister would be taken without loss of time.

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